Fourth Sunday in AdventSunday, December 20, 2020Divine Service 4, Page 203

Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church & School7308 Wedgewood DriveBlack Hawk, SD 57718

Pastor Randy Sturzenbecher

“We are baptized children of God, forgiven and redeemed by Jesus. We are His family, called together to receive His gifts and serve others.”

Office 787-6438, Cell 391-0428, ECC 791-1131Email: DSLCPastor@divineshep.org

DSLCSecretary@divineshep.org

Greetings to all in the Name of the Risen Lord!May our worship this glorious morning celebrate the joy and hope, peace and presence, of our Lord Jesus Christ, raised to life for us. We welcome all, especially our guests. If you do not have a church home please consider Divine Shepherd. We would love to have you as part of our family. Please take a minute and sign our guest book.

A prayer before WorshipThis is the day you have made, O Lord Jesus, a day of new life and eternal celebration! The stone is moved; death is defeated; heaven is open. As Your disciples first saw and believed Your victory over the tomb, so give us joy in the promise You made and keep for us: because You live, we live also! Amen.

The Lord’s SupperThe Lord’s Supper is celebrated by us this morning in the confession and gladness that, as our Lord says, He gives into our mouth not only bread and wine but His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord Jesus invites to His table those who trust His Words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth His death until He comes.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the blood of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. (1 Cor 11:28 ESV) Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar.  Any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or hold a confession differing from that of the Holy Scriptures, this congregation, and the Lutheran Church~Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the sacrament, are asked to speak with Pastor Sturzenbecher.

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355 O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide

5 O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,When will our hearts behold Your dawn?O Sun, arise; without Your lightWe grope in gloom and dark of night.

6 Sin’s dreadful doom upon us lies;Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.O come, lead us with mighty handFrom exile to our promised land.

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7 There shall we all our praises bringAnd sing to You, our Savior King;There shall we laud You and adoreForever and forevermore.

Confession & AbsolutionP 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.

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Introit

Shower, O heavens, | from above,*and let the clouds rain down | righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may | bear fruit;*

let the earth cause them | both to sprout.The heavens declare the glo- | ry of God,*

and the sky above proclaims his | handiwork.Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end | of the world.*

In them he has set a tent | for the sun,which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his | chamber,*

and, like a strong man, runs its | course with joy.Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the | end of them,*

and there is nothing hidden | from its heat.Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.Shower, O heavens, | from above,*

and let the clouds rain down | righteousness;let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may | bear fruit;*

let the earth cause them | both to sprout.

Kyrie LSB 204

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Salutation and Collect of the Day

Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 18:15–1915“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.’”

A This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

Catechetical ReviewThe CreedThe IntroductionOur Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

Epistle Philippians 4:4–74Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all

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understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 A This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

Common Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel John 1:19–2819This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I 7

am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

 P This is the Gospel of the Lord.C Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene CreedC 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.

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     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.

Magnificat LSB 248

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SermonPrayer of the Church “Hear Our Prayer”Offering

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Preface LSB 208P The Lord be with you.C And also with you.P Lift up your hearts.C We lift them to the Lord.P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Sanctus LSB 208

Prayer of Thanksgiving

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

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deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen

The Words of Our Lord

Pax DominiP The peace of the Lord be with you always.C Amen.

Agnus Dei LSB 210

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332 Savior of the Nations, Come

5 God the Father was His source,Back to God He ran His course.Into hell His road went down,Back then to His throne and crown.

6 For You are the Father’s SonWho in flesh the vict’ry won.By Your mighty pow’r make wholeAll our ills of flesh and soul.

7 From the manger newborn lightShines in glory through the night.Darkness there no more resides;In this light faith now abides.

D 8 Glory to the Father sing,Glory to the Son, our king,

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Glory to the Spirit beNow and through eternity.

357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

5 O come, Thou Key of David, come,And open wide our heav’nly home;Make safe the way that leads on high,And close the path to misery. Refrain

6 O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

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

7 O come, Desire of nations, bindIn one the hearts of all mankind;Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,And be Thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

Tune and text: Public domain

Nunc Dimittis LSB 211

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Post-Communion CollectA Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Benedicamus & Benediction LSB 212A Let us bless the Lord.C Thanks be to God.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.

803 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

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Tune and text: Public domain

Divine Shepherd Announcements

Ever wonder what it's like to be Lutheran in different places? A podcast called The Lutheran Cartographer explores different places through interviewing pastors and laymen. 

Pastor Sturzenbecher was recently a guest: listen at LutheranCartographer.com/48

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Each episode, we'll find out what it's like being a Lutheran where they are. We'll also find out more about the area--what's good, what's bad and what it's like to raise a family there. We'll also talk about the hidden gems of the area: perfect for planning your next vacation.   Get the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or LutheranCartographer.com

Advent ServicesWednesday Services 5:30 pmChristmas Eve 4:00 & 6:00 pmChristmas Day 9:00 amNew Year’s Eve 6:00 pmNo Family Dinner during Advent and on December 30th!

Poinsettia in Honor/Memory of:18

1) Dale & Mary Heidelberger2) Rob & Teresa Grass3) Daren & Becky LeFebre4) Dennis & Joni Mercer5) Loreeta Pepper, Dale Pepper & Family, Donna Wolff & Family6) Ardella Berg In Memory of Ron7) Ruth Sperlich In Memory of Leonard Sperlich, Larry

Larson, and Lisa Godfrey8) Earl & Janell McKinstry9) Diann Dobbs In Memory of Tracy Dobbs10) Rick & Connie Rathert In Memory of their Parents11) Lynn Seifert In Memory of Mark Seifert12) The Ulmer Family In Memory of Ed Ulmer13) Lillian HalvorsonIn Memory of Joel & Mikey Halvorson14) Jane & David Lundin In Memory of Hank Lundin & Susan

Warner15) Gary & Marilyn Suckut In Memory of our Parents: Fred

& Helen Nevland and Willis & Anna Mae Suckut

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