The livestream may be found here.
December 6, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
The
Second Sunday in Advent
John the Baptist
The color blue, used for the vestments and
paraments of Advent, is redolent of the deep blue of the early morning just
before dawn, symbolic of the Christian hope for the coming of the Light of the
World.
OLD TESTAMENT: The prophet
Isaiah, after proclaiming judgment against the people of Judah, now tells of
God’s coming to save his people. In its original context, the message is
delivered to the exiles in Babylon. It is the beginning of the invitation to
God’s people to return to Jerusalem by the decree of Cyrus, the King of Persia.
After conquering Babylon, Cyrus decreed that the Jews should return to
Jerusalem and that the temple should be rebuilt (see Ezra 1). Isaiah chapters
40-55 depicts this as Cyrus accomplishing the will of God, and urges the people
to accept this message and take up the journey through the wilderness, for God
will speed their way.
This section of Isaiah may be most well-known from Part I of Handel’s Messiah;
several arias and choruses use texts from chapter 40 to bracket the telling
of the Christmas narrative.
NEW TESTAMENT: Peter explains
to his hearers the reason for the delay of Christ’s coming in glory; the Lord
is patiently waiting for all who are to come to repentance. In response, the
people are to wait patiently, by their lives of peace ‘hastening the coming of
the day of God.’ The delay, often experienced as God’s absence, can be actually
in this sense a reason for rejoicing.
GOSPEL: Every
inch the prophet in his words, appearance, and actions, John the Baptist announces
the imminent coming of the Kingdom of God. He uses the words of Isaiah to urge
the people to renew the covenant in their lives. This time, however, the people
are not to set out on a journey, but to prepare the way of the one who will
baptize with the Holy Spirit.
OPENING MUSIC Prepare the Royal Highway
David Cherwien
Please
meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played:
1 Prepare the royal
highway;
the King of kings is
near!
Let ev'ry hill and
valley
a level road appear!
Then greet the King
of glory,
foretold in sacred
story:
Refrain
Hosanna to the Lord,
for he fulfills God's
word!
2 God's people, see him
coming:
your own eternal
king!
Palm branches strew
before him!
Spread garments!
Shout and sing!
God's promise will
not fail you!
No more shall doubt
assail you! Refrain
3 Then fling the gates
wide open
to greet your
promised king!
Your king, yet ev'ry
nation
its tribute too may
bring.
All lands will bow
before him;
their voices join
your singing: Refrain
4 His is no earthly
kingdom;
it comes from heav'n
above.
His rule is peace and
freedom
and justice, truth,
and love.
So let your praise be
sounding
for kindness so
abounding: Refrain
Text: Frans
Mikael Franzén, 1772-1847; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
I shall listen to
what the LORD God is saying,
for he is speaking
peace to his faithful people
and to all who turn
their hearts to him. Psalm
85:8
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
God for whom we
wait,
we confess to you our sin in thought, word,
and deed,
in what we have done and in what we have left
undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
Forgive the iniquity of your people,
and blot out all our sins,
for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen
Hear the words of
the apostle Peter:
‘The Lord is
patient with you,
not wanting any to
perish,
but for all to come
to repentance.’ 2 Peter 3:9b
As a called and
ordained minister of the Church of Christ,
and by his
authority,
I declare to you
the entire forgiveness of all your sins,
in the name of the
Father, and of the + Son,
and of the Holy
Spirit.
Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
And also with
you.
KYRIE
ELEISON
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above,
and for our salvation, let us pray to the
Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the
Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and
praise,
let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen
'
'
Blessing OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Second Sunday of Advent
We praise you, Father, for this
circle of light
that marks our days of preparation
for Christ’s advent.
Kindle within us the fire of your Spirit,
that we may be light shining in the darkness.
Enlighten us with your grace,
that we may welcome others as you have
welcomed us.
Grant this through Christ our
Lord,
whose coming is certain and whose
day draws near.
Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for
your only Son.
By his coming give us strength in our conflicts
and shed light on our path
through the darkness of this world;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8
Let us hear the Word of the Lord.
Sit
First READING Isaiah 40:1-11
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 85:1-2, 8-13
The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.
1 You have been gracious to your |
land, O Lord;*
you have restored the good for-
| tune of Jacob.
2 You have forgiven the iniquity | of your people*
and
blotted out | all their sins.
8 I will listen to what the Lord | God is saying,*
for he is speaking peace to his
faithful people
and to those who turn their |
hearts to him.
