Prayers with the Saints – November 30, 2022
The Order of Worship at 7:00 pm
As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, whether we are gathering in the name of Christ in-person or online. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type.
At this time, the wearing of face coverings onsite is optional and left to personal preference. Knowing that individuals and families have varying needs at this time, the balcony is reserved as a mask required area.
Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping with us, to submit any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue giving financially to support the ongoing ministries of Redeemer.
This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.
INTRODUCTION
The Sundays of Advent, like all Sundays, are a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Midweek worship in Advent, while anchored in the Sunday cycle of readings, can make room for an additional layer of prayer and praise by observing the commemorations that fall during the month of December. Commemorations “illuminate various aspects of the church’s life and mission through the lives of women and men who have followed Christ in succeeding generations” (ELW Leaders Edition, p. 13).
Even as we look to Christ as our light, breaking through the darkness of these often cold and weary days, we can also see that light reflected however imperfectly—in the lives of ordinary people. May this great cloud of witnesses inspire our prayer as we prepare to receive in faith what they see face to face
GATHERING
The Holy Spirit gathers us into a community of prayer.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please us this prayer request link to submit your prayers or use the prayer card in your pew.
GREETING
The Spirit and the church cry out: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
All those who await his appearance pray: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The whole creation pleads: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, silence, reflection, and song.
THANKSGIVING FOR LIGHT
The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise. We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you called light into being, and you set lights in the sky to govern night and day. In every age, you call imperfect people to be bearers of your light, bright with your wisdom, aflame with your righteousness, like the stars forever. Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ, kindled in the stable, magnified on the cross, and reflected in the lives of your holy people. With them, and with all your creatures we give you glory, through your Son Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. | Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Gracious God, bless our cities and make them places of safety for all people, rich and poor. Give us grace to work for cities where neighborhoods remain vibrant and whole, where the lost and forgotten in society are supported, and where the arts flourish. Make the diverse fabric of the city a delight to all who live and visit
there and a strong bond uniting people around common goals for the good of all; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE
READING
Isaiah 11:1-9
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. 9They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
COMMEMERATING St. Nicholas
Nicholas was a bishop in present-day Turkey of whom little is known but to Whom much legend is attributed, earning him the title “wonder-worker” among Eastern Christians. Stories remember him as devoted to the care of children, including an instance where he secretly rescued three young girls from prostitution by providing their dowries in the middle of the night. Over time these legends evolved into the Santa Claus figure associated with Christmas gift giving. Nicholas was also present at the Council of Nicaea and was a signer of the Creed we still confess today.
SILENT REFLECTION
If you are worshiping online, you may share your reflection here
• Where have you seen someone be Christlike to you?
• Where have you been Christlike to somebody else?
INVITATION FOR PERSONAL RESPONSE
The Annunciation: Luke 1:26-28, 30-32, 38
Sung as solo
An angel went from God to a town called Nazareth to a woman whose name was Mary. The angel said to her, "Rejoice, O highly favored, for God is with you. You shall bear a child, and his name shall be Jesus, the Chosen One of God Most High." And Mary said, "I am the servant of my God, I live to do your will.
The Magnificat
Luke 1: 46-55
PRAYER
The Holy Spirit prays with us and through us.
Following each bidding prayer, you may speak aloud or silently your own prayers before the sung response.
As we wait and watch for Christ to appear this season, let us pray for our world that yearns for new hope.
God, you renew the church is in every age. As you formed our credal belief at the Council of Nicaea with leader like St. Nicholas, form our church, our bishop, pastors, leaders and believers to confess your good news. God in your mercy, | Hear our prayer
Creation longs for your peaceful kingdom where the wolf will lie down with the lamb. Nurture the land and places that are barren, prepare new growth to emerge. God in your mercy, | Hear our prayer
You look mercifully on the vulnerable. Protect children from abuse rescue victims of sex trafficking. Bless Wellspring Living, Goshen Valley, Inspiritus, Our House, and all organizations who work with children. God in your mercy, | Hear our prayer
You deliver us who are suffering lonliness, depression, sickness and grief. Tend to all who are in need of your love. Tonight, we pray for.... God in your mercy, | Hear our prayer
You embrace all who have died trusting in your promise. We give you thanks for their lives and rejoice in the communion of (Nicholas) and all the saints. Sustain us in our hope until we are united with them in the joy of your eternal presence. God in your mercy, | Hear our prayer
God of our longing, you know our deepest needs. By your Spirit, gather our prayers and join them with the prayers of all people. In Jesus’ name we pray. | Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray,
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world with Christ, to enter more fully into God’s love for and work in the world. This is our prayer “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
BLESSING
Let us bless the Lord. | Thanks be to God.
May God, the strength of our ancestors and the hope of our children, keep our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. | Amen.
HYMN 245
Creator of the Stars of Night
Text © 1940 Church Pension Fund used by permission onelicense.net#A725004
From sundaysandseasons.com.
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THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER
731 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 www.redeemer.org | 404.874.8664 | Emergency Line: 404.874.9759
The Rev. Mark H. Larson .................................................................................. Senior Pastor, ext. 201
The Rev. Dr. Ronald Bonner ......................................... Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203
The Rev. Jonathan Trapp ............................................................. Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233
The Rev. Jenny McLellan ..................................................... Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224
STAFF
Bob Boyd ........................................................................
Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232
Kofi Broadnax .................................................................................... Property Administrator, ext. 210
Alexa Brooks ....................................................................................................... Receptionist, ext. 200 Seth Brown ............................................................................... Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218
Michael Clarke LCFM Chef, mclarke@redeemer.org
Robin Durdin Office Administration Director, ext. 204
Kate Elkins Preschool Director, ext. 252 Kira Garvie Organ Scholar, kgarvie@redeemer.org
David Hansen Adult Choral Director, ext. 236
Sarah Hawbecker
Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206 Deacon Mary Houck Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227
Jennifer Isaacson Financial Information Director, ext. 237
Hillary Nelson Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org Stacey Williams Head of Security