Lifestyle. December 23, 2018 Fourth Sunday in Advent

Transcription

1 Lifestyle December 23, 2018 Fourth Sunday in Advent

2 WELCOME Greetings in Jesus! Welcome! We are inching ever closer to Christmas day, the day that we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the light of the world. We are coming to that realization that God is in our midst. As the prophet says: The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty Savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in His love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals (Zephaniah 3:17). The fourth week in Advent is traditionally the week of peace. Christians often refer to Jesus as the Prince of Peace, and the Psalms are full of references to God bestowing peace upon His people. As the Psalmist writes: May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! (Psalm 29:11). If you are visiting with us this morning, please be sure to fill out a Get Connected card. Should you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to contact me at the church office. In Christ, Pastor Arthur Andrews CONTACT US Hephatha Lutheran Church 5900 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd. Anaheim, CA Phone: Fax: HephathaChurch@hephatha.net Office Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Morning Services: To assist those with hearing loss, Hephatha has installed a Hearing Loop in the Sanctuary. For more information please see the flyer in the narthex. We have a limited number of headset receivers available for checkout. Please see an elder for more information and to check out a receiver. STAY CONNECTED Hephatha Lutheran Church & School Download Hephatha's App: Our Hephatha Hephatha.net

3 OUR 8:00 A.M. WORSHIP WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Arthur Andrews OPENING HYMN Savior of the Nations, Come Sts: 1-4, 8; LSB #332 OPENING SENTENCES Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is coming soon! People: He is coming soon indeed! Alleluia! Pastor: Blessed is the fruit of Mary s womb! People: He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord! Pastor: His flock shall dwell secure. People: And He will be their peace. Pastor: My soul magnifies the Lord, People: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is coming soon! People: He is coming soon indeed! Alleluia! LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Pastor: On the four Sundays in Advent, we light a new candle each week. We mark the four candles with these four words: hope, peace, joy, and love. Jesus Christ is the hope of the nations. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we hope. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rest. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the source of all joy. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rejoice. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Lord of love. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word His love finds us CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Pastor: In the season of Advent we prepare for Jesus to come. Sometimes in our preparations we lose sight of God s grace. Despite God s unconditional love, we still try to earn our way into security and salvation. We turn to the Lord for forgiveness. Silence for reflection. Pastor: Heavenly Father, People: we confess that we have not trusted Your Word of forgiveness, life, and salvation. We have questioned if we are truly forgiven. We have doubted the new life we now live. We have distrusted Your way of

4 salvation. Restore us, O God. Let Your face shine, that we may be saved! Pastor: Hear these words of forgiveness for they are from Christ Himself: As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. COLLECT OF THE DAY (in unison) Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READING Micah 5:2 5 (Page 779) Reader: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. RESPONSE Alleluia Page 156 HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 1:18 25 (Page 807) P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 1 st Chapter. C: (Sung): Glory to You, O Lord. After the reading: P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: (Sung): Praise to You, O Christ. HYMN OF THE DAY O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Sts: 1-3; LSB #357 SERMON Down to Earth Lifestyle Text: Matthew 1:18 25 NICENE CREED Page 158 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P: Lord, in Your mercy; C: Hear our prayer. OFFERING OFFERTORY Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart LSB #806 SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT (Please see the tan pew card) Page 161 CONCLUDING COLLECT BENEDICTION CLOSING HYMN The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns LSB #348

5 OPENING SONG WELCOME PASTORAL PRAYER OUR 9:30 A.M. WORSHIP The King is Calling Rev. Arthur Andrews LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Pastor: On the four Sundays in Advent, we light a new candle each week. We mark the four candles with these four words: hope, peace, joy, and love. Jesus Christ is the hope of the nations. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we hope. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rest. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the source of all joy. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rejoice. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Lord of love. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word His love finds us CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION SONG SCRIPTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS This Is Amazing Grace Matthew 1:18 25 (NIV) OFFERING (Please fill out an attendance card and place it in the offering basket.) MUSICAL OFFERING Early On One Christmas Morn WE SING TO THE LORD SERMON PRAYER BENEDICTION CLOSING SONG Light of the Stable Down to Earth Lifestyle Text: Matthew 1:18 25 You Shine OUR 11:00 A.M. WORSHIP WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Arthur Andrews OPENING SONG The King is Calling LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

6 Pastor: On the four Sundays in Advent, we light a new candle each week. We mark the four candles with these four words: hope, peace, joy, and love. Jesus Christ is the hope of the nations. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we hope. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rest. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the source of all joy. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we rejoice. Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Lord of love. People: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word His love finds us CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION SONG OF PRAISE This Is Amazing Grace OLD TESTAMENT READING Micah 5:2 5 SPECIAL MUSIC Early On One Christmas Morn HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 1:18 25 WE SING TO THE LORD SERMON NICENE CREED PRAYERS OFFERING Light of the Stable Down to Earth Lifestyle Text: Matthew 1:18 25 RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP To aid us in our ministry to the body of Christ please fill out an attendance card and pass it toward the center aisle. THE LORD S SUPPER (Please see the tan pew card) COMMUNION SONG This I Believe (The Creed) Verse 1 Our Father everlasting the all creating One, God Almighty Through Your Holy Spirit conceiving Christ the Son, Jesus our Saviour Chorus 1 I believe in God our Father I believe in Christ the Son I believe in the Holy Spirit our God is three in One I believe in the resurrection that we will rise again For I believe in the Name of Jesus Verse 2 Our judge and our defender suffered and crucified, Forgiveness is in You Descended into darkness You rose in glorious life, Forever seated high

