Lectionary Readings
2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16
The Lord will build a house for David and his descendants.
Luke 1:46b–55
My soul magnifies the Lord, who has done great things.
or Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26
I will sing of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to David.
Romans 16:25–27
Glory to God for the mystery now revealed to all peoples!
Luke 1:26–38
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary; her child will be God’s Son.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
God is already in the world and on the move.
God draws near.
Like Mary, we can feel perplexed and afraid.
God draws near.
God will be faithful and fan the flame of mystery.
God draws near.
Prayer of the Day
Great God,
we join our voices with David,
singing of your steadfast love and faithfulness.
We join our voices with Mary,
saying, “You have done great things.”
We offer our prayers of thanksgiving to you,
God of wisdom.
Strengthen us with the good news
that in Jesus Christ
you have been with us from the beginning
and will be with us until the end,
that we may give you glory and honor
forever and forever. 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:
We have all sinned, not one of us is clean;
but there is mercy for those
who call on the name of the Lord.
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
An angel spoke to Mary: “Do not be afraid!”
And yet, O Lord, we find ourselves paralyzed
by fear of what we do not know.
Forgive us of our sins, O Lord,
and give us the faith of Mary to respond to your grace
with lives of grateful praise.
Let us hear the good news that she first heard:
Light is breaking. Love is coming.
The world is about to turn!
Lifting water from the font:
Every valley is lifted up; every mountain, made low.
Now the glory of the Lord is revealed,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
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
Season of Advent (and Christmas)
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
God of steadfast love,
we rejoice in your promises
as we make our prayer.
We pray for the meek and lowly . . .
May they sing with Mary a song of praise to you.
Coming Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the high and mighty . . .
Teach them the humility
that comes from knowing you.
Coming Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the earth in all its beauty . . .
Make us faithful in its care.
Coming Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who mourn
while others make merry . . .
Grant them the light that shines in the darkness.
Coming Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for refugees
and those who have no homes . . .
Give them a warm welcome and a safe harbor.
Coming Savior, hear our prayer.
God of steadfast love,
in Christ you put down the mighty
and lift up the lowly.
Bring us, with Mary,
to serve you with gladness of heart;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— 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.
Therefore, let us offer our lives to the Lord.
2 Peter 3:8–15
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God Most High, receive the gifts of our lives
as an offering of gratitude for your grace.
Overshadow us with your Holy Spirit
and let it be with us according to your word,
for nothing is impossible with you. Amen.
Luke 1:35–38; 1 Corinthians 1:4
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:
Since the time when you brought your people Israel out of Egypt,
you have been our shepherd, leading us and traveling among us.
Now, as you promised, you have established for us an eternal home.
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:
Born in a humble home, to a virgin named Mary,
Jesus came to rule over the house of Jacob forever;
for with you, O God, nothing is impossible.
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.
Strengthen us by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ
so that we may be obedient to your commandments
and proclaim the mystery of our faith to all the nations.
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 to Mary
by Fra Angelico, 1440
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL) GTG 88 (O)
- Savior of the Nations, Come (NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND) GTG 102 (G)
- Take, O Take Me as I Am (TAKE ME AS I AM) GTG 698 (O)
- Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (ST. DENIO) GTG 12 (E)
WORD
- To a Maid Whose Name Was Mary (ANNUNCIATION) GTG 98 (G)
- Do Not Be Afraid (ISAIAH 43) GTG 76 (O)
- No Wind at the Window (COLUMCILLE) GTG 101 (G)
- Of the Father’s Love Begotten (DIVINUM MYSTERIUM) GTG 108 (E)
EUCHARIST
- Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (ES IST EIN’ ROS’) GTG 129 (O)
- Sing Out, My Soul (MAGNIFICAT (Taiz.)) GTG 646 (G)
- O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN) GTG 104 (E)
- She Walked in the Summer (THE VISIT) VU 12 (G)
SENDING
- My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN) GTG 100 (G)
- Blest Be the God of Israel (MERLE’S TUNE) GTG 109 (O)
- May the Love of the Lord (SOON TI) GTG 549 (E)
- At the Name of Jesus (KING’S WESTON) GTG 264 (G)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26
Metrical
- I Will Sing a Song of Love [NAMED AND KNOWN] GWA 148
- My Song Forever Shall Record [PUER NOBIS NASCITUR] GTG 67
Responsorial
- Praise the Lord PP 162
- Lord, I Will Sing Your Love Forever PSA 81
Organ Music
- “Elévation No. 3, ‘Entends Ma Voix Fidele,’” Livre de Noëls, Op. 60, Book 1, Alexandre Guilmant, IMSLP (ME)
- “Chorale Prelude on ES IST EIN ROS’ ENTSPRUNGEN,” 11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122, Johannes Brahms, IMSLP (M)
- “The Angel Gabriel,” Christmas Preludes for Organ, arr. Norman Warren, KM (M)
- “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” DIVINUM MYSTERIUM, The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series, Christmas, vol. 3, Flor Peeters, CON (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Mary’s Song/Magnificat,” John Ferguson, GIA, SATB, org, tpt (A)
- “Gabriel’s Message,” Stephen Paulus, Stephen Paulus Music, SATB, harp (M)
- “Angelus ad virginem,” arr. David Willcocks, OUP, SATB, org (M)
- “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” arr. Shawn Kirchner, BH, SATB, keybd, sax (M or A)
- “Gabriel’s Message,” arr. Tony Alonso, GIA, SATB, keybd, fl (E)
- “Gloria,” from Gospel Mass, Robert Ray, HAL, SATB, keybd, rhythm (M)
- “Magnificat,” M. Roger Holland II, GIA, SATB, pno, bass (M)
- “Blest Be the God of Israel,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, SATB, org, inst (M)
Art
- Annunciation to Mary, Father George Saget (VDL)
- Annunciation to Mary, Fra Angelico (VDL)
- Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner (VDL)
- Gabriel and Mary, Jan Richardson (JR)
