Alliance, Ohio
Sunday, December 17, 2023
9:30 AM
PRELUDE People
Look East D.
Lasky
Blessed be
the holy Trinity, one God, who opens the heavens and draws near to us with
salvation. Amen.
God is patient and merciful, desiring all to come to repentance.
Trusting
this promise of grace, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Everlasting God,
you love justice and you hate wrongdoing. We confess the fear, greed, and
self-centeredness that make us reluctant to work against oppression. We are
complicit in systems of exploitation. We choose comfort over courage. We are
careless with creation’s bounty. Look upon us with mercy. Turn our hearts again
to you. Make us glad to do your will and to walk in your ways
for the sake of our waiting world.
Amen.
Hear these words of assurance: God clothes you with garments of salvation and covers you with robes of righteousness. In the tender compassion of Jesus Christ,
your sins
are forgiven. God’s covenant is eternal, and God’s blessing rests upon us all.
Amen.
HYMN Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn #242
GREETING
The grace of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And
also with you.
KYRIE
HYMN OF PRAISE Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah #240 v.1-3
PRAYER OF THE DAY, CHIldren’s Sermon
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
1The
spirit of the Lord God is
upon me, because the Lord has
anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the
prisoners; 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance
of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to provide for those who
mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness
instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will
be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4They
shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former evastations; they
shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 8For
I the Lord love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their
descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the
peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom
the Lord has blessed. 10I
will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments
of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For
as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it
to spring up, so the Lord God will
cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. The Word of the Lord. Thanks
be to God.
Psalm 126
1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
then were we like | those who dream.
2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue
with | shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great | things for
them.”
3The Lord has
done great | things for us, and we are | glad
indeed.
4Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses | of the Negeb.
5Those who | sowed with tears will reap
with | songs of joy.
6Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again
with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16Rejoice always, 17pray without
ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the
Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but
test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from
every form of evil.
23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your
spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will
do this.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
The
Holy Gospel according to Saint John 1 the 6th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He
came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through
him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to
the light. 19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He
confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21And
they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the
prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22Then they said to him, “Who are
you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about
yourself?” 23He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of
the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said. 24Now they had been sent from
the Pharisees. 25They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if
you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26John
answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not
know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to
untie the thong of his sandal.” 28This took place in Bethany
across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
The Gospel
of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
HYMN People Look East #248
APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven
and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, 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, he 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, PEACE,
OFFERING, special music
LORD'S PRAYER
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
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION
HYMN O Come, O Come Emmanuel #257
PRAYER, BLESSING
HYMN Drawn to the Light #593
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE The King of Glory Comes Aaron Miller
Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659
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