St. Paul Lutheran Church In Jesus name, Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with God. St. Paul is an open, affirming, and inclusive church, welcoming all who seek God. 515 South Wheaton Avenue - Wheaton, Illinois - 630-668-5953 Second Sunday of Advent December 4, 2016 Dreams and Visions
Welcome to St. Paul Visiting today? We are glad you are here! Stop by the Welcome Center and receive a sweet gift. Please write your name and other information on the welcome pad. There are multiple areas and resources designed for children to experience and participate in worship according to their needs. Please see information for parents and "Children at St. Paul Wheaton" on the laminated page posted at the outside end of your pew. Assisted listening headphones are available for those having difficulty hearing. Members, please wear your nametag. Extras are located in the pew racks. About Worship We follow an ancient pattern through the liturgy (which literally means the work of the people ). Some parts of the service may change each week, but there is a consistent flow: praising God, hearing God s word, offering our prayers and gifts, celebrating communion, and being sent into the world for service. The format remains fairly constant, but the style will vary widely. Sometimes we sing with the pipe organ, and the ministers chant. Sometimes we worship accompanied by piano, guitars, drums, violins, flutes or whatever our folk play. We range from Bach to blues, because we know that different styles connect to different people. So we all worship together, and change the style every few weeks. It s one of the ways we minister to and with each other and build community. Thank you for being part of our worship and community today! *At the asterisk, stand as you are able. P: Presiding Minister A: Assisting Minister L: Lector C: Congregation ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) Page Numbers are printed in the lower corners in the front portion of the hymnal. Hymn Numbers are large numbers printed beside hymn titles in the rest of the book. Serving Today Presiding Minister Pr. Jared Olson Lector 8:30 Julie Braun 11:00 Jan Stewart Communion Deacon 8:30 Patty Fess 11:00 Carlo D Agostino Bread Hosts 8:30 Craig & Mary Dickson 11:00 Carolyn Lukens Assisting Minister Mark Demich Crucifer/Acolytes 8:30 Hans, Tyler & Grayson Therron 11:00 Lynda, Charlie & Sasha Baumgartner Greeters 8:30 John & Diane Campbell, Rich & Nancy Wilen 11:00 Jan Stewart, Tom & Marilyn Dashiell Ushers 8:30 Chuck Taylor, Rich Wilen, Mina Kerr 11:00 Jeff & Bradley Huber, Anthony Tarpeh Altar Care Dawn Harrington, Kim Diehl, Bethany Huber Fellowship Pat Heine, Nancy Carlson Welcome Center 8:30 Ann Holmstrom 11:00 Marilyn Dashiell Counters Ann Holmstrom, Paul Cook, Ron Diehl Organist Carl Heine
Preparing to Worship Prelude Vieux Noël C. Franck Welcome Pr. Jared Children s Message Pr. Jared *Entrance Hymn: Prepare the Royal Highway (v. 2) ELW, #264
*Entrance Rite and Blessing of Advent Wreath P: We praise you, O God, for this circle of light that marks our days of preparation for Christ s advent. As we light the candles on this wreath, kindle within us the fire of your Spirit, that we may be light shining in the darkness. Enlighten us with your grace, that we may welcome others as you have welcomed us. Grant this through Christ our Lord, whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. C: Amen Repeat Entrance Hymn, v. 2 *Confession and Forgiveness Gathering Together in Worship Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. P: Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. *Prayer of the Day Lord, we have nothing to fear from you. Bring us back into your presence, rejoicing in your promises and basking in your mercy. Through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Responding to the Word of God Reading Joel 2:12-13, 28-29 L: The Reading is from the book of Joel. Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. L: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God. *Gospel Acclamation Return to the Lord Re turn to the Lord, your God, re - turn to the Lord, your God, who is gra -cious and mer-ci - ful, slow to an-ger and a -bound-ing in stead-fast love. P: The Holy Gospel according to Luke. C: Glory to you, O Lord. *The Gospel Luke 11:1-13 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. He said to them, When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial. And he said to them, Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves of
bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him. And he answers from within, Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything. I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Sermon Pr. Jared *Hymn of the Day: Spirit of Gentleness (vv. 1-3) ELW, #396 Continued on next page
Continued from previous page *Prayers of the People After each petition of the prayers: A: Gracious God, C: Hear our prayer. *Passing the Peace P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. P: Let us share the peace. Offering St. Paul Choir (8:30) Glory, Glory Be tune: F. Reklau arr: C. Heine
Offertory Response: *Offertory Prayer A: With all our heart we return to you what is yours, O God. Use these gifts to your highest purpose, that all the people would be blessed, and know that you are God. C: Amen. *The Great Thanksgiving Sharing the Eucharistic Meal 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 our thanks and praise. P: It is indeed right... join their unending hymn.
*Sanctus: *Eucharistic Prayer *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. The Distribution of Communion The body and blood of Christ are present in this sacrament, for the forgiveness of sin and the strengthening of faith. All people are welcome to share in this meal with us. Parents, if you have a young child who receives communion, please indicate that when the minister comes to you. Those who do not receive communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing; simply keep your hands folded. Come forward and receive the bread from the minister. Gluten-free bread is available. The gold chalice contains wine; you may drink directly from the cup or dip your bread into the wine. The pottery chalice contains non-alcoholic grape juice, which you may receive by dipping your bread into the juice. Return to your seat by the side aisles. If you would like communion brought to you, simply let an usher know.
Agnus Dei: Lamb of God Music During Communion Hymn: Come Now, O Prince of Peace ELW, #247
*Post-Communion Prayer A: Lord God, we give you thanks that you have fed us even now with the banquet that is yet to come. Keep us alert for signs of your presence in the world around us. Send us as healing oil and sheltering comfort to those in need, and make us bold in testifying to the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen. Going Out into the World Sent by God *Benediction P: God most high, God with us, God poured out on us, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever. C: Amen. Service continues on next page
*Sending Hymn: Joy to the World ELW, #267 Announcements *Dismissal A: Go in peace. Christ is with you. C: Thanks be to God. Pr. Jared Postlude In Thee is Gladness J. S. Bach