Hope Lutheran Church 4131 Lehigh Drive, Cherryville, PA (610) hopecherryville.org

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1 Hope Lutheran Church 4131 Lehigh Drive, Cherryville, PA (610) hopecherryville.org December 15, 2013 Third Sunday of Advent A note of joyful expectation marks today's worship. Isaiah announces that the desert shall rejoice and blossom. Jesus points to signs of God's reign: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear. We wait with patience for the coming of the Lord, even as we rejoice at his presence among us this day: in word and holy supper, in church and in our homes, in silent reflection and in works of justice and love. We pray that God would open our eyes and ears to the wonders of Christ's advent among us. CHURCH STAFF Pastor Rev. Jami Possinger ext. #12 Assistant Pastor Rev. Paulette Obrecht ext. #13 Pastor Emeritus Visitation Pastor Rev. Clark W. Kuntz II Rev. Jerry Mraz Administrative Manager Jane Tretiak ext. #10 Director of Music David Ziegler ext. #11 Bell Choir Director Janet Filchner ext. #40 Treasurer Sexton Financial Secretary Trudy Mertz Bonnie Zmyewski Deb Gardner Communications Specialist Nina Weiss ext. #20 SERVICE PARTICIPANTS 8:00 AM 10:30 AM Acolytes Brandon Costanzo Chloe Fischl Crucifers Logan Ninos Shannon Reinhard Communion Assistants Sharyn Kratzer Robin Zamadics Lori Kerper Greeters Buddy Rock Larry Creyer Lectors Nursery Wendy and Ethan Kish Nadia and Gabrielle Kowalchuk Ushers Kurinec Team Amey Team Altar Guild December Vicki Steiner, Carla Green, Barb Burns, Kim Kurinec, Cory Ninos, Kasey Frey Holy Communion 8:00 AM Setting Three Gathering The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God Prelude/Announcements * Confession and Forgiveness p 94 * Gathering Song All Earth is Hopeful # 266 * Greeting/Kyrie p 138 * Prayer of the Day Word God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song Advent Candle Lighting/Hymn Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (vs. 3) # 240 First Reading Isaiah 35:1-10 Anthem Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Second Reading James 5:7-10 * Gospel Acclamation p 142 * Gospel Reading Matthew 11:2-11 Sermon * Hymn of the Day People, Look East # 248 * Apostles Creed p 105 * Prayers of Intercession Leader: Hear us, O God. Cong.: Your mercy is great. * Peace Meal God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ Offering/Offertory Anthem Christmas is Coming * Offertory Response Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus # 254 * Great Thanksgiving p 144 * Holy, Holy, Holy p 144 * The Lord s Prayer p 145 Communion (intinction) (PLEASE NOTE: gluten free wafers are available in the chalice in front of the baptismal font) Lamb of God p 146 Communion Anthem We Light the Advent Candle * Post Communion Canticle I Received the Living (vs3) # 477 * Prayer Sending God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world * Blessing * Sending Song Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness # 843 * Dismissal Postlude *please stand if you are able Service of the Word 10:30 AM Gathered by the Holy Spirit, we hear and proclaim the saving word of God for the entire world. We give thanks for that saving word and all the gifts of God, who then sends us to share the good news and to care for those in need. Gathering The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God Prelude Announcements * Confessions and Forgiveness p 211 * Gathering Song All Earth is Hopeful # 266 * Greeting/Kyrie p 213 * Prayer of the Day Word God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song Advent Candle Lighting/Hymn Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (vs. 3) # 240 First Reading Isaiah 35:1-10 Anthem Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Second Reading James 5:7-10 * Gospel Acclamation p 216 Choir: Go and Tell John * Gospel Reading Matthew 11:2-11 Children s Message Anthem Prepare a Way for the Lord! Sermon * Hymn of the Day People, Look East # 248 Holy Baptism p 227 Baptism Hymn We are Baptized in Christ Jesus # 451 * Prayers of Intercession Leader: Hear us, O God. Cong.: Your mercy is great. * Peace Thanksgiving We give thanks for the saving word Offering/Offertory Anthem Christmas is Coming * Canticle of Thanksgiving p 219 * Thanksgiving for the Word p 220 * The Lord s Prayer p 221 Sending God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world * Blessing * Sending Song Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness # 843 * Dismissal Postlude *please stand if you are able

