Welcome to First Lutheran! We re glad you re here. FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH LORAIN, OHIO FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 2, 2018 9:30am A Stephen Ministry Congregation
2 A special welcome to guests and visitors! A nursery is available down the hall. Hearing assist devices are available (ask an usher). May our time together be a blessing to you. GATHERING P RELUDE Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (arr. Aaron David Miller) W ELCOME L IGHTING OF THE A DVENT W REATH Before the lighting the following song is sung. 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. G ATHERING H YMN Fling Wide the Door (Hymn #259) 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.
3 P RAYER OF THE D AY Amen. The assembly is seated. WORD F IRST R EADING Jerusalem s future name The Lord is our righteousness proclaims that the Lord is even now working salvation for Israel. Jeremiah 33:14-16 (Page 645) The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD is our righteousness. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God P SALM Psalm 25:1-10 The Psalm is sung responsively, the choir singing the parts in regular type and the assembly singing the parts in bold. 1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame, nor let my enemies tri- umph over me. 3Let none who look to you be put to shame; rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous. 4Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths. 5Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long. 2My
4 6Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, for they are from ev- erlasting. 7Remember not the sins of my youth and my trans- gressions; remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your good- ness, O LORD. 8You are gracious and upright, O LORD; therefore you teach sinners in your way. 9You lead the lowly in justice and teach the low- ly your way. 10All your paths, O LORD, are steadfast love and faithfulness to those who keep your covenant and your tes- timonies. Upon Timothy s report from the congregation at Thessalonica, Paul is exuberant with gratitude for them. In this passage from his letter, Paul voices overflowing thanks, joy, and blessings for the people of this growing church. S ECOND R EADING 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (Page 960) How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. 11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. C HILDREN S S ERMON G OSPEL A CCLAMATION The assembly stands to welcome the gospel. Stand up and raise your heads your redemption is drawing near. Repeat alleluias.
5 G OSPEL Luke 21:25-36 (Page 856) The holy gospel according to Luke, the 21st chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. God will fulfill God s purposes and, already, hidden signs of that fulfillment abound. On that great day there will be dismay, perplexity, confusion, and terror, but God s people shall be given strength to stand boldly and receive God s promised redemption. [Jesus said:] 25 There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. 29Then he told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. The assembly is seated. S ERMON Silence for reflection follows the sermon. H YMN OF THE D AY The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song. Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (Hymn #436)
6 A POSTLES C REED Inside front cover of hymnal 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 As the Dark Awaits the Dawn (Brian Wentzel) As the dark awaits the dawn, so we await your light. O Star of promise, scatter night, loving bright, till shades of fear are gone. As the blue expectant hour before the silvering skies, we long to see your day arise, whole and wise, O lucent Morning Star. As the moon reflects the sun until the night s decrease, may we your healing light release, living peace, unto your holy dawn. Shine your future on this place, enlighten every guest, that through us stream your holiness, bright and blessed; come dawn, O Sun of grace. Susan Palo Cherwien After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands. R ESPONSE Come Now, O Prince of Peace (Hymn #247)
7 O FFERING P RAYER Amen. 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 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. 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 Christ, Be Our Light (Hymn #715) Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers (Hymn #244) 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. P OSTLUDE Duetto in G Major (J. S. Bach) Service music is reproduced under Augsburg Fortress license #SB148614.
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... Shari Webb, Sharon Kopronica Bill Dillon, Penelope White Greeters... Ellen Lash, Peggy Chamberlain Musicians... First Choir Reader... Penelope White Ushers...Bill Dillon, Greg & Gerri Smith Serving Next Week, December 9 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 Attendance Ministry Operations Last Sunday: 84 $6,313 Amount needed weekly to sustain the current budget YTD Average: 114 $13,70 1 Amount received last Sunday towards operating budget
If you have an announcement to share with the congregation, please write it out and email 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! Today s Adult TREASURE SEEKERS Class with Pastor Dan this week will study some of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the birth of a Savior. Please join us in the Multi-Purpose Room at 10:45. Christmas Caroling TODAY around the neighborhood after Sunday School. Come join us! THE FLC WOMEN S GROUP will be gathering Tuesday, December 4 at 6:30pm at the church for a Christmas String Art Party. Preregistration and payment are required. Sign up on the bulletin board or call the church office. POINSETTIA sign up is due this week. Plants are $7.00 each. The orders are due Thursday, December 7. Plants can be taken home after the 10:00pm service. Please sign up on the bulletin board or contact the church office. NEXT SUNDAY, our copper artist, MICHAEL BENDELE, will be with us to share about his process in designing and producing the door panels. A reception will follow. NEXT SUNDAY 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. THANKS TO ALL who came and cleaned the church and decorated our beautiful trees yesterday. We appreciate it! Congregational Committee Appreciation dinner on Tuesday, December 11 at 7pm. If you have served on any committee, bring a dessert to share and join us. 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. CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE is available. If you are able, please take a tag and purchase the gift and return UNWRAPPED to the church office WITH the tag attached. These are all going to students at Admiral King. We will be collecting gifts until next Sunday.
Sunday, December 2 9:30am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 12:00pm Christmas caroling Monday, December 3 7:00pm REACH Committee Tuesday, December 4 10:00am Front Door 6:30pm Women s Group Wednesday, December 5 6:00pm Bible study/confirmation This Week at First Lutheran Thursday, December 6 6:00pm Handbell Choir 7:00pm First Choir Saturday, December 8 10:00am First Choir Sunday, December 9 9:30am Worship with Yoking ceremony if Youth and Mentors 10:45am Reception for copper panel artist 3:00pm FIRST music: Advent Music