869 7 th Avenue SE Rochester, MN 55904

Transcription

1 Redeemer Lutheran Church th Avenue SE Rochester, MN Redeemer Lutheran Church Blessed To Serve Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3 TODAY S WORSHIP The Second Sunday In Advent (*) Those who are able are asked to stand during these parts of the service. Sunday, December 9, :00 am Sunday, December 9, :40 am Our Mission Statement: As Christians based on the solid foundation of God s Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit we strive to live out, lift up, and share our faith in Jesus Christ welcoming all into our family of believers. Our Vision: Raising Expectations for our Christian Lives WELCOME VISITORS We have printed out our worship service to make it easier for all of us to follow. Hymns are found in the hymn section of the Lutheran Service Book or in Worship & Praise, the purple supplement. Please visit our Welcome Center in the narthex for additional information about Redeemer. CANTATA TODAY! Redeemer s Sounds of Praise and the Sanctuary Choir from Trinity Lutheran are sharing a special cantata, Rise Up! A New Light A-Comin, in each of our worship services today. Thanks to all participants for their faithful preparation. OUR THEME FOR TODAY is The Law Even at Christmastime. John the Baptizer sough to prepare the people for Jesus arrival with a strong call for repentance. Unless we repent we will never see the need for a Savior. GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (We welcome our fellow worshipers.) HYMN Hark The Glad Sound... LSB

2 Redeemer Lutheran Church th Avenue SE Rochester, MN (*) INVOCATION (Please stand.) P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. (*) CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: Friends in Christ. We have come together from all walks of life, with this in common-- we are sinful. We are not worthy of coming into God's presence. Therefore we begin our worship by reflecting upon our lives and confessing our sins, in eager anticipation of forgiveness for Jesus' sake. (brief silence for personal confession) P: Our slowness to set aside time to be alone with Jesus, we confess to the Lord. C: Forgive us, Lord. P: Our desire to be with Jesus, but then refusing to follow Him into the world in service, we confess to the Lord. C: Forgive us, Lord. P: Our failure to take Jesus seriously and listen to His voice, we confess to the Lord. C: Forgive us, Lord. P: Merciful Father, forgive us our sins, give us pardon and peace, and help us to show to all the world the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Lord, hear our prayer. P: At the command and promise of our glorious Lord Jesus, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. (*) HYMN RESPONSE (LSB 346, stanzas 1) When all the world was cursed by Moses condemnation, Saint John the Baptist came with words of consolation. With true forerunner s zeal the greater one he named, And Him, as yet unknown, as Savior he proclaimed. (*) HOLY GOSPEL L: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the third chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord. 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of -2-

3 Redeemer Lutheran Church th Avenue SE Rochester, MN sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare 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 become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Luke 3:1 9 P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ. PASTOR S MESSAGE for Children and Adults The Law Even at Christmastime Luke 3:1-9 HYMN-VERSES (LSB 346, st. 3,4) Behold the Lamb of God that bears the world s transgression, Whose sacrifice removed the devil s dread oppression. Behold the Lamb of God, who take away our sin, Who for our peace and joy will full atonement win. O grant, dear Lord of love, that we receive, rejoicing, The word proclaimed by John, our true repentance voicing, That gladly we may walk upon our Savior s way Until we live with Him in His eternal day. Rise Up! A New Light A-Comin a Cantata by Lloyd Larson and Pamela Martin Presented by: Redeemer Lutheran Sounds of Praise Trinity Lutheran Sanctuary Choir O Come, Little Children Rise Up! A New Light A Comin -3-

4 Redeemer Lutheran Church th Avenue SE Rochester, MN The Promise Manger Songs (The congregation may join in singing when directed.) Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger; There He lay, the undefiled, to the world a stranger. Such a Babe in such a place, can this be the Savior? Ask the saved of every race who have found His favor. Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger; He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger. Son of God, of humble birth, beautiful the story; Praise His name in all the earth, hail the King of glory! Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; The stars in the night sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. Infant holy, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall; Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging angel singing, noel ringing, tidings bringing: Christ the babe is Lord of all. Christ the babe is Lord of all. Rise Up, Shepherd, Rise Up! Led By A Star Children, Go Tell It! Accompanist: Carol Sonnabend Narrators: Kathy Hildestad and Dave Wood RESPONSE (LSB 387, stanzas 1 & 2) Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let ev ry heart prepare Him room and heav n and nature sing, And heav n and nature sin, and heav n, and heav n and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their sons employ. While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. FRIENDSHIP REGISTRATION (Please fill in and pass the booklets in your row, if you have not already done so.) -4-

