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December 12, 2021— Advent IIIOUR MISSION: God calls us to live and share the amazing love andgrace of Jesus Christ with all people.Welcome to Christ Lutheran Church. May God bless us in Word andSacrament, music and community in our worship today. The service iscomplete in this bulletin. The spoken responses are bolded text. ChristLutheran Church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation that welcomes all.During your time at church today we ask that you please wear a maskand practice social distancing. Keep a 6 foot distance betweenyourself and others, even if you have been vaccinated. Hand sanitizeris available for all who wish to use it.IntroductionChrist’s presence in our midst in the wonder of the holy supper is causefor singing. The nearness of the God in prayer, in every circumstance, iscause for rejoicing. The coming of one “more powerful” than John, evenwith a winnowing fork in hand, is good news—and cause forexultation—for us who are being saved. Great joy is the tone for thethird Sunday of Advent.GATHERINGPrelude: Partita on “Comfort, Comfort Now My People”PachelbelWelcomeConfession and ForgivenessBlessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who alone does wonders, who lifts up thelowly, who fills the hungry with good things.Amen.Let us confess our sin, trusting in the tender mercy of our God.Silence is kept for reflection.God for whom we wait,in the presence of one another, we confess our sin before you. We fail inbelieving that your good news is for us. We falter in our call to tend yourcreation. We find our sense of self in material wealth. We fear those differentfrom ourselves. We forget that we are your children and turn away from yourlove. Forgive us, Blessed One, and assure us again of your saving grace. Amen.God, in Christ Jesus, has looked with favor upon you! Through the power of the HolySpirit, your sins are forgiven. You are children of the Most High, inheritors of theeternal promise, and recipients of divine mercy. God strengthens you anew to followthe way of peace.Amen.780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 1(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Gathering Hymn:“Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding!ELW 246Lighting of the Advent WreathPrayer for Advent CandleThe third Candle we light is the Candle of Joy, Let us pray.Dear God, we pray for the joy that is found in Jesus, that thosewho seek it may truly find it. May we celebrate in the joy found inYou. Amen.O come, O come, Emmanuel,And ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appear.Rejoice! Rejoice!Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530O Come, thou Lord of David’s Key!The royal door fling wide and free;Safeguard for us the heavenward road,And bar the way to death's abode.Rejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel.page 2(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

GreetingThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the HolySpirit be with you all.And also with you.KyrieGloriaAges of silence shatter at His birthWord of the prophets now unfoldingAngels bring joyous news of peace onearthBethlehem’s skies with praise resoundingAll of our sadness here will come untrueWhen He returns in power to save usWatching the skies, we long to berenewedJoining the song of heavens praisesGloria, GloriaOur God has come for usand He will come againGloria, GloriaOur God has come for usand He will come againPrayer of the DayStir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preachingof John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance;through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the HolySpirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.WORD780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 3(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

First Reading:Isaiah 12:2-62Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid,for the Lord God is my strength and my might, and has become mysalvation.3With joy you will draw waterfrom the wells of salvation. R4And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on God’s name;make known the deeds of the Lord among the nations; proclaim that thisname is exalted.5Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;let this be known in all the earth.6Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. R780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 4(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-74Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be knownto everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything byprayer 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 andyour minds in Christ Jesus .Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.Gospel AcclamationHe comes the pris'ners to release,in Satan's bondage held.The gates of brass before him burst,the iron fetters yield.Gospel: Luke 3:7-18The Holy Gospel according to St Luke.Glory to you, O Lord.7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance.Do not begin 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. 9Even now the ax islying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cutdown and thrown into the fire.”10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11In reply he said to them,“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever hasfood must do likewise.” 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they askedhim, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than theamount prescribed for you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?”He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation,and be satisfied with your wages.”15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their heartsconcerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them bysaying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I amnot worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 5(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor andto gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.The Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.SermonHymn of the Day:Rev. Ruth Peterson“Joy to the World”780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 6ELW 267(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Apostles’ CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.Prayers of IntercessionIn this season of watching and waiting, let us pray for all people and places that yearnfor God’s presence. A brief silence.Holy God, renew your church and raise upleaders who announce your good news. Grant peace to congregations andseminarians in the midst of transition. Guide the work of candidacy and callcommittees. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.Creating God, your Spirit brought forth the earth and all that is in it. Breathe life into us,that we are inspired to live in harmony with one another and the planet. Hear us, OGod.Your mercy is great.Shepherding God, you lead your people in paths of righteousness. Raise up prophetsin our own day who warn against captivity to greed and point us to the freedom found ingenerosity. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.Nurturing God, you come near in times of worry and need. Cradle us in your arms, thatwe trust you and are not afraid. Attend to any who are hungry, imprisoned, or ill this dayespecially Brian, Nai, Teri, Randy, Karen, Julie, Lysle and Ken, Dan, Sandy, Diane, Teri,Audrey, Jenny, Carol, Orlando, Agnes’ husband, Helen, Doris, Liz, Mike, Hubertus, allthose who suffer from COVID-19, and those whom we name in our hearts and on ourlips . . Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.Rejoicing God, you exult over us in singing. Enliven the song of this assembly andbless the ministry of church musicians. With instruments and dance, join our voices tothe song of all creation. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 7(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

We give you thanks for your servants who showed us your goodness and grace. Bythe power of your Spirit, keep us steadfast in faith until we make our home with you.Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.For whom or what else shall we pray?God of new life, you come among us in the places we least expect. Receive theseprayers and those of our hearts, in the name of Jesus. Amen.PeaceThe peace of Christ be with you always.And also with you.MEALMusic at the Offering:780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530“All Earth Is Hopeful”page 8ELW 266(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Offering PrayerGod of our waiting and watching, we offer the gifts of our hearts and our lives to theservice of all your people. Prepare the way before us as we meet you in this simplemeal, through Christ Jesus, our pathway and our peace.Amen.Great ThanksgivingMay God be with you.And also with you.Lift up your hearts.We lift them up to God.Let us give thanks to the God of all.It is right to give our thanks and praise.It is indeed right, our duty and our joy.we praise your name and join their unendinghymn:Sanctus780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 9(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Words of InstitutionLord’s PrayerOur Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive thosewho sin against us.Save us from the time of trialand deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yours,now and forever.Invitation to CommunionCome to Christ’s banquet. Feast of God’s gift of grace.All are welcome to Christ’s table.When giving the bread and cup, the communion ministers say “The body of Christ, given for you,”and “The blood of Christ, shed for you,” to which each person may respond “Amen.”Communion Hymn: “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” ELW 256780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 10(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Table BlessingMay the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you inGod’s grace unto life everlasting.Amen.Prayer After CommunionMost High God, you have come among us at this table. By the Spirit’s power, form usto be bearers of your word, sharing gifts of mercy and grace with all, through ChristJesus, our host and our guest.Amen.SENDINGAnnouncementsBenedictionThe God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound inhope by the power of the Holy Spirit, through Christ Jesus for whom we wait.Amen.780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 11(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org

Sending Hymn: “People, Look East”780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530page 12ELW 248(510)524-1050 christlutheranelcerrito.org