Redeemer Virtual Worship | Second Sunday in Advent (Dec. 6, 2020)

Zoom Fellowship at 9:30am

WORSHIP LEADERS:
The Rev. Dr. Sharon Kelly, interim pastor
The Rev. Sally Ankerfelt, guest preacher
Sarah Stadie, reader
Alyssa Schwitzer, Emander Deward, vocalists
Steven Hobert, piano
Amy Koopman, intercessor & videographer
​Dave Scharnhorst, audio engineer

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                                    Second Sunday of Advent
                                 December 6, 2020

WELCOME 

PRELUDE/ LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH AND PRAYER (Hulden-Albanese Family) We pray: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. John the Baptist calls all people to prepare the Lord’s way for the kingdom of heaven is near. Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath. Baptize us with the fire of your Spirit, that we may be a light shining in the darkness welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us, for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.

ADVENT GREETING
Holy God, the Beginning and the Ending, our Hope as we wait, we praise you for joining us to your people of old. We bless you for your prophets who call us to righteousness and promise a new earth with peace for all. For the Word of your covenant, we thank you, O God. 
We thank you, O God.
We praise you for the coming of Jesus our Lord, who lifts up the lowly, heals the suffering world, and proclaims your way of mercy and truth.
For your Word who is Christ, we magnify you, O God. 
We magnify you, O God. Send your Spirit on all who receive your Word. Nurture our faith with your grace, accompany us with your might, and empower our zeal for your justice and joy. For your Word through the church, we praise you, O God. 
We praise you, O God.
 All praise to you, holy God, today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
We pray: 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.

HYMN: More

THE WORD
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First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak 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.
3 A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every 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. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get 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!” 10 See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He 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.

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (Read in unison)
8 Let me hear what God the Lordwill speak, for he will speak peace to his  
    people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
    righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
    and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord Will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a
8 Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
  11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
    14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15a and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
L: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God

Gospel Acclamation: Soon and Very Soon

The Holy Gospel According to Mark 1:1-8 (C: Glory to you, O Lord)
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And 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. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He 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. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
P: The Gospel of the Lord C: Praise to you, O Christ

SERMON: The Reverend Sally Ankerfelt

HYMN: He Came Down
 
CONFESSION of FAITH The Nicene Creed
     We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
     We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.
     We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets.
     We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
     We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
     We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER:
We pray: Generous God, you have created all that is, and you provide for us in every season. Bless all that we offer, that through these gifts the world will receive your blessing. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, we pray. Amen.
 
SHARING of the PEACE! 
The Peace of Christ be with you always! And also with you.

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
Lord, Listen to your children praying (TFF 247)
...Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (traditional)
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.
 
SENDING

BENEDICTION: 
The Creator of the stars bless your Advent waiting, the long-expected Savior fill you with love, the unexpected Spirit guide your journey, ☩ now and forever. Amen.

DISMISSAL:
May God’s peace be with you ‘til we meet again (2x)  
‘Til we reach that distant shore, and we shed a tear no more,
May God give you strength to endure 
‘Til we meet again (2x)

L: Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God


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