St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Alliance, Ohio
Sunday, December 11, 2022
9:30 AM
PRELUDE Light Dawns on a Weary World Sedio
Confession and Forgiveness
In the name of the
Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are
captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in
thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as
ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive
us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your
ways, to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
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 On Candle #240 Vs 1-3
PRAYER OF THE DAY
CHILDREN’S SERMON
FIRST READING ISAIAH 35:1-10
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be
glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2it shall blossom
abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be
given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of
the Lord, the majesty of our
God. 3Strengthen the weak
hands and make firm the feeble knees.4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be
strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with
terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” 5Then the eyes of the
blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then the lame shall leap
like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall
break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7the burning sand shall
become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals
shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8A highway shall be
there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but
the redeemed shall walk there. 10And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion
with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy
and gladness,
Psalm 146:5-10 5Happy are
they who have the God of Jacob | for their help, whose hope is in the | Lord their God;
6who made heaven and
earth, the seas, and all that | is in them; who
keeps promis- | es forever;
7who gives justice to
those who are oppressed, and food to | those who hunger.
The Lord sets the | captive free.
8The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
the Lord lifts up those
who | are bowed down; the Lord| loves the
righteous.
9The Lord cares | for the stranger;
the Lord sustains the
orphan and widow, but frustrates the way | of the wicked.
10The Lord shall | reign forever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. | Hallelujah!
SECOND READING JAMES 5:7-10
7Be patient, therefore,
beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop
from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late
rains. 8You also
must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is
near. 9Beloved,
do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the
Judge is standing at the doors! 10As an example of suffering and patience,
beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” 7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O
Christ.
HYMN Blessed Be the God of Israel #250
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
Communion Prayer
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 Lead Me, Guide Me #768
Lead me, guide me along the way
For if you
lead me I cannot stray Lord, let me walk each day with thee
Lead me, O Lord, lead me
I am weak and I need Thy strength and power,
To help me over my weakest hour.
Help me through the darkness
Thy face to see, Lead me, oh Lord lead me.
Help me tread in the paths of righteousness.
Be my aid when Satan and sin oppress.
I am putting all my trust in Thee:
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.
I am lost if you take your hand from me,
I am blind without Thy light to see.
Lord just always let me thy servant be,
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.
Post communion proclamation
prayer
BLESSING
HYMN People, Look East #248
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE Hark, the Glad Sound Lind
Liturgy and hymns
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