First Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 December 2, :30 am, 11:00 am First Sunday of Advent G A T H E R I N G Please silence all electronic devices and prepare for worship in silent prayer. PRELUDE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice [arr. Gramann] Handbell Choir ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DAY RINGING OF THE BELL A moment of reflection; a brief time to prepare for worship. Pastor McEachran HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ELW Hymn 257 Stanzas 1 and 2 CALL TO WORSHIP CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS APOSTOLIC GREETING PRAYER OF THE DAY (congregation is seated) LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH / CHILDREN S MESSAGE Pastor Telyea W O R D FIRST LESSON Jeremiah 33:14 16 L God s promise is sure. Thanks be to God. RESPONSE Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence ELW Hymn 490 Stanza 1 SECOND LESSON 1 Thessalonians 3:9 13 L God s Word is truth. Thanks be to God. (congregation stands) ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL The Good News of Jesus according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. Order of Worship The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. John 1:14 The Message Congregation A Assisting Minister Pastor Today s Theme Advent resets the Church Year, we begin again. Advent is a time to wait! A tough discipline in a not to wait culture. But for those who walk the way of the Church Year, we enter a four week time to hear the promise, have hope renewed as we hear and lean deeply into the truth that God s compassion and mercy finds final form in Jesus, born of Mary and Joseph, to redeem and set us free from the power of sin and death. The wait won t be long. Yes, Jesus is coming soon!

2 GOSPEL Luke 21:25 36 The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON Pastor Telyea HYMN OF THE DAY People, Look East ELW Hymn 248 I. APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. 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 Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. II. AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM THE PRAYERS A We pray, Come, Lord Jesus, come. THE PEACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. OFFERING OFFERTORY PRAYER Change Ring Prelude on Divinum Mysterium Handbell Choir M E A L (shared in community) [Gramann] GREAT THANKSGIVING SANCTUS ELW page 144 EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

3 THE LORD S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. (congregation is seated) LAMB OF GOD ELW page 146 COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION Shades of Forest Green [arr. Waugh] Handbell Choir POST-COMMUNION BLESSING May the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen and keep you in God s loving grace, now and forever. Amen. PRAYER BLESSING S E N D I N G CLOSING HYMN The King Shall Come ELW Hymn 260 A Go in peace, live in love, and seek to be holy in all that you do. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE West Indies Carol [arr. Morris] Handbell Choir

4 ADVENT BEGINS: Divine Intrusion: The Greatest Gift is our Advent theme. The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. (John 1:14 The Message) is the meaning of incarnation. The wait begins for us in Advent. Hard news in a not to wait culture, but for those who walk the way of the Church Year, an opportunity to hear and lean deeply into the truth that God s compassion and mercy finds final form in Jesus, born of Mary and Joseph. The wait won t be long, four weeks of preparation and rekindled hope in the promise that Jesus is coming soon! W E L C O M E t o d a y A T S A I N T A N D R E W S AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM/ CONFIRMATION (ABC) is one step in the faith development of the baptized. Today at the 11:00 am worship service, we celebrate the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism with Samantha Hagen. She is presented by her parents, Mark and Julie, who once presented her to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. ADVENT FAIR: Join us for this annual intergenerational event as we enter the season of waiting! Set aside this time for fellowship, treats, crafts and activities for all ages. Pick up your Advent devotionals too! Want to help? See the bulletin insert and sign up in the narthex or Meg Marcrander, meg@salchome.org. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK: Come to the library between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Health care professionals from Health and Wholeness Ministry will take your blood pressure and discuss concerns. t h i s w e e k a t s a i n t a n d r e w s ADVENT MID-WEEK WORSHIP: We will observe Advent mid-week worship on Wednesdays, December 5, 12, and 19 in Fellowship Hall. Soup Supper is served at 6:15 pm; Holden Evening Prayer begins at 7:00 pm. Our devotional words will center on the Apostles Creed: December 5 - Father, Pastor McEachran December 12 - Son, Pastor Telyea December 19 - Holy Spirit, Pastor McEachran and Pastor Telyea Thank you to the Congregation Council for serving the soup supper on December 5. n e x t s u n d a y a t s a i n t a n d r e w s EQUAL EXCHANGE FAIRLY TRADED COFFEE AND MORE: Support our Global Outreach by purchasing fairly traded coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and chocolate bars (in the Narthex between services). By purchasing these items, you help the coffee and cocoa bean farmers in impoverished countries receive more money for their crops by eliminating the middle man s cut. 4