2 HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 15, hopecherryville.org Welcome! We are happy to have you worship with us! Visitors and members don t forget to sign the Hope Hospitality pads located in each pew. Thank you! TO THE GLORY OF GOD: FLOWER SPONSORS: In Loving Memory of our father, grandfather, Larry Reiss and in Honor of our mother, grandmother Sharyn Kratzer's birthdays with love, from Frankie, Andy and Robin Zamadics; In loving memory of my mother Hazel and in honor of Dolores Amey s birthday, Love, Pat and Daryl Amey BULLETIN SPONSORS: In memory of Adam Glassic, Love, Sandy and Family IN PRAYER TODAY St. John, Nazareth (Pastor David Schaeffer and Pastor Donna House). HOLY BAPTISM Colten Samuel Bachman will be baptized this morning during the 10:30am worship service. Colten is the son of Matthew Bachman and Tara Heffner and was born on October 9 th. His sponsor is David Bachman. Please welcome Colten as our newest member of Hope Church and pray for his growth in faith. WEDNESDAY EVENING ADVENT WORSHIP We will prepare for the Christmas season with an additional opportunity for weekly worship Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM on December 18 th. Plan now to attend and make this a special part of your holiday season. SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Today, Hope Sunday School will offer a different kind of Christmas program one that involves the whole family! We will begin in the Sanctuary with special songs presented by the children and an enactment of the Christmas story. Then, we will travel to Kuntz Hall for craft time. Each family will work together to assemble a Nativity Scene to take home with them. We hope you will join us that morning for a special family activity. Everyone is asked to wear something red or green in honor of this festive event. ** Snow Date is December 22 nd at 9:15 AM HOMEWORK After we re born, we re baptized. You know the date you were born; do you know the date you were baptized? Tis the season to find out!

3 Midweek Advent Services Prepare the Royal Highway The Advent season is upon us and calls us to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus. Focusing on the messages of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah we ll begin to pave the way for Jesus birth. Our weekly line up looks like this: Week 3 Wednesday, December 18 th Standing at the Crossroads Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. What do you do when you are standing at the crossroads? Join us weekly at 7:00 PM for worship with Holden Evening Prayer and an opportunity to prepare your highway for birth of our king. CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND CANDLES SPONSORSHIPS for Christmas Eve services are available in addition to our poinsettias. If interested in sponsoring a wreath or candles, please call the church office at Thank you. CANDLES FOR CHRISTMAS EVE Please return the candles no later than Wednesday, December 18 th. Thank you for your help. DECK THE WALLS All can help decorate the church at 2:30 PM on Sunday, December 22 nd. SOUP SUPPER Will be held after our decorating is completed beginning approximately at 4:30 PM. There will be a variety brought by participants. CHRISTMAS CAROLING All ages are invited to go caroling on Sunday night, December 22 nd following the soup supper at approximately 5:30 PM. We go visit as many homebound members as possible. ** The homebound members especially like to see the children caroling. Please look for sign-up sheets for the above events! SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COMMUNION WORSHIP Christmas Communion Worship for our shut-in members and members unable to get to a Christmas Eve service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, December 23 rd. A light luncheon will follow. Please call the church office if you need a ride. ALTAR GUILD HELP Again this year we will be having four worship services on Christmas Eve; 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:30pm and 11:00pm. We could use 2 to 3 people to help our altar guild for each service. The volunteers for the altar guild will help fill the candles with liquid wax and straighten up the pews for the following service. Please call the church office at if you can help or sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board.

4 NEW MEMBERS CLASSES - will be held on the following Sundays, January 5, 12 and 19 from 9:15-10:15am. The last class (January 19) will be a reception and the new members will also be received during the worship services that morning. If you know of someone who is interested in joining our church, please give them this information. VERA BRADLEY BINGO need a Christmas gift idea? How about a ticket for the Vera Bradley Bingo to be held on Sunday, February 2 nd. Proceeds benefit the Northampton Area Food Bank. See the flyer on the bulletin board in the narthex or see Linda Sidor for tickets. THIRD QUARTER STATEMENTS have been mailed. It is important to keep up with your regular giving. Please remember to fulfill your commitment to the mission and ministries of Hope Lutheran Church. Here is an update on giving to the general fund as of 10/31/13. Income $289, Expenses $334, Net Income ($44,419.10) FAMILY FAITH CHALLENGE The theme of the family faith challenges for December 2013 is Martin Luther as a Gift; We challenge you to learn more about Martin Luther. December 15-21: One German legend claims that Martin Luther was responsible for introducing the use of Christmas trees in the home in Germany. According to the legend, on his way home one evening, Martin Luther was so overcome by the beauty of a fir tree and stars in the sky that he wanted to tell his family about it. However, upon returning home, words failed him, so he went out and chopped the tree down and brought it home to share with his family. To mimic the stars that hung over the manger where Christ was born, Martin Luther decorated the tree with candle tapers. This was thought to be the first traditional Christmas tree in Germany. Make a candle ornament for your Christmas tree. (You can glue a felt candle shape and flame to a clip clothespin, or cut a candle shape out of foam to hang, or make a candle in many other ways.) DISCOUNT CARDS Give the gift of discounts! The Nursery School has discount cards available to purchase. $10.00 per card = 10% discount/special offer from 15+ different places. You can start using your card immediately. Questions? Please contact Erica Szwast at or eszwast@hotmail.com. These cards make great stocking stuffers! WELCA the latest news is available on the bulletin board in the narthex. Also, the WELCA s Christmas luncheon will be held on Tuesday, December 17 th at Blue Mountain Drive-In Family Restaurant in Danielsville at Noon.