9 Truly, his salvation is very near to | those who fear him,*
that
his glory may dwell | in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have | met
together;*
righteousness and peace have |
kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring up | from the earth,*
and
righteousness shall look | down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed | grant prosperity,*
and our land will | yield its
increase.
13 Righteousness shall | go before him,*
and
peace shall be a pathway | for his feet.
SECOND READING 2 Peter 3:8-15a
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to
God.
Stand
VERSE
Alleluia.
Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight his paths;
all nations shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia.
Isaiah 40:3
Gospel Mark 1:1-8
The
Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
4John the
baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean
countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were
baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now
John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and
he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more
powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the
thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY Comfort,
Comfort Now My People
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as
it is played.
1 “Comfort,
comfort now my people;
tell of peace!” So says our God.
Comfort those who sit in
darkness
mourning under sorrow’s load.
To God’s people now proclaim
that God’s pardon waits for
them!
Tell them that their war is
over;
God will reign in peace forever.
2 For the herald’s voice is crying
in the desert far and near,
calling us to true repentance,
since the kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet
him,
and the hills bow down to greet
him!
3 Straight shall be what long was
crooked,
and the rougher places plain!
Let your hearts be true and
humble,
as befits his holy reign!
For the glory of the Lord
now on earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the
token
that God’s word is never broken.
Text: Johann G. Olearius, 1611-1684;
tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, alt.
Stand
CONFESSION
OF FAITH
The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in
the words of the Nicene Creed.
We believe in one God,
the
Father, the Almighty,
maker of
heaven and earth,
of all
that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only
Son of God,
eternally
begotten of the Father,
God from
God, Light from Light,
true God
from true God,
begotten,
not made,
of one
Being with the Father.
Through
him all things were made.
For us
and for our salvation
he
came down from heaven;
by
the power of the Holy Spirit
he
became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and
was made man.
For our
sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he
suffered death and was buried.
On the
third day he rose again
in
accordance with the Scriptures;
he
ascended into heaven
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will
come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and
his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who
proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the
Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has
spoken through the prophets.
We
believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We
acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look
for the resurrection of the dead,
and the
life of the world to come. Amen
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all
people according to their needs.
A brief silence is kept.
hear our prayer.
Let our bishop, Dan; our Dean,
Nila; our pastors, Maurice and Harvey, and all ministers lift up their voices
with strength to announce your coming among us. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Let our congregation be renewed
and strengthened for witness and service, and let every heart be opened to
prepare your way. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Bless our President, Donald; our
President-elect, Joseph, the Congress, the courts, and all who hold authority
and responsibility in our land. Awaken them to your call to do justice. Lord,
in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Let the peoples of the world be
guided into the way of peace, and grant that many for whom you have waited with
patience will come to faith. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Let the sick know your healing
touch and the grieving be comforted by your promises. Speedily relieve all who
are in need, and grant them your peace.
The People
may offer silent or spoken intercessions and thanksgivings.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We give thanks for those who have
gone before us. Continue to keep us at one with them until we meet together
where righteousness is at home. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we
pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
PEACE
The peace
of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
The
people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
Stand
PRAYER OF
PREPARATION
As the grain once scattered
in the fields
and the grapes once dispersed
on the hillside
are reunited on this table in
bread and wine,
so, Lord, may your whole
Church soon be gathered together
from the corners of the earth
into your kingdom.
Amen
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The
Great Thanksgiving begins with the Preface, leading into the Sanctus:
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 him thanks and praise.
It is indeed
right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks
and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ:
You
comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer, through whom you will
also make all things new in the day when he comes again to judge the world in
righteousness.
And so, with the
Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory;
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the LORD!
Hosanna in the highest! (Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9)
The pastor leads the people
in praying the Eucharistic canon:
Blessed are you, O Adonai, Most High and Holy God,
for the wonder of your goodness
which creates, establishes,
and permeates
the heavens and the earth.
We praise you for
the promises you made to the Patriarchs,
as you led your chosen people
out of slavery
into the land of
promise,
giving them your Law on Sinai’s
heights.
You promised, through
the prophets,
that the Messiah would come,
the very branch of Jesse –
before whom all nations would
keep silent.
Then, at the
appointed time,
you sent your beloved Son, Jesus
our Emmanuel,
the key of David born of Mary by
the power of the Spirit.
He came to rescue
the uprooted,
to bring life to the lifeless
and voice to those
who were without hope;
on Calvary’s heights gave His
life
to draw all people to Himself
and to your promise
of mercy.
