First Sunday in Advent THE BRIGHT STAR OF BETHLEHEM STAR OF CREATION

Transcription

1 First Sunday in Advent THE BRIGHT STAR OF BETHLEHEM STAR OF CREATION Our Savior Lutheran Church Newton, Iowa December 1, 2013

2 OR SAVIOR LTHERAN CHRCH Missouri Synod Office Phone: Reverend John M. Moore, Pastor Cell Phone: Rev. Dr. Fungchatou & Kalia Lo, Our Missionaries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Rev. Carl & Chen Hsi Li Hanson Our Missionaries, Hong Kong, China First Sunday in Advent December 1, 2013 We have a hearing assistance system. Contact an usher if you would like to use a personal receiver. Welcome to Our Savior Lutheran Church! We thank God you are here and pray that God s Word will speak to you today. Guests, we hope you will join us often as we gather around the Word. We want to know how we may serve you, so please sign the guest book. Also, please introduce yourself to those around you and to the Pastor. Those desiring to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament at the Altar, please review both sides of the Communion Registration Card in the pew before. If you are in agreement you may hand it to our usher as you come for communion. Those Serving This Week Celebrant: Elder: Organist: Praise Band Leaders: Choir Director: Media Team Lay Readers: shers: Greeters: Altar Guild: Acolyte: Bulletin Assembler: Pastor John Moore Randy Ervin Joy McGinley Sarah & Emma Glenn Julia Dlouhy Doug Woebbeking Carole Zimmermann Jim Krizman & Steve Shelton Tim & Linda Glenn Mary Ervin Jake VanDalen Patsy Weddell Attendance 11/24 99 Elders at Our Savior Chairman Doug Ringger Secretary Rick Hartz Charities Bill Rozendaal shers/music Gary Gerdts Altar Guild Gary Gerdts Lay Readers/Greeters Randy Ervin 2

3 THE BRIGHT STAR OF BETHLEHEM STAR OF CREATION First Sunday in Advent - December 1, 2013 PRE-SERVICE MSIC WELCOME AND ANNONCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of creation, C Shine now and enlighten the whole world! P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of hope, C Shine now and heal hopeless hearts! P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of unity, C Shine now and gather us all as one! P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of joy, C Shine now and bring your gladness! P Shine now, Bright Star of Bethlehem, and bring your light and your life to us! C Amen. OPENING HYMN For the Beauty of the Earth Tune Dix CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P Advent Lord, C Forgive us for our sinfulness and the spiritual blindness that prevents us from appreciating the wonder of the world you have made. Forgive us for taking without giving and for reaping without sowing. Shine your light upon us, O Lord, and open our eyes to see, our lips to praise and our hands to share. Guide us along the pathways of life on this earth until you bring forth a new heaven and a new earth when your Son comes again in glory. Amen. P Hear the Good News: Jesus Christ is the light of the world. He is the Bright Star of Bethlehem. When he was born to save us he shattered the darkness of our sin, bringing forgiveness, love and grace. In him, you are a new creation! C Amen. Alleluia! HYMN OF PRAISE Come, We, Now to Worship the Lord Tune Kings of Orient and refrain LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH P Today we light the first candle of our Advent wreath. We begin this season of anticipation and expectation as we remember God s creative power and light. (The first candle of the wreath is lit.) P At the dawn of creation, God said, Let there be light! C Advent Lord, shine your light on us! Alleluia! PRAYER OF THE DAY 3

4 OLD TESTAMENT READING Psalm 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. NEW TESTAMENT READING Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. GOSPEL READING John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. HYMN CHILDREN S MESSAGE HYMN SERMON By Pastor John Moore Star of Creation OFFERING O Little Town of Bethlehem Tune St. Louis What Star is This Tune Puer Nobis LM 4

5 PREFACE P The Lord be with you. C And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. C We lift them to the Lord. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give Him thanks and praise. P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying: SANCTS P. 161 LORD S PRAYER THE WORDS OF OR LORD PAX DOMINI AGNS DEI DISTRIBTION HYMNS Arise, O Christian People LSB 354 When All the World Was Cursed LSB 346 Father Welcomes LSB 605 PRAYERS Each petition ends with this response: P O Star of Creation, C bring your design to light. CLOSING HYMN Creator of the Stars of Night Tune Vom Himmel Hoch LM By Tim Runtsch. Children s sermons by Megan Barone by Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO All rights reserved. Printed in the SA. 5

