Christ’s presence in our midst in the wonder of the holy supper is cause for singing.
The nearness of the God in prayer, in every circumstance, is cause for rejoicing. The
coming of one “more powerful” than John, even with a winnowing fork in hand, is
good news—and cause for exultation—for us who are being saved. Great joy is the
tone for the third Sunday of Advent.
GATHERING
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING REFLECTION
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
alive in the world,
reviving creation,
arriving soon.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God
and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God of mercy,
we confess that we have sinned.
We trust earthly powers and human authority alone.
We grow fearful. We cling to false comforts.
God of might,
we confess that we have sinned.
We have turned away from our neighbors.
We have trusted false promises.
God in our midst,
we confess that we have sinned.
We plead: come to us.
Bring your mercy to birth in us.
A righteous branch springs forth:
it is Christ the Lord, our Savior,
in whom we have forgiveness, life, and mercy.
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
receive the grace and forgiveness of God
through ☩ Christ Jesus,
whose day draws near.
Amen.
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray
Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the
preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the
fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OPENING HYMN “Awake, Awake, and Greet the New Morn” ELW #242
(Vs. 1 & 4)
One License #09936
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING Jennifer Weick
We have lit the first two candles, one for hope and one for peace. Today we light the
third candle, the candle of joy. This should be the easy one, because joy is all around
us—in the children, the lights, the music, the gathering together. But how often do
we let our preparations—or our memories—push joy to the side? Joy is like an
underground spring that wells up within us, but joy is also a choice, an attitude.
Like a muscle, it needs to be exercised. So today we open ourselves to joy, trusting
that God has already planted it in us. All we need to do is give it care and offer it to
share.
ADVENT HYMN “He Came Down” ELW #253
(Vs. 4)
CCLI #4679219
4 He came down that we may have joy;
he came down that we may have joy;
he came down that we may have joy;
hallelujah forevermore.
THIS IS CHRISTMAS
Celebrating the Heart of Christmas
By Mary McDonald
CHRISTMAS OVERTURE
THIS IS CHRISTMAS LOVE
REJOICE! EMMANUEL
HE SHALL BE CALLED
Soloist: Lynnea Libra
GLORY SHONE AROUND
PRAYERS
P. O Gracious God prepare our hearts and minds this Advent season. Prepare us O
Lord, as we look forward to celebrating the birth of your son, Jesus Christ the heart
of Christmas. Prepare us for His coming so that we may fully grasp the meaning of
this Christmas season and embrace it with the joy and love that will bring glory to
your kingdom.
In your mercy. Come, Lord Jesus
P. O God, prepare us for your Son’s coming. Let our church be a beacon of light to
all in our community so that we may reach them with the love of Christ that passes
understanding. Help us put aside those human distractions, especially those
material things that keep our eyes off the greatest gift of all your son, Jesus Christ.
In your mercy. Come Lord Jesus
P. We praise you heavenly Father that in this Advent Season we can come before
you with petitions of our hearts and know that your concerns and fears will be
alleviated because of the endless grace you have provided. Father, many of your
children are suffering and in need of healing. We lift before you those on our prayer
chain and those we name in our hearts. (Pause! )……. Lord we put our trust in you
and the promises you have given us.
In your mercy. Come, Lord Jesus
P. Lord as we prepare for His coming we sing songs of praise and exaltation in
anticipation of His Birth. Bless the musicians of First Lutheran who sing of His
birth to celebrate the heart of Christmas.
In your mercy. Come, Lord Jesus
P. Advent Lord, hear the prayers of your people, those spoken aloud and those
known only to you, grant us peace through Jesus Christ, our coming Savior.
In your mercy. Come, Lord Jesus
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING
Gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need.
WE OFFER OUR GIFTS AND TITHES
OFFERTORY HYMN “With Glory Bright and Heavenly Peace”
Sung to the tune of “It Came upon the Midnight Clear”
Copyright Rev. Cathy Ammlung, STS
Public Domain
With glory bright and heav’nly peace,
come quickly, Lord, again.
With judgement true the earth renew;
the gates of life unpen.
God, Father, glory gilds your name;
we worship and adore,
We bless and praise, our thanks we raise;
your mercy we implore.
HE IS BORN, THE HOLY CHILD
SLEEP IN PEACE TONIGHT
THIS IS THE CHILD, THIS IS THE KING
REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY
THIS IS CHRISTMAS LOVE
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
WORDS OF APPRECIATION
BENEDICTION
Rejoice in God always, and again I say, rejoice
For God has created you with the capacity for joy.
We will find what makes us joyful,
And make that our gift to the world.
Trust in God’s good will for all of creation
and open yourself to God’s gentle, transforming love.
We will welcome new possibilities in our lives.
We will offer ourselves to God’s goodness.
We will go forth in hope, and peace, and joy.
CLOSING HYMN “Joy to the World” ELW #267
(Vs. 1, 2 & 4)
Public Domain
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Prepare the way for Emmanuel.