5 WORD DIGGERS Deepen your faith walk by digging into the Word! Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 Bible Study opportunities are marked with the Word Diggers logo. Join them and dig into the Word! c h i l d r e n a n d y o u t h e d u c a t i o n m i n i s t r i e s DECEMBER 2: There are no classes TODAY, Sunday, December 2. Come to the Advent Fair! SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL (SCS): All children age 2 through Grade 5 are invited to join our Sunday Church School. Classes meet at 9:45 am every Sunday. The 2- and 3-yearold class meets in the nursery; all other classes meet downstairs in the education wing. Students who are new to our congregation should come to the SCS office located on the lower level near the narthex stairs to register and receive a class assignment. For more information, contact Director of Christian Education Meg Marcrander, meg@salchome.org or AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM/ CONFIRMATION (ABC): ABC MINISTRY classes for young people in Grades 6, 7, and 8 are held on Sunday mornings at 9:45 am. 6th Graders will meet in E-3 for Liturgy and Worship with Kendra Mills. 7th and 8th Graders: Old Testament Survey meets in E-1 with Kit Bowerman; Ministry of Service meets in E-2 with Jill Nichols-Hicks, and Martin Luther with Joel Tollefson meets in the east end of the Youth Room. If you are new to Saint Andrew s, please talk with Pastor McEachran or Director of Christian Education Meg Marcrander for information about our Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) Ministry CROSSWALK (for Grades 9-12): Here is our schedule for the next few weeks... December 2 - Advent Fair December 9 - We will attend the Education Hour presentation with Rabbi Glickman December 16 - White Elephant gift exchange 5

6 a d u l t s u n d a y e d u c a t i o n m i n i s t r i e s ( 9 : 4 5 a m ) December 2 ADVENT FAIR Fellowship Hall Join us for this annual intergenerational event as we enter the season of waiting! Set aside this time for fellowship, treats, crafts and activities for all ages. Pick up your Advent devotionals too! December 9 THE JEWISH UNDERSTANDING OF MESSIAH Presenter: Rabbi Mark Glickman Judaism and Christianity understand the word messiah in vastly different ways. In his talk, Rabbi Mark Glickman will discuss traditional and modern Jewish understandings of what the messiah is, and how those perspectives have influenced Jews and non-jews throughout history. Why don t Jews believe that Jesus was the messiah? How can they reject Jesus as messiah even though Jesus was Jewish? And what do Jews mean when using this oft-misunderstood and emotionally-laden term? Rabbi Glickman will address all of these questions and more in what promises to be an enlightening experience for us all. Rabbi Glickman is the Rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville WA, and of Congregation Kol Shalom on Bainbridge Island WA. He is also a regular religion columnist for the Seattle Times. December 9 KNITWITS Facilitator: Dianne Chong Conference Room The KnitsWits (Knitting as Witnesses) are a fellowship group whose primary mission is to provide items of comfort that are knit and/or crocheted. The items they are currently making are prayer shawls, chemo caps, and scarves for homeless veterans. All are welcome to join! December 16 and 23 DISCOVERING GOD S GREATEST GIFT Facilitator: Pastor Telyea Fellowship Hall North In Matthew 16:15 we hear Jesus ask the disciples, Who do you say I am? The question is simple, but for thousands of years we have struggled to understand who Jesus is. Is he God? Is he merely human? Is he sometimes human and sometimes God? How do we understand who God is? These questions are especially important during Advent as we prepare for the coming of our Lord. Join Pastor Telyea as he leads you on a journey to discover God s greatest gift, and don t forget to bring your Bibles! A D U L T E D U C A T I O N D U R I N G T H E W E E K TUESDAY MORNING MEN (TMM) Facilitator: Dave Marcrander (6:30 am in the Library) We will conclude our dialog surrounding the book Letters from the Land of Cancer by Walt Wangerin in early December, and then begin a Bible study for the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany Season. All men are welcome in the library at 6:30 am on Tuesdays. Discussions among fellows do not get any better! We also continue to support our Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary School student Naishiye. TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY Presenter: Pastor McEachran (9:30 am in the Conference Room) Our study is Acts of the Apostles --- The Gospel Planted, Growing and Enfolding the World. This second volume, written by Luke, tells the story of the Church. We continue with Acts 15. Bring your favorite translation and join the adventure. 6

