Fourth Sunday of Advent
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
DECEMBER 19, 2021
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FALLS CHURCH, VA
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PRELUDE Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel Setting: Chuck Marohic
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN (Stand) #357 Sts. 1, 4-7 Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear. Refrain
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
4 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. Refrain
5 O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. Refrain
6 O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Refrain
7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace. Refrain
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your Holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin, be our advocate in heaven, and bring us to eternal life. Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, resolved to keep God’s commandments and to live in love and peace with all.
(Silence for reflection)
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we confess that we have sinned against You and against our neighbor in thought, word and deed; through negligence, through weakness, and through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us on the cross, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may serve You in newness of life, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
KYRIE (Kyrie eleison means “Lord have mercy”) (LSB #943)
Kyrie, Kyrie eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie eleison.
For peace in our hearts as we gather for worship, and for the peace of the whole world and the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord:
Kyrie, Kyrie eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie eleison.
For the proclamation of the Gospel in this and every place and for the calling of all to faith, let us pray to the Lord:
Kyrie, Kyrie eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie eleison.
For grace to await our Lord’s coming again in glory, and for the joyful anticipation of his coming into our hearts today, let us pray to the Lord:
Kyrie, Kyrie eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie eleison.
HYMN OF PRAISE (omitted during this penitential season)
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. 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.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 80:1-7 (Read responsively)
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might and come to save us!
Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!
O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.
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 beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
SECOND LESSON Hebrews 10:5-10
When Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL VERSE (Stand) # 338 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1 Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of ev’ry nation,
Joy of ev’ry longing heart.
GOSPEL Luke 1:39-45
The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 1st chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
Lucy & Ethel. Laverne & Shirley. Thelma & Louise. These are pairs of spirited women that became well-known characters in the world of entertainment. You may have seen the shows. Or the movie.
The Gospel lesson just read also describes a pair of spirited women: Mary and Elizabeth. But these women were spirited in a mostly different way. According to the scriptures, Mary and Elizabeth were filled with the Holy Spirit.
For our sermon today, let’s examine these references to the Spirit and think about what they mean and what they have to teach us.
Mary, we read, was told by an angel, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” By these words the angel was explaining how Mary would become pregnant. According to the angel the pregnancy would happen soon, and Mary wanted to know how this could be, since she was a virgin.
“Conceived by the Holy Spirit” is the way we describe it in the Creed. And by this phrase we don’t mean that the Spirit merely conceived an idea in a man and a woman to have a child. No, this phrase refers to the miraculous virgin birth of our Lord Jesus. This birth took place by means of the Spirit, without a man.
It sounds too outrageous even for Hollywood! But truth is often stranger than fiction. And the birth is certainly fitting. Jesus’ birth was like none other because he himself is like none other.
You may recall that Mary expressed some fear upon first being approached by the angel. But she also quickly accepted the angel’s message with faith, saying: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Perhaps that faith was bolstered by something else the angel said. Not only would the Holy Spirit come upon her, but “the power of the Most High would overshadow her.” And here Mary had a clue about God’s care for her, for the idea of being overshadowed by the Most High recalls a great promise given in Psalm 91. That promise, which has comforted so many, says: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Mary was literally going to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And this would involve fear, discomfort, and challenge, with the pregnancy only the beginning of it. But Mary would be okay, too. For God would be near her – as near as if she was standing in his shadow.
After some time, Mary then left her home to go to visit Elizabeth, her older relative. When Mary arrived and greeted her, the Spirit moved again. And this time it was Elizabeth who was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Like Mary, Elizabeth was pregnant. And her pregnancy came as a surprise too, for Elizabeth was well advanced in years. Her husband, Zechariah, had also been approached by an angel. But Zechariah’s response had not been as trusting as Mary’s and the couple had kept quiet about the baby. Zechariah was quiet because he couldn’t speak. That was his penalty for not believing. And Elizabeth, we are told, “for five months kept herself hidden,” even as she inwardly rejoiced in the coming birth of her child.
And then Mary appeared for her visit. When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And this was no mere coincidence. For at that moment too, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that was within Mary – the Holy Spirit – was doing what the Spirit always does – moving people to recognize and respond to God.
Baby John, not yet born, still within his mother, was moved to leap. And mother Elizabeth, quiet until that time, was moved to loudly rejoice and give praise to God. She gave praise as she said to Mary: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” And she gave praise, too, by referring to Mary as “the mother of my Lord.” Elizabeth knew the special nature of Mary’s child, and she knew the many blessings of that visitation. Her words of praise therefore flowed in many directions – praising God for his faithfulness, praising Mary for her faith, and praising Mary’s child by calling him Lord.
Mary, for her part, then offered words of praise herself – words that we did not read in our Gospel text but which we will soon sing in our hymn of the day, words known as the Magnificat.
