Hymn “Come, Thou Bright and Morning Star” LSB # 872
1 Come, Thou bright and Morning Star, Light of Light without beginning;
Shine upon us from afar That we may be kept from sinning.
Drive away by Thy clear light Our dark night.
2 Let Thy grace, like morning dew Falling soft on barren places,
Comfort, quicken, and renew Our dry souls and dying graces;
Bless Thy flock from Thy rich store Evermore.
3 May Thy fervent love destroy Our cold works, in us awaking
Ardent zeal and holy joy At the purple morn's first breaking.
Let us truly rise ere yet Life has set.
4 Ah! Thou Dayspring from on high, Grant that at Thy next appearing
We who in the graves do lie May arise, Thy summons hearing,
And rejoice in our new life, Far from strife.
5 Light us to those heav'nly spheres, Sun of grace, in glory shrouded;
Lead us through this vale of tears To the land where days unclouded,
Purest joy, and perfect peace Never cease.
P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
C: who made heaven and earth.
P: If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
C: But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
P: Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
C: Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit
C: Amen.
Hymn: “Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring” LSB #353
1 Jesus came, the heav'ns adoring, Came with peace from realms on high;
Jesus came to win redemption, Lowly came on earth to die;
Alleluia! Alleluia! Came in deep humility.
2 Jesus comes again in mercy When our hearts are worn with care;
Jesus comes again in answer To an earnest, heart-felt prayer;
Alleluia! Alleluia! Comes to save us from despair.
3 Jesus comes to hearts rejoicing, Bringing news of sins forgiv'n;
Jesus comes with words of gladness, Leading souls redeemed to heav'n.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Hope to all the world is giv'n.
4 Jesus comes in joy and sorrow, Shares alike our hopes and fears;
Jesus comes, whate'er befalls us, Cheers our hearts and dries our tears;
Alleluia! Alleluia! Comforts us in failing years.
(Sung)
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray.
Collect for the day:
Lord Jesus Christ, we implore you to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts
by Your gracious visitation; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.
C: Amen.
Scripture Readings
Old Testament Reading (Zephaniah 3:14-20)
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. 18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Epistle Reading (Philippians 4:4-7)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
P: The holy Gospel according to St. Mark the 13th chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
(Luke 7:18-28)
18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
Hymn of the Day “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Calling” LSB # 345
1 Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding! "Christ is near," we hear it say.
"Cast away the works of darkness, All you children of the day!"
2 Startled at the solemn warning, Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, its sun, all sloth dispelling, Shines upon the morning skies.
3 See, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heav'n.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all, to be forgiv'n:
4 So, when next He comes in glory And the world is wrapped in fear,
He will shield us with His mercy And with words of love draw near.
5 Honor, glory, might, dominion to the Father and the Son
With the ever-living Spirit While eternal ages run!
Confession of Faith -- Nicene Creed
C: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only‐begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
P: Lord, in Your mercy
C: hear our prayer.
The 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
Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C: Amen.
Hymn of the Day “O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide” LSB #355
1. O Savior, rend the heavens wide; Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors bread down; Unbar the way to heaven’s crown.
2. O Father, light from heaven send; As morning dew, O Son, descend.
Drop down, you clouds, the life of spring; To Jacob’s line rain down the King.
3. O earth, in flow’ring bud be seen; Clothe hill and dale in garb of green.
Bring forth, O earth, a blossom rare, Our Savior, sprung from meadow fair.
4. O Fount of hope, how long, low long? When will You come with comfort strong?
O come, O come, Your throne forego; Console us in our vale of woe.
5. O Morning Star, O radiant Sun, When will our hearts behold Your dawn?
O Sun, arise; without Your light We grope in gloom and dark of night.
6. Sin’s dreadful doom upon us lies; Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
O come, lend us with mighty hand From exile to our promised land.
7. There shall we all our praises bring And sing to You, our Savior King;
There shall we laud You and adore Forever and forevermore.