6 Lord, Teach us to Pray Remember in your prayers... More than 10,000 people who feared dead and thousands more who have lost their homes in the wake of the typhoon in the Philippines. Raylene Tisdale, recovering from surgery. Krista Nissen, (Tom & Raylene Tisdale s daughter) as she continues to recover. Darlene Seibert, Amanda Hartz s mom, as she has finished with her chemotherapy and prepares for radiation. Max Hodges and Roger Holst, ongoing health concerns. The Ministry of the Hephzibah House. Rod Brouwer of the Ministries of Grace Without Borders. The Ministry of The Pregnancy Center of Central Iowa. Fungchatou & Kalia Lo, Pastor Jesse and Pastor Sarath, Our Missionaries to Cambodia. Carl & Chen Hsi Li Hanson, Our Missionaries to Hong Kong, China. Ed Strohschein, Business Manager for LCMS World Mission - Asian - Pacific. The Malaria Initiative and the end of Malaria deaths in the world. Jon & Julie Muhly, Our Missionaries in Eurasia 6

7 This Week at Our Savior... Sunday (1) :00am Worship :30am Adult Bible Study Mitebox Sunday :00pm Homeward Zimmermann s :00pm Council Sugar Grove Tuesday (3) Bulletin Deadline Wednesday (4) :00pm Star of Creation Service Thursday (5) :00am Ladies Bible Study Friday (6) :30am Bible Midtown Sunday (8) :00am Worship :30am Adult Bible Study :30pm Doug s Bible Jessen s Happy Bir thday December 1st Emma Glenn December 4th Christi Cole December 2nd Anna Farnum Decmeber 5th Dianne Breckenridge Happy Anniversary December 3rd Randy & Mary Ervin 7

8 BILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES Feeling blue lately? Iowans are prime candidates for Seasonal Affective Disorder, sometimes called winter depression, because there is less sunlight during the winter months. Resist the temptation to stay in bed and give in to a low mood. Martin Luther, who himself struggled with depression, had the right idea 500 years ago: Solitude produces melancholy. When we are alone the worst and saddest things come to mind. We reflect in detail upon all sorts of evils. And if we have encountered adversity in our lives, we dwell upon it as much as possible, magnify it, think that no one is so unhappy as we are, and imagine the worse possible consequences. Don t give in - get out, keep a positive attitude and stay active. LFS counselors are also here to help when needed just call! Lutheran Family Service of Iowa Hickman Rd, Ste. 3, DM, IA ( ) READY-SET-RECYCLE I hope you are still turning in your ink cartridges and other items. As of March, $26,000 had been raised. These funds are being used to support and prepare for the upcoming National LWML Convention, which will be held in Des Moines in June of CARDS/NAPKINS We now have a new supply of greeting cards. In addition to these cards we also have boxes of Christmas cards and napkins Just place your money in the envelope, located on the card rack in the narthex, and place it in the collection plate. These sales will help support many of the mission projects sponsored by your LWML Faith Society. Thank you. PLEASE JOIN S for fellowship & refreshments following the Advent service on Dec. 4. Since Christmas is a time of giving, a love offering will be collected for St. Nick s Christmas Club. If there is enough interest in this fellowship time, refreshments may be provided after each Advent service with love offerings collected for other needy recipients. LEND A HELPING HAND On Wednesday, December 18th, 6:00 p.m., at the American Legion Hall they will be packaging food for the St. Nicks Christmas Club. A sign up sheet has been posted in the narthex if you would like to help with this project. Thank You. LWML Faith Society PHILIPPINES TYPHOON RELIEF Go to to learn more about donating funds. Your gifts for Disaster Response provide a constant resource of funds that can instantly be made available to help those in need. NO SNDAY SCHOOL TODAY Announcements FOOD PANTRY We are collecting food items for the local food pantry. These 3 items are particulary needed year round: Ramen noodles, tuna and macaroni & cheese. LWML FAITH SOCIETY There will be no LWML meeting Monday, December 16th, instead we will be packaging food for the St. Nicks Christmas Club on Wednesday December 18th, 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. HOMEWARD BOND BIBLE STDY will meet today at 1:00 p.m. at the Lowell Zimmermann home. 8