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.
Together, let us
proclaim the mystery of faith:
O Christ, you are the splendor
of life everlasting:
We laud your death
and resurrection,
and await your
return in glory.
Blessed are you, O
Adonai, Lord of might.
You fulfilled your promises
in the death,
resurrection and ascension of your Son,
the King of all nations.
We praise you for
embracing us
as the people who now dwell in
the brightness of His glory.
Send now your holy
and life-giving Spirit
upon this Bread of Life and this
Cup of Salvation,
that we, in this holy communion,
may be united to Him who is our
cornerstone,
the One who gives us His very
body and blood
to sustain us in His forgiving
love.
With all the people
of your promises,
we await our Lord’s final coming
when we will share in that feast
which shall never end.
Amen. Come, O precious Ransom, come!
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father
using the words he gave us.
Christ
is in our midst.
By the power of the Spirit,
we pray to his Father, saying:
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 (Matthew 6:9-15)
See, the
LORD God comes with might,
and he
feeds his flock like a shepherd.
Thanks be to God.
from Isaiah 40:10-11
We adore Christ with the words of the Agnus Dei (Lamb
of God).
Lamb of God, you take away the
sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the
sin of the world;
have
mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the
sin of the world;
Grant
us peace. (John
1:29, see also Luke 17:13)
DISTRIBUTION
Admission to the Sacrament is by
invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.
They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who
are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ,
crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread
and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
The
communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not
come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all
the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove your mask until you
have reached the table with the elements on it.
When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ,
given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed
for you,’ drink the wine. Please take
the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.
Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.
Please meditate
on the text of the hymn as it is played.
The Advent of Our God
1 The
advent of our God
shall
be our theme for prayer;
come,
let us meet him on the road
and
place for him prepare.
2 The
everlasting Son
incarnate
stoops to be,
himself
the servant’s form puts on
to
set his people free.
3 Come,
Zion’s daughter, rise
to
meet your lowly king,
nor
let your faithless heart despise
the
peace he comes to bring.
4 As
judge, on clouds of light,
he
soon will come again,
and
all his scattered saints unite
with
him on high to reign.
5 Before
the dawning day
let
sin be put to flight;
no
longer let the law hold sway,
but
walk in freedom’s light.
6 All
glory to the Son,
who
comes to set us free,
with
Father, Spirit, ever one
through
all eternity.
Text: Charles Coffin, 1676-1749; tr. John Chandler, 1806-1876,
alt.
When all have
received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen
Lord, now you let your servant
go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the
salvation
which you have prepared in the
sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the
nations
and the glory of your people
Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to
the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is
now,
and will be forever. Amen Song
of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)
O God, in this meal
we have been given a foretaste
of the feast that is to come.
Help us always to be alert
to your gifts in our midst;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Strive
to be found by God at peace,
without spot or blemish,
and regard the patience of our Lord as
salvation.
Amen
Almighty God, Father, +Son, and
Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen
DISMISSAL
Go
in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
CLOSING MUSIC O Come, O
Come Emmanuel
OUR STEWARDSHIP of GOD’S GIFTS
Last Weekend’s Attendance: 10 + 18 = 28
Offering: 11/29/2020
Towards
Budget: $ 1,810.00
Itemized Non Budget:
Flowers: $ 28.00
Total: $ 1,838.00
The Altar
Flowers are given to the Glory of God
by Joan
Derrick in honor of her granddaughter, Hayden.
V IN YOUR PRAYERS
Linda Armento, at home
Matthew Armento, at home
Mary Jo Bondi, at home
Ruth Duessel, at Concordia, Rebecca
The Rev. Carl Hendrickson, at home
Elsie
Kemmler and Bill Roth at Concordia, South Hills
David Noel,
at Kane Rehab, Scott Township
Geneva
Schrag, at Consulate Health Care, Canonsburg
William Wetzel at Concordia, Cabot
REMINDERS
FOR THOSE PLANNING TO ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICES
·
If
you wish to attend worship, you will need to pre-register every week
by either calling the office or sending an email.
·
Registration
ends Saturday at 12 noon.
·
Masks
are required to be worn while in the building.
·
Upon
entering and leaving the church, you must sanitize your hands or wash them with
soap and water.
·
Everyone
must sign in when entering the church. This way we can keep track of who was in
the church and when.