5 Redeemer Lutheran Church th Avenue SE Rochester, MN GATHERING OF THE OFFERINGS (The pastor will collect special prayer request cards at this time.) (*) OFFERTORY (Please stand to sing when the offerings are brought forward.) What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary s lap is sleeping? (LSB 370, st. 1) Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the king, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the babe, the son of Mary! (*) PRAYERS - Congregation's response: "Hear our prayer" (*) THE LORD'S PRAYER 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. (*) BENEDICTION P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: Amen (*) CLOSING HYMN Prepare The Royal Highway... LSB

6 Redeemer Lutheran Church Weekly Announcements and Highlights Week of Special Prayer Opportunities: Health Concerns: John Zemke, Don Eickhoff, Al Schacht, Janet VanProosdy, Lester Clapp, Marge Luehmann, Al Hein, Mardy Dubke, Nancy Anderson, and DeLayna Nitz Guidance: For our local congregations as we seek to welcome Pastor A.G. Paul who is supposed to arrive in Rochester this week. PRAYER CHAIN Prayer is a powerful gift that is always available for us to use. If you have a prayer request, call June Hovland ( ) or Gail Sim ( ) who will activate the chain. Interested in becoming a part of this ministry, contact June or Gail. PRAYER CHAIN - To request a prayer or to join the chain, send an to Lori Hameister at littlebitmoo@q.com. PRAYER CARDS - Take a look in your pew rack and you ll see our prayer cards! These cards will be collected by one of the pastors during the offering time. BLESSED TO SHARE Commitments for 2013 Thanks to all of those who have already returned their Faith Commitments. We have already received around 180. It is good for all of us to set goals, and this helps the congregation to plan. It is not too late. Extra forms are in the narthex. They can be placed in the offering plate or returned to the church office OFFERING ENVELOPES are in the Education Hallway! If you have not already done so, please pick up the envelopes for yourself and your family today that we might condense the space needed in the coming weeks. If you cannot find your envelopes, or would like to request envelopes, please leave your name on the sheet provided. Reminder: Please do not use your 2013 before January as most envelope numbers change yearly. THE BIG CHRISTMAS TREE Is being decorated by our Sunday School children. Watch for updates each week. WELCOME! To the Trinity Lutheran Sanctuary Choir. They will combine with our Sounds of Praise choir to share the cantata, Rise Up! A New Light A-Comin. PICTORIAL DIRECTORIES They have arrived and are available in the narthex today for a free-will offering! (Actual printing costs are about $4 per booklet.) Thanks to all who had their pictures taken, or submitted pictures. Special thanks to the volunteers who worked many hours to put all the material together Lori Lewis, Heather Tollers, Paul Collopy, Larry Stoen, Joann Karges, Aaron Peter, and Shannon Range. Don t forget to pick-up the CD that has your picture file on it and/or your submitted photo! They are located next to the directories. Week of

7 MID WEEK ADVENT WORSHIP SERIES Blessed To Serve Wednesday, December 12 Worship: 4:15 and 7:00 pm Theme: Mary as the Blessed One Supper: Pizza! Thanks to our Youth for serving. Wednesday, December 19 Worship: 4:15 and 7:00 pm Theme: Mary as the Rejoicing One Supper: Spaghetti/Hot dishes. Special thanks to Julie Walter and the Rochester Servant Event participants for serving. (Volunteers are needed on December 19 to help with cooking, serving, and cleanup. Please contact Julie Walter or or sign-up on the sheet in the narthex.) LWML WINTER QUARTERLIES Are now available for pickup on the counter in the narthex. Look for the copy with your name on it! CHRISTMAS CARDS AND NAPKINS Are now available on the Sarah Circle Card Rack! Stop and shop the wonderful selection now! Adult Educa on Classes 9:20 10:20 am RUTH After racing through the Scriptures this last year as we read The Story, this class will slow down, taking a careful look at the book of Ruth. This is a wonderful story of commitment, both on the part of God and the young woman from a foreign nation who would eventually become the great-grandmother of King David. Pastor Heining will lead this discussion in the North Fellowship Hall. Bible On Trial This Lutheran Hour Ministry video series tackles the topic of is the Bible true, can we trust it, and how do we know. In this age of increasing skepticism come and find out why we can stand on the Word of God! This class will be led by Michael Harvey, DCE, in the South Fellowship Hall. Family Devotions Passing on the faith to our children is of utmost importance and they face an uncertain world. In this class we will discuss ways to start a family devotion and resources to use. You will find it is not as hard as you might think! Lonnie Strohschein will lead this class in the Upper Room. NEW MEMBER SUNDAY will be January 13. Please talk to one of the pastors if you are interested in joining. LUTHERAN WITNESS for December has arrived. Please pick up your copy in the narthex on the long counter. 2 Week of

