Redeemer Virtual Worship | Third Sunday in Advent (Dec. 13, 2020)

Annual Budget Meeting + Fellowship | 10:30am

WORSHIP LEADERS:
The Rev. Dr. Sharon Kelly, interim pastor
Alyssa, Mark, and Elizabeth Hanson, readers
Alyssa Schwitzer and Steven Hobert, musicians
Amy Koopman, intercessor & videographer
Dave Scharnhorst, audio engineer

Third Sunday of Advent | December 13, 2020

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DECEMBER MEMBERS!
Birthday song by Bill Dexheimer Pharris

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
 We pray: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. Your prophets spoke of a day when the desert would blossom and waters would break forth in the wilderness. Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath. Strengthen our hearts as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. May he give water to all who thirst, 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 the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

HYMN: All Earth Is Hopeful

THE WORD
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
    1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
    8 For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
L: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negeb. 
5 Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves. 

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.
  23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
L: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God

Gospel Acclamation: Soon and Very Soon

The Holy Gospel According to John 1:6-8, 19-28
C: Glory to you, O Lord
    6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
    19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, 
“I 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. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
P: The Gospel of the Lord C: Praise to you, O Christ

SERMON: Pastor Kelly

HYMN: Somebody's Knockin' at Your Door

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
...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: Beloved of God, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God