7 Y O U T H a n d f a m i l y M I N I S T R I E S F GOD SQUAD (youth entering grades 9-12): Soup! We will serve Advent Soup Supper on Wednesday, December 12. We need help to prepare, serve, and clean up. Contact Emily to let her know you can help! Lock In! Our annual God Squad Lock In Friday-Saturday, December 7-8! The evening will include a trip to Bellevue Snowflake Lane and Bellevue Garden d Lights and Sock Samurai. On Saturday morning we will serve brunch to 80 men at the Pioneer Square Men s Transitional Program, returning to church at 12:00 noon. Meet at Saint Andrew s at 6:00 pm on Friday! We will leave at 6:15 pm to catch Snowflake Lane at 7:00 pm. Be sure to wear festive clothing. Santa hats and Christmas sweaters are encouraged!! Sign up by TODAY, December 2 - in the narthex or Emily. Babysitting or Kids In/Parents Out! Play games, watch a movie, and enjoy some pizza with some of the youngest in our congregation. We will enjoy an entertaining evening with Sheep and Shepherds kids while their parents gather together at an offsite location or take some time to themselves. Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 15, 4:45 pm - 9:15 pm, and let Emily know if you can help by December 9. White Elephant Gift Exchange! On Sunday, December 16, during CrossWalk we will enjoy a White Elephant Gift Exchange to celebrate the Christmas season. So search the depths of your closet, get rid of that Christmas sweater Aunt Sally got you last year, and bring your tacky, silly, ridiculous gift item (wrapped) to the CrossWalk at 9:45 am on December 16. Please spend a minimum amount of money on your gift. Ideally your gift will cost you $0!! F FIRE FORCE (youth entering grades 6-8): Tuesday Night Fire Force - Join us every Tuesday night from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm as we explore the Bible and apply it to our lives. We check in with each other each week and we have snacks and games too! On December 11, we will enjoy a white elephant gift exchange and play Christmas themed games. Warm Beach Christmas Lights - Fire Force is taking an evening trip to Warm Beach Camp to enjoy The Lights of Christmas on Thursday, December 20! Meet at church at 5:15 pm. The van will leave Saint Andrew s at 5:30 pm. We will return to Saint Andrew s before 11:00 pm. Be sure to wear festive clothing. Santa hats and Christmas sweaters are encouraged!! Servant Event - Mark your calendars to serve the community on Saturday, January 12. Details to come! F GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING for FIRE FORCE (youth in grades 6-8) and SHEEP and SHEPHERDS (families with children age birth through grade 5): Next Sunday, December 9, beginning at 12:15 pm, we will have our annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party! Bring the entire family for a potluck lunch and an afternoon of creative fun. See page 16 for all the details. F SHEEP and SHEPHERDS (families with children age birth through grade 5): Babysitting or Kids In/Parents Out is on Saturday, December 15! Join us at the Idaho Mission Team s Kids In/Parents Out and Babysitting event. This is a wonderful time to celebrate Christmas with friends or get some shopping, decorating, or much needed napping in before the holiday. From 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm, kids will enjoy the evening with games, pizza, and a movie with God Squad. Parents will gather at the home of Sonja and Guy Feldman for games, conversation, and hor d oeuvres. Parents may also take the time to prepare for Christmas! Sign up by Sunday, December 9. Kidz Bounce - Mark your calendar for Sunday, January 6, from 3:00 pm - 5:15 pm, for bouncy fun at Kidz Bounce in Preston. Sign up by January 3. 7