WORSHIP
SERVICES are held every Saturday evening at 6:30 PM and Sunday
morning at 10:30 AM. Pastor Frontz also livestreams Compline (Prayer at the
Close of the Day) on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. and Vespers (Evening Prayer) on
Wednesday at 7 p.m. These can be accessed on the church’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ststephenpittsburgh).
CHRISTMAS
EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES: Please register by calling the church office or
emailing office@ststephenpittsburgh.org. Please let us know the number who will be attending
and which service you prefer; also, whether you are able and willing to attend
the other service if necessary. If more register than there are slots
available, we will hold another service earlier on Christmas Eve. Please
note that we will also be streaming the services on Facebook Live.
THERE WILL BE NO in-person mid-week
Advent Vespers this year; however, please join in with Evening Prayer every
Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/ststephenpittsburgh
FOOD BANK SUNDAY is TODAY. Thank you for bringing
non-perishable food items to church to be donated to
the food pantry of St Andrew Lutheran Church in East Carnegie. Monetary donations are also
accepted. Please make your check payable to “St. Stephen Lutheran Church” with a notation of ‘Food Bank’ in the memo line. Thank you.
ALTAR POINSETTIAS
A sign-up sheet is available
in the Narthex for Christmas Poinsettias (white, pink, and red) to be placed on
the altar and throughout the church Christmas Eve. The cost is $7/pot. The deadline for
placing your order is MONDAY, Decenber 7.
You may take your flowers home
after Christmas Day worship.
KINDLY REMEMBER TO PAY FOR THE FLOWERS you ordered for the weekend Altar and for the special occasions. Altar flowers are $20/vase. Checks can be
made out to St. Stephen Lutheran Church
with a notation “flowers” and placed in the offering plate.
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR 2021: Please see
the sign-up sheet available in the Narthex for altar flowers. If you are unable
to sign-up in person, you may call or email the office to make a request for a
date(s). We will assign date(s) in the order in which the requests are
received. The process will repeat until the slots are filled. We appreciate
your cooperation and understanding. The cost per arrangement will be $20.
GIFTS FROM AFAR: Each year we
remember the Magi’s gift-giving to the Christ-child by making offerings to the
anonymous in need. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex to purchase
gifts of children’s clothing and toys for families in need. The list is in the
narthex. Please also make a monetary donation so that St. Andrew Lutheran
Church in East Carnegie may administer it for those in crisis throughout next
year. All gifts should be brought in by Sunday, Dec. 20.
DAILY DEVOTIONS, including THE WORD IN SEASON, PORTALS
OF PRAYER AND CHRIST IN OUR HOME (October, November, and December 2020) are available on the table in the
Narthex. Take one or more to share with family and friends. If you are able, a
donation would be welcomed to help defray the cost to the congregation for
these resources. Thank you!
2020 ‘DAILY
TEXTS’ are available in the Narthex. A donation of
$10 per book would be appreciated to help cover the
cost of the books. Thank you.
ST STEPHEN COUNSELING CENTER: A site of Pittsburgh
Pastoral Institute/PPI). For marriage, family, teen
and individual counseling – for first appointment call PPI at 412-661-1239. St.
Stephen Center is
412-279-5452. Counseling
opens doors to hope. Counselor: Caroline Graham-McGuire.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
From Sundays and Seasons.com.
Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg
Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.
New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
Common Worship: Times and Seasons,
material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council
2006 and published by Church House Publishing.
Eucharistic Prayer reprinted by
permission from A Little Book of Canons by Rod L. Ronneberg, STS, 1997
and 2010.
John the Baptist, from Art in the Christian Tradition,
a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56326 [retrieved November 30, 2020].
Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7430552174/.
Agnus Day appears with the permission
of www.agnusday.org
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor
The Rev.
Maurice C. Frontz, III
(412)
279-5868 Office
(570)
447-8758 Cell
pastor@ststephenpittsburgh.org
Pastor
Emeritus
The Rev. Harvey S. Mozolak
Organist/Choir Director
Joyce
Moon Strobel, AAGO
(412)
366-0074 Home
Office Manager
Carrie
Hoffman
(412)
279-5868 Office
office@ststephenpittsburgh.org
ELDERS Mr. Robert
Dawe 412-417-7015 Mr. Robert
Shekerko 412-400-6976
St Stephen Lutheran Church
55 Forsythe Road
Pittsburgh PA 15220
(412) 279-5868
office@ststephenpittsburgh.org
Saturday Evening Worship – 6:30 pm
Sunday Morning Worship – 10:30 am