WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex
and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your
faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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Second Sunday in Advent
December 6, 2020
Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting One (pages 151-166)
Hymns: #344, #347, #636, #349
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THE INTROIT
Ps. 80:1, 8a, 9b, 7; antiphon: Ps. 80:3
Restore us, / O God;
let Your face shine, that we / may be saved!
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph / like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, / shine forth.
You brought a vine out of / Egypt;
it took deep root and / filled the land.
Restore us, O / God of hosts;
let Your face shine that we / may be saved!
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.
Restore us, / O God;
Let Your face shine, that we / may be saved!
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH
The season of Advent is a time of repentance and prayer to make ready for the celebration of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem and His coming again at the end of the age. Week by week, as light gathers on our Advent wreath, we speak and sing words of hope.
P: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through Him.
C: He was not the Light, but came to bear witness about the Light. The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:6-9)
C: Blessed is He who comes in the name / of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we / bless you.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times didst give the Law, in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, free them from Satan’s tyranny That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
P: Let us pray.
C: Stir up, our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE FIRST READING 2 Isaiah 40:1-11 (ESV) Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a 4highwayforourGod. 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. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
GRADUAL
P: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of / Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Je- / rusalem. Behold, your King is com– / ing to you; righteous and having sal- / vation.
THE EPISTLE 2 Peter 3:8-14 (ESV)
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of Good, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for hese, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 1:1-8 (ESV)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
*ANNOUNCEMENTS *
ALTAR FLOWERS are placed to the glory of God by Ross and Lynn Betts in loving memory of Lynn’s mother, Marcia Droege.
TRI-PARISH ADVENT SERVICE - will be held on Wednesday, December 9th at 7pm at Bethel and Wednesday, December16th at 7pm at St. John’s.
TRI-PARISH CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE – will meet on Thursday, December 10th at St. John’s.
TRI-PARISH SEWING GROUP - is scheduled for Friday, December 11th at 1:30pm at Bethel.
CONGREGATION BUDGET MEETING—is scheduled for Sunday, December 13th after the service.
RESERVATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE—Please call the church at 412-486-5777 or put your name on the signup sheet, and how many people are coming, if you plan to attend Christmas Eve service at Bethel at 8:00pm.
TRI-PARISH CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE—is scheduled for 11 am at Zion.