God Wi t h Us

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

IsaIah 7:14

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GOD WITH US

Opening Hymn ........................................................... St. Thomas SM

The advent of our King our prayers must now employ,and we must hymns of welcome sing in strains of holy joy.

The everlasting Son incarnate deigns to be;Himself a servant’s form puts on to set his servants free.

Daughter of Zion, rise to meet thy lowly King,Nor let thy faithless heart despise the peace he comes to bring.

As Judge, on clouds of light, he soon will come again,And all his scattered saints unite with him in heaven to reign.

Before the dawning day let sin’s dark deeds be gone;The old man all be put away, the new man all put on.

All glory to the Son who comes to set us free,With Father, Spirit, ever One, through all eternity.

An Advent Approach ............................................. A Scriptural Litany

P In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pio-neer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

C Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.

P So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.C Praise to you, O Immanuel!P Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their human-

ity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

C and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

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P For surely it is not angels he helps,C but Abraham’s descendants. P For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way,C in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high

priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

P Because he himself suffered when he was tempted,C he is able to help those who are being tempted.P Oh, come, oh, come, Immanuel!

Hymn ...............................................Veni, Emmanuel LM and refrain

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

Prayer of the DayP Almighty God, in the coming of Immanuel—God with us—you bring

us your gracious presence. We heed the sign of your coming in Jesus’ birth. Thank you for not only being with us but for us. Grant us faith to welcome you and worship you in this Advent season and always. We pray in the name of Immanuel, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Children’s Sermon

Old Testament Reading .............................................. Isaiah 7:10-14(Isaiah’s prophecy of the Promised One)

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray;Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the ancient prophets the great glad tidings tell;Oh come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!

Gospel Reading ...................................................... Matthew 1:18-23(Isaiah’s prophecy of the Promised One is revealed)

Savior of the nations, come; virgin’s Son, here make thy home!Marvel now, O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood; by the Spirit of our GodWas the Word of God made flesh, woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child of the virgin undefiled!Though by all the world disowned, still to be in heaven enthroned.

Brightly doth thy manger shine, glorious is its light divine.Let not sin o’ercloud this light; ever be our faith thus bright.

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By David Peter. Cover design by Jodi Hendrickson. © 2013 by Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. CLKA

Sermon

Offering

PrayersP With souls burdened by guilt and anxiety we anticipate your arrival.C Come so that your presence may comfort us, O Immanuel!P With lives broken by sin and shame we await your arrival.C Come so that your presence may restore us, O Immanuel!P With hearts saddened by trouble and loss we yearn for your arrival.C Come so that your presence may cheer us, O Immanuel!P With spirits weakened by despair and hopelessness we depend upon

your arrival.C Come so that your presence may empower us, O Immanuel!P Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel!C Amen.

Lord’s Prayer(Holy Communion, if celebrated, takes place at this time.)

Benediction

Closing Hymn .................................Veni, Emmanuel LM and refrain

Oh, come, thou Wisdom from on high, Who ord’rest all things mightily;

To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by thine advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, Immanuel! And free us from the curse of hell.

Make us to see your deity.And help us live in purity.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

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