MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP
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17, 2025
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+ ORDER OF WORSHIP + WELCOME
HYMN—O Lord, How Shall I Meet You
Christian Worship 324
Please stand
RESPONSIVE SENTENCES Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen. I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1) How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! (Psalm 84:1) Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. (Psalm 84:4) The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18) Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:7) The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. (Isaiah 40:5) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
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PRAYER Let us pray. Almighty God, grant to your Church the Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes from above. Let nothing hinder your Word from being freely proclaimed to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, so that we may serve you in steadfast faith and confess your name as long as we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please be seated
FIRST READING 4
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Isaiah 54:4-13
Do not be afraid, because you will not be put to shame. Do not be worried, because you will not be embarrassed. You will forget the shame of your youth, and you will never remember the disgrace of your widowhood, because your Maker is your husband. The Lord of Armies is his name. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of all the earth. Though you are like an abandoned wife with a wounded spirit, though you are like the wife from a man’s youth who has been rejected, the Lord is calling you back, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I am gathering you. In a flood of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but in everlasting mercy I will have compassion on you, says your Redeemer, the Lord. To me this is like the time of the waters of Noah. As I swore that the waters of Noah will never again cover the earth, so I am swearing that I will not be angry at you, and I will not rebuke you. For even if the mountains are removed, and the hills are overthrown, my mercy will not be removed from you, and my covenant of peace will not be overthrown, says the Lord, who is showing you mercy. Watch me, you afflicted woman, storm-tossed and not comforted, I will set your precious stones in black mortar and lay down sapphires as your foundation.
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I will decorate your parapets with rubies, your gates with sparkling stones, and your city boundaries with precious gems. All your children will be taught by the Lord, and the peace and prosperity of your children will be great.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
RESPONSIVE PSALM
Psalm 57
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, because my soul has taken refuge in you. In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge until destruction has passed by. I call to God Most High, to God, who completes his plans for me. He will send from heaven, and he will save me. He puts to shame the one who pants as he pursues me. God will send his mercy and his faithfulness. My life is spent among lions. I lie down among ferocious men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongue is a sharp sword. Be exalted above the heavens, O God. May your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my steps. My soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in front of me. They have fallen into it. My heart is steadfast, O God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing and I will make music. 3
Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O Lord. I will make music to you among the nations, because your great mercy reaches above the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. Be exalted above the heavens, O God. Let your glory be over all the earth.
PSALM PRAYER Lord Jesus, when the world around us assaults our souls and tempts us to cower in fear, keep us from retreating into ourselves. Move us instead to sing your praises among the peoples and raise our eyes to heaven where you rule with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
SECOND READING
Luke 2:8-14
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There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
HYMN—All Glory Be to God on High
SERMON
Christian Worship 935
The Angels’ Greatest Hit Luke 2:8-14
Please stand
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CONFESSION OF FAITH
Luther’s Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.
PRAYER Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness, come to my relief. Spare us, Lord, from the lies of the devil and the attacks of our conscience. Comfort and save us in your patient compassion. Have mercy on us, Jesus. Guide us, Lord, to the wisdom of your Word and the power of your promises. Take away our confusion and doubt. Have mercy on us, Jesus. Hear us, Lord, when we come to you in prayer. Make us confident to take you at your word and to follow you in faith. Have mercy on us, Jesus. Empower us, Lord, to walk in your ways and live in your truth. Fill us with your love, that we may love you and one another. Have mercy on us, Jesus. Almighty God, you gave your only Son to take on our humanity and to dwell among us. Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children in Baptism, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 5
LORD’S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING The almighty and merciful Lord—the Father, the (+) Son, and the Holy Spirit—bless us and keep us. Amen.
Please be seated
CLOSING HYMN—Angels We Have Heard on High
Christian Worship 346
Please fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder in your row. Thank you!
If you would like to leave an offering, you may place it in the offering plate located at the exit. Members of Grace respond to their Savior’s love with offerings that are given joyfully, generously, regularly, and in a way that is proportionate to how the Lord has blessed them. Their cheerful gifts support the mission and ministry of our congregation. If you are a guest today, please know that we do not expect you to contribute to our congregation’s work. However, if you would like to give an offering to the Lord in response to his love to you, we are happy to receive it and put it to work in God’s kingdom. If you prefer, use your smart phone to give online by scanning this QR code:
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY Minister .......................................................................................................................... Pastor Ron Koehler Accompanist ........................................................................................................................... Beth Kassulke Vocalist ...................................................................................................................Jeff Weinstein (7:00 PM) Usher .................................................................................................................. Dylan Guenther (7:00 PM) Sound and Recording Techs .................................................. Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler (7:00 PM) Copyright Information: Scripture readings are taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org
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HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Midweek Advent Services Wednesday, December 17 10:00 AM Grace-Benson (lunch following worship) 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita (supper at 5:00 PM) 10:00 AM & 7:00 PM Grace-Tucson (supper at 6:00 PM)
Wednesday, December 24 2:00 PM Benson Christmas Worship 4:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita Children’s Christmas Service
Christmas Day Worship Thursday, December 25 10:00 AM Grace-Sahuarita 10:00 AM Grace-Tucson
5:30 PM Grace-Tucson Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 6:00 PM Grace-Vail Christmas Candlelight Worship 7:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Wednesday, December 31 All-Site New Year’s Eve Worship 5:30 PM Grace-Sahuarita Followed by dinner & fellowship
OUR SERIES THEME—BIBLE SONGS OF CHRISTMAS People love Christmas music! It seems to be played earlier and earlier every year. There are many popular tunes, and some songs even have words that point us to the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus, our Savior. Did you know that the Bible has songs of Christmas? They were sung to announce Christ’s birth. We have only the words of those songs, not the music, but Christian composers through the ages have set those words to music. This year we look at the background and words of those songs to help us prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. Our midweek worship has followed this path: The Song of Mary The Song of Zechariah The Song of the Angels OUR THEME FOR TODAY—THE SONG OF THE ANGELS When the Bible was translated into Latin, “Gloria in excelsis Deo” were the first words of the song that the angels sang to the shepherds at Jesus’ birth. We sing those words in English in our liturgy: “Glory be to God on high.” The Song of the Angels is a compact, joyful proclamation of God’s glory, mercy, and salvation, centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. The “Gloria” is simply praise to God the Father, acknowledging his glory and peace given to those favored by his grace. It has in mind that Christ, God’s only Son, will take away the sin of the world. In Lutheran theology, the “Gloria” is a response of faith to God’s saving work, rejoicing in justification by grace through faith. It is not just praise but proclamation: Christ has come, and in him, we have peace with God.