The First Sunday in Advent - Online Worship - November 27, 2022
Upcoming Events:
Sunday Worship - The First Sunday In Advent
Sunday, November 27, 2022, 9:30am
Join us for our first Lord of Life LIVE on YouTube!
Faith Quest does not meet during worship
Sunday Worship - The Second Sunday In Advent
Sunday, December 4, 2022, 9:30am
Join us for Lord of Life LIVE on YouTube!
Faith Quest meets during worship
Prelude, Prayer Cross & Words of Greeting
All are welcome, encouraged to visit the Prayer Cross as moved to do so.
Song of Promised Return
Oh ,Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel
Helmore
vs. 1
Oh come oh come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
refrain:
Rejoice Rejoice
Emmanuel
Shall come to you
O Israel
vs. 3
Oh come strong Branch of Jesse free
Your own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell your people save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave
(refrain)
vs. 4
Oh come blest Day-spring come and cheer
Our spirits by your advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
(refrain twice)
Litany of Hope In The Christ’s Promised Return
based on Psalm 122
Today we hold close in new ways, tidings of comfort and joy, we rejoice, for our hope is in the arrival and in the promised return of Emmanuel, The Christ, so we worship in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen. I was glad when they said, let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet stand firm in the Lord. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
People of God: As we pray and wait for our Lord to break into our world, our lives, our hearts once again; to return in full glory; let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins and those times we fail to place our hope in The Christ, or to trust his presence and promised return.
(silence for reflection)
Friends in Christ: Jesus who was born in a manger, who died and rose for you, who will come again, who brings you comfort and joy; gives grace in these words: Jesus saves; Jesus forgives you all your sins. We are his new Jerusalem. All who are thirsty; come to The One, who comes to you first!
Song of Hope & Promise
All Who Are Thirsty
Brown
All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be wash’d away
In the waves of His mercy
As deep cries out to deep
We sing
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Help us, Lord; renew us as we wait for your promised return. You alone sit on the throne of judgment. Restore us and renew us in comfort and joy. May your peace overtake us and dwell in the hearts of all people.
Friends in Christ: As we wait for, and listen for, Jesus to return, trust God keeps his promises. God is getting all things ready. All who thirst for tidings of comfort and joy, come to The One who thirsts for you, and comes to you first!
Song of Hope & Promise
All Who Are Thirsty
Brown
All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be wash’d away
In the waves of His mercy
As deep cries out to deep
We sing
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins. When we look for your tidings of comfort and joy, increase in us such faith to see and believe you forever keep your promises. By your Spirit, come, Lord Jesus come anew, to us again, this Advent and Christmas. Reveal yourself again. As we light The Prophecy candle, build us up to join the voice of the prophets, to serve, witness, trust and glorify your promised return. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Song Lighting the Advent Wreath
Light One Candle
Wold
vs. 1
Light one candle to watch for Messiah
Let the light banish darkness
He shall bring salvation to Israel
God fulfills the promise
Lighting of The Advent Wreath – The Prophecy Candle
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
(New Revised Standard Version)
New Testament Lesson
Romans 13:11-14
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
(New Revised Standard Version)
Song of Promised Tidings
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Unknown
vs. 1
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Gospel
Matthew 24:36-44
“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
(New Revised Standard Version)
Long ago the prophet Zechariah foretold to his son, John the Baptist, tidings of comfort and joy and hope were coming in The Promised One. God is still speaking these words of our Savior, that we might be assured, that we might boldly believe, and tell the story.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.
Tidings Are Coming
ISAIAH 2:1-5; ROMANS 13:11-14; MATTHEW 24:36-44
A promise is a promise. What does it mean when someone makes a promise to you? How do you feel when someone breaks a promise? How do you feel about making promises? It is unfortunate today’s world has taken so much credibility out of `making promises.’ People either make them all the time, knowing it is no big deal if they break them; or they are so afraid to fulfill whatever commitment it will take to keep the promise, that the promise is never made. The result of each path is the same: Who do you trust? Advent is the season of promise for believers. Christmas is God’s gift of grace to renew our trust in the promise made and the promise kept. Long ago prophets announced: Watch! Wait! Tidings are coming! God keeps his promise! This Advent and Christmas, God graces us again with promises, with tidings of comfort and joy in all God promises; for Christ has come, and Christ will come again!
1. Promises are not easy to make, and promises are not easy to keep; except for God.
Isaiah 2:1-5
A. People qualify promises in such a way, we do not know what was promised. Can you blame them for protecting themselves?
B. God qualifies nothing. God is not afraid to make promises. Trust God’s promise of tidings, for God keeps every promise.
2. Advent and Christmas are about God keeping his promises to you. These are very personal promises. They are God’s promises, given to God’s people.
Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
A. Gifts mean the most when they are personal.
B. To meet our needs; only God could make these promises.
C. Here are some of the tidings of comfort and joy God has promised to you. Turn, watch, see all God has promised you: His coming, his reign, witnesses, judgment, peace, hope, salvation, end times, Christ’s return; his coming to you, we will see his face, Jesus death and resurrection; his presence, evermore and evermore!
3. Advent and Christmas are God’s gifts of hope to us to renew our trust in the gift of the promise.
Romans 13:11; Matthew 24:37
A. Promises imply expectations. When someone gives you a promise, you immediately have an expectation.
B. Do you know God will exceed your expectations, no matter what you expect when you hear what God promises?
C. Trust God will fulfill, and then God will go far beyond the comfort and joy and all you could expect or imagine!
4. As the promise was announced to us, and told to us, and promised to us, let us go and tell one and all, tidings are coming!
