FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT See the Sign? December 18 & 19, 2010

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1 Ebenezer Lutheran Church Port Hudson The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri Parsonage Church Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor Mary Sprick, Secretary ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT See the Sign? December 18 & 19, 2010 AS WE GATHER: The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns our attention toward the Nativity of Our Lord. With the Blessed Virgin Mary we await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Word and Spirit of God. This fulfillment of the sign once given to the House of David, that the virgin shall conceive and bear a son (Is. 7:14), is now given to us in the Gospel. It declares that salvation is by His grace alone, entirely His work and a free gift. It is also the way and means by which the Lord our God is Immanuel, God-with-us. The almighty and eternal Son of God is conceived and born of St. Mary, and is thus descended from David according to the flesh (Rom. 1:3-4). He comes in this way to save us with His own flesh and blood; wherefore He is called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). As St. Joseph received this sign in faith and immediately did as the angel of the Lord commanded him (Matt.1:24), we also live by faith in this Holy Gospel.

2 PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP: Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where glory dwells. In the multitude of Your tender mercies prepare my heart that I may enter Your house to worship and confess Your holy name, through Jesus Christ, my God and Lord. Amen. THE DIVINE SERVICE DIVINE SERVICE I, page 136 HYMNS: 67, 57, 239, 238, 249, 245 OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY IN OUR PRAYERS: We pray our Lord will bring hope, healing and comfort to our members, friends of Ebenezer, and our many shut-ins, especially Leonard Brune, who is out of the hospital and back at the Veteran s Home; Lawrence Pelster, who has been in intensive care at the hospital in Hermann this past week with infection; Mary Wesche; Ed Gardner who as of Saturday, is for a short time, residing at New Haven Care Center, Marie Adams, Eric Hohlt, Eric McDarris the son of Herb McDarris who was involved in a serious auto accident on Diederich Road and 100 near New Haven, Darlene McDarris who continues to receive kidney dialysis, Christine Anderson, who was hospitalized this past week; Delores Roehrs, Bob Saak who is improving, Mathilde Ohse, Elda Vohs,

3 Ardell Wagner, Ray and Irene Bargen, Edna Deppermann, Ken Obermann, Ruth Marks, Cornelia Bunge, who is receiving hospice care; Adeline Keune, and all those we hold dear in our hearts. We pray for comfort for the family of Ruth Gardner, who passed away last week Saturday, December 11 th. We ask the Lord to comfort Ed, Daryl and Douglas and their families. We ask the Lord s Blessings to be upon all our Missouri Synod, District, and Circuit Officials and the many agencies of the Lutheran Church that minister to the deaf, the blind, and those with special needs. We continue to ask the Lord to guide and bless the endeavors of our Missionaries serving around the world, especially Robin McCoy, who will be returning to Thailand in January, the Rodewald family and John Strasen. Grant to all people and the leaders of all nations a spirit of cooperation, peace, and freedom that all may live their days in safety and unity of purpose. We also ask the Lord to bless and protect our law enforcement people, EMT s, firemen, and our men and women serving in the Armed Forces around the world TO OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS, WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE WITH US TODAY! May the Word of our Lord refresh you with peace and love

4 during our worship service. We ask that you please sign the guest register near the Church entrance with your name, address, and Church affiliation. Thank you! We sincerely hope you will join us in worship here at Ebenezer again soon! There will not be a Wednesday Advent Service this week. Christmas Caroling Our choir will be going Christmas Caroling this afternoon. Please meet here at Church at 3:00 PM. Everyone is also invited to join us! Christmas Schedule: Christmas Eve Children s program will be at 7:00 PM; Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion 11:00 PM; Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion at 10:00 AM. There will not be a Saturday afternoon service. Thrivent News Ebenezer received $500 from Thrivent to use in the community. The money was spent for food and other needed items at the Tri Pantry at Leslie Methodist Church. The items have been purchased and delivered for distribution at Christmas time. The following note was received with the list of items needed. Thank you so much for your continual support of the Tri Pantry food pantry. Churches working together for the good of the community truly shows God at work through us all. Grace and Peace, Mary R. Avizenis, Pastor

5 News from Concordia Seminary Concordia Seminary Pro-Life Group is sponsoring Making Abortion Unthinkable. The workshop on Saturday, January 29, 2011, in Sieck Hall 202 on the Seminary Campus will begin with registration from 8:30 9:00 AM, and will conclude promptly at 2:30 PM. The workshop will include video based presentations as well as discussion segments; Dr. Jeff Gibbs, Professor of New Testament at Concordia, will serve as the moderator for the workshop. Suitable for adults and older teens. Each participant will also receive a helpful manual of materials. The $15 per person fee includes lunch and the manual. The workshop will strengthen and clarify understanding for those who attend, as well as equip them to speak more effectively and winsomely on behalf of the unborn. For more information or to pre-register, please contact Concordia Seminary Continuing Education at or ce@csl.edu. Registration ends January 20 th. Altar Guild We will be needing more ladies to help out by serving on our Altar Guild. Please consider serving our Lord and our Church in this way. Also if anyone would like to place flowers on our altar, anytime during the year, in memory of someone or for a special occasion, please see Mary Sprick. Applebutter The Men s Club has some delicious applebutter available. Please see Marvin Sprick if you d like to purchase some.

6 Those Serving Today Organist Saturday Laura Nichols Organist Sunday Ruth Marschel Choir Director Kathy Scheer Head Usher Saturday Tracey Bade Head Usher Sunday Wilbert Baumann Altar Guild Barb Gilbert and Mary Adams Acolytes Scheduled to Serve Cody Adams, Paul Kassebaum, Alyssa Bopp Bell Ringer Andrew Kassebaum Our measure of love in giving last week Weekly envelopes $748.00; Plate $37.25; Sunday School $13.10; Advent offerings $10.00 Total $ Attendance Saturday Worship 15; Sunday Worship 49. Sunday School Attendance Children 7; Adults 15. This Week at Ebenezer Friday Christmas Eve Children s Program 7 PM Candlelight Service 11 PM Saturday Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion 10 AM