FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH LORAIN, OHIO

Transcription

1 Welcome to First Lutheran! We re glad you re here. FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH LORAIN, OHIO SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 9, :30am A Stephen Ministry Congregation

2 2 A special welcome to guests and visitors! A nursery is available down the hall. Children s bulletins are available for older children. Hearing assist devices are available (ask an usher). May our time together be a blessing to you. GATHERING P RELUDE Prepare the Royal Highway (arr. Charles Ore) W ELCOME L IGHTING OF THE A DVENT W REATH Before the lighting the following song is sung. The Lord announces a covenant with Israel. A messenger like Malachi (his name means my messenger ) shall prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. F IRST R EADING Malachi 3:1-4 (Page 778) See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the LORD whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

3 3 Hymn # s are the large numbers in the main part of the hymnal, located under your seat. Words in italics are spoken by the leader. Words in bold are spoken by all. For he is like a refiner s fire and like fullers soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. G ATHERING H YMN On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry (Hymn #249) G REETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. P RAYER OF THE D AY Amen. The assembly is seated. WORD As the Psalm today we sing the Benedictus, Zechariah s song at the birth of his son John the Baptist. P SALM Luke 1:68-79 The Psalm is sung responsively, the choir singing the parts in regular type and the assembly singing the parts in bold. 68Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel, you have come to your people and set them free. 69You have raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of your ser- vant David. 70Through your holy prophets, you promised of old to save us from our enemies, 71from the hand of all who hate us,

4 4 72to The apostle Paul was the pastor of many new churches. He writes in this letter about his joy to be in partnership with the Christians of Philippi. Listen to how tenderhearted Paul, sometimes a stern preacher, is with his friends as he encourages them to grow in love and knowledge. show mercy to our forebears, and to remember your ho- ly covenant. 73This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham: 74to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship you with- out fear, 75holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life. 76And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way, 77to give God s people knowledge of sal- vation by the forgiveness of their sins. 78In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, 79to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. S ECOND R EADING Philippians 1:3-11 (Page 953) I thank my God every time I remember you, 4constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. C HILDREN S S ERMON

5 5 G OSPEL A CCLAMATION The assembly stands to welcome the gospel. Prepare the way of the Lord. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. Repeat alleluias. John the Baptist is a herald of the saving Lord, whose way is prepared by repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As we hear the careful record of human leaders, we sense the spectrum of political and religious authority that will be challenged by this coming Lord. G OSPEL Luke 3:1-6 (Page 834) The holy gospel according to Luke, the 3rd chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. The assembly is seated. S ERMON Silence for reflection follows the sermon.

6 6 H YMN OF THE D AY The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song. Prepare the Royal Highway (Hymn #264) Y OKING OF C ONFIRMATION S TUDENTS & M ENTORS P RAYERS OF I NTERCESSION The assembly responds to each petition with: Christ, Be Our Light! (Hymn #715, refrain only) P EACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The people may greet one another with a sign of Christ s peace, and may say Peace be with you. or similar words. Then the assembly is seated. MEAL O FFERING O FFERING M USIC Advent Carol (Hal Hopson) After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands. R ESPONSE Come Now, O Prince of Peace (Hymn #247) O FFERING P RAYER Amen.

7 7 G REAT T HANKSGIVING D IALOG P REFACE H OLY, H OLY, H OLY L ORD With the whole creation, we join the angels song (see Isaiah 6:3).

8 8 T HANKSGIVING AT THE T ABLE Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. We look with hope for his coming. Come, Lord Jesus. Bring the gift of peace on earth. Come, Holy Spirit. one God, now and forever. Amen. Pages are the small numbers in the front part of the hymnal. L ORD S P RAYER Page 163 (sung) The assembly is seated. C OMMUNION All are invited to commune with us. Please come to the altar as directed by the ushers. Receive a piece of bread, and either dip the bread into the first chalice or drink from the second chalice. The bread is gluten-free; the wine has alcohol. If you do not take communion but would like a blessing, please cross your arms across your chest as you come forward. If you need communion brought to you, please alert an usher who will let the servers know. C OMMUNION S ONG We echo John the Baptist s exclamation: Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) Lamb of God