8 SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE! December 15 3-yr-olds - grade 7 meet in sanctuary at 10 am. MY DEVOTIONS Are now available for December through March for parents with young children are available on the long counter in the narthex. ADVENT DEVOTIONALS from LAMP are available in the narthex on the long counter. from Lutheran Hour Ministries are available online at The theme for this year is Christmas Memories. Just as we all have cherished memories of Christmases past, Mary shares her treasured memories of the first Christmas, relating the events to Luke to include in his Gospel. Redeemer s New Young Adult Ministry Feed Em Presents: A FREE Celebration Lunch for all Redeemer members and their families on Jan 6 th at noon. This Lunch is meant to celebrate where the Lord is taking our Young Adults, to give them more information on the program, and to get their input on how we can help. Please see the newsletter and mailing for more information. Any questions or to claim your spot contact: Diana Stoen: dstoen@charter.net Paula Kuisle: 4queezes@charter.net Vicki Campion: campion.victoria@mayo.edu SHARING TREE Sarah Circle is sponsoring the Christmas Sharing Tree. Look for it in the Narthex. Tags listing the gifts needed will be on the tree in the narthex. Please select a card, or more than one if you wish. Do not wrap the gift. Simply return the gift and card to the tree no later than Sunday, December 16. (Items will be distributed on December 21.) Donations will be shared with: The Women s Shelter, Hiawatha Homes, and Bear Creek. Please share your blessings with others less fortunate and help make their holidays brighter. 3 Week of

9 Youth Highlights! Ignite! Sundays 6 8pm Ignite is the new youth ministry for 6 th 12 th grade youth. This week we are watching the second half of October Baby, a movie that discusses the topic of abortion. Oh, and we also have fun and eat! Invite a friend or a group of friends! Youth Advent Meal Dec. 12 The youth group is serving the December 12 Advent dinner1 Come and help star ng at 4:15. Bethesda Sign Up! On the youth bulle n board there is a sign up for Bethesda. Even if you signed up earlier this year please put your name down again! NOTE: There are possibly a number of significant changes happening at Camp Matz that may affect this trip, stay tuned! Christmas Eve Youth Service Prac ces! On Sundays we are prac cing for the youth Christmas Eve service. Prac ce starts at 4:30pm! We will need actors, singers, behind the scenes people! God always makes this work, please come and join us and then stay for Ignite! Psalm 37:4 Scholarship: This scholarship, formed in memory of Josh Evers, is available to all youth! Its purpose is to allow youth to a end youth events that they are unable to afford otherwise. If you would like more informa on please talk to Michael Harvey. This is completely confiden al. If you have any questions regarding the events listed above, please contact Michael Harvey ( / daharveys@msn.com) or Lynora Miller ( / millertwins2@charter.net). Will your child be attending RCLS next school year? It is that time of year where we need to hear from families that are planning on sending their children to Rochester Central Lutheran School for the school year. Redeemer offers tuition assistance to active families that send their children to RCLS. Please call the church office or e- mail Michael Harvey DCE at daharveys@msn.com by January 20. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2013 The dates for VBS 2013 are: July 15 19, 9:00 am Noon The registration kick off dinner is Sunday, July 14 th. We will be looking for helpers in the New Year. 4 Week of

