Prayer at the Close of Day Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church and School Pastors David N. Rutschow and Matthew E. Schwartz 525 Sixty-Third Street – Downers Grove, IL 60516

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

“Prayer at the Close of Day” is a version of the historic rite called Compline. It is the final service of the day before one retires for the night. It is a time for prayer and meditation. The believer finds peace in God’s forgiveness and security under the shadow of his wings. Prayer at Close of Day – Compline: Setting ll by Dale Witte (c) 2002 Northwestern Publishing House, All rights reserved. Onelicense # 717289

Opening Hymn 12 – Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes L – Leader ( Minister ) G – Group ( Congregation )

Welcome to earth, O noble Guest, Through whom the sinful world is blest!

You came to share my misery That You might share Your joy with me.

These are the signs that you shall mark: The swaddling clothes and manger dark.

There you will find the infant laid By whom the heav’ns and earth were made.

My heart for very joy must leap;

My lips no more can silence keep. I, too, must sing with joyful tongue That sweetest ancient cradlesong:

Confession and Absolution L: Our help is in the name of the Lord, G: Who made heaven and earth. L: Let us confess our sins in the presence of God and of one another. L: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, G: We have sinned against you in our thoughts, in our words, in our deeds, and in all that we have not done.

Forgive us in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Deliver and restore us, that we may rest in peace.

L: By the mercy of God we are redeemed by Jesus Christ, And in him we are forgiven. Let us rest in peace until the rising of the sun When we shall serve him in newness of life.

G: Amen. Psalm of the Day – Psalm 31 on Page 77 Scripture – Luke 1: 57 – 79 – The Birth of John the Baptist

Sermon Hymn 23 – Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel Sermon Text –

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, ‘God with us.’”

( Matthew 1: 22, 23 ) Sermon Theme –

This is the One born of a virgin, our Savior, Immanuel.

A meditation based on the hymn verse,

These are the signs that you shall mark: The swaddling clothes and manger dark.

There you will find the infant laid By whom the heav’ns and earth were made.

Offering Prayer for Advent

Lord’s Prayer –

Hymn 6 – Come, O Long-Expected Jesus

Blessing L: The almighty and most merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, ( + ) and the Holy Spirit, bless and keep us. G: Amen. Extinguishing of the Candles