PRELUDE
“Fantasia on Greensleeves” (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Diane Loudon, Tim Graf
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
“Drive Out the Darkness”
Elliana Meier, Tim Graf
WELCOME
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.
OPENING SONG
“Drive Out the Darkness”
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Gracious God, you have set us apart to live lives that proclaim your goodness. Make us into a people who honor you in all things: in the way we live and move and have our being. Amen.
SERVICE OF HOLY BAPTISM
- Frederick William Schubert V
- Grayson Christopher Barber
- Ava Scott Roth
READINGS
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: “I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him; my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SERMON
“A Call to Holiness”
OFFERING OF MUSIC
“O Come, Emmanuel” (Elaine Hagenberg)
Canticle Choir, Larry Bach (Director), Diane Loudon (Cello)
OFFERING PRAYER
Creator God, you made the whole world,
even the farthest stars,
and you draw near to feed us.
We praise you for these gifts of bread and wine.
Strengthen us with this food
that we may live in expectation
for the advent of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
BEFORE YOU GO
BENEDICTION
HYMN
“Blessed Be the God of Israel” ELW # 250
SENDING:
Go now in peace. Prepare the way for Emmanuel.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
“Glory to God” (David Paxton)
Barb Carroll
The Musicians for Today’s Worship
- Tim Graf (Director of Worship & Music)
- Barb Carroll (Organist)
- Larry Bach (Canticle Choir Director)
- Diane Loudon
- Elliana Meier
- Canticle Choir
Prayers
As a community of faith we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!
We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:
- Stefanie Berg and Family on the death of her uncle, Arvin Olson
Prayers of Mourning:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die’. John 11:25–26
As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:
- Carol Petersen
- Paul Skoog
- Larry Bach and family as his mother, Louise Bach
Long Term Prayers:
- Marilyn Atkinson
- Carl Nelson
- Sara Goke, daughter of Curt and Jane Goke
- David Olson
- Paul Skoog’s Brother Dan
- Cindy Rodman
- Joyce Butler
- Jim and Racee Hornbacher
- Julie Bergquist
- John Rostad
- Gordon Gilbert
- Kathy Hoagland
- Dave & Sherri Anderson’s daughter, Sarah Anderson-Jacobson
- Ron Wolfbauer
- Dick Smith
- Tammi Ziesemann as she continues her cancer treatment
- For the people of Haiti enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence.
- For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine – non-violence and peace.
- All those in the military serving our country
General Prayers:
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Names will remain listed until more are added unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.
See what’s happening at St. Andrew
There’s always something happening here at St. Andrew and we’re so glad to offer ministries and events for people of all ages! Visit our Events Page to see all of our events, and visit our Ministries Page to learn about all of our communities of faith!
The Pastors of St. Andrew
Pastor Peter Johnson
Senior Pastor
Pastor Matthew Ian Fleming
Pastor of Teaching & Young Adults
Pastor Susan Tjornehoj
Interim Transition Pastor