10 Study Confirms Eating Cookie Dough is Bad For You, Ruins Holidays For Everyone It's probably a given that raw cookie dough consumption will only increase as the holidays draw near, despite maternal warnings that the delicious paste is potentially poisonous. Now there's new evidence that mom was right all along. A Centers for Disease Control study examined an outbreak in 2009 that hospitalized 35 in the United States. The report found storebought cookie dough to be the most likely suspect, with 33 of the patients admitting to a prior raw indulgence. Specifically, the flour put in one brand wasn't put through heat treatment (a bacterial "kill step") like other ingredients were. One other interesting factoid: 71 per cent were under age 19. Sometimes the stereotypes ring true. (Source: taken from Toronto Life & provided by Olmsted County Public Health Services) BLOOD ASSURANCE PROGRAM If you are a Redeemer Lutheran church member and you receive a blood transfusion at the Mayo Hospitals or clinic the Mayo Clinic blood Bank waives the processing fees that are not covered by insurance. This benefit applies to all donating and non donating members. For more information, questions, or how to take advantage of this, contact the Mayo Blood Bank at ( ) or Jan Dicke ( ). OUR RESPONSE TO GOD LAST WEEK: Weekend Worship Attendance: 502 ( ) Guests:34 Sunday School and Bible Classes 212 (86+126) NEXT WEEKEND S READINGS Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; and Luke 7:18-28 Theme: The Gospel Especially at Christmastime Blessed to Serve Today Message..... Pastor James Heining Organist... DPM, April Beckman Elders 5:30 pm... Dewey Wondrasch 8:00 am... James Weispfenning 10:40 am... Scott Feeder Acolytes 8:00 am... Brandon Rossman / Sam Sonnabend 10:40 am... Madisyn Pralle / Madeline Horn Blood Pressure...Emily Applen Lay Readers 5:30 pm...clare Lovick-West 8:00 am... Molly Gommels 10:40 am... June Storma Altar Guild Shelly Potter, Mary Roehrick, Stephanie Behne, Eunice Strelow, and Deb Strelow Greeters 5:30 pm... Grant & Cara Wilson / Lyle & Kathy Voight 8:00 am... Tom & Dory Moore/ Bruce & Jan Ludwig 10:40 am... Marty and Elvera Cordes... Lois Norby and Ann Boyd Usher Coordinator...Roger Toomey Ushers 5:30 pm... Ken Blazing and Scott Okuno 8:00 am... Jerry Haack, Marlin Haack, Bruce Ludwig, Mike Sonnabend, Damian Chaloner 10:40 am.. Bob Sonnabend, Nate Heining, Glenn Prehn, Matt Erickson, Michael Erickson, Christopher Wileman, Jenna Wileman REDEEMER HAS IT S VERY OWN QR CODE! Use your smartphone to scan the QR code at the right. It takes you right to Redeemer s website and brings all the information you might need, right to your phone! Thanks to Jim Weispfenning for making this possible. 5 Week of

11 Holiday Worship SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Join us as our Sunday School children (3-year-olds Grade 8) share their Christmas Program, Jubilee! on Sunday, December 16, at 2 pm. Join us for CAROLING On Wednesday, December 19, at 5:45 pm we will meet, divide into small groups, and bring some Christmas cheer to our community and shut-in members. This will include those in nursing homes, as well as those confined to their homes. While we are thankful for the Sounds of Praise members who lead us, all who can make a joyful noise are needed and welcomed by our members who cannot get to church for our regular services. Please sign up in advance if possible that we might be organized and ready to go. SERVICE OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGMENT Will be Thursday, December 20, at 6 pm. This is something new we are trying this year. While Christmas is a happy joyful time for many it is not for all. Those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, those struggling financially, those who might be unemployed, and many others might even be dreading the holidays. This quiet service will not provide easy answers, but will look to God s word for hope and encouragement. New Christmas Eve Service Times For years we have been trying to juggle our Christmas Eve service times, so that we do not have a service which becomes so crowded that it is difficult for people to find a comfortable place to sit. About fifteen years ago, we solved the problem by going from one early service to two. This year we are going to have three! At 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. The thought is that the new 1:30 pm service will not be real full, but will draw enough people away from the 3:30 pm service to make that one a little less crowded. At least that is the thought now it is time to give it a try! The Christmas Eve Candlelight service This service has been consistent through all of the juggling of service times and will continue at 11:00 pm. This is a wonderful service which is led by our youth each year. Give it a try! Christmas Day Join us for worship at 9:30 am as we celebrate the birth of Jesus! 6 Week of

