Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 35:1–10
The desert will blossom; God’s people will return with joy.
Psalm 146:5–10
The maker of heaven and earth gives justice and reigns forever.
or Luke 1:46–55
Mary rejoices in God, who helps the poor and lifts up the lowly.
James 5:7–10
Be patient; have courage; the coming of the Lord is near.
Matthew 11:2–11
Jesus praises John, the messenger who has prepared the way.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Soon parched lands will blossom into life
and burst into joyful song—very soon.
Say to those who are drowning in fear,
“Take courage! Here is God, coming to save you.”
Soon every creature will have what it needs in abundance.
All peoples of all dis/abilities and ages
will shout for joy in freedom—very soon.
A highway stretches heavenward, smooth and level.
All may walk or roll there unimpeded.
Soon happiness and joy will overwhelm us!
Grief and groaning will flee for good—very soon. Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Subversive God, you revel in
reversing human hierarchies.
Inspire us to sing with teenage Mary
of tyrants toppled; and the last made first.
Ignite our hearts
until we truly understand what this means.
Embolden us to risk everything for the chance
to serve as midwives to your new creation,
so that, with Mary, our spirits will rejoice
in God our Savior—Jesus Christ her son—
and magnify Christ’s love in all we do. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the hope and longing you instill in us
through the promise of our baptism—
a voice crying out in the wilderness,
a messenger to prepare the way,
the day of redemption drawing near.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
keep us awake and make us ready
for the coming of your glorious realm
of righteousness, justice, and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
The life of faith is not only about being faithful to God.
It is knowing that God is faithful to us.
Trusting that God will never turn away from us,
let us tell the truth about our lives.
Magnificent God,
it is easy to rejoice at
the wilderness bursting into bloom
and the hungry being filled with good things.
We may not want
the powerful to be brought down
or the rich to be sent away empty.
We know that sometimes, we are the powerful.
Sometimes, we are the rich.
Sometimes we are the ones with privilege,
Ignoring and harming those you would lift up.
Forgive us, humble us, and refocus us,
that we may follow your way of life and truth.
Lifting water from the font:
There is nothing and no one
That is too far gone for God to redeem.
There is no land too parched
that God cannot make streams of living water flow.
Beloved, we are forgiven!
Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Holy God, our hope and strength,
by the power of your Spirit
prepare the way in our hearts
for the coming of your Word,
so that we may see the glorious signs
of your promise fulfilled;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
A voice is crying in the wilderness:
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Mark 1:3; John 1:23
After the readings:
Heaven and earth will pass away
but the word of the Lord stands forever.
Thanks be to God.
Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Now to the God of all wisdom,
who strengthens us according to the gospel,
through Jesus Christ be all glory forever. Amen.
Romans 16:25–27
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Out of Israel, God in due time raised up Jesus.
His faith and obedience were the response
of the perfect child of God.
He was the fulfillment
of God’s promise to Israel,
the beginning of the new creation,
and the pioneer of the new humanity.
He gave history its meaning and direction
and called the church to be his servant
for the reconciliation of the world.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.19
Prayers of Intercession
Gathered here, in the house of the Lord,
let us pray for the coming of Christ’s realm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the peace of the church . . .
Bring peace, O God, to the body of Christ;
strengthen our hearts, teach us patience,
and make us messengers of hope.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the peace of the earth . . .
Bring peace, O God, throughout the world;
feed the hungry, set captives free,
and give justice to the oppressed.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the peace of all nations . . .
Bring peace, O God, to every land;
teach us to love righteousness
and lift up those who are bowed down.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the peace of this community . . .
Bring peace, O God, to our city [town];
watch over travelers and strangers,
and uphold the lonely and vulnerable.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the peace of loved ones . . .
Bring peace, O God, to those we hold dear;
heal the sick, bring good news to the poor,
comfort the sorrowful, and raise the dead to life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem . . .
Bring peace, O God, to the world you have made:
the peace that passes understanding
and the promise of your new creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is coming in glory to reign. Amen.
Psalm 122:6
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
All things in heaven and earth belong to God,
who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
2 Peter 3:8–15
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
Eternal God,
as we wait for the fulfillment of your reign,
use these gifts and the gifts of our lives
to bring justice to those who are oppressed,
to set free those who are in prison,
to lift up those who are bowed down,
and to uphold those who are vulnerable. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
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 our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You bring forth flowers in the desert and water in a weary land.
