Scripture Lessons

Isaiah 52:7-10 (Beautiful on mountain are feet of those announcing peace,

salvation of God)

Psalm 98 (Sing a new song, all creation; God judges with equity, righteousness)

Hebrews 1:1-12 (God speaks to us through his Son, who is greater than angels)

John 1:1-14 (The Word is made flesh!)

Hymns

Opening hymn: LBW #50, Angels, From the Realms of Glory (LSB #367, ELW #275)

OR LSB #378, Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

Hymn of Praise: LBW #71, Angels We Have Heard on High (LSB #368, ELW #289)

Hymn of the Day: LBW #42, Of the Father’s Love Begotten (LSB #384, ELW #295)

OR LSB #383, A Great and Mighty Wonder (tune is “The Church’s One

Foundation,” so it’s easy to sing)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #56, The First Noel ELW #300)

Communion Hymn #2: ELW #294, In the Bleak Midwinter

OR LBW #70, Go Tell It on the Mountain (LSB #388, ELW #290)

Closing Hymn: LBW #62, The Bells of Christmas Chime Once More (ELW #298)

Scripture Lessons

Isaiah 9:2-11 (Those in darkness have seen a great light; unto us a child is born)

Psalm 96 (great is the Lord; bring offerings, all nations!)

itus 2:11-14 (God’s grace revealed in the flesh, gives strength to be upright, pious)

Luke 2:1-20 (The birth of Jesus and visitation of the shepherds)

Opening hymn: LBW #45, O Come, All Ye Faithful (LSB #379, ELW #283)

Hymn of Praise: LBW #60, Hark the Herald Angels Sing (LSB #380, ELW #270)

Hymn of Day: LBW #51, From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

(LSB #358, ELW #268)

OR WOV #638, Holy Child Within the Manger (a nice Marty Haugen piece)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #72, ‘Twas In the Moon of Wintertime (ELW #284)

OR WOV #643, Once in Royal David’s City (LSB #376, ELW #269)

Communion Hymn #2: LBW #69, I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve (ELW #271)

Communion Hymn #3: LBW #44, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (LSB #393, ELW #276)

Hymn during candle lighting: LBW #65, Silent Night, Holy Night

(LSB #363, ELW #281)

Closing Hymn: LBW #39, Joy to the World (LSB #387, ELW #267)

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (St. Paul, writing in Philippians 2:3)

As our nation faces another shocking set of murders, it’s good to pause and remember why Christians walk a different path.  After all, it’s one thing to know your morals, and quite another to know why they’re your morals.  Why should we reject rivalry and conceit?

We can surely see the danger of both sins.  Rivalry led to the first murder on earth: Cain killing his brother Abel because Abel had the more acceptable sacrifice.  Conceit abetted the worse murder on earth: Jesus on the cross, arrested by those who thought themselves better than him.  The spirit of rivalry and pride—the hatred of our neighbor—lurks beneath every murder.  

But knowing a sin’s potential danger is not enough.  Our sinful hearts can quickly imagine an exception for ourselves, a justification for sin that makes us imagine that we can manage the risk. Better to know the true foundation of our morality: God gave His Son for sinners.   

Because God stands at the center of all reality, that sacrificial love for all people stands there, too.  God counted sinners more significant than Himself, so significant that He gave His life for theirs.  Being His children, and thus desiring to live in harmony with Him, we follow on that same path: no rivalry, no conceit, no murder, but only loving neighbors as our true selves.  

LET US PRAY: Forgive me, Lord.  I’d rather love myself than my neighbor, and so I do, on most days.  I am not You, Lord, as You know full well, and I often forget.  Yet since it is Your glory to have compassion on the sinner, have compassion on me.  By Your Holy Spirit grant that I would learn to find my true self not in myself, but in Your Son, and so also in His neighbors, and thus forgetting myself, love You and neighbor alike; through Christ Your Son.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

Scripture Lessons

2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 (David won’t build God’s house; God promises David’s house will endure)

Luke 1:46b-55 (Magnificat) (ELW alternate: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26)

Romans 16:25-27 (Mysteries long hidden now revealed; final blessing)

Luke 1:26-38 (Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary)

Hymns

Opening hymn: (if you didn’t use this the 1^st Sunday in Advent. Or, heck, even if

you did!) LBW #34, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (LSB #357, ELW #257)

Hymn of the Day: LBW #180, My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord

(LSB #934, ELW #573)

OR LSB #929, I Will Greatly Rejoice in the Lord (Chanted Canticle)

WOV #632, The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came (LSB #356, ELW #265)

