Sunday, December 13, 2015

Rebuilding the Temple Service of the Word

Welcome

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

GATHERING SONG THE GATHERED SHALL CHOOSE!

 

GREETINGThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

KYRIE

Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.Christe eleison: Christ, have mercy.Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.

CANTICLE OF PRAISEGlory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth.

 

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth.

 

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth, and peace to God's people on earth.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray. Good and gracious God, You move in all places and all hearts. There is nowhere you cannot act to call your people back to you. Let your Spirit move here, to show us the way. Amen.

NARRATIVE READING: Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13

A reading from Ezra.

Chapter 11In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he

sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared: 2Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3Any of those among you who are of his people — may their God be with them! — are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD,

the God of Israel — he is the God who is in Jerusalem; 4and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.“

Chapter 31When the seventh month came, and the Israelites were in the towns, the

people gathered together in Jerusalem. 2Then Jeshua son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God. 3They set up the altar on its foundation, because they were in dread of the neighboring peoples, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the

LORD, morning and evening. 4And they kept the festival of booths, as prescribed, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as required for each day, 10When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the LORD with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel;

11and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD,  

"For he is good,  for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.“

And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12But many of the priests and Levites and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house

on its foundations, wept with a loud voice when they saw this house, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away. 

Word of God, word of life.

Thanks be to God.

1I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing your praise.

 2I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your steadfast love and faithfulness; for you have glorified your name and your word above all things.  

PSALM: Psalm 138

3When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me.

4All the rulers of the earth will praise you, O Lord, when they have heard the words of your mouth.

5They will sing of the ways of the Lord, that great is the glory of the Lord.

6The Lord is high, yet cares for the lowly, perceiving the haughty from afar.

 7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.

8You will make good your purpose for me; O Lord, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Faith: “Celtic Alleluia” Red Hymnal, #174

Alleluia, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia.

New Hope: Red Hymnal, p. 216

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Luke 2:25-28aThe holy gospel according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's

Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.The gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (Red Hymnal # 240) v. 3

3 Light three candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.Lift your heads and lift high the gateway for the King of glory.

 

CHILDREN'S SERMON

Pastor Michael PeuseSERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY: Gather Us In (Red Hymnal # 532)

1 Here in this place the new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away; see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken,gather us in, the blind and the lame;call to us now, and we shall awaken,we shall arise at the sound of our name.

2 We are the young, our lives are a myst'ry, we are the old who yearn for your face; we have been sung throughout all of hist'ry, called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty, gather us in, the proud and the strong; give us a heart, so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.

3 Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth, here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you; nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

4 Not in the dark of buildings confining,not in some heaven, light years away--but here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, and now is the day.

Gather us in and hold us forever,gather us in and make us your own;gather us in, all peoples together,fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONEmmanuel has come, is here, and is coming soon. Let us join in prayer for the church, the earth, and those who are in need, that all receive what God promises to give.…..

INTERCESSORY RESPONSE (Red Hymnal#262)“Wait for the Lord “(Sung after each prayer partition)

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart!

……Lord of building and rebuilding, call our hearts to celebration and praise. Show us the new thing you are doing, and invite us to join you in doing it. Amen.

 

God is always building and rebuilding God’s people as God’s home. The raw materials for this building project are hearts and souls, minds, hands and feet, time, talent and financial resources. Today’s offering will now be received.

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations. Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name?

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one whose name is the Word of God. All praise and thanks to you, holy God!

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING

Let us pray. Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God,C. we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God, C. we give you thanks and praise.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God,C. we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.

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.

LORD'S PRAYER

BLESSINGMay God direct your ways in peace, make you abound in love for one another and for all, and strengthen your hearts until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy ☩Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

SENDING SONG God Is Here! (Red Hymnal #526)

1 God is here! As we your peoplemeet to offer praise and prayer,may we find in fuller measurewhat it is in Christ we share.Here, as in the world around us,all our varied skills and artswait the coming of the Spiritinto open minds and hearts.

2 Here are symbols to remind usof our lifelong need of grace;here are table, font, and pulpit;here the cross has central place.Here in honesty of preaching,here in silence, as in speech,here, in newness and renewal,God the Spirit comes to each.

3 Here our children find a welcomein the Shepherd's flock and fold;here as bread and wine are taken,Christ sustains us as of old.Here the servants of the Servantseek in worship to explorewhat it means in daily livingto believe and to adore.

4 Lord of all, of church and kingdom,in an age of change and doubt,keep us faithful to the gospel;help us work your purpose out.Here, in this day's dedication,all we have to give, receive;we, who cannot live without you,we adore you! We believe!

DISMISSALGo in peace. Christ is with you.Thanks be to God.

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