These words of Mary contain many powerful messages and are always worthy of close inspection and meditation. But today I’d like us to continue our examination of the visitation.
Reading through these verses and considering the story told here should impact us in many ways. One of the ways is by serving as a reminder that children in the womb matter. Here we have two children yet unborn who are very much alive and whom God was already using to send messages to his people. Life begins in the womb and should be respected as such.
And there are many other ways this story should impact us as well. One way to consider these is to note how the story has been captured and presented by different artists over the years.
Our own National Gallery of Art has many settings of this scene in its permanent collection. One of the more famous of these is The Visitation with Saint Nicholas and Saint Anthony Abbot, painted in the late 15th century by Italian artist Piero di Cosimo. While this artist is known for employing some rather unique features, and some of these appear in this painting too, overall it is a fairly typical display of the subject.
In it, Mary and Elizabeth are front and center, dominating the scene. They are pictured side by side, young and old, holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes. They obviously have a strong bond they share.
And what is this bond? Some commentators on the painting will quickly point out that the two other persons pictured – Saint Nicolaus and Saint Anthony Abbot – found in the lower front corners of the painting like so many other sub-characters or patrons depicted in that day, aren’t looking at the women. Nicolaus is reading a book. Anthony is writing. In the words of one commentator, “Nicholas and Anthony can hardly be bothered as they sit on opposite ends at the foreground.”
The implication of that comment is that Mary and Elizabeth are being ignored by these great men. And if that’s the case, then their bond is that of two women, living in a man’s world, with struggles men don’t understand, who at least have each other.
That, of course, is just one interpretation. But one that many come to – especially in these modern times. And it’s an interpretation which has some merit. For men, in fact, do often ignore women, and don’t seem to understand their needs and concerns, especially when it comes to childbirth. They go off to work, reading and writing and becoming celebrated saints, while women have to bear and care for the children.
But is this the message we’re to take from the visitation? It’s certainly not the primary one. And I would be surprised if it were di Cosimo’s main concern as well. In his painting, it seems to me that Nicholas and Anthony are not ignoring the women but simply engrossed in their work. And their work, of course, flows from the message in which Mary and Elizabeth played such a large role. Nicholas and Anthony would have both been very cognizant of these women’s importance and would have honored them at every turn.
St. Nicholas, pictured here with the three gold balls which he was said to have given to a family in need, here symbolizes the generous and unconditional love of Christ. That love was nourished in Nicholas by people like Mary and Elizabeth, who were both such great examples of how one shares it. Inspired by their actions, Nicholas wishes to do his part. His focus conveys his commitment, not his disregard.
St. Anthony, the originator of monasticism, here recalls the life of St. John the Baptist as a voice in the desert who cries: “Prepare the way for the Lord.” Anthony, too, builds on the lives and service of Mary and Elizabeth and has much to tell about the story of which they were a part. He will be organizing and forming dedicated servants of the story. There is much work to do. The women are both his inspiration and his subject.
With this interpretation, the bond between these two women becomes something else. The reason it is so strong and knowing is that they both understand their important role in God’s great act of salvation. They are joyful and fearful at the same time. And they are both very happy to be with someone else who understands what’s happening to them.
Elizabeth will bring forth the voice in the wilderness – the one calling people to repentance. She will raise him, teach him, nurture him, provide for him so that he can do his part and God’s salvation will be accomplished. What a calling! What a joy!
Likewise, Mary will bring forth the Savior of the world himself. She, too, will raise this child, teach him, nurture him, provide for him so that he can do his part. Her work is critical. And of the greatest significance. What a calling! What a joy!
And yet things won’t be easy. There will be difficult days ahead. Some of these days are depicted in the background of di Cosimo’s painting – including the humble birth of Jesus in a stable and the slaughter of the innocents which Jesus narrowly escapes.
But God will be with them. And deliver them. He promised it would be so. As Elizabeth remarked, “there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken from the Lord.”
As you and I consider the messages given in the visitation, let us be sure to see, especially, the inspiration it gives us to find joy in our callings. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we have been called to do our work – whether reading, writing, parenting, painting, laboring, leading… whatever it is – while bearing the Lord Jesus in our hearts and being moved by his Spirit. We have been called to mirror Christ’s unconditional love and prepare his way into the hearts of others.
Our callings will not be easy. Some people will ignore us. Some will persecute us. Many won’t understand. And we will frequently be humbled.
But God will be with us. He will visit us with his presence – through his holy word, through his blessed sacraments, through his called and sanctified people. And we will abide in his shadow.
Along the way we will find strong and knowing bonds with others too – people who understand the unique calling we have as Christians. And we will rejoice with one another, weep with one another, encourage one another, inspire one another. All because we know Jesus as our Savior.
Elizabeth said: “And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She recognized the great privilege she had in being with Mary and her child.
May we also recognize those special times in which God comes to us. Times like Christmas. And times like a holy visit, from a Spirit-filled relative or a friend.
