The View from the Middle: 2025

Monday, December 15, 2025

Service outline for Sunday, December 21, 2025

Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!

PRELUDE “An Advent Meditation” David Lasky

CONFESSION AND FORGIVNESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

whose home is heaven and earth,

whose salvation is sure.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God

and of one another.

Long-expected God,

we confess that we look to ourselves

for the peace and security only you can provide.

We reach for swords and spears,

reluctant to release our grip on the ways of war.

We become impatient while waiting

and weary of keeping awake.

Free us from self-reliance,

and teach us to live in harmony with our neighbors.

Increase our trust in God’s timing,

and awaken us to your advent among us,

that we may abound in the hope you have promised.

Amen.

God judges us not as we deserve,

but according to God’s own righteousness.

You are freed and forgiven,

saved by grace,

and ready to welcome the Savior.

Amen.

HYMN Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus #254

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, Watch for Messiah” #240 v. 1-4

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Children's message

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16

10 The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.”

Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph | like a flock;

shine forth, you that are enthroned up- | on the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, | and Manasseh,
stir up your strength and | come to help us.
3 Restore | us, O God;
let your face shine upon us, and we | shall be saved.
4 O Lord | God of hosts,
how long will your anger fume when your | people pray? R
5 You have fed them with the | bread of tears;
you have given them bowls of | tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision | of our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh | us to scorn.
7 Restore us, O | God of hosts;
let your face shine upon us, and we | shall be saved.
17 Let your hand be upon the one at | your right hand,
the one you have made so strong | for yourself.
18 And so will we never turn a- | way from you;
give us life, that we may call up- | on your name.
19 Restore us, O Lord | God of hosts;
let your face shine upon us, and we | shall be saved. R

Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles for the sake of his name, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.

SERMON

HYMN Hark, the Glad Sound! #239

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 THE PEOPLE, PEACE, OFFERING

GREAT THANKSGIVING

SANCTUS

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 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #257

POST COMMUNION PROCLAMATION AND PRAYER

BLESSING

HYMN Joy to the World #267

DISMISSAL

POSTLUDE “King of Kings and King of Glory” David Lasky

Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Service outline for Sunday, December 14, 2025

Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!

PRELUDE “Prepare the Royal Highway” Robert B. Farlee

CONFESSION AND FORGIVNESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

whose home is heaven and earth,

whose salvation is sure.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God

and of one another.

Long-expected God,

we confess that we look to ourselves

for the peace and security only you can provide.

We reach for swords and spears,

reluctant to release our grip on the ways of war.

We become impatient while waiting

and weary of keeping awake.

Free us from self-reliance,

and teach us to live in harmony with our neighbors.

Increase our trust in God’s timing,

and awaken us to your advent among us,

that we may abound in the hope you have promised.

Amen.

God judges us not as we deserve,

but according to God’s own righteousness.

You are freed and forgiven,

saved by grace,

and ready to welcome the Savior.

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, Watch for Messiah” #240 v. 1-3

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Children's message

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and shouting.
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.]]

3 Strengthen the weak hands
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say 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.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;
6 then 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;
7 the 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.

8 A 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.
9 No 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.
10 And 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,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Psalm: Psalm 146:5-10

5 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob | for their help,

whose hope is in the | Lord their God;
6 who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that | is in them;
who keeps promis- | es forever;
7 who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to | those who hunger.
The Lord sets the | captive free.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who | are bowed down;
the Lord | loves the righteous. R
9 The Lord cares | for the stranger;
the Lord sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way | of the wicked.
10 The Lord shall | reign forever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. | Hallelujah! R

Second Reading: James 5:7-10

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, 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. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

7 As 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? 8 What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 “Truly 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.”

SERMON

HYMN People, Look East #248

APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

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 THE PEOPLE, PEACE, OFFERING

GREAT THANKSGIVING

SANCTUS