9 9 Hymn #552 is a metrical version of the Benedictus. Blessed Be the God of Israel (Hymn #552) Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Hymn #254) After all have returned to their places, the assembly stands. P OST -C OMMUNION B LESSING Amen. P RAYER AFTER C OMMUNION Amen. SENDING A NNOUNCEMENTS B LESSING Amen. S ENDING H YMN Now, Lord (Hymn #201) D ISMISSAL Thanks be to God. Immediately after the service please join us for a presentation by Michael Bendele, the artist who fashioned our copper door panels. Service music is reproduced under Augsburg Fortress license #SB

10 Are you interested in serving during worship? Look for sign-up sheets on the bulletin board or contact the church office for training information. 10 Serving Today Assisting Minister... Mike Brumenschenkel Communion Assistants... Doris Garber, Sharon Kopronica Mel Kapalin, Penelope White Greeters... Ellen Lash, Peggy Chamberlain Musicians... First Choir, Handbell Choir Reader... Penelope White Ushers... Yeamans family Serving Next Week, December 16 Assisting Minister... Tim Scholl Communion Assistants... Laurene Cyran, Sharon Kopronica Mel Kapalin, Penelope White Greeters... Ellen Lash, Peggy Chamberlain Musicians... First Choir Reader... Sue Perry Ushers... Jensen family Flowers this week are given to the glory of God by Joyce St. Aubin in memory of Vera. Attendance Last Sunday: 103 YTD Average: 114 Ministry Operations $6,313 Amount needed weekly to sustain the current budget $11,467 Amount received last Sunday towards operating budget

11 If you have an announcement to share with the congregation, please write it out and it to the church office. 11 ANNOUNCEMENTS VISITING OR FORGOT YOUR ENVELOPE? No worries! Now located in the front of each hymnal is an extra sleeve which contains a giving envelope. Prayerfully consider your gift today! Our copper artist, MICHAEL BENDELE, is here today to share about his process in designing and producing the door panels. A reception will follow. TODAY at 3:00PM is our annual Advent Music. This free FIRST music event is a musical evening prayer service featuring music by Michael Praetorius, a prolific early Lutheran musician. Join us for this reflective holiday program! PANTRY DAY is this Thursday, December 13. Time is from 10:00am- 11:30am. We continue to have an increase of clients. Volunteers are always appreciated! COMMITTEE APPRECIATION DINNER is this Tuesday, December 11 at 7pm. If you have served on any committee, bring a dessert to share and join us. PLEASE NOTE that the church office will be closed the week of Christmas and New Years Day. Emergency pastoral care is still available by calling Pastor Rosy s cell number at Front Door will still be operating on Monday, December 24 and Monday, December 31 from 10:00am-11:30am. COMMUNITY IMPACT for October: Pantry and Front Door served 822 meals; 372 families shopped for food; and 102 guests received emergency assistance. Your contributions help to meet a growing need. CHRISTMAS GIVING OPPORTUNITIES HATS & GLOVES are still being collected. We especially need kids gloves. Please drop off your donations in the box located near the Welcome Desk. We will be distributing them on Pantry Day. CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE is just about ready to deliver. If you still have a tag, please bring it to the church THIS WEEK. Thank you for your support of Admiral King!

12 Sunday, December 9 9:30am Worship with Yoking ceremony 10:45am Sunday School 10:45am Reception for copper panel artist 3:00pm FIRST music: Advent Music Monday, December 10 7:00pm Learning/FLY 7:00pm Worship Committee 7:00pm Support Committee 7:45pm Hymn Selection Tuesday, December 11 10:00am Front Door 7:00pm Committee Christmas Dinner This Week at First Lutheran Wednesday, December 12 9:00am Set up food pantry 6:00pm Bible study/confirmation Thursday, December 13 10:00am Food Pantry 6:00pm Handbell Choir 7:00pm First Choir Sunday, December 16 9:30am Worship 10:45am Sunday School