Bread of Life - Advent

Gathering

Prelude

Entrance Hymn

Please stand

Invocation

Blessed be the holy Trinity, Father, Son ☩ and Holy Spirit, who comes to wake us from sleep, who leads us into the light of grace.
Amen.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Confession & Holy Absolution

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection & self-examination

Most Merciful God:
We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name.
Amen.

The minister addresses the congregation

Almighty God, in His mercy, has given His son to die for us and, for His sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and the ✠ Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Service of the Word

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.

Kyrie

Salutation & Collect of the Day

let us pray...
Amen.

First and Second Readings

After the readings, the following response is used

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Holy Gospel Reading

The Holy Gospel according to _____, the _____Chapter.
Glory to You O Lord.

The Holy Gospel is read ...

This is the Gospel of our Lord.
Praise be to You, O Christ.

Children's Message

Sermon Hymn

Sermon

The Creed

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
  maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell.
  The third day He rose again 
    from the dead.
  He ascended into heaven
    and sits at the right hand 
    of God the Father Almighty.
  From thence 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
  
or
  
Nicene Creed
I believe in One God, 
 the Father Almighty, 
 maker of heaven and earth  
 and of all things visible and invisible. 
    And in one Lord Jesus Christ,  
 the only-begotten Son of God, 
 begotten of His Father before all worlds, 
 God of God, Light of Light, 
 very God of very God, 
 begotten, not made, 
 being of one substance with the Father, 
 by whom all things were made; 
 who for us men and for our salvation 
 came down from heaven 
 and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit 
 of the virgin Mary and was made man; 
 and was crucified also for us 
 under Pontius Pilate. 
 He suffered and was buried.
 And the third day He rose again 
 according to the Scriptures 
 and ascended into heaven 
 and sits at the right hand of the Father. 
 And He will come again with glory 
 to judge both the living and the dead,  
 whose kingdom will have no end.  
    And I believe in the Holy Spirit,  
 the Lord and giver of life, 
 who proceeds from the Father and the Son, 
 who with the Father and the Son 
 together is worshiped and glorified, 
 who spoke by the prophets. 
    And I believe in one holy Christian  
 and apostolic Church,  
 I acknowledge one Baptism  
 for the remission of sins, 
 and I look for the resurrection of the dead 
 and the life ✠ of the world to come.  Amen.

Prayers of the Church

In this holy season of repentance and renewal, we join with the church throughout the world, praying for all who are in need.

After each petition, the following response is used

Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the world,
Have mercy on us.

or

Let us pray to the Lord,
Lord have mercy.

The prayer may conclude with the following line

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy;
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

The Peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

Service of the Sacrament

Offering

Offertory

Let us pray: Savior of the nations, come.
Make Your home here in us. Feed us with Your love, that our faith shine ever new and our lives reveal Your light. Amen.

Preface

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up you 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.

It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord…Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

Sanctus

The Words of Our Lord

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My ☩ body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My ☩ blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

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.

Agnus Dei

The Holy Eucharist at Zion

Distribution

The Holy Sacrament is distributed

Distribution Hymn

Post-Communion Canticle

Post-Communion Prayer

Let us pray. God for whom we wait, You come to us in Your true Body and Blood. Make us ready always to welcome Christ into our hearts, and send us forth to be Your people in the world, announcing Your coming among us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Blessing

Almighty God, Father ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.

Closing Hymn

The pastor dismisses the congregation

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.