2025 Season of Advent Worship Order – 10:30 Service of Holy Communion
December 21, 2025
Prelude
Announcements
Advent Confession
Based on Titus 3:1-7 and the lyrics of O Come, O Come Emmanuel
P The Lord commands us to be submissive to rulers and authorities, obedient, and ready for every good work. He has taught usto speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
C But we have been foolish, disobedient, and led astray. We have become slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
P Let us pause to remember our personal sins before God.
Silence for reflection
P Most gracious Lord, who was, and is, and is to come:
C Visit us in our lonely spiritual exile and ransom us from our captivity to sin, for we have despised the Law that you gave to us, and so been tyrannized by Satan. Disperse the gloom of our spiritual darkness, save us from the depths of hell, put death’s shadow to flight, and give us victory over the grave. O Key of David, Jesus Christ, we ask this in your most holy name. Amen
P When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. I declare to you the truth of Scripture: that Jesus Christ our Savior justifies us by His grace, forgives us all our sins, and declares us heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
C Amen. Our God is with us. Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Hymn People, Look East, WOV 626
Apostolic Greeting
Kyrie p. 28 WOV
C Lord, have mercy.
A Lord, have mercy.
C Christ, have mercy
A Christ, have mercy
C Lord, have mercy.
A Lord, have mercy.
C Kyrie Eleison
A Lord, have mercy.
C Christe Eleison
A Christ, have mercy
C Kyrie Eleison
A Lord, have mercy.
Hymn of Preparation: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, LBW 34, vs. 4
Oh, come, blest Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by your advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to you,
O Israel!
Prayer of the Day
Gracious God, the Alpha and Omega, our beginning and our end, may your Spirit kindle in us patience and peace as we wait for the coming of your Son, and the humility and boldness to proclaim his reign. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Children’s Sermon
1st Scripture Lesson Isaiah 7:10-17
10Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11“Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah — the king of Assyria!”.
The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
2nd Scripture Lesson Romans 1:1-7
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Prepare the Royal Highway, LBW 26, vs. 1
Prepare the royal highway;
The Kings of kings is near!
Let ev’ry hill and valley
A level road appear!
Then greet the King of glory,
Foretold in sacred story:
Hosanna to the Lord,
For He fulfills God’s Word.
Gospel Matthew 1:18-25
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 1st Chapter
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
18The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day In the Deep Midwinter
Reception of New Members
Prayers of God’s People p. 34 WOV
Offering
Offering of a Thought
Offertory What Child Is This?, LBW 40, vs. 3
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high; the virgin sings a lullaby.
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the Son of Mary.
Offertory Prayer p. 35 WOV
The Great Thanksgiving p. 36 WOV
The Prayer of Hippolytus p. 37 WOV
The Lord’s Prayer p. 39 WOV
Agnes Dei p. 39 WOV
The Sharing of Holy Communion
What Wondrous Love Is This, LBW 385
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, LBW 198