ST. PETER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH W. Todd School Rd. Glasford, Illinois

Transcription

1 ST. ETER EVANGELIAL LUTHERAN HURH W. Todd School Rd. Glasford, Illinois Sunday December 9, 2018 Second Sunday in Advent

2 Introduction to the day Forerunners and messengers advance the advent of our God. While John the baptizer s voice in the wilderness may be the principal focus of the day, Malachi s prophecy could as easily herald the coming Lord Jesus as forerunner of the Lord of hosts. Finally all the baptized are called to participate in the sharing of the gospel. In so doing we prepare the way for the coming of the Lord and assist all flesh in capturing a vision of the salvation of God. FOR THE ORGAN/LAVINOVA RELUDE, LEASE QUIET OUR VOIES, ELL HONES AND HEARTS. LEASE STAND AS ABLE WHERE THERE IS AN * (ASTERISK) BELL RINGING - JOHN SHRYOK GREETINGS *ADVENT ANDLE LIGHTING, READING AND RAYER Advent Family Lenne Family Nativity rocessional Mary & Joseph 2

3 *GATHERING SONG repare the Royal Highway (LBW 26) 3

4 *GREETING (WOV p. 46) The grace of our Lord Jesus hrist, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people. The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, full of grace and truth. 4

5 *SRITURE SONG (WOV p. 47) 5

6 FIRST LESSON: Malachi 3:1-4 A reading from Malachi. 1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner s fire and like fullers soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. READER The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SALM: Luke 1: Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel, you have come to your people and set them free. 69 You have raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of your servant David. 70 Through your holy prophets, you promised of old to save us from our enemies, 71 from the hands of all who hate us, 72 to show mercy to our forebears, and to remember your holy covenant. 73 This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham: 74 to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship you without fear, 75 holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life. 76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to pre- pare the way, 77 to give God s people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. 78 In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, 79 to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shad- ow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. 6

7 SEOND LESSON: hilippians 1:3-11 A reading from hilippians. 3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus hrist. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of hrist Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of hrist you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus hrist for the glory and praise of God. READER The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. *GOSEL ALAMATION (WOV p. 48) 7

8 *GOSEL: Luke 3:1-6 The Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 3 rd chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when ontius ilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother hilip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and aiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: repare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. The Gospel of the Lord. raise to you, O hrist. HILDREN'S TIME SERMON 8

9 *RESONSE TO THE WORD: REED AND ONFESSION (WOV p. 49) In hrist, you have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. We believe in him and are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus hrist, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under ontius ilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic hurch, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen Build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus hrist. If anyone is in hrist, there is a new creation: Everything old has passed away; behold, everything has become new! God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, let us be reconciled to God and to one another. 9

10 Gracious God, have mercy on us. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone. Uphold us by your Spirit so that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your holy name; through Jesus hrist our Lord. Amen The almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all our sins. Amen *EAE (WOV p. 50) Sisters and brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace. The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Let us share God s peace with one another. OFFERING 10

11 *OFFERTORY (WOV p. 50) Let us pray. Merciful God, in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you embrace our lives with your great love for humanity. With joy and gladness we ask that these gifts may be for many a sign of that love, and that we may continue to share in your divine life, through Jesus hrist our Lord. Amen 11

12 *THE RAYERS As we await the coming of hrist, we pray in hope for the church, the world, and all of creation. repare your church to share the good news, life-giving God. ut your word within us and dwell among us. Send us out to proclaim the mercy and salvation that abides in you. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. rotect the creation, life-giving God. Sustain the mountains and hills. Restore the rivers. Give us wisdom and compassion to care for wilderness areas and urban ecosystems. Move us to care for your creation in all its forms and richness. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. urify the hearts of all people, life-giving God. Remove the hate that lives within us and among us. Mold us into peacemakers. Raise up leaders rooted in your love and fed by your word. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. omfort all who hurt, life-giving God. Wrap them in your tender care. Remember the forgotten and send us out to share your love with them. Be with the wandering, the worried, and the woeful (especially). Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Bless this congregation, life-giving God. Give strength and joy to worship leaders, musicians, and our altar guild as they prepare the way for the celebration of the hrist child s coming among us. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. We remember the generations who have shown us your faithfulness, life-giving God. Shine your light on those who mourn and prepare us for that day when we will see you face-to-face. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. onfident that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we bring to you these prayers and those unspoken, in the name of hrist, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 12

13 *LORD S RAYER (WOV p. 52) Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray: 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. BLESSING (WOV p. 53) Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen 13

14 *LOSING HYMN On Jordan's Banks the Baptist's ry (LBW 36) ANNOUNEMENTS (WOV p. 46) *DISMISSAL (WOV p. 53) Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. 14

