Eden On The Bay

3rd Sunday of Advent - 12/12/2021

The 115th Anniversary of the faith community of Eden Evangelical Lutheran Church

Christ’s presence in our midst in the wonder of the holy supper is cause for singing. The nearness of the God in prayer, in every circumstance, is cause for rejoicing. The coming of one “more powerful” than John, even with a winnowing fork in hand, is good news—and cause for exultation—for us who are being saved. Great joy is the tone for the third Sunday of Advent.

Announcements

As you prepare for worship, gathered in virtual community and connected by God’s beautiful and unfathomable design, you are invited to light a candle for your home worship space.

Confession and Forgiveness

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

who alone does wonders,

who lifts up the lowly,

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 in believing that your good news is for us.

We falter in our call to tend your creation.

We find our sense of self in material wealth.

We fear those different from ourselves.

We forget that we are your children

and turn away from your love.

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 Holy Spirit,

your sins are forgiven.

You are children of the Most High,

inheritors of the eternal promise,

and recipients of divine mercy.

God strengthens you anew to follow the way of peace.

Amen.

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.

Prayer of the Day

Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of 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 Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Word

First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20

The prophet Zephaniah’s message is mostly one of judgment for sin. This reading, however, which comes from the conclusion of the book, prophesies joy for Judah and Jerusalem. Judgment has led to repentance, and God’s salvation is at hand.

 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
  shout, O Israel!
 Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
  O daughter Jerusalem!
 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
  he has turned away your enemies.
 The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
  you shall fear disaster no more.
 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
 Do not fear, O Zion;
  do not let your hands grow weak.
 The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
  a warrior who gives victory;
 he will rejoice over you with gladness,
  he will renew you in his love;
 he will exult over you with loud singing
  as on a day of festival.
 I will remove disaster from you,
  so that you will not bear reproach for it.
 I will deal with all your oppressors
  at that time.
 And I will save the lame
  and gather the outcast,
 and I will change their shame into praise
  and renown in all the earth.
 At that time I will bring you home,
  at the time when I gather you;
 for I will make you renowned and praised
  among all the peoples of the earth,
 when I restore your fortunes
  before your eyes, says the Lord.

Word of God. Word of Life.  Thanks be to God.

Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6

In your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (Is. 12:6)

 Surely 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 my salvation.
 With joy you will draw water
  from the wells of salvation. 
 And 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 this name is exalted.
 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
  let this be known in all the earth.
 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
  for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. 

Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7

Despite being in prison, Paul is remarkably upbeat as he writes this letter. Here, he urges his friends in Philippi to trust God with all their worries and concerns with the hope that they will experience God’s joy and peace.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Word of God. Word of Life.  Thanks be to God.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 3rd chapter

Glory to you, O Lord

Gospel: Luke 3:7-18

John the Baptist heralds the mighty one who is coming. John teaches that preparation for God’s reign is not a matter of identity but of bearing fruits of merciful justice, radical generosity, and vocational integrity.

John 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? Bear 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. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
  And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers 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.”
  As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
  So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

 The Gospel of the Lord!  Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

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,

        was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary

        and became truly human.

        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,*

    who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

    who 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 Intercession

In this season of watching and waiting, let us pray for all people and places that yearn for God’s presence.

A brief silence.

Holy God, renew your church and raise up leaders who announce your good news. Grant peace to congregations and seminarians in the midst of transition. Guide the work of candidacy and call committees. 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, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Shepherding God, you lead your people in paths of righteousness. Raise up prophets in our own day who warn against captivity to greed and point us to the freedom found in generosity. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Nurturing God, you come near in times of worry and need. Cradle us in your arms, that we trust you and are not afraid. Attend to any who are hungry, imprisoned, or ill this day (especially). Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Rejoicing God, you exult over us in singing. Enliven the song of this assembly and bless the ministry of church musicians (especially). With instruments and dance, join our voices to the song of all creation. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

We give you thanks for your servants who showed us your goodness and grace (especially). By the power of your Spirit, keep us steadfast in faith until we make our home with you. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

God of new life, you come among us in the places we least expect. Receive these prayers and those of our hearts, in the name of Jesus.   Amen.

Peace (In ASL)

The peace of Christ be with you always.   

And also with you.

Offering 

Offering Prayer

God of our waiting and watching,

we offer the gifts of our hearts and our lives

to the service of all your people.

Prepare the way before us

as we meet you in this simple meal,

through Christ Jesus, our pathway and our peace.

Amen.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD 

The presiding minister leads the following prayer.

Let us pray.

Praise and thanks to you, holy God,

for by your Word you made all things:

you spoke light into darkness,

called forth beauty from chaos,

and brought life into being.

For your Word of life, O God,

we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel

to tell of your wonderful gifts:

freedom from captivity,

water on the desert journey,

a pathway home from exile,

wisdom for life with you.

For your Word of life, O God,

we give you thanks and praise.

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh,

you speak to us and call us to witness:

forgiveness through the cross,

life to those entombed by death,

the way of your self-giving love.

For your Word of life, O God,

we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God;

rekindle your gifts within us:

renew our faith, increase our hope,

and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need.

Faithful to your Word, O God,

draw near to all who call on you;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory forever.

Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our faithful teacher Jesus gave us the words we need to bring us back to God and our God-given selves when he taught us to pray:

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.

Sending

Blessing 

The God of hope

fill us with all joy and peace in believing,

so that we may abound in hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit,

through Christ Jesus for whom we wait.

Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace. Christ is near.

Thanks be to God.

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Please remember the following people in your prayers: Paxton, Marlene Robbins, Tara Henry, Craig, Ray Berg, Anne Balko, Christina Bell, Jake Rosenberg, Dawn Syers, Rick, Tommy Paradise, Lana, Joe, Arlene Posont, Paige, Mary Kutsick, Jamie, Billie Lindquist, Jonnie Tru, Gary, Kay St.Amour, Florence, Jen Lincoln, Amy Sturtleen, Phil, Doris Hayrynen, and all who are in our prayers today.

Nursing Home: Ruth Elavsky, Jim LeVeque, and Babe Strand

Assisted Living: Norma Secreast

In Service: Airman Craig Oas, Ryan Graves, Zac Culter, Mike Knickerbocker, Sean Sutherland, Peter Peterson, Mathew Moilanen, Michael Graves, Airman Mikala Robinson, and our veterans who have returned to their communities.

General:  All who deal with COVID-19 here in our neighborhoods and beyond.

PRESIDING MINISTER:   Elaine Robbins

ASSISTING MINISTER:   Volunteer Needed  (Saturday)  - Brenda St. Martin  (Sunday)

USHERS:                    Dave & Carol Eglsaer  (Saturday)  - Volunteer Needed  (Sunday)

ALTAR GUILD:            Deb Perttula & Kaye Methot

MUSICIAN:                Michele Albright 

Events of the Week

Saturday – Dec. 18th   – Saturday Worship Service – 5:00pm - In-person 

Sunday -  Dec. 19th    – 10:30am Worship Service  - In-person and on Facebook Live  

Please contact Pastor Tommy Richter if pastoral care is needed - 

pastor.tommyrichter@gmail.com

or 215-470-9948 cell; 906-286-4383 home

PLEASE WEAR A MASK WHEN WORSHIPPING OR GATHERING INDOORS.