Wednesday December 10, 2025 | Second Wednesday of Advent
“Prepare!” is often the watchword of the season as the world gets ready for another celebration of Christmas. An integral part of any preparation is decoration. We see decorations everywhere this time of year. The world may not comprehend the real meaning of Christmas, but even secular preparations use many of the same decorations beloved by Christians—an appropriation we shouldn’t mind at all, because these decorations point us to Christ. This year, as we look forward again to the coming of the Messiah, we take a fresh look at how the adornments of the season draw our eyes to Jesus, that we may more richly behold the love, peace, joy, and hope He comes to bring as this beauty is set before us.
PINNACLE LUTHERAN CHURCH | Lights
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OPENING HYMN: #349 vs. 1 & 4 – Hark the Glad Sound
HYMN: #348 – The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
HYMN: #331 vs 1, 4, 5, & 6 – The Advent of Our King
PINNACLE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Online Church at Home Service & Bulletin
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – 7:00 PM
SECOND WEDNESDAY OF ADVENT
Lights
+AS WE GATHER+
“Prepare!” is often the watchword of the season as the world gets ready for another celebration of Christmas. An integral part of any preparation is decoration. We see decorations everywhere this time of year. The world may not comprehend the real meaning of Christmas, but even secular preparations use many of the same decorations beloved by Christians—an appropriation we shouldn’t mind at all, because these decorations point us to Christ. This year, as we look forward again to the coming of the Messiah, we take a fresh look at how the adornments of the season draw our eyes to Jesus, that we may more richly behold the love, peace, joy, and hope He comes to bring as this beauty is set before us.
Tonight, we focus on lights. You see them everywhere this time of year. Some neighborhoods even compete, and tourist destinations spend millions on attractive light displays. Like evergreens, this is something nonreligious people do this time of year without appreciating their true significance. Yet we know that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). He came to restore righteousness to the world. This restoration continues to unfold through the ministry He has entrusted to His church. As Zechariah sang, “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace” (LSB, Benedictus, Morning Prayer). We gather this evening to bask in the light of Jesus that His Word would have its way with us and so reflect His saving light into the darkness that remains in our world.
OPENING HYMN: #349 vs. 1 & 4 – Hark the Glad Sound
INVOCATION – p. 167
P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
VERSICLES AND GLORIA PATRI – Isaiah 40:3b, c, 5; Psalm 118:26
P Prepare the way of the Lord;
C make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
P Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
C We bless you from the house of the Lord.
P And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
C and all flesh shall see it together.
C 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.
SALUTATION
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P Let us pray.
Lord of light and life, You came into our world to remove sin and restore us to righteousness. Shine Your light anew into our hearts and cleanse us from all the deceiving evils that lurk within them, that we may live without fear of this world but joyfully anticipate Your glorious return; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
FIRST READING – Isaiah 9:1–2, 6–7
P A reading from Isaiah, the ninth chapter.
1But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined. . . .
6For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of His government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over His kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
P O Lord, have mercy on us.
C Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING – 2 Corinthians 4:3–6
P A reading from Second Corinthians, the fourth chapter.
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
P O Lord, have mercy on us.
C Thanks be to God.
THIRD READING – John 1:1–9
P A reading from John, the first chapter.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
P O Lord, have mercy on us.
C Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORY FOR ADVENT –LSB, p. 230
P Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.
C This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
P In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely.
C This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
P Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
C This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
HYMN: #348 – The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
SERMON
OFFERING
LORD’S PRAYER
P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
C 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.
ADVENT LITANY
After each petition:
P let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
CLOSING PRAYER
P Father of lights,
C every good and perfect gift comes from You.
P Thank You for sending Your Son to bring the light of life into the world and shining it into our hearts through the Gospel.
C Give us Your Spirit to hold us fast as we walk through dark places that remain in our world. Grant that our faith not grow dim but, by Your grace, glow in us through our final journey—that we may radiate Your goodness and glory each day and many may join us in Your light and also walk with You;
P through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
BENEDICAMUS – Psalm 103:1
P Let us bless the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
BENEDICTION – 2 Corinthians 13:14
P The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C Amen.
HYMN: #331 vs 1, 4, 5, & 6 – The Advent of Our King
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Quarter 3. Copyright © 2022 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
