Fourth Sunday in Advent December 20, 2015

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1 Fourth Sunday in Advent December 20, 2015 Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN Church Office: (651) Fax: (651) stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com Visit our web site: Pastor Michael Albrecht malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Ralph Rokke rrokke@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com

2 WELCOME TO WORSHIP! Fourth Sunday in Advent December 20, 2015 The Blessed Virgin Mary was a great theologian. Mary is blessed because she was chosen to be the mother of God. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, she has given the church a magnificent song, which we have been singing for two thousand years. Her Magnificat teaches us to pray for ourselves and for others as we sing praise to our God. GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome, Guest card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. For every guest who completes this form, Saint James will donate $5 to the Neighbor s Food Shelf. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP You are invited to read Psalm 80, which is found on pages in your pew Bible. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in both locations. 2

3 THE ORDER OF SERVICE ORGAN PRELUDE: Veni, Emmanuel... Phillip Moore OPENING HYMN: Christian Worship #581 Father, We Praise You PASTORAL GREETING Pastor Albrecht MORNING PRAISE: Christian Worship, pages SOLO: PRAYER OF THE DAY Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel Soloist: Caitlin Bandelin LIGHT ONE CANDLE Light one candle for love, one bright candle for love. He brings love to every heart, He comes, He comes. Light one candle for joy, one bright candle for joy. Every nation will find salvation in Bethl em s Baby Boy. Light one candle for love, one bright candle for love. He brings love to every heart, He comes, He comes. THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Micah 5:2-5a 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. Please be seated A member of this year s confirmation class lights the fourth candle on the Advent wreath, the Angel candle or Love candle. It reminds us that Jesus is God s gift of love to us. The Christmas angels made this announcement: Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Micah promised that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah. GRADUAL HYMN: Christian Worship #65 O Little Town of Bethlehem THE EPISTLE LESSON: Hebrews 10: Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. 8 When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! 3 The eternal Son of God entered into a human body in order to offer the perfect sacrifice to pay for all of our sins. It was the Father s will that His Son should die for us in order to make us His holy people.

4 VERSE OF THE DAY: Christian Worship, page 30 Shortly after Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, she went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. Unborn John leapt in his mother s womb to greet his unborn Savior. Then Mary sang her magnificent song. Please be seated Children are invited to come forward during the final stanza THE GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 1: In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever. 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! THE NICENE CREED: Christian Worship, page 31 SERMON HYMN: Christian Worship #274 My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord SERMON: Text: Luke 1:39-56 Title: Mary Sings a Magnificent Song OFFERTORY: Christian Worship, page 20 4

5 OFFERING: Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your income. Proverbs 3:9 OFFERING VOLUNTARY Gabriel s Message... Paul Manz HYMN OF REDEDICATION: Christian Worship #489 stanzas 1 & 3 Lord, You Love the Cheerful Giver Give online at give.4gvn.us PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS Please be seated LORD S PRAYER THE FIRST BLESSING THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT: God with Us A Carol Setting for Holy Communion The Sacrament of the Altar is a special blessing for God s people: our sins are forgiven, our faith is strengthened, and our resolve to live for the Lord is renewed. We believe the word of Jesus that under the bread and the wine we receive the Real Presence of our Savior, His Body and His Blood, for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. All who are baptized and confirmed and confess this understanding of the Lord s Supper are welcome to receive the sacrament with us. We enjoy fellowship in a close communion with each other as we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord together. Visitors who wish to continue to commune with us on a regular basis, or those who have questions are encouraged to speak with one of the pastors. Non-alcoholic white wine is available in each tray for anyone who prefers it. Gluten-free wafers are also available. To indicate that you prefer gluten-free, please raise your index finger when the wafers are brought to you. Parents are welcome to bring their non-confirmed children with them to the altar. The pastor will pronounce a blessing on them. Parents should instruct such unconfirmed children not to stand on the cushions and to keep their hands folded, so the pastor will know who should not receive the sacrament. Please be seated 5

6 HYMNS DURING DISTRIBUTION: Lutheran Service Book 933 My Soul Rejoices 1991 Stephen P. Starke. Used by permission: OneLicense.net, no. #A Public domain Christian Worship #309 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord THANKSGIVING: God with Us A Carol Setting for Holy Communion BENEDICTION ORGAN POSTLUDE: Wachet auf... A.D. Miller 6

7 . SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Michael Albrecht (preaching) Pastor Ralph Rokke Organist: Tom Rowland Saint James Brass and Director Roger Grimm Acolytes: (8:00) Nick Tilson (10:30) Brianna Dusterhoft Ushers: (8:00) Bill Grabuski and Team #1 (10:30) Steve Lehmann and Team #2 Audio Video Team: Dani Critchley, Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Lorna Redding, Michael Schroeder, Leif Thune and Gil Ude Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Lil Gerber, Anamae Grappendorf, George Gru, Earl & Ruth Grundei SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for Bishop Shalem and the pastors and people of the Bible Faith Lutheran Church of India, and for the Moriah Children s Home and School, and for Dr. Raj Kumar and the seminary in Guntur in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. FLOWERS Thank you to the Altar Guild and Volunteers for decorating the Sanctuary. Thank you to all who contributed to our Poinsettia Garden. THANK YOU also to Mike Krikava, David Farley, Bob Bahls, Steve Lehman, Ken Christiansen, Roger Schmidt who harvested the trees, transported them and hauled them into the church, assisted by Bill Grabuski. Assisting with the installation of the trees: Don Rosvold, supervising and technical support, Bob Bahls, Steve Lehman, Roger Schmidt, Marty Levine, Ken Washick Project Manager, John Fahey Thank you to the Saint James family who donated the two Christmas trees for our chancel. Stewardship Thought Being saved by grace means we don t have to work for our salvation. That frees us for using all our resources for serving God and serving others. Living as a Local Missionary Make sure you re feeding yourself before you feed others. You ll be much more effective. Read your Bible regularly, and get into a small group to get others insights. 7

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