And may we, too, be spirited men and women ourselves – filled, used and led by the Holy Spirit. So that the joy of knowing the Savior may be shared among all.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) #933 My Soul Rejoices
1 My soul rejoices,
My spirit voices—
Sing the greatness of the Lord!
For God my Savior
Has shown me favor—
Sing the greatness of the Lord!
With praise and blessing,
Join in confessing
God, who is solely
Mighty and holy—
O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
His mercy surely
Shall rest securely
On all who fear Him,
Love and revere Him—
O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
2 His arm now baring,
His strength declaring—
Sing the greatness of the Lord!
The proud He scatters,
Their rule He shatters—
Sing the greatness of the Lord!
Oppression halted;
The meek exalted.
Full are the hungry;
Empty, the wealthy—
O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
Here is the token
All that was spoken
To Abr’ham’s offspring
God is fulfilling—
O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
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; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. 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. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He 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 (Be Seated)
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH (Stand)
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
O Lord, mighty God, there is none like You in holiness, constancy and might; yet, You exercise Your power for the salvation of sinners. As we draw near to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, fill our hearts with gratitude that Your Son humbled Himself and became flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, mighty God, Bethlehem was too small to be among the clans of Judah, yet from it came forth the King of kings. Remember the congregations of Your people where numbers are small and resources are scarce. Provide for their needs and remind them that the Lord of lords dwells among them in His Means of Grace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, mighty God, You make poor and You make rich. Receive our thanks for Your gifts of daily bread. Give us contentment with what You provide, preserve us from coveting what You do not give and grant that we would be wise stewards of Your blessings. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, mighty God, You sent Your Son to shepherd His flock in strength and to be great to the ends of the earth. Grant wisdom to our leaders and peace among the nations, that we may dwell secure until that day when we enter your perfect kingdom in the life which is to come. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, mighty God, You helped Your servant Israel, and Your mercy endures forever. Look upon those brought low by illness, injury, grief or other affliction [especially Eric P., Geraine A., Ann G., Arlo J., Sophia A., Dolly C., Melissa J., Gloria F., Norma B., Trudy W., Mary Ann W., June F., Peter F., Wendy M., Halle S., Arthur L., Ron J., Jim H, Linda L., Tawni H., Reaghann H., Jimmy C. and those we name in our hearts ____________]. Have mercy upon them, grant them healing and strength, and maintain in them the certain hope of Your faithfulness to them for Jesus’ sake. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, mighty God, You have sanctified us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, once for all, on the cross. Prepare the hearts of all who commune this day with penitence and trust in Your promises, and so make us holy with Your Son’s body and blood. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, mighty God, You have done great things for us, most of all delivering us from death to life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Mercifully hear our prayers and answer them according to Your will for the sake of Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION
PREFACE TO HOLY COMMUNION p. 160
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is truly good right and salutary…evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father:
Endless is Your mercy and eternal your reign.
You have filled all creation with light and life;
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Through Abraham you promised to bless all nations.
You rescued Israel, your chosen people.
Through the prophets you renewed your promise;
And, at this the end of all ages, you sent your Son,
Who in words and deeds proclaimed your kingdom
and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Therefore, gracious Father; with this bread and cup
We remember the life our Lord offered for us.
And believing the witness of his resurrection,
We await his coming in power to share with us
The great and promised feast.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and place,
And unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest
Until he comes as victorious Lord of all.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION (Be seated)
The Communion Assistant will come forward to receive first, then those from the pulpit side – by order of pew, front to back. Communicants will come up the center aisle and return via the side aisle. When all from the pulpit side have communed, the baptismal font side will commune in the same manner. Distancing must be maintained between all communicants. We ask that the wine be consumed away from the tray table. Empty cups should be dropped into the baskets.
COMMUNION MUSIC Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Setting: John Leavitt
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN #341 Sts. 1-2, 4-5 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits.
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here.
Life and salvation He doth bring;
Therefore rejoice and gladly sing.
To God the Father raise
Your joyful songs of praise.
2 A righteous Helper comes to thee;
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.
The end of all our woe He brings;
Therefore the earth is glad and sings.
To Christ the Savior raise
Your grateful hymns of praise.
4 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for heav’n’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
So shall your Sov’reign enter in
And new and nobler life begin.
To God alone be praise
For word and deed and grace!
5 Redeemer, come and open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
O enter with Thy grace divine;
Thy face of mercy on me shine.
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won.
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy name.
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates Setting: Jan Bender
Those serving:
Sunday, December 19, 8:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Christine M. Bell
Comm. assist: Dede Dixon
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Steve Janssen
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Lynn Jacquez
Acknowledgements
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 © 2021 Concordia Publishing House.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Text & Tune: Public domain
My Soul Rejoices Text: © 1991 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Public domain
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates Text & Tune: Public domain