MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES December 9 & 16, 2015

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church

Burlington, Wisconsin

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PRESERVICE MUSIC (DEC. 9-6:30) ST. JOHN’S GRADE SCHOOL BAND

LEAD US TO YOUR LIGHT The cantor / choir introduces the refrain.

The congregation repeats the refrain and sings it again as indicated.

The cantor / choir sings the stanzas.

Lord, we await your coming to our world;

Bring us the gift of salvation. Refrain

Lord, you are hope and healing for our world;

Come, now, and bring us your good news. Refrain

Come, O come, O come, Emmanuel.

Come with us on earth here to dwell. Refrain

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit.

Welcome to worship at St. John’s! May this

quiet evening service bring you peace as

you continue on the Advent path that leads

to the birth of Christ.

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M: As we begin our Advent worship, God readies our hearts to

hear his Word. He forgives our sins so that we might

prepare for his coming with thankful praise and serve him

and each other with humble joy.

CONFESSION OF SINS M: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the

truth is not in us.

C: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will

forgive us our sins and purify us from all

unrighteousness.

M: Let us confess our sins to the Lord.

C: Holy God, gracious Father,

I acknowledge that I am sinful by nature

And confess that I have sinned against you

In my thoughts, words, and actions.

I have failed to do the good you command;

Instead, I have done the evil you forbid.

I have not loved you with my whole heart;

I have not loved others as myself.

I deserve your punishment both now and forever.

But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins

With his holy life and innocent death.

Trusting in him, I plead:

God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

(Repeat the refrain: Lead us to your light…)

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M: Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of

God’s kingdom. Lord, have mercy.

M: You come in Word and Sacrament to forgive our sins and

strengthen us in holiness. Christ, have mercy.

M: You will come in glory with salvation for your people. Lord,

have mercy.

M: Almighty God, have mercy on us, forgive our sins, and

bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

ABSOLUTION M: Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He

sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the

atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore,

as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive

you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. (Repeat the refrain: Lead us to your light…)

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EVENING COLLECT

M: O God our Father, by your mercy and might the world turns

safely into darkness and returns again to light. We place into

your hands our unfinished tasks, our unsolved problems,

and our unfulfilled hopes, knowing that only what you bless

will prosper. To your great love and protection we commit

each other and all those we love, knowing that you alone are

our sure defender; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen. (Repeat the refrain: Lead us to your light…)

LESSON AND PRAYER

December 9 Psalm 85 For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1 You, LORD, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes

of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all

their sins. 3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce

anger.

4 Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your dis-

pleasure toward us. 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you

prolong your anger through all generations? 6 Will you not revive

us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your un-

failing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation.

8 I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace

to his people, his faithful servants — but let them not turn to folly. 9

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may

dwell in our land.

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10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and

peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

and righteousness looks down from heaven. 12 The LORD will

indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. 13

Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

M: God of love and faithfulness, you showed favor to your

people by sending your one and only Son to be our Savior.

Help us to trust in him as our gracious Redeemer and so

enjoy the peace he came to bring, who lives and reigns with

you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

December 16 Psalm 71: 1-6, 15-24 1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to

shame. 2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your

ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can

always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and

my fortress. 4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,

from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my

confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you

brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving

acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all. 16 I

will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will

proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. 17 Since my youth,

God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous

deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to

all who are to come.

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who

have done great things. Who is like you, God? 20 Though you have

made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life

again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 21

You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.

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22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my

God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. 23

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you

have delivered. 24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day

long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame

and confusion.

M: Lord God, support us all the years of our lives that we may

follow your gracious will both in good times and bad, that

our lives may be an unending testimony to your love and

faithfulness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY December 9 “Jesus, Your Church with Longing Eyes” CW 9

December 16 “Prepare the Royal Highway” CWS 702 (PG. 11)

MY SON, MY SAVIOR December 9 Mary’s childhood through John the Baptist

December 16 The wedding at Cana through Easter Sunday

ADVENT OFFERING

ADVENT PRAYERS

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Minister chants the following prayers

M: O Lord, support us all day long, till the shadows lengthen

and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and

the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then in your

mercy, grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at

the last, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

M: Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, and illumi-

nate this night with your celestial brightness, that by night

as by day your people may glorify your holy name, through

Jesus Christ our Lord.

LORD’S PRAYER

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GOSPEL CANTICLE

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SONG OF SIMEON

BLESSING

M: The almighty and merciful Lord — the Father, the Son,

and the Holy Spirit — bless us and keep us.

C: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN

December 9 “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord” CW 28

December 16 “My Soul in Stillness Waits” CWS 703 (PG. 12)

Ministers: Rev. Daniel Waldschmidt & Rev. Kirk Lahmann

Organist: Rosanne Hahn

Grade School Band Director: Keith Wordell

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