8 O U T R E A C H M I N I S T R I E S Y THE LOVE TREE is in the narthex! It has plenty of tags for everyone. Stop by, select a tag, and purchase a gift to bring the joy of Christmas to someone less fortunate. All gifts need to be returned by Sunday, December 9. If you would like to learn more about the Love Tree, or want to help, please contact Joyce Arnold. Y UNIFORMS FOR MAASAI GIRLS: Once again we have the privilege to clothe the new class of 50 new Form One students at the Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) in Tanzania. Each total outfit (skirt, t-shirt, sweatshirt, underwear, shoes and socks) costs $45 and lasts the girl two years. Please place your donation in the offering plate or bring it to the church office. (Make checks payable to Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church and note MGLSS Uniforms on the MEMO line. If you wish to donate, put it in an envelope designated MGLSS Uniforms.) Then, please take one of the little girl figures off the display in the entry way. It lets us know how many have been clothed and also it gives you another tree ornament as a prayer reminder for these young girls as they begin their educational journey. See the display for more information or contact Jean Wahlstrom. Y EAT PIZZA; HELP CFH: California Pizza Kitchen is teaming up with Congregations for the Homeless (CFH) for a fundraiser! TODAY, December 2, California Pizza Kitchen will donate 20% of your meal cost to CFH (dine in, carry out, catering and beverage purchases are all included.) Flyers with details are on the bulletin board in the narthex or simply mention CFH when you order and the server will make sure the 20% is donated. Y THE SOPHIA WAY: We now have a basket for donations in the narthex near the elevator. We are collecting Christmas decorations for the women with apartments. Also needed are supplies for the new 21-bed Sophia s Place opening this month at St. Luke s Lutheran Church. Bring these items: fragrance free laundry detergent and dryer sheets, disinfectant wipes, paper towels, paper napkins, foil, plastic wrap, and facial tissue. Y EMERGENCY FEEDING PROGRAM (EFP): Share Holiday Treats with EFP in December! Gifts of canned peaches, canned fruit cocktail, or $16 to purchase a case of canned fruit will bring a touch of sweetness to homeless kids who might otherwise taste the bitterness of hunger this holiday season. Bring your donations to the Corner of Blessing in the narthex. For more information contact EFP, , or visit Y KICK OFF YOUR SHOES: As partners together in mission, Saint Andrew s is collecting PREVIOUSLY-OWNED/USED SHOES in support of Kent Lutheran Church s South Sudan Community Restoration Program. All proceeds are used to enable their ministry in South Sudan. We will be receiving shoes until January 31, Shoes in RE-USABLE CONDITION are wanted to make them available in developing nations, thus providing high-quality and low-cost footwear for people who may not have otherwise been able to purchase them. So get busy and clean out those closets and hidden places where shoes can hide, trying to escape fulfilling the purpose for which they were created: to protect and serve feet!!!! Bring them to the large box in the narthex labeled SHOES. Please bind pairs together, if possible. Contact Jean Wahlstrom or Debbie Szabo if you have questions. Y MAASAE GIRLS SCHOLARSHIPS: Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA) reports that 9 students are without full scholarships ($900, only 2 of whom are Form One students) and 25 other students lack half-scholarships ($450), making a total shortfall of $19,350 in operational support for the school for If you can help or know anyone who can, please help us get the word out regarding this marvelous opportunity for maximum return on every dollar invested in a girl s education!!! Take the gold forms off the bulletin board in the narthex and pass them to folks/organizations/ groups/ relatives/friends who you think may be able and interested in helping! Bless you all and thanks for your partnership in ministry. For more information, contact Jean Wahlstrom. 8