7 Repeat chorus Bridge I believe in You I believe You rose again I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord (Repeat) Repeat Chorus 1 Ending: Chorus 2 I believe in life eternal, I believe in the virgin birth, I believe in the saints' communion and in Your holy Church I believe in the resur rection when Jesus comes again For I believe in the Name of Jesus CCLI Song # Hillsong Music Publishing For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved, CCLI License # POST COMMUNION COLLECT BENEDICTION CLOSING SONG You Shine VOTERS MEETING January 6, 2019 Please join us for the Voters Assembly Meeting on January 6, after the 11:00 a.m. service in the Fellowship Hall. We will be electing officers and board members for the upcoming year. In order to vote you will need to be at least 18 years-old and a member of Hephatha. Offering Envelopes 2019 Offering envelopes are available in the Narthex. If you do not have envelopes, but would like some, please check the box on the envelope in the pew, or write your request on the Get

8 DOWN TO EARTH LIFESTYLE Text: Matthew 1:18-25 INTRODUCTION: I. GOD CALLS JOSEPH TO A LIFESTYLE. Did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19). However, if the claim is true and proof of the young woman s virginity can t be produced, then the city s elders will bring the young woman to the door of her father s house. The citizens of that city must stone her until she dies because she acted so sinfully in Israel by having extramarital sex while still in her father s house (Deuteronomy 22:20-21). II. GOD CALLS JOSEPH TO A LIFESTYLE. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matthew 1:24). III. GOD CALLS JOSEPH TO A LIFESTYLE. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus (Matthew 1:25).

9 Jesus said to everyone, All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will save them (Luke 9:23-24). IV. GOD CALLS JOSEPH TO. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us ) (Matthew 1:22-23). In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams (Acts 2:17). I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father (John 14:12). CONCLUSION

10 Wouldn t it be great if finding the answers to your spiritual problems was as simple as downloading an app to your smartphone? Most of us have heard the phrase There s an app for that, popularized by creators of the iphone. Well, guess what? God has an app for the most common issues faced by Christians everywhere. Stressed out? Struggling with temptation or prejudice? God has an app for that. In this sermon series, you ll find an invitation to download God s state-of-the-art apps. As you dig into God s Word, you ll discover His user-friendly solutions to your biggest challenges in faith and life. Don t waste another minute on quick fixes that don t fix! Download God s app inside. God Resuscitates a Dying Faith James 2:14 16 January 13, 2019 God Manages our Mouth James 3:1 12 January 20, 2019 God Restores a Broken Heart James 4:1 12 January 27, 2019 God Helps Prioritize Investments James 4:13 17 February 3, 2019 God Heals our Afflictions James 5:1-19 February 10, 2019

11 PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION To place someone on the Prayer Chain, please contact Donna Letz in the church office at or at Those who are ill, recovering, or grieving: Nicole Deyke (Infection); Susan Clark (Breast Cancer); Keri Toghia (cancer, friend of Lisa Young); Tammy Meyers (friend of the Maron s, diagnosed with ALS); Noella Rose (friend of Karin DeVore); Harvey Miller (Cancer); Brian Mathis (Hope Glennon s son-in-law); Julie Brown (fighting cancer, Cathy Blankenship s cousin); Soula Xenos (Catherine Lagaris cousin); Don Larson; Pearl Gifford; Tim Ross (battling leukemia); Genell Jackson (cancer, friend of Catherine Lagaris); John (fighting cancer, Nikki Burns nephew); friend of Laura Elardo (fighting cancer); Jessica (Elizabeth Chorak s sister); Diane Dodson (Bettyann s daughter); Myriam Aguilar; Sheri Rose Shepard; Jerry Lyn (Brandon Joseph); Jeanie Wood (Lisa Young s friend); Emma Hughes. Those who are serving in the armed forces: Brandon Walker (Jeri May s great-grandson); Steven Lauridsen (Georgina Lauridsen s son); JT Gaumer (Jan Delaney s grandson); Shayne Mabry (friend of Robert Burns); Robert Burns (Hephatha & OLU grad); Sgt. Carlos Ortiz; Ryan Armstrong (Marie Schillings grandson); Steven and Kyle Drake (Lindsay Drake s cousins). THOSE SERVING TODAY: ELDERS Mike Mundia and Mark Stem USHERS Cheryl Moore, Avery and Jennifer Glicker, and Jerry Walsh ACOLYTE Joey Lopez, Daniel Merrick, and Kylie McCallum PRAISE BAND Mike Cooper, Bryan Sievers, Ed Colburn, Chris Wichmann, and Madeleine Colburn TECH Brayden Shay-Foley and Sophia James Date ATTENDANCE AND GIVING (Monthly average needed to meet budget is $53,600) Attendance Rec d 12/2 492 $12,551 12/9 234 $8,737 12/ $6,390 Nov. YTD Budget Actual Over/ (under) $48,025 $54,319 $6,294 $253,125 $254,672 $1,547

12 JOIN US CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES Christmas Trees Monday, December 24, 2018 CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE A Savior is Born Tuesday, December 25, :00 a.m. WEEKLY SCHEDULE MONDAY: December 24 Christmas Eve Office Closed No Junior High School Youth Group TUESDAY: December 25 Christmas Day Office Closed WEDNESDAY: December 26 Office Closed No High School Youth Group THURSDAY: December 27 Office Closed FRIDAY: December 28 Office Closed SUNDAY: December 30 SERVICES: 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Nursery 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in Room 6.