Order of Worship

Prelude

Advent WreathLeader: The Lord be with youAnd also with youLet us give thanks to the Lord our GodIt is right to give our thanks and praise.We give you thanks, O God, for your creative power present in darknessIn the beginning when the world was a formless void, your spirit hovered over the darkness of the surface of the deep and by your commands the world became teeming with life.In the darkness of Mary’s womb you knit together your Son, Jesus, incarnate of flesh and blood, God with us.In the darkness of the tomb, before the first light of Easter, in the shadows of a graveyard you rose again with a love and a power greater than death. May your holy mysteries be ever more present with us in the beauty of the darkness of this season.Amen.

As we light the second candle, we thank you for the darkness of the wilderness that lets us witness the stars. We thank you for John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness that the Lord is coming. May the presence of these two candles’ light let us more clearly see the ways you are already coming into our world through the darkness.

Confession & ForgivenessBlessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all of creation.Amen.Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.Silence is kept for reflection.

Faithful God,have mercy on us.We confess that we are captive to sinand cannot free ourselves.We turn from your loving embraceand go our own ways.We pass judgment on one anotherbefore examining ourselves.We place our own needs before those of our neighbors.

We keep your gift of salvation to ourselves.Make us humble, cast away our transgressions,and turn us again to life in youthrough Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.God hears the cries of all who call out in need,and through his death and resurrection,Christ has made us his own.Hear the truth that God proclaims:Your sins are forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ.Led by the Holy Spirit, live in freedom and newnessto do God’s work in the world.Amen.

Prayer of the Day Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.

Reading: Isaiah 40:1-111Comfort, O comfort my people,  says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,  and cry to her that she has served her term,  that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD’s hand  double for all her sins.

 3A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,  make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up,  and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level,  and the rough places a plain. 5Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,  and all people shall see it together,  for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

 6A voice says, “Cry out!”  And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass,

  their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades,  when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;  surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades;  but the word of our God will stand forever. 9Get you up to a high mountain,  O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength,  O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,  lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah,  “Here is your God!” 10See, the Lord GOD comes with might,  and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him,  and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd;  he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom,  and gently lead the mother sheep.

Gospel: Mark 1:1-81The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,  who will prepare your way; 3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,  make his paths straight,’ ”4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Sermon How do you get comfort when you need it? I've heard people talk about comfort food: you know, the meals that always make you feel better once you've had a plate full. Children often have comfort objects: a blanket or a stuffed animal that soothes

them when they are upset. Many of us have comfort people: those trusted few you can reach out to any time of any day and they will be there for you.

In Isaiah, we come face-to-face with a comfort God. The Israelites who first heard these words were in exile. That is, it was a period when the arm of the Babylonian Empire had reached all the way to Jerusalem, dragging many of the Israelites back to Babylon, captives to a conquering army. Not only had the Babylonians conquered Israel, they had destroyed the city of Jerusalem, even the Temple itself. The people were crushed. They had lost their homes, their families, their Temple.

In the depths of despair, people turn to God. When nothing else can give strength, hope, or courage. When loss overwhelms. When there are no other options. That's when we so often turn to God. And what does God do? God comforts, like a school nurse patching up a kid after a gym class collision. God comforts, like a friend who drives over to your place just to listen. God comforts, like a pet snuggled close at the end of a long, hard day.

We all need comfort sometimes. I'd go so far as to say that most of us need it more often than we're willing to ask for it. Yet, God chooses to be described here as a comforter. God knows that we need a comfort God. 

Perhaps that's especially true for you right now. Do you need comfort? God is with you, ready to give it. Take this comfort now: your Heavenly Father loves you. Jesus Christ, Immanuel, is God-with-us. The Holy Spirit forgives and washes away all your sin. Comfort, comfort, dear child of God

CreedI 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 God of power and might, comfort your people and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.A brief silence.Faithful God, you teach us to wait for you with faithfulness and patience. Sustain and support us in our doubts and questions. Nurture our faith as we discern and enact your mission. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Loving God, you set the stars in the sky and breathe life into the earth. Renew the face of creation where it is in need of your healing touch. Mend the wounds of environmental damage and restore balance to ecosystems so that all creation can declare your praise. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Steadfast God, you never tire of seeking justice. Where people suffer from discrimination, judgment, and injustice, speak words of truth and comfort. We pray especially for . . . (current local, national, or international issues of peace or justice may be named). Lead us toward a world where faithfulness will sprout underfoot and righteousness rain down from above. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Leading God, you ask us to make uneven ground smooth. Make even the disparities between your people. Sustain and support people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Accompany disability advocates who work for a world accessible to all.

