“O grant, dear Lord of love, That we receive rejoicing, The Word proclaimed by John, Our true repentance voicing, That gladly we may walk Upon the Savior’s way Until we live with Him in His Eternal Day” Amen.
The Fourth Sunday in Advent — Rorate Coeli
The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mt. Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut 18:15-19). God, therefore, raised up a prophet like Moses, the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation (Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord (Lk 1:39-56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to loose (Jn 1:19-28). In Jesus we are delivered from fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:4-7).
Introit: (Antiphon: Isaiah 45:8a; Psalm: Psalm 19:1, 4-6)
Pastor: Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
Congregation: Let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout.
P: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
C: Their measuring line goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
P: In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a a strong man, runs its course with joy.
C: Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit
to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, Is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P: Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
C: Let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout.
(Note: The Gloria In Excelsis is not sung during Advent)
Collect
Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
- Lighting of the Advent Wreath +
P: We light four Advent candles remembering Jesus, the Son of God
and Son of Mary. He came to share our humanity.
C: We remember Jesus whose name means Savior.
He came to save His people from their sins.
P: We hear His call to give Him a place in our hearts. (Four Advent candles are lit)
C: We light four Advent candles as a sign of our joy and hope.
P: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.
C: Through Your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed. - Deuteronomy 18:15-19 +
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— (16) just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ (17) And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. (18) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (19) And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.
Gradual: (Psalm 145:18, 21; 40:17b)
The Lord is near to all who | call on Him, *
To all who call on | Him in truth.
My mouth will speak the praise | of the Lord, *
And let all flesh bless His holy name forever and | ever. - Philippians 4:4-7 +
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (5) Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; (6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Lutheran Confessions Responsive Reading: The Augsburg Confession (1530)
P: What do we believe, teach , and confess of “Justification”? (A.C. Art. IV)
C: Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight. (Romans 3 and 4 [3:21–26; 4:5]
Verse: (Psalm 40:17b)
P: Alleluia! You are my Help and my Deliverer;
C: Do not delay, O my God. Alleluia!
- John 1:19-28 +
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” (20) He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” (21) And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” (22) So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” (23) He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (24) (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) (25) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (26) John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, (27) even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” (28) These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