5 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS Hope Lutheran Church Christmas ornaments are available for $10.00 each. The ornaments and envelopes are available on the table in the narthex. Please place your envelope in the wooden offering box located on the wall in the narthex. Proceeds will benefit the 2015 Youth Gathering. These ornaments make wonderful stocking stuffers! COAT DRIVE Ice Cream Lab in Walnutport is once again collecting coats for area residents in need. Any unwanted coat or jacket in clean and good condition would be greatly appreciated. For each coat donated, you will receive $1.00 gift certificate for Ice Cream Lab. Please drop them at the Ice Cream Lab anytime until December 31 st. Thank you. PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK The Congregational Council is encouraging all our members to grow in their spirituality through a regular Prayer Life. One way of doing this is by lifting up in prayer one family from our church each day of the year. This week s families are: 12/15/13 Michelle, Nicholas Hankee and family 12/16/13 Adelaide Badura and family 12/17/13 Diana, Emily, Carson Meckes Slepetz and family 12/18/13 Steven, Star Paly and family 12/19/13 Mildred Binder and family 12/20/13 Dolores Neitz and family 12/21/13 Kyle, Karen, Michaela Ebert and family STATISTICS Last Sunday s attendance 276; 8:00am service 144; 10:30am service 132; Sunday School Total offering - $9, (includes $ for the building fund; $ for Sunday School and $ for the year end appeal). BIBLE STUDY the evening Bible Study will begin again on Wednesday, January 8 th at 6:30pm and continue for at least 12 weeks. We will be studying Ecclesiastes. A small fee will be charged for each participant to receive a book. All are invited to attend. NEEDED - baked goods Northampton High School 10 th graders, Julia Serensits and Jaid Munczinski, are hosting a Dance for Diabetes at the Northampton Community Center on Saturday, December 21 st to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [JDRF]. Jaid and Julia are also planning a Bake Sale to be held during the dance. Anyone interested in supporting the girls' fundraising efforts can do so by donating baked goods, which can be dropped off at the Northampton Community Center on Saturday December 21st after 12 noon OR at the residence of Connie Epinger after 1:00 pm. Connie lives at 830 Blue Mountain Drive, directly next to the Lehigh Elementary School.

6 REMINDER TO WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS Advent Worship Wed., December 18 Acolyte Crucifer Greeters Ushers Kerper Strohl Patterson 7:00pm REMINDER TO WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS SUNDAY, Dec. 22, :00am 10:30am Acolytes Costanzo Fischl Crucifers Ninos Reinhard Communion Assistants Linda Derr Earl Snyder Tony Snyder Greeters Robin Zamadics Doug & Leslie Daniel Lectors Mike Kurinec Chris Wrenn Nursery Kish Kowalchuk Ushers Kurinec Amey Altar Guild for Dec. Lock Up for Dec. Sign Changer for Dec. Vicki Steiner, Carla Green, Barb Burns, Kim Kurinec, Cory Ninos, Kasey Frey John and Bonnie Zmyewski Betty Rock CALENDAR OF THE WEEK For complete rehearsal schedules, see the online calendar at calendar.hopecherryville.org TODAY Sunday School Christmas Program Holy Baptism Monday Newsletter Deadline Noon Tuesday WELCA Alleluia Ringers Christmas Eve Bell Rehearsal 9:15 AM 10:30 AM 9:00 AM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM Wednesday Advent Worship Service 7:00 PM Thursday Next Sunday Pastor s Bible Study Christmas Eve Skit Rehearsal Deck the Halls Soup Supper Caroling 10:00 AM 5:00 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 5:30 PM

7 REMINDER TO WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS Advent Worship Wed., December 18 Acolyte Crucifer Greeters Ushers Kerper Strohl Patterson 7:00pm REMINDER TO WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS SUNDAY, Dec. 22, :00am 10:30am Acolytes Costanzo Fischl Crucifers Ninos Reinhard Communion Assistants Linda Derr Earl Snyder Tony Snyder Greeters Robin Zamadics Doug & Leslie Daniel Lectors Mike Kurinec Chris Wrenn Nursery Kish Kowalchuk Ushers Kurinec Amey Altar Guild for Dec. Lock Up for Dec. Sign Changer for Dec. Vicki Steiner, Carla Green, Barb Burns, Kim Kurinec, Cory Ninos, Kasey Frey John and Bonnie Zmyewski Betty Rock CALENDAR OF THE WEEK For complete rehearsal schedules, see the online calendar at calendar.hopecherryville.org TODAY Sunday School Christmas Program Holy Baptism Monday Newsletter Deadline Noon Tuesday WELCA Alleluia Ringers Christmas Eve Bell Rehearsal 9:15 AM 10:30 AM 9:00 AM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM Wednesday Advent Worship Service 7:00 PM Thursday Next Sunday Pastor s Bible Study Christmas Eve Skit Rehearsal Deck the Halls Soup Supper Caroling 10:00 AM 5:00 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 5:30 PM