<div dir="ltr"><div>Dear all, <br></div><div><br></div><div>I think that all of the confirmation students are able to be there this Sunday. Please let me know if that is not the case. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Here's what we'll be doing this week:</div><div><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">Neal: opening (you read the unbolded parts)</span><br></div><div>


















<p class="gmail-BulletinLiturgicalText" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-indent:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif">Advent Invocation</span><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black">All creation holds its breath.<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif">The
time is almost here.</span></strong><br>
The heavenly choir of angels waits for its cue to sing.<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif">Excitement
is all around us.</span></strong><br>
Prepare your hearts–The grace of God takes on human form.<br>
Good news! Emmanuel, God-with-Us, comes to us.<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif">We
gather to make ready our hearts </span></strong></span><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black">for the coming of
Christ, our hope.</span></strong><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>





</div><div><br></div><div><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">Max: Prayer of the Day</span></div><div>


















<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black">O Key of
David,<br>
true Pastor of all God's people, you open doors that no-one can close, and
close doors that no-one can open: Come now to set the prisoners free, all those
who live in darkness and despair.<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black">Lord draw near. Draw near and save.
Amen.</span></b></p></div><div><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">Maddie: 1st Lesson (Isaiah 40:1-11)</span><br></div><div>


















<p class="gmail-BulletinLiturgicalText" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;text-indent:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;display:none">Lector: </span><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">A
reading from Isaiah:<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">^{<span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">1</span>}<span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Comfort, O comfort my
people, says your God. ²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received
from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. ³A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the
desert a highway for our God. ⁴Every valley shall be lifted up, and
every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and
the rough places a plain. ⁵Then the glory of the LORD shall be
revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has
spoken." ⁶A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said,
"What shall I cry?" All people are grass, their constancy is like the
flower of the field. ⁷The grass withers, the flower fades, when the
breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. ⁸The
grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. ⁹Get
you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice
with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" ¹⁰See, the
Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him. ¹¹He will feed his flock like a
shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span> </span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 6pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;display:none">Lector: </span><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Word
of God, word of life.<span>                                          </span><b>Thanks be to God.</b><span></span></span></p>





</div><div><br></div><div><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">Josie: Intercessory Prayer - you can change the language of this, and add or take out prayers as you like.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>


















<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Trusting in the
transformative power of God’s loving Spirit, let us pray for the church, the
world, and all in need.<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">A brief silence.<span></span></span></i></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Holy
God, you give the law that your people live by it and flourish. Write your law
on the hearts of all who bear your name, and teach us to love your
commandments, that we live as you intend. God of grace,<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">hear
our prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Holy
God, you plant the earth and water it and bring forth a fruitful harvest. Send
favorable weather, just wages, and the bounty of your abundance to all who are
engaged in the labor of harvest. God of grace,<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">hear
our prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Holy
God, you watch over the ways of the righteous and judge your people with
fairness. Guide judges, courts, elected officials, and all those tasked with
upholding the law, inspiring them with your wisdom and zeal for justice. God of
grace,<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">hear
our prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Holy
God, you hold your people in love and surround them with your mercy. Draw near
to all who are in. Be their rest and comfort. God of grace,<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">hear
our prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Holy
God, you call us to love one another as we love ourselves. Give us the will and
patience to love those who are difficult to love. Bless all the ministries of
this congregation through which we show love for our neighbors. God of grace,<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">hear
our prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Holy
God, you have broken the chains of death and daily make all things new. We give
you thanks for the witness of reformers like Martin Luther and all the saints.
We pray that your transformative spirit is at work in us. God of grace,<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">hear
our prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Gracious
God, into your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your unending
love and amazing grace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Amen.</span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><span></span></span></p>





</div><div><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">Frances: acolyte/crucifer</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thanks, everyone!</div><div><br></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Janet<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="2">Janet Katari (she/her)<br></font></div><div><font size="2">Pastor, Christ Church, Lutheran, San Francisco</font></div><div><font size="2"><a href="mailto:seniorpastor@christchurchlutheran.org" target="_blank">seniorpastor@christchurchlutheran.org</a><br></font></div><div><font size="2">415-215-1576</font></div><div style="text-align:left"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Justice, therefore, represents the peace of God. This peace is freedom from the violence that distorts the human person. It is the elimination, in other words, of systems, constructs, and all actualities of violence. God's peace thus requires a radical restructuring of a political, social, and economic order that is sustained by and thus creates 'crucified classes of people.' <i>Kelly Brown Douglas, Stand Your Ground, p. 195</i></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div>