First Lutheran Church

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2nd Sunday in Advent

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, December 7, 2025

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Prelude

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

German Folk Carol dating to 15 or 16th Century

Es ist Ein' Ros' Entsprungen

played by and arranged by Linda Hill-Phoenix

Welcome & Announcements

*Advent Wreath

Come to Be Our Hope, O Jesus v. 1

We praise you, O God, for this circle of light that marks our days of preparation for Christ’s advent. As we light the candles on this wreath, kindle within us the fire of your Spirit, that we may be light shining in the darkness. Enlighten us with your grace, that we may welcome others as you have welcomed us. Grant this through Christ our Lord, whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. Amen.

Come to Be Our Hope, O Jesus v. 2

*Confession & Forgiveness at the Cradle of Hope

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose home is heaven and earth, whose salvation is sure. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Long-expected God, we confess that we look to ourselves for the peace and security only you can provide. We reach for swords and spears, reluctant to release our grip on the ways of war. We become impatient while waiting and weary of keeping awake. Free us from self-reliance, and teach us to live in harmony with our neighbors. Increase our trust in God’s timing, and awaken us to your advent among us, that we may abound in the hope you have promised. Amen.

God judges us not as we deserve, but according to God’s own righteousness. You are freed and forgiven, saved by grace,

and ready to welcome the Savior. Amen.

*Gathering Hymn On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry

*Prayer of the Day

Let us pray: Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 11:1-10

1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might,cthe spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3 His 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,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor and decide with equity for the oppressed 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.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

6 The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.

7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.

9 They 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.

10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

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

Psalm 72

1 Give the king your jus- | tice, O God,

and your righteousness to | the king’s son;

2 that he may rule your | people righteously

and the | poor with justice;

3 that the mountains may bring prosperity | to the people,

and the | hills, in righteousness.

4 Let him defend the needy a- | mong the people,

rescue the poor, and crush | the oppressor. R

5 May he live as long as the sun and | moon endure,

from one generation | to another.

6 Let him come down like rain upon | the mown field,

like showers that wa- | ter the earth.

7 In his time may the | righteous flourish;

and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall | be no more.

18 Blessed are you, Lord God, the | God of Israel;

you alone do | wondrous deeds!

19 And blessed be your glorious | name forever,

and may all the earth be filled with your glory. A- | men. Amen. R

The Epistle Lesson Romans 15:4-13

4 Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors 9 and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will confess you among the gentiles and sing praises to your name”;

10 and again he says, “Rejoice, O gentiles, with his people”;

11 and again, “Praise the Lord, all you gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”;

12 and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come,

the one who rises to rule the gentiles; in him the gentiles shall hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

*Gospel Acclamation

congregation repeats alleluia after the cantor’s lead then repeats after the cantor’s verse

*Gospel Matthew 3:1-12 Glory to you O Lord

1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, 9 and do not presume 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. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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

Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson

*Hymn of the Day Prepare the Royal Highway

*Exchange of Peace

*Prayers of Intercession

Response to each petition: God of grace, hear our prayer.

*Apostle’s Creed

I 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. Amen.

Offering

Give online using the button at the top right

Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

Offering Music

What Child is This? W. Chatterton Dix author- tune: Greensleeves arr. Linda Hill-Phoenix

Offering Prayer

Nourishing God, you are water in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Through this meal, satisfy our parched places, that we may rejoice and be for the world signs of your kingdom come. Amen.

*The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

*Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, … with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*Sanctus

*Eucharistic Prayer

On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed, …

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, … your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.

Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

Our 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei

Communion Distribution

Communion Music

O Come, O Come Emmanuel Linda Hill-Phoenix, harp

Wake, Awake the Night is Flying WACHET AUF Phillip Nicolai 1599 played by harpist and arr. by Linda Hill-Phoenix

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

God our host, at this table you have fed us with joy and gladness. Send us forth, eager to share the feast, welcome the stranger, and bear good fruit in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

*Sending Hymn He Came Down