3461 Merle Ave Modesto, CA 95355 (209) 551-0563 www.stpetermodesto.org W The Second Sunday in Advent December 9, 2018 He Comes, Bearing Gifts: The Gift of Peace elcome! Thank you for joining us for worship this morning. We gather for worship so that we can receive from God the good news of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus is at the center of our faith and our lives. Without him we have nothing. With him we have everything. Welcome Worshiper Cards are located in the book racks. Please fill one out and place it in the offering plate later in the service. Restrooms are located in the entryway. Two Nursery-Rooms are available in the entryway for parents with small children. Footnotes throughout the worship folder help explain the different parts of the service. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP O Advent Lord, come to us and unite your people here on earth. May faith in you bring together people of every tribe and nation. May forgiveness turn enemies into friends. And by the power of your presence, may we grow to love each other more and more. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Flowers adorning our altar this morning are given to the glory of God by David Stepanovich, praising Jesus the Messiah. Minister: Pastor Dan Schroeder Pianist: Judith Winsor Flute: Linka Schroeder
PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Our Worship Series: Our Lord Jesus is coming, bearing real gifts, profoundly important gifts. He came that first Christmas to win forgiveness and give all the gifts that come with it: hope, peace, joy, love. He is coming again at the end of this world to give the gift of resurrection to eternal life. In the season of Advent, we connect Christ s first coming with his second coming. We rejoice in all the unconditional gifts he gives. Each Sunday during the gathering rite Advent candles are lighted. Music occurs throughout this rite to accompany singing and as background music to communicate themes of longing and repentance. Theme of the Day: How do you feel when meeting someone important? Maybe it was a job interview with your potential future boss. Did you feel peaceful walking into that meeting? Or perhaps you were summoned, for a reason unknown to you, to come to the principal s office at school? As you walked the hallway towards his door, were you at peace? When we come face-to-face with someone who can influence the direction of our lives, that tends to be nerve-wracking, not peaceful. How nervous will you be, then, when you stand face-to-face with your God, who will determine where you spend eternity? God is much more than a boss or a principal. He is your Creator, the one who gave you life. And when he did, he intended you to use that life in a very specific way, one which would bring glory to him and beauty to this broken world. So, are you ready to meet him? Today, we see that God wants you to be at perfect peace when you stand before him. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace the angels sang that first Christmas Eve. Through the work of Christ, sinners are at peace with a holy God. Even more, throughout history God s messengers like John the Baptist proclaimed the gospel, so that God s people could live in peace. God raises up a messenger to preach that gospel to you today. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Minister: We light two Advent candles, remembering Jesus, who came in history. He came into a world of sin and death. Congregation: We remember Jesus who came as the promised Messiah. John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord. M: We hear his call to repent. C: We light two Advent candles as a sign of our repentance and desire for renewal. M: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. C: Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed. 1
ADVENT GATHERING RITE The minister will sing the refrain one time and the congregation will then sing the refrain. The minister will sing the verses and all will sing the refrain where indicated. M: Refrain Suddenly to his temple will... Refrain Who can endure the day so... Refrain Be found faithful until God will... Refrain The Lord will bring to light and will... Refrain Clear a path, for soon he will Refrain All shall see God s salvation and... Refrain 2
CONFESSION OF SINS M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy. C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt. ABSOLUTION M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will. C: Amen. PRAYER AND PRAISE M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord: 3
PRAYER OF THE DAY M: Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. THE WORD OF GOD CHILDREN S MESSAGE Children are invited to come forward for a message directed at them FIRST LESSON Malachi 3:1-4 The LORD promised to send a messenger, John the Baptist, to prepare people to meet the Christ at his first coming. Likewise, we need the LORD to prepare us for Christ s second coming so that we have perfect peace, even as Jesus turns the universe into a furnace. Look! I am sending my messenger! He will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord, whom you are seeking, will come to his temple! The Messenger of the Covenant, in whom you delight, will surely come, says the LORD of Armies. 2 But who can endure the day when he comes? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner s fire, like launderers bleach! 3 He will be seated like a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and like silver. They will belong to the LORD and bring him an offering in righteousness. 4 Judah and Jerusalem s offerings will be pleasing to the LORD as they were in the days of old, in years long ago. (EHV) M: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! 4
PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 24 Refrain Because the King of glory is coming, God s people lift up their heads, like gates welcoming him into the city. See, all the earth is God s, its people and nations; God built it on the deeps and laid its foundations. Who can go up this mountain, who stand in praising? Those who are pure, who come with clean hands upraising. Come, lift your voices high, be lifted to glory; the Lord our God approaches, come, shout the story. Who is this glorious one, for whom we are waiting? We wait the mighty Lord, our God celebrating. Come, lift your heads with joy; come, lift up your tower; the King of glory comes in full might and power. Who is this King of glory of whom we re singing? Our God, this Lord of host, the victory is bringing.. 5
SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Faithful messengers are important in order to prepare God s people This is the way a person should think of us: as servants of Christ and stewards of God s mysteries. 2 In this connection, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But it is a trivial matter to me if I am evaluated by you or by a day in a human court. Why, I do not even evaluate myself. 4 I do not in fact know of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this; rather, the one who evaluates me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing ahead of time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light whatever is hidden in darkness and also reveal the intentions of hearts. Then there will be praise for each person from God. (EHV) M: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! CHOIR ANTHEM Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley a level way appear. Greet one who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story. O blest is Christ that came in God s most holy name! Christ brings God s rule, O Zion, he comes from heaven above. His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love. Lift high your praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding. O blest, is Christ that came in God s most holy name. Fling wide your gates, O Zion! Your Savior s rule embrace, and tidings of salvation proclaim in every place. All lands will bow rejoicing, their adoration voicing. Blest is Christ that came in God s most holy name! Prepare the Way, O Zion Arr. Sondra K. Tucker 6
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 3:1-6 We all know that the angels on Christmas Eve sang about peace on earth. They were not talking about peace between nations, but peace between sinners and a holy God. Christ grants that peace by producing repentance within us. Let us prepare our hearts to meet him! In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3 He went into the whole region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 Just as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight. 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. 6 And everyone will see the salvation of God. (EHV) M: This is the gospel of the Lord. HYMN OF THE DAY On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry Christian Worship #16 Reflecting the thoughts of the gospel lesson for today, this hymn draws us into the account of John preparing hearts for the coming of the Lord. In the same way, we are called on to prepare our hearts in repentance for the Lord s coming on the Last Day, or when he closes out our life here on earth. SERMON Malachi 3:1-4 Peace Requires Preparation 7
SONG OF MARY (MAGNIFICAT) Based on Luke 1:46-55, Martin Luther considered this song one of the most magnificent statements of faith in all the Scriptures. The Magnificat is the song of the faithful church as she waits quietly for the fulfillment of the word of promise. The Magnificat became part of the worship service in the first century. It has been sung at Vespers (an evening service) in the Western church at least since the sixth century. Lutherans carried the Magnificat into Vespers, where it still occupies a prominent place today. 8
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER OFFERING The members of St. Peter congregation have joined together to do the Lord s work in this community and around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH & LORD S PRAYER M: Come, dear Savior. We long for your appearing! C: Come to cheer us with your promises, as you once cheered your ancient people throughout their long night of waiting and watching. M: Come to restore our hope. Rouse us from the slumber of despair; lift our hearts from petty, earthbound goals; and direct our eyes above, C: from where you will soon come to make all things right again. M: Come to rekindle our joy as we prepare to celebrate your first coming. Do not permit a frenzied busyness to rob us of your peace or to deprive us of times to ponder and to wonder at your Word. Set our hearts apart from the bustle and the clamor and the jostle of these days. C: Fill us with the quiet delight of finding you in the manger, and keep hearts and minds undisturbed by the great throng that streams by uncaring. Special prayers and intercessions may follow. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer. M: Come quickly, dear Lord, and fill our longing eyes with the light of your coming! C: We wait, we keep watch, and in you we put our hope. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. 9
HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates Christian Worship #3 PRAYER AND BLESSING M: We give thanks, heavenly Father, that through your Word you have refreshed us in our journey through this earthly wilderness. Strengthen our faith that we may be blameless at the second Advent of our Lord Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. CLOSING HYMN Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes Christian Worship #12 The following were reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-706579: Advent Gathering Rite - text & tune: James Chepponis; 1995 GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Psalm 24 Verses text 1986 Arlo D. Duba. Refrain text 1966 by Willard F. Jabusch, University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, Mundelelin, IL. Music from Sing to God 1984. United Church Press. Used by permission. Magnificat - setting: Marty Haugen; 1990 GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Artwork by Ian M. Welch. Copyright 2015 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. paramentics.com The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV ) copyright 2017 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org 10