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First Sunday of Advent

December 2/3, 2017 6:00 PM & 8:45 AM Holy Communion

First Lutheran Church, Kearney, NE

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ANNOUNCEMENTS and WELCOME PRELUDE

“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” K. Thomerson, arr. P. Manz

Please stand

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, † one God, who comes to wake us from sleep, who leads us into the light of grace. C: Amen P: Let us prepare the way of the Lord by confessing our sin against God and neighbor. Silence for reflection and self-examination. P: O God of all time, C: We confess that we have not prepared for your merciful reign among us. We ignore our neighbors in need and fail in the labor of justice and peace. In your mercy forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your light and to seek the things that will endure until Christ comes again in glory. Amen. P: Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. In Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven and all things are made new. Rejoice in this good news! C: Amen

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GATHERING HYMN “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Text: Charles Wesley. Music: Rowland H. Prichard; arr. by Robert Harkness

Text and Music Public Domain

GREETING

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you.

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KYRIE “In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful”

Text and Words: Jacques Berthier © 1991 Les Presses de Taize, admin. By GIA Publications, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission of OneLicense #A-705218

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L: Let us pray, Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen

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Please be seated ADVENT WREATH Sung to the tune of “What Child is This” A flick’ring candle sheds its light in hope of dawn’s victorious might, and backward scurries cow’rdly night reminded of the morning. Refrain Watch, watch, for Christ is near, the promised Son of God most dear. Hope, hope, his light will clear the shades of death and sin. From God’s own house will come the dream, God’s pledge of peace shine like a beam; From all the nations crowds shall stream and war will be no more. Refrain Watch, watch, for Christ is near, the promised Son of God most dear. Hope, hope, his light will clear the shades of death and sin.

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WORD A Reading from Isaiah L: 1O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence — 2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil — to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. 5You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. 8Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. (Isaiah 64:1-9) L: Word of God. Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God. 8:45 ANTHEM “Advent Canticle”, arr. by Douglas E. Wagner

Chancel Choir

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Please stand for the Gospel Acclamation

P: A Reading from St. Mark C: Glory to you, O Lord P: 24But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.26Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. 27Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake." (Mark 13:24-37)

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P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you O Christ.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE & “NOISY” OFFERING

Offering will be going to Habitat for Humanity SERMON

Pastor Michelle Carlson

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Please stand SERMON SONG

“Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying” ELW #436

Text and Music: Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608; tr. Composite.

Text © 1999 Augsburg Fortress. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission of OneLicense #A-705218

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APOSTLES’ CREED L: Let us profess our faith with the Apostles’ Creed: C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

P: Guided by the light of Christ, let us pray for the coming dawn of joy, healing, and comfort for all God’s people.

(At the conclusion of each prayer)

L: Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer.

P: We raise our prayers to you, O God, in the name of the one who is, who was, and who is to come, Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen.

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EXCHANGE OF PEACE

P: The peace of Christ be with you always. C: And also with you.

We greet one another in the name of the Lord using words such as,

“Peace be with you.”

Please be seated

MEAL

OFFERING “Lo, How a Rose Ee’r Blooming” M. Praetorious

Please stand Communion Assistants please come forward at this time.

OFFERTORY RESPONSE “We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise”

Text and Music: Kirk Dearman

©1984 John T. Benson Publishing, a div. of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission of CCLI #1093735

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OFFERTORY PRAYER

L: Let us pray, Savior of the nations, come. Make your home here in us. Feed us with your love, that our faith shine ever new and our lives reveal your light. C: Amen. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE: P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. You comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer, through whom you will also make all things new in the day when he comes to judge the world in righteousness. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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SANCTUS “Holy, Holy, Holy” ELW #473

Music and Text: Argentine traditional. Music and Text Public Domain

WORDS OF INSTITUTION P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

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THE LORD’S PRAYER P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray: C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

P: Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you. Share in the feast of salvation.

(Please let the Communion Assistant know if you want grape juice or a gluten-free wafer.)

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Please be seated “Let Us Be Bread”

Text and Music: Thomas Porter © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission of OneLicense #A-705218

COMMUNION MUSIC 6:00 “What is This Lovely Fragrance?” setting by P. Manz

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8:45 “In the Bleak Midwinter” ELW #294

Text” Christina Georgina Rossetti. 1830-1894. Music: Gustav Holst, 1874-1934 Words and Music Public Domain

Please stand

TABLE GRACE P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. C: Amen

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SENDING OF COMMUNION L: Gracious God, loving all your family with a mother’s tender care: As you sent the angel to feed Elijah with heavenly bread, assist those who set forth to share your word and sacrament with those who are sick, homebound, and imprisoned. In your love and care, nourish and strengthen those who will receive this sacrament, and give us all the comfort of your abiding presence through the body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. C: Amen

BLESSING

P: May Christ, the Sun of righteousness, shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path. Almighty God, Father, † Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. C: Amen

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SENDING HYMN “Hark the Glad Sound” ELW #239

Text: Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751. Music: Haweis, 1734-1820 Public Domain

DISMISSAL

L: Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God

POSTLUDE “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” T. Matthews

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First Lutheran Church ~ 3315 G Avenue ~ Kearney, NE 68847 308-237-5544 ~ office@firstlutherankearney.org

Rev. Dr. Michelle Carlson, Preaching Pastor

Rev. Dr. Rick Carlson, Presiding Pastor

6:00 Carol Bosshardt, Assisting Minister 8:45 Amanda Lewis, Assisting Minister 11:00 Jacob Krueger, Assisting Minister

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23295.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.