Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
December 20, 2020 Fourth Sunday in Advent
**INVOCATION (Matthew 28:19)
**CONFESSION/ABSOLUTION (1 John 1:8-9)
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People: But, if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(silence for reflection and self examination)
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your most Holy Name. Amen.
Pastor: God in His mercy has given His Son to die for His sake….
**KYRIE ELEISON
Pastor: …in peace let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
**PRAYER FOR TODAY
Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
HYMN ~ LSB#363, “Silent Night, Holy Night”
1 Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
2 Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
3 Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light,
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
EPISTLE READING Philippians 4:4-7
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear. Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel! (LSB#357)
**THE GOSPEL Luke 1:39-56
**WHAT WE BELIEVE The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again
from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
SERMON HYMN ~ TFBF#194 “It is Well with My Soul,”
1 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way;When sorrows, like sea billows, roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Refrain
ref It is well (It is well)
with my soul, (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate And hath shed His own blood for my soul. Refrain
3 He lives—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain
4 And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend;
Even so it is well with my soul. Refrain
THE MESSAGE
OFFERTORY
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit
SONG~ “O, Holy Night”
1.) O holy night The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world In sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees O hear the angel voices
O night divine O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine
2.) Led by the light Of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts By His cradle we stand
So led by light of A star sweetly gleaming
Here came the wise men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials, born to be our Friend
He knows our need To our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend
3.) Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Long live His truth, and may it last forever,
For in His name all discordant noise shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Fall on your knees O hear the angel voices
O night divine O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL & LORD’S PRAYER
PREFACE
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is good and right so to do.
Pastor It is truly, good, right and salutary…
People: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
**WORDS OF INSTITUTION & PEACE OF THE LORD
**AGNUS DEI
O Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. O Christ the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. O Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; Grant us your peace. A–men.
DISTRIBUTION
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE
People: Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Pastor: O give thanks to the Lord for He is good!
People: And His mercy endures forever.
BENEDICTION (Numbers 6:24-27)