SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2023 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH
PASTOR: Rev. Harry M. Krolus
CHURCH: 410-356-3400 CELL: 410-707-7663
Church email: ctklclcms@yahoo.com
Church Web Site: ctklchurch.org
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WELCOME to everyone who is worshiping with us today. We are glad that you are here! We pray that your worship experience here at Christ The King is spiritually uplifting and rewarding. If you are visiting, please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to Pastor Harry.
(Please turn off all electronic devices before worship begins; or, if you are using a Bible app to enhance your worship experience or to use PayPal, please enable the do not disturb function on your phone.)
WORDS OF GREETING
THE EXCHANGE OF CHRISTIAN PEACE
OPENING HYMN: 331 “The Advent Of Our King”
THE INVOCATION
P. We begin our worship this morning in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C. Amen.
THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
P. The second candle lit on the Advent wreath is the Bethlehem candle. It reminds us of the humble birth of our Savior and that he came not to save some, but all.
C. As Bethlehem was prepared to cradle the Christ Child, we prepare our hearts and homes to cradle him now.
(The Bethlehem candle is now lit.)
THE CONFESSION OF SINS
P. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us come before the Lord with sincere hearts and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
C. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
P. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.
C. And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
P. Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess to you that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against you by thought, word, and deed. We, therefore, come before you for refuge, seeking your boundless mercy and grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. Most merciful God, since you have given your only begotten Son to die for us, have mercy on us and for his sake grant us forgiveness of all our sins; and by your Holy Spirit, increase in us true knowledge of you and of your will and true obedience to your word, to the end that by your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
P. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy on us and has given his only son to die for us and for his sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe on his name he gives power to become the children of God and has promised them his Holy Spirit. He that believes has the assurances of God’s promises, the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.
C. Amen.
THE PSALM FOR THE DAY: Psalm 85
P. You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
C. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.
P. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
C. Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
P. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
C. Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
P. Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
C. I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints.
P. But let them not return to folly.
C. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
P. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
C. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
P. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
C. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
A HYMN OF PRAISE (p. 171)
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing and honor and glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. This is the feast of victory for our God. For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia. Alleluia.
THE FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
THE SECOND LESSON: 2 Peter 3:8-14
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean
countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
THE NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all that is seen and unseen.
I 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; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. 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.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE SERMON HYMN: 344 “On Jordan’s Bank The Baptist’s Cry”
THE SERMON: “Are You Prepared?”
text: Mark 1:1-3
THE OFFERING
AN OFFERING SONG (783)
Take my life, that I may be consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use every pow’r as thou shalt choose.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
We invite to the Lord’s Table all who have been baptized, accept the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, and believe that the body and blood of the risen Christ are really present in the bread and wine; given for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. If you prefer the individual cup, please extend one index finger as your hands are folded on the altar railing. This will alert the communion assistants of your preference.
Also, if for some medical reason you are not able to consume alcohol, grape
juice is available in the individual cups. The grape juice is “red” while the wine is “white”.
THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
THE UNIVERSAL GREETING OF PEACE
P. The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C. And also with you.
THE INVITATION
P. The gifts of God for the people of God.
C. Amen.
THE DISTRIBUTION
Hymns: 334 “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”
THE POST COMMUNION CANTICLE (p. 181)
Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell everyone what he has done. Let everyone who seeks the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name. He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia. Alleluia.
CLOSING PRAYER
Holy Father, you are the source of all goodness and life. We ask that you always be with us to guide us and protect us. We ask that you always rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit, that we
may be enabled to serve you constantly. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
THE BLESSING
P. May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you: May the Lord look upon you with his favor and give you his peace.
C. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: 364 “Away In A Manger”
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REMAINING 2023 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
Wednesday, December 13
2nd Mid-Week Advent Worship Service at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 16
Sunday School Dress Rehearsal at 9:00 AM
Sunday, December 17 - 3rd Sunday in Advent
Children’s Christmas Program at 10:30 AM
Christmas Caroling at 5:00 PM
Wednesday, December 20
3rd Mid-Week Advent Worship Service at 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 24 - 4th Sunday In Advent/
Christmas Eve
Worship with Communion at 10:30 AM
Family Christmas Eve Candlelight Choral at 7:30 PM
Monday, December 25 - Christmas Day
Christmas Day Worship at 10:30 AM
Sunday, December 31 - 1st Sunday After Christmas/
New Year’s Eve
Worship with Communion at 10:30 AM