Isaiah 2:1-5
A. Prophets know and announce the promises, as God tells them.
B. Let us be prophets, messengers, witnesses!
5. Matthew 24:44 - Tis the season for promises, God’s promises. Watch for God’s promises, for his tidings of comfort and joy to come to you, to surprise you, to bless you every day! These are the greatest promises:
Tiding #1 - God loves you - a promise already kept!
Tiding #2 - God claims you - a promise already kept!
Tiding #3 - God forgives you - a promise already kept!
Tiding #4 - God saves you - a promise already kept!
Tiding #5 - God’s grace wins - a promise already kept!
Tiding #6 - Christ will come again:
A promise God will keep in God’s time, a promise to be trusted!
Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.
Song of Promise & Hope
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Prudentius/Davis
vs.1
Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be
He is Alpha and Omega
He the source the ending he
Of the things that are that have been
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore
vs.3
This is he whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word
Now he shines the long-expected
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore
vs.4
Let the heights of heav’n adore him
Angel hosts his praises sing
Pow’rs dominions bow before him
And extol our God and King
Let no tongue on earth be silent
Ev’ry voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore
... As we pray to you, Jesus,
Come to us, with your comfort and joy and grace.
All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy Communion will take place during our service. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.
For those worshiping with us in person, we receive communion through intinction; that is, you will receive the bread, the host, then dip into the glass of choice, either a red wine in the chalice closest to the host, or in a light colored non-alcoholic grape juice. All are welcome.
We also offer gluten free and pre-packaged options. Please take these options before arriving at the host to receive a blessing.
The Words of Institution
In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
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.
Songs During Holy Communion
The First Noël
Gardner
vs.1
The first Noel
The angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay
In fields where they lay
Keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night
That was so deep
refrain:
Noel Noel
Noel Noel
Born is the King
Of Israel
vs.2
They looked up
And saw a star
Shining in the east
Beyond them far
And to the earth
It gave great light
And so it continued
Both day and night
(refrain)
vs.3
And by the light
Of that same star
Three wise men came
From country far
To seek for a king
Was their intent
And to follow the star
Wherever it went
(refrain)
Songs During Holy Communion
I Wonder As I Wander
Niles
vs. 1
I wonder as I wander
Out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior
Did come for to die
For poor ord’n’ry people
Like you and like I
I wonder as I wander
Out under the sky
vs. 2
When Mary birthed Jesus
All in a cow’s stall
Came wise men and farmers
And shepherds and all
And high from the heavens
A star’s light did fall
The promise of the ages
It then did recall
vs. 3
If Jesus had wanted
For any wee thing
A star in the sky
Or a bird on the wing
Or all of God’s angels
In heav’n for to sing
He surely could have had it
‘Cause he was the King
vs. 4
I wonder as I wander
Out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior
Did come for to die
For poor ord’n’ry people
Like you and like I
I wonder as I wander
Out under the sky
The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace, this day, and on into life everlasting.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace; as you hold fast to every tiding of comfort and joy, in the grace of Jesus Christ! In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ, celebrating the love of God, and serving the Lord of life.
Thanks be to God!
Going Trusting Anew the Promise
Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
Laurenti
vs. 1
Rejoice rejoice believers
And let your lights appear
The evening is advancing
And darker night is near
The bridegroom is arising
And soon is drawing nigh
Up pray and watch and wrestle
At midnight comes the cry
vs. 3
The saints who here in patience
Their cross and suff’rings bore
Shall live and reign forever
When sorrow is no more
Around the throne of glory
The Lamb they shall behold
In triumph cast before him
Their diadems of gold
vs. 4
Our hope and expectation
O Jesus now appear
Arise O Sun so longed for
O’er this benighted sphere
With hearts and hands uplifted
We plead O Lord to see
The day of earth’s redemption
That sets your people free
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Today, Sunday, November 27th, we celebrate, The First Sunday In Advent, “Tidings Of Comfort And Joy … Tidings Are Coming!” Today, Sunday, November 27th, our Faith Quest Sunday School ministry does not formally meet, and yet, children who join us are invited to share in practicing for our Children’s Christmas Program!
Join us next Sunday, December 4th, as we celebrate, The Second Sunday In Advent, “Tidings Of Comfort And Joy … Ready For New Tidings!” Next Sunday, December 4th, our Faith Quest Sunday School ministry meets! Worship next Sunday includes, The Presenting Of The Greens!
As we continue to share worship in this way, we are seeking more volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!
Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion.
For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets by the ushers as you exit the sanctuary.
For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance. Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org
We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love and grace!
Acknowledgments for today’s service include:
Litany of Hope In The Christ’s Promised Return, written based on Ps. 122. “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Mpls & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; & Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Mpls, MN. Used w/permission. Words & Music Public Domain: “Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel” “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” “The First Noel” “I Wonder As I Wander” & “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers” “All Who Are Thirsty” © 1998 Vineyard Songs, CCLI #2489542 “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah” © 2002 Birnamwood Publications CCLI # “Jesus Loves Me” © Words and Music Public Domain, CCLI #4771887 “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” © 1980 Beam Me Up Music, CCLI #39441 All rights reserved. All songs used w/permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.