Communion Hymn #1: LSB #546, O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild

OR LBW #41, O Little Town of Bethlehem (LSB #361, ELW #279)

Communion Hymn #2: LSB #359, Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming (ELW #272) (both

use the words and harmonization everyone knows; otherwise, make do

with LBW #58)

Closing Hymn: LBW #57, Let Our Gladness Have No End (LSB #381, ELW #291)

OR WOV #730, My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness (ELW #251)

Scripture Lessons

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (God has anointed me with his Spirit; clothed me

with joy of his salvation)

Psalm 126 (God restored fortunes of Jerusalem; those who go out weeping

come back rejoicing)

(ELW: alternate, Luke 1:46b-55, the Magnificat)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (Rejoice; don’t quench Spirit; be holy)

John 1:6-8, 19-28 (John says who he isn’t, there’s one greater than he)

Hymns

Opening hymn: LBW #25, Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers (LSB #515, ELW #244)

Hymn of the Day: LSB #345, Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding (the better tune)

(ELW #246)

Or LBW #37 (you can substitute tune #494, Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult!)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #224, Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness (LSB #636)

Communion Hymn #2: LBW #87, Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (LSB #398)

(Can also sing this hymn to tune of LBW #369, “The Church’s One Foundation. In fact, if you use it during communion, or have a congregation unfamiliar with the hymn, I’d recommend it.)

Closing Hymn: WOV #626, People, Look East (ELW #248)

OR ELW #255, There’s a Voice in the Wilderness

OR LBW #35, Hark, the Glad Sound! (LSB #349, ELW #239)

Scripture Lessons

Isaiah 40:1-11 (Comfort my people; prepare way of the Lord; here is your God,

who feeds his flock like a shepherd)

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (righteousness and peace kiss)

2 Peter 3:8-15a (1000 years like a day; end will come suddenly; live in

righteousness and peace until the Lord comes)

Mark 1:1-8 (John the Baptist announces One who is greater than he)

Hymns

Opening hymn: LBW #29, Comfort, Comfort Now My People (LSB #347; #256)

Hymn of the Day: LBW #26, On Jordan’s Banks the Baptist’s Cry

(LSB #344, ELW #249)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #320, O God, Our Help in Ages Past

(LSB #733, ELW #632)

OR WOV #630, Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (ELW #240)

Communion Hymn #2: LBW #22, The Advent of Our God

(LSB #331, The Advent of Our King)

OR ELW #247, Come Now, O Prince of Peace

Closing Hymn: LBW #26, Prepare the Royal Highway (LSB #343, ELW #264)

(feel free to teach the choir my version: On Jordan’s banks, the Baptists cry; the Methodists are standing by; the Presbyterians all do sing, while Lutherans a hot dish bring….)

Scripture Lessons

Isaiah 64:1-9 (tear open heavens and come; we are clay; do not be angry forever)

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (stir up your might and come; do not be angry forever)

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (God strengths you; wait for Christ to be revealed)

Mark 13:24-37 (stay alert; lesson of fig tree; parable: master comes unexpectedly)

OR Mark 11:1-10 (Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey)

Hymns

Opening hymn: LBW #33, The King Shall Come (LSB #348; ELW #260)

Or my “Advent hymn” based on the Gloria in Excelsis, sung to the same tune)

With glory bright and heavenly peace, come quickly, Lord, again.

With judgment true the earth renew; the gates of life unpen.

God, Father, glory gilds your name; we worship and adore,

We bless and praise, our thanks we raise; your mercy we implore.

O glorious Sun of righteousness, bring healing on your wing.

By your dear grace, reveal your face, unbar our hearts to sing:

Sing, “Glory be to you, O Lord; to you, O Christ, be praise,

God’s Lamb of love from heav’n above, Redeemer of our race.”

Most glorious Spirit, Holy Lord, conform us to the Son,

To rightly praise through all our days what he for us has done.

O glory to the Father, Son, and Spirit ever be!

God, bring your life amidst our strife; Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Hymn of the Day: #23, O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (LSB #355, ELW #241)

(if the tune is unfamiliar, use the tune for “All Glory, Laud and Honor,”

especially if the Palm Sunday processional gospel is used today.

However, the words are also great for Isaiah text and Psalm)

OR LBW #34, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (LSB #357, ELW #257)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #30, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

(LSB #338, ELW #254)

Communion Hymn #2: WOV #627, My Lord, What a Morning

(LSB #986, ELW #438)

Closing Hymn: LBW #28, Savior of the Nations, Come (LSB #332, ELW #263)