9 Y COLLECTIONS: Dorcas Circle and Health and Wholeness Ministry welcome your contributions for the following ministries. Place donations in the baskets near the elevator in the narthex. Sewing kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR): fabric (three yards or more per piece), thread Personal care kits for LWR: bath-size towels (dark color, light-weight, 27 x 52 ), large sturdy combs, metal nail clippers, bath-size bars of soap, adult-size toothbrushes Supplies for Compass Housing Alliance: travel-sized soaps, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors and shaving cream, Q-tips, feminine hygiene products, new/never used combs and brushes, new/never used nail files, new/never used nail clippers, new and gently used towels, pillows and pillow cases, twin sheets, adult-size, new, white crew socks S A I N T A N D R E W S O P P O R T U N I T I E S A N D A N N O U N C E M E N T S Ì DORCAS CIRCLE: The Dorcas Circle meets in Fellowship Hall this Tuesday, December 4, at 9:30 am. New people are always welcome to join as we sew quilts, school bags, and complete other projects in response to those in need. We also welcome donations of fabric, sheets, yarn, quilt batting, sewing supplies, and blankets. Ì O.W.L.S. (Older Wiser Lutheran Saints) is a fellowship of members and friends of the congregation who meet on the third Tuesday of every month for friendship and an awesome potluck. Newcomers are always welcome! Please join us on December 18 at 11:45 am. We will welcome Will Simpson, Director of Music Ministries. We will get to know him better and sing Christmas carols too. Paul and Vesta Hoglund will be our hosts. Ì SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: On Sunday, December 16, at 11:00 am, the children of the congregation invite you to hear them re-tell the Christmas story in word and song with the program, Promise Remembered, Covenant Kept. Through the waters of the flood, God saved Noah and his family. In the waters of our baptism, He promises to save us through Jesus. The rainbow is a sign of hope and promise from God, and we use it to help us see the promise God gave us in Jesus. Ì CHRISTMAS EVE YOUTH MUSIC: Each year the prelude to the 5:00 pm Christmas Eve worship service includes our young instrumental musicians who play in a school ensemble and/or take lessons. Please contact Director of Music Ministries Will Simpson, will@salchome.org, about your child s participation. It is helpful to know if they would like an accompanist or other support. Students are a very important part of music at Saint Andrew s. We look forward to having them share their gifts on Christmas Eve. Ì TRENDINGS: We have a new weekly communication tool called Trendings at Saint Andrew s. It is an electronic publication that will appear in your inbox every Wednesday afternoon. It contains a devotional word and information about what is going on at church. For those who do not have access, a few paper copies are in the narthex. To include an item in Trendings, contact Susan Hegedus, susan@salchome.org or , by 12:00 noon on Wednesday. Ì BUILDING AND PROPERTY PROJECTS OF THE MONTH: The Building and Property Committee has a To Do list of over 170 projects! Here are the current projects of the month : Check backup battery in the emergency lights and exit signs: Push the Test button, verify the lights come on. Will take about one hour Clean the compressor coils on the main refrigerator: Remove the four screws on the access panel. Vacuum the dust from the coils. Will take about one hour If you can help accomplish either of these tasks, contact Building and Property Committee Chair Rick West. Ì FLOWER CHART: The 2013 Flower Chart is on the bulletin board in narthex. Please take a moment to reserve your Sunday. 9

10 Ì PEW CARDS: We have updated the Communication Cards found in the pew racks. In addition to being a tool to share news, suggestions, and prayer requests with the pastors and staff, it provides space to indicate your interest in participating at Saint Andrew s. Check them out! Ì SYNOD BISHOP - Invitation to nominate candidates for Bishop of the Northwest Washington Synod: Our current Synod Bishop s term expires in July Chris Boerger will have completed 2 six-year terms at that time. Saint Andrew s has received notification on the process for electing a new bishop. Nominations can be made by any member of a congregation of the Synod. Nominations are being accepted now and will be closed for further nominations after February 16, Voting will take place at the Synod Assembly in May If you are interested in more information, please contact Pastor McEachran, Pastor Telyea, or Congregation Council President Jerry Mack. o t h e r O P P O R T U N I T I E S A N D A N N O U N C E M E N T S ü PLU CHRISTMAS CONCERTS: Pacific Lutheran University s Christmas concert, A Child is Born, features the Choir of the West, University Chorale and members of the University Symphony Orchestra performing hymns, carols, and a choral orchestral masterwork that focuses on two unlikely women whose sons culminate thousands of years of prophesy leading to the Word made flesh, Jesus the Messiah. Performances are: Sunday, December 2, 3:00 pm; PLU Campus ; Monday, December 3, 7:30 pm; Benaroya Hall, Seattle; Saturday, December 4, 7:30 pm, Portland; Friday, December 7, 8:00 pm; PLU Campus. For ticket information, visit or call Assisting Ministers: (I) David Anderson (II) Eric Bean Communion Assistants: (I) Jan Bowerman (II) Miriam Kroschel For Sunday, December 9: Second Sunday of Advent Malachi 3:1 4; Luke 1:68 79; Philippians 1:3 11; Luke 3:1 6 Sunday Servers for December 9 Acolytes: (I) Kris Gordon (II) Perry Garberg Altar Guild: Signe Wraith and Elmer Neu 10

11 Sheep & Shepherds and Fire Force Families, Grandparents and ABC mentors, join us for our annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party! Sunday, December 9 at 12:15pm Bring the entire family for an afternoon of creative fun! We will enjoy a potluck lunch and decorate gingerbread houses. If you would like to join us, but missed the sign up, you are more than welcome! Just bring your own gingerbread house kit and don t forget your potluck item! See you there! Please share a Potluck Item*: Last names A-G-Dessert Last names H-N - Main Dish Last names O-Z - Salad/Side Dish * You are welcome to use the kitchen, oven, and stove at 11am if necessary. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Youth and Family Ministries, Emily Henselmeier