Thanks be to God.
SHARING OF THE PEACE
POSTLUDE
Welcome to First Lutheran Church
Whether you are looking for a place of worship
or are just passing through, we hope our service has blessed you
on your journey as your presence has been a blessing to us.
Special thank you to our First Choir Members!
First Lutheran Choir Members
Kim Alinder Edrie Barton Jodi Bruns
Floyd Engelhardt Cathey Fullerton Terri Gartner
Gordon Gregersen Marci Greisen Jorge Hernandez
Dave Johnson Sandy Johnson Bonnie Keech
Aaron Libra Lynnea Libra Joan May
LeRoy May Lisa Radloff Shellie Segler
Cooper Vanden Einde Tiffany Vanden Einde Rachel Wagner
Marie Walker Whitney Weick
Accompanist: Virginia Miller
Narrators: Rick Bruns and Edrie Barton
Director: Jennifer Weick
Soloists: Lynnea Libra
THIS IS CHRISTMAS
Celebrating the Heart of Christmas
Mary McDonald
CHRISTMAS OVERTURE
One License #1315749
THIS IS CHRISTMAS LOVE
One License #1315750
REJOICE! EMMANUEL
One License #1315751
HE SHALL BE CALLED
One License #1315752
GLORY SHONE AROUND
One License #1315753
HE IS BORN, THE HOLY CHILD
One License #1315754
SLEEP IN PEACE TONIGHT
One License #1315755
THIS IS THE CHILD, THIS IS THE KING
One License #1315756
REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY
One License #1315757
THIS IS CHRISTMAS LOVE
One License #1315758
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
December Ministry Focus: Love Baskets—Please consider taking the time
to deliver and visit with members of our congregational community who
don't get out to socialize for the holidays, or they recently lost a loved one, or
are working through health concerns and could use some cheering up.
People are social creatures and visits will not only bring you great joy but
those blessed with your visit may feel a decrease in depression and
loneliness. You will brighten their day and show them they are important
people amongst our congregation. Please contact Sue at 651-367-4221 or
the church office to help deliver one or of the baskets.
Volunteer Calendar—Please take time to look at the volunteer sign-up
sheet—there are places for your talent!
YEAR-END 2024 CONTRIBUTIONS—The end of year, for 2024, is not far
away. The Finance Team would like to communicate, to our faithful contrib-
utors, that any/all final contributions for the year 2024 will need to be at the
church office by Monday, December 30th, no later than 12:00 (noon), in
order to be recorded and deposited for the year 2024. Any contributions re-
ceived after that time will be reported in the year 2025. We are very grateful
and thankful for your thoughtful giving. It keeps our many ministries alive.
Financial Update
Budget Amount
Week of Amount Received Needed
12-8-24 $6,278 $4,548
YTD $195,982 $227,391
Year to Date Financial Results
Month Ending Actual Received Actual Expense Net Gain/(Loss)
11-30-2024 $201,056 $205,497 ($4,441)
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2023 Augsburg Fortress.
All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS103321—5/31/2025
One License—#A-716694—2/12/2025
All rights reserved
CCLI—ccli.com
Copyright License #2540397—Expires 6/30/2025
Streaming License #20643840—Expires 6/30/2025
Songselect Advanced—Expires 6/30/2025
Shift Worship—Membership
Expires 12/25/2024
Sharefaith—Membership
Expires 6/2025
Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy and Blessing
Contributed by Jeanyne Slettom
Copyright: This liturgy was written by Jeanyne Slettom, Ph.D. and is made available through Process & Faith, a program of
the Center for Process Studies. Used by permission. Permission on copy in the office
Offering Hymn - “With Glory Bright and Heavenly Peace”. Permission on copy in the office.
Weekly Schedule
Sunday, December 15 9:00a Worship with First Choir Cantata
Wednesday, December 18 6:00p FLY @ FLC
6:00p Church Council
Sunday, December 21 9:00a Worship
Worship Assistants
December 15, 2024 December 22, 2024
Organist/Pianist: Virginia Miller Organist/Pianist: Virginia Miller
First Choir Director: Jennifer Weick First Choir Director: Jennifer Weick
Acolytes: Isaac Fletcher Acolytes: Ezra Carlen
Reader: Rick Bruns Reader: Edrie Barton
Edrie Barton Usher: LeRoy May
Usher: John Miller Greeters: LeRoy & Joan May
Greeters: St. Pierre Family Council Member: Vic Pengilly
Prayers: Pr. Sam Mailleue Fellowship: Alinder Family
Fellowship: Hospitality Team Projection: Tech Team
Projection: Tech Team Audio: Tech Team
Audio: Tech Team Videographer: Becky Pollack
Videographer: Becky Pollack Offering Counters: Joan May
Offering Counters: Randy Baum Dave Johnson
John Miller Altar Guild: Marie Walker
Altar Guild: Marie Walker