12 SATURDAY, December 8 Cantata Practice Sanctuary 9 am Sisters in Christ CC 9 am Sunday School Program Practice 10 am Parents Night Out 4:30 pm WORSHIP 5:30 pm SUNDAY, December 9 CANTATA WORSHIP 8 and 10:40 am Blood Pressures 9 am Adult Bible Classes 9:20 am Sunday School 9:20 am Christmas Choir Choir Rm 9:40 am Youth Prgm Practice Sanctuary 4:30 pm Instruments of Praise Narthex 4:30 pm Ignite Youth Ministry Youth Rm 6 pm Agape CC Upper Rm 6:30 pm Lutherans For Life Rm pm MONDAY, December 10 Quilters NFH 8 am FCCI Workshop FH 5:30 pm IHN Meeting RM L-3 6:30 pm Emmanuel CC Upper Rm 6:30 pm THIS WEEK AT REDEEMER December 8 16, 2012 WEDNESDAY, December 12 WORSHIP 4:15 pm Supper FH 5-6:30 pm Youth Choir Chapel 5:30 pm Youth Chimes Sanctuary 5:47 pm Alleluia Singers Rm L-2 6 pm Cherub Choir Rm 101 6:05 pm Confirmation 6:10 pm 7th Rm 202 8th Rm L-3 9th Rm 102 Angelic Chimes Sanctuary 6:30 pm WORSHIP 7 pm Sounds of Praise Choir Rm 7:45 pm THURSDAY, December 13 FFF Rm L-3 8:15 am Circuit Pastors Christ Lutheran 9 am Chancel Chimes Sanctuary 7 pm SATURDAY, December 15 Sunday School Program Practice 10 am Blood Pressures 5 pm HOLY COMMUNION 5:30 pm TUESDAY, December 11 Men s Bible Study - Rm am Ladies Bible Study NFH 9 am Faithfully Fit Forever - Rm L-3-10:30 am Church Growth Library 6:15 pm Trustees Rm 201 6:30 pm Youth Board Youth Rm 7 pm Endowment Fund SFH 7 pm Compassionate Friends UR 7 pm Church Council Rm 102 7:30 pm SUNDAY, December 16 HOLY COMMUNION 8 and 10:40 am Blood Pressures 9 am Adult Bible Classes 9:20 am Sunday School 9:20 am Christmas Choir Choir Rm 9:40 am Sunday School Christmas Program 2 pm Youth Prgm Practice Sanctuary 4:30 pm Ignite Youth Ministry Youth Rm 6 pm Partners in Christ CC Upper Rm 6:30 pm We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation 7 Week of

13 SOME GENTLE REMINDERS: Winter Coats/Jackets: We have entered the season of wearing warmer outer clothes to church. Please be sure that when you are coming and go that you leave with the same articles of outwear that you started with. So many times, coats look very similar and things get moved around as coats are added and removed from the racks. It s always a good idea to include your name or initials on the inside with a permanent marker. Or, make note of the brand name on your jacket and double check when you are putting it on that it is yours. We have had a couple of mix-ups already! If anyone discovers that they have a brown lightweight leather jacket with a small tear on one of the sleeves, that might not be theirs, please contact the church office Winter Parking Restrictions: Please be aware that from December 1 April 1, there is no parking allowed on the west side of 7th street (right in front of the church office/education wing). This is a snow removal route and you could get a ticket for violating. Scents: Please remember that some people are allergic to perfumes, colognes, lotions, and the like; what may seem like a little to most can be overwhelming to the person next you. Please refrain or use moderation out of respect for others. YOU ARE INVITED! Rochester Central Lutheran School will present The Secret of Snowflake County-Hope in a Humble Stable on Friday, December 14 at 6:30 pm. This program is being presented by our students in Preschool through Grade 3. We are extending an invite to you to attend the dress rehearsal on December 14 at 9 am. The program will be held in the RCLS gym with chairs available for seating rather than bleachers. We hope to see you there! VOLUNTEER JUDGES NEEDED FOR SCIENCE FAIR: RCLS has been blessed with many great judges over the years and is looking forward to having another great group for the 2013 Science Fair. The 6th and 8th grade science fair will be held on Thursday, February 7th, 2013 from 6pm- 9pm. Mrs. Cook is looking for judges. If you are interested in volunteering or know someone who is interested, please contact Mrs. Cook: licook@rcls.net 8 Week of

14 A Service of Hope and Encouragement WHO: For those who are not looking forward to the holidays. Those who are just hoping to make it through the holidays. It might be because of the loss of a loved one, absence of family members, a discouraging medical condition, or anything else that might make it difficult to celebrate. WHAT: A service of quiet hymns, readings, and prayers, sharing God s promise of hope in the midst of troubles. WHEN: Thursday evening, December 20, at 6 pm WHERE: Redeemer Lutheran Church 869 7th Ave SE, Rochester TRANSPORTATION: A ChristCare Group has agreed to provide transportation for anyone who needs it. Call the church office ( ) by December 18. REFRESHMENTS will be provided after for any who are able to stay. WHY: Because God loves all of his children all the time! 9 Week of