St. John’sLutheran Church and School

December 22, 2019The Fourth Sunday in Advent:

Rorate Coeli

200 Charleston Avenue Mattoon, Illinois 61938-4428

Church (217) 234-4923 School (217) 234-4911 Fax

Prelude

AnnouncementsOpening Hymn “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came” LSB 356

Please stand for last stanza

InvocationP In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.C Amen.

Confession and AbsolutionP If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our

sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and

unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Introit Psalm 19:1; antiphon: Isaiah 45:8 (KJV)Sung by Choir

Drop down, ye heavens, from above: and let the skies pour down righteousness.

Let the earth open: and bring forth salvation.

The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen

Kyrie LSB 168A In peace let us pray to the Lord.

A For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

 A 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.

 

A For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

 A Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

 Salutation and Collect of the DayP The Lord be with you.C And with your spirit.P Let us pray.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.C Amen. 

SitOld Testament Reading Deuteronomy 18:15–19

15“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.’”P This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

Gradual Psalm 145:18, 21; 40:17bSung by Choir

The Lord is night unto all them that call upon Him:to all that call upon Him in truth.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord:and let all flesh bless His holy name. Alleluia!

Thou art my Help and my Deliverer:make no tarrying, O my God. Alleluia!

Epistle Philippians 4:4–74Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your

reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. P This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

StandAlleluia and Verse LSB 173

Holy Gospel John 1:19–28P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.C Glory to You, O Lord.

19This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. P This is the Gospel of the Lord.C Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Catechism – The Ten CommandmentsP What is the Ninth Commandment?C You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.P What does this mean? C We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our

neighbor’s inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.

SitChildren’s MessageHymn of the Day “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” LSB 357

Choir sings stanzas 3 and 5

Sermon Confessing ChristStandOffertory LSB 176

Sit

Offering

Voluntary “E’en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come” Paul ManzSung by Choir

StandDoxology LSB 805

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:C Our Father who art in heaven . . .

Collect for the WordP Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be

written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of

everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Morning PrayerC I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus

Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Thanksgiving and BenedictionP Let us bless the Lord.C Thanks be to God.P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.The Lord lift His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

C Amen.Closing Hymn: “O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide”

LSB 355Postlude