15 *THIS WEEK S ANNOUNEMENTS* Welcome in the name of Jesus hrist. If you are a visitor, please sign the guest book in the foyer. Thank you for coming! Everyone, please remember to date and sign the ew ads. If it is a ommunion week, please mark if you took communion. Thanks! lease join us downstairs for fellowship after the service and to enjoy donuts, coffee, and juice. *THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SERVE TODAY* astor Greeters/ Ushers/ offee Time Reader Organist/ianist Nursery Help Acolytes Advent Family ASTOR RAY BARLAY LADIES ANGI RUHOTZKE ALIE BLEDSOE TOM HAYNES ETHAN SOTT BEN ILLE LENNE FAMILY 15

16 *EASE KEE IN OUR RAYERS* Home-Bound aul Weber Strength/Healing oncerns Nancy Monroe, Violet Haage, am Rabe, Don ille, onnie Wheeler, Joan Sathoff, Bob Kaufman, Shirley Harrell, Leanna Northrup, hristy Hancock, Miranda Baldwin, Arlan Janssen, Julie latt All Soldiers Serving Our ountry, especially David Geltmaker, Amanda Zeine, Jessica Flynn, Josie Flynn, Jameson Voss, Jon Voss, Ben Johanson, Erich oogan *THIS WEEK S ATIVITIES* Mondays Tuesdays Wednesday Wednesdays 6pm Everyone is welcome!! **THERE WILL BE NO RAYER GROU DURING THE WINTER** Sewing and ot Luck 9am hoir ractice 7pm 16

17 **IF YOU HAVEN T BEEN TO OUR WEBSITE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, LEASE HEK IT OUT!! ED FISHER HAS BEEN DOING SOME GREAT UDATES AND HAS ADDED A FEW THINGS!!!** *During the winter months, there will be no rayer Group meeting on Tuesdays* *Also, in the month of December, there will not be a Men s Breakfast* ~ LYO NEWS ~ "Keep the LYO in mind when ordering your gifts from Amazon/smile. We earn a percentage of your total. " ~WELA NEWS~ alling Everyone! The WELA sign-up book is in the back of the church waiting for you to sign-up to help with one of the church duties. Anyone can help take care of our lovely church in many ways; helping with communion set-up; cleaning the flower garden; helping with funeral set-up/serving and other ways. lease take a minute and see what God has called you to do. We only have a couple more weeks and we will be putting out the new booklet. 17

18 OOKIE WALK AT LUTHERAN HILLSIDE VILLAGE Friday, December 14, 8:00-11:00 a.m. Homemade fudge, homemade cookies and candies, individual loaves of bread, a variety of sweet treats - sound good? Stop by the main entrance of LHV at 6901 North Galena Road in eoria. The goodies will be displayed on long tables, and you can select your own personal favorites. Sound easy? It is! Your Styrofoam container will be weighed - you can get a lot of yummy sweets for a pound! roceeds benefit LHV's Benevolent Fund for those folks who have outlived their resources. The event is sponsored by the Lutheran Women of Greater eoria. Bakers are needed for this event. We are requesting donations to be in containers that you do not need back delivered to the main lobby/front desk of Lutheran Hillside Village between 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 13. We will gladly accept homemade cookies, fudge, baked breads, or hristmas candies. The residents and staff will be delighted by your efforts! For those of you who wish to send Darel Urish hristmas cards again this year, his address is: Darel Urish lients hoice 805 N. Emery St. Stanley, Wisconsin

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20 GOSEL MESSAGE December 9, 2018 SEOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT ower Upended Today s gospel begins with a list of seven national, regional, and religious rulers. If you want to know power, look no further than these names. And yet, plunked down next to these power brokers is John, a ragamuffin in the wilderness. God chose John as his messenger, dismantling any ideas that we need political or social power in society to be useful to God s mission. John may not be a political titan, but his message is authoritative. John commands us to prepare the way of the Lord (Luke 3:4), to begin major construction on the systems and structures of our world. Valleys will be filled, mountains will be leveled, and crooked ways will be straightened out. This is no small project that John has in mind! But before we go rounding up the bulldozers, notice how this upending is going to take place. John doesn t arrive with heavy equipment, nor with the power of armies or wealth. Instead, God empowers the wilderness wanderer with nothing but the word repent. John arrives with a call to stop looking to the power brokers for our peace but instead to return to God, who can level mountains with a few ordinary folks willing to claim a different kind of power. This call to return to God is a radical notion inviting us to enter God s vision for a world ruled not by power over others or by false peace, but by love. It is a call not to overthrow, but to clear the path in our hearts and in our world to receive God, who provides ultimate peace. Returning to God, we see possibility where before we saw hopelessness. Returning to God, we enter a place of desolation the wilderness and see that God transforms it into a place of redemption, new life, and abundance. As we prepare to welcome the hrist child, let us answer John s call to repent, embracing God s ultimate peace as we fervently pray, ome, Lord Jesus, come. From sundaysandseasons.com. opyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of hristian Education of the National ouncil of the hurches of hrist in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A