Now you have made a highway for us in the wilderness,
where your people, once captive, may return with songs of joy.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
In Christ, we have seen and heard the good news:
the sick are healed, strangers are welcomed,
the poor have hope, and the dead are raised to new life.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Help us to grow in faith and love, as your people in Christ.
Strengthen our hearts and teach us patience
as we watch and pray for the coming of the Lord.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
God our hope, we give you thanks
that you have given us this foretaste
of the justice, righteousness, and peace
of your promised new creation.
Strengthen us with this heavenly food
as we seek to serve your holy realm.
Lead us to live in joyful expectation
of the coming again in glory
of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the God of peace make you holy
and the power of the Spirit sustain you
until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
Prepare the way of the Lord! Amen.
Isaiah 40:3; Mark 1:3
“Annunciation”
Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
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Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (O) HYFRYDOL/STUTTGART GTG 82, 83
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Now the Heavens Start to Whisper (OG) JEFFERSON GTG 94
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People, Look East (O) BESANÇON GTG 105
WORD
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O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (G) AZMON GTG 610
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Joy to the World (O) ANTIOCH GTG 134
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The Desert Shall Rejoice (O) STERLING PH 18
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All Earth Is Hopeful (O) TODA LA TIERRA ELW 266
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We Wait for You (E) WACHTEN Protest of Praise, David Bjorlin, GIA, 106
EUCHARIST
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Wait for the Lord (E) WAIT FOR THE LORD GTG 90
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While We Are Waiting, Come (E) WAITING (Cason) GTG 92
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Prepare the Way with Quietness (EG) JOURNEY LANE At the Weaving of Creation, Benjamin Brody, GIA, 138
SENDING
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You Shall Go Out with Joy (O) THE TREES OF THE FIELD GTG 80
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My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout (G) STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN GTG 100
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Prepare the Way, O Zion (OEG) BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN GTG 106
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 146:5–10
Metrical
- Praise the Lord! Sing Hallelujah! [RIPLEY]; PAS 146D
- I’ll Praise My Maker [OLD 113TH]; GTG 806, PAS 146A
- Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord! [LOUEZ LE SEIGNEUR]; GTG 390
Responsorial
- Come, O Lord, and Save Us; PSA 151
- Lord, Come and Save Us; LPGA 7
Organ Music
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“An Advent Meditation,” Augsburg Organ Library: Advent II, David Lasky, AF (E)
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“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” Carols Before, Carols After, Edward Broughton, LOR (E)
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“Magnificat noni toni, BuxWV 205,” Dietrich Buxtehude, various publishers; IMSLP.org (M)
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“Wachet auf: III. Final,” Augsburg Organ Library: Advent, Wayne L. Wold, AF (MA)
Piano Music
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“Prelude in G Major,” Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, Johann Sebastian Bach, HEN (M)
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“Fugue in G Major,” Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, Johann Sebastian Bach, HEN (MA)
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“Young Birches, Op. 128, No. 2,” Three Pieces, Op. 128, Amy Beach, IMSLP.org (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Go and Tell John,” Lloyd Pfautsch, HOPE, SAB, acap (E)
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“A New Magnificat,” Carolyn Jennings, AF, SATB, 2 sop or alto soloists, opt cong, org (E)
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“He Comes to Us as One Unknown,” John Ferguson, AF, SATB, org (ME)
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“As the Dark Awaits the Dawn,” Carl Schalk, AF, SATB, acap (M)
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“God’s Mother Be,” Matthew Culloton, MSM, SATB, hp or pno, opt gtr (MA)
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“O Thou, the Central Orb,” Charles Wood, HAL, SATB div, org (MA)
Art
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Sojourner Truth, Kelly Latimore, 2018 (VDL)
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Annunciation of the Angel to Mary, Lamidi O. Fakeye, 20th century (VDL)
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The Annunciation of a Woman, Harmonia Rosales, 2018 (WA)
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Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, Jacopo da Pontormo, 1527 (VDL)
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Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898 (VDL)
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Annunciation, John August Swanson, 1992 (EYE)
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Shall Overshadow You, Jan Richardson (JR)
