Advent Midweek 2 12/13
MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP
December 13, 2023
MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
COMPLINE
7:30 p.m.
✠ ✠ ✠
PRELUDE Lift Up Your Heads, You Everlasting Doors
Setting: Bret A. Heim CPH 2019
WELCOME
OPENING VERSE (Stand) LSB 253
The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.
Amen.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
to herald Your love in the morning,
Your truth at the close of the day.
CONFESSION LSB 254
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence for self-examination.
I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray God Almighty to have mercy on me, forgive me all my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.
The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all your sins. Amen.
I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray God Almighty to have mercy on me, forgive me all my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.
The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all your sins.
Amen.
ADVENT HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, You Everlasting Doors LSB 339
1 Lift up your heads, you everlasting doors,And weep no more! O Zion’s daughter, sing, To greet your coming King;Now wave the victor’s palmAnd sing the ancient psalm: “Lift up your heads, you everlasting gates!” Your King awaits!
2 Who is this King of great and glorious fame?What is His name? Lord God of Sabaoth, Of whom the prophets wrote,Whose chosen, humble steedDeclares Him king indeed! Hosanna, Lord! Messiah, come and save From sin and grave.
3 Who may ascend Mount Zion’s holy hillTo do God’s will? The One whose unstained hands Can meet the Law’s demands,Whose purity withinReveals One free from sin. Come, praise this King who claims the cross as throne— Praise Him alone!
4 “Worthy is Christ!” The Lamb who once was slainNow lives to reign. He rules our earthly ways As Lord of Ancient Days—O join the endless songSung by the ransomed throng: “Worthy is Christ!” The Lamb be praised again! Amen! Amen!
FIRST READING (Be seated) Daniel 7:11-14
I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORY (Stand) LSB 255
Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into Your hands I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
Into Your hands I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into Your hands I commend my spirit.
GOSPEL READING Mark 2:1-12
The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 2nd chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
When [Jesus] returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ
SERMON (Be seated)
ADVENT HYMN (Stand) Arise, O Christian People LSB 354
1 O Lord, how shall I meet You,
How welcome You aright?
Your people long to greet You,
My hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord most holy,
Your lamp within my breast
To do in spirit lowly
All that may please You best.
2 Your Zion strews before You
Green boughs and fairest palms;
And I too will adore You
With joyous songs and psalms.
My heart shall bloom forever
For You with praises new
And from Your name shall never
Withhold the honor due.
3 I lay in fetters, groaning;
You came to set me free.
I stood, my shame bemoaning;
You came to honor me.
A glorious crown You give me,
A treasure safe on high
That will not fail or leave me
As earthly riches fly.
4 Love caused Your incarnation;
Love brought You down to me.
Your thirst for my salvation
Procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling,
That led You to embrace
In love, all love excelling,
Our lost and fallen race.
OFFERING (Be seated)
THE PRAYERS (Kneel) LSB 256-257
NUNC DIMITTIS LSB 258
Guide us waking, O Lord,
and guard us sleeping
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep we may rest in peace.
Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace;
Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people:
a light to reveal You to the nations
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.
Guide us waking, O Lord,
and guard us sleeping
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep we may rest in peace.
BENEDICTION LSB 259
The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the ✠ Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Arise, O Christian People
Setting: Jeffrey Blersch CPH 2018
Those serving:
Greeter: Jim Easterly
Reader: Dede Dixon
AV/Streaming: Richard Irwin
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2023 Concordia Publishing House.
399 The Star Proclaims the King Is Here Text: Coelius Sedulius, 5th cent.; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt. Tune: Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert, 1535, Wittenberg, ed. Joseph Klug Text and tune: Public domain
354 Arise, O Christian People Text: Valentin Thilo, 1607–62; tr. Arthur T. Russell, 1806–74, alt. Tune: New Catechismus Gesangbüchlein, 1598, Hamburg, alt. Text and tune: Public domain
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS AT ST. PAUL’S
2023
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES
December 6, 10, 10 at 7:00 p.m.
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Christmas Eve Worship – Sunday, December 24
10:00 a.m. Regular Communion Service
5:00 p.m. Candlelight service for families
7:30 p.m. Pre-service Music
8:00 p.m. Candlelight service with Holy Communion
Christmas Day Worship – Monday, December 25
10:00 a.m. Celebration of Christ’s Birth
with Holy Communion