Teach us to celebrate the great diversity in our midst. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Tender God, you know sorrow and joy alike. We pray for those in our families and congregation who are not joyful in this holiday season. Comfort those who grieve, be a companion to all who are lonely, tend those who are sick or struggling with depression, and gather all people in your healing embrace. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.Eternal God, we give thanks for the saints who have prepared your way in the wilderness and taught us to continue their faithful work (especially Nicholas of Myra). Make their generous lives an example for all. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Communion: spokenThe Lord be with you.And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,that we should at all times and in all placesgive thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,through our Savior Jesus Christ.You comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer,through whom you will also make all things newin the day when he comes to judge the world in righteousness.And so, with all the choirs of angels,with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,As we wait for the return of our Lord, we share the meal he gave us:In the night in which he was betrayed,our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,and gave it for all to drink, saying:This cup is the new covenant in my blood,shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.Do this for the remembrance of me.Now, people of God gathered here and online, hear these words of promise: “This is the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you.”

Let us pray.God for whom we wait, in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day when the hungry will be fed with good things. Send us forth to make known your deeds and to proclaim the greatness of your name, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

DismissalThe God of steadfastness and encouragementgrant you to live in harmony with one another,in accordance with Christ Jesus.The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.The God of all grace ☩ bless you now and forever. Amen.

Go in peace to love the Lord your God, your neighbor, and yourself.Thanks be to God.

Postlude“Go in peace! Please leave promptly, beginning from the back toward the front. God bless you and keep you from all danger.”

Announcements:Christmas WorshipBecause Cedar County Covid-19 rates remain high, Christmas Eve worship will be distributed online. We will miss gathering this year in hopes that remaining in our own homes helps protect our communities from disease. We trust that God is with us, no matter what. The service will be available on our website: www.trinitytipton.org, and will include some special music as well as readings, communion, and candle lighting during Silent Night. If you need candles for your household, contact Pastor Beth to arrange a candle drop-off at your home before Christmas Eve.

LSI Christmas GiftsWe have an opportunity to make Christmas special for families who have received family support services through LSI this year. A list of families and gift ideas is available for anyone who would like to contribute. Contact Sally Kruse for details.

Advent Bible studyWant to dig into some of the themes of Advent and what they show us about God’s character? Join for a two-part study digging into themes like “hope” and “peace” on December 6 & 13 from 12-1 on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3969735148).

January book groupAdults, here’s an opportunity to learn and grow in faith: a two-part book study. We'll read the C.S. Lewis classic, "Mere Christianity," which has influenced the faith of Christians since its publication in 1952. Grab a copy from your favorite bookstore or library, and read it in time to discuss via Zoom on January 10 & 17 from 4-5pm.

Thrivent

Thrivent members- remember to go to Thrivent.com (to the Generosity heading) to direct Thrivent how you want your 'Choice Dollars" spent for 2020. You have until March to do this. Our church and other organizations have been financially strapped during the pandemic so this is way to help them. Also, remember to organize up to 2 "Action Team" projects per year to help families, give food/clothing, help a school, etc. to aid those in need in our community. Thanks, Brenda Emick-Herring

Trinity’s Endowment Promise FundTrinity's Promise Endowment Fund is now taking requests for the 2020-2021 distribution of funds.  Request must be made using the Distribution Request Form available by contacting the church or a committee member.  Requests must be turned in by January 31, 2021.  Trinity's Promise Endowment Fund was begun with a gift from Pastor Sondrell's estate.  The interest from the fund is distributed each year via approved gift requests.  These funds are used to support the ongoing mission of Trinity Lutheran Church for local, national and global projects that advance the works of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Projects that have been supported in the past are computer and gaming equipment for The Gathering, the Trinity Youth Mission Trip to the reservations in South Dakota, Tents and cooking stoves for Boy Scout Troop 76, funding for an automated door at the Senior Center and equipment for Cedar Manor and the automated door and sidewalk project at Trinity.  If you would like to make a contribution to the Endowment Fund you may contact Pastor Beth or one of the committee members and they can help you with that also.  Committee Members are Laurie Brandenburg, Chairperson, Mike Herring, Treasurer, Beth Ahrens, Secretary, Charline Thumm, J.W. Wartick and Pastor Beth.  

Council LetterDear Beloved Congregation,As your Church Council, we would like to thank everyone for understanding and adapting to the many changes in our faith life.  Pastor Beth has been very innovative in leading worship and supporting all the ministries of our congregation.We are thankful for those who have donated at such a difficult time, especially when personal finances may be stretched thin. The council has been carefully watching Trinity’s budget.  We received a stimulus check in April to help with salaries and we have cut back on expenses where we can.  However, our monthly expenses have been averaging about $1000 a month more than our offerings. We wanted you to be aware of our financial situation. Please prayerfully consider if you can provide extra support for Trinity's ongoing mission at this time.Yours in faith,