THIRD SUNDAY of ADVENT 16 December 2018 ST. MARK S LUTHERAN CHURCH 1900 ST. PAUL STREET BALTIMORE, MD 21218 Phone: 410.752.5804 On the web at: stmarksbaltimore.org Follow us on Facebook A Reconciling in Christ Congregation Staff Pastor Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Donnella II Administrator Stephen E. Kohler Cantor James Harp Deacons Clifford Andersson, Connie Lisch, Sexton Jeffry Spangler Sue Romanic MISSION STATEMENT The Mission of St. Mark s Church is to embrace diversity, practice hospitality, and make known Christ s presence in Word and Deed. All baptized worshipers are invited and welcomed to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord in the sacrament of Holy Communion. The wine may be received by common cup or by intinction. Communion will be distributed at the communion rail. Please approach by way of the center aisle and return to your pew by the side aisles. PARTICIPATING IN TODAY S LITURGY: Presider Assisting Minister Chalicist Crucifer Lector Prayer Petitioner Greeters Tellers Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Donnella II Deacon Clifford Andersson Louis Flake Richard Spittel Teri Bennett Mark Schultz Caroline Bahr & Emily Bergstresser Louis Flake, Joan Hoyle Copies of our Prayer List may be found on the table in the narthex. Please take a copy and remember those persons listed in your prayers throughout the coming week.
16 December 2018 Third Sunday of Advent THE HYMN VOLUNTARY ANNOUNCEMENTS -The Assembly will please stand- CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C. Amen. P Let us come before God in confession. To you, O God, C. we lift up our souls. You know us through and through; we confess our sins to you. Remember not our sins; remember us with your steadfast love. Show us your ways; teach us your paths; and lead us in justice and truth, for the sake of your goodness in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. P. Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. C. Amen. GREETING P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C. And also with you.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE 6 O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer; O Sun of justice, now draw near. Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadow put to flight. Refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel. 7 O come, O King of nations, come, O Cornerstone that binds in one: refresh the hearts that long for you; restore the broken, make us new. Refrain P. Blessed are You, God of the brokenhearted and oppressed. You promised to send Your chosen one who gives a garland instead of ashes to those who mourn; who brings down the powerful and lifts the lowly. As we light these candles, help us to testify to the true Light coming into the world. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the desert. C. Reveal Your truth to us, that with shouts of joy we may declare the great things You have done for us. Amen. 8 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Refrain PRAYER OF THE DAY P. Let us pray: Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C. Amen. -The Assembly will please sit- FIRST READING: Zephaniah 3:14-20 14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION -The Assembly will please stand- Lector: Assembly: The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM: Isaiah 12:2-6 Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might, and has become my salvation. 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on God s name; make known the deeds of the LORD among the nations; proclaim that this name is exalted. 5 Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. SECOND READING: Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Lector: Assembly: The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL: Luke 3:7-18 The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our ancestor ; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 10 And the crowds asked him, What then should we do? 11 In reply he said to them, Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise. 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, Teacher, what should we do? 13 He said to them, Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you. 14 Soldiers also asked him, And we, what should we do? He said to them, Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages. 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with
unquenchable fire. 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON THE HYMN -The Assembly will please sit -The Assembly will please stand- CREED We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION PEACE OFFERING SENTENCE OFFERING CANTICLE Petition response: Hear our prayer. -The Assembly will please sit- OFFERING PRAYER A. Let us pray: C. God of abundance, we bring before you the precious fruits of your creation, and with them our very lives. Teach us patience and hope as we care for all those in need until the coming of your Son, our Lord. Amen. DIALOGUE PREFACE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
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. INVITATION TO COMMUNION -The Assembly may kneel, or stand, or sit- THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE P. These are the gifts of God for the people of God. C. Holy things for a holy people. MYSTERY OF FAITH LAMB OF GOD -The Assembly will please sit- CONCLUSION OF THE THANKSGIVING LORD S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION THE HYMN Please stand at the final verse. A. Let us pray: God for whom we wait, in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day when the hungry will be fed with good things. Send us forth to make known your deeds and to proclaim the greatness of your name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. C. Amen. BLESSING P. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. C. Amen. THE HYMN Please refer to the following page. DISMISSAL P. Go in peace. Remember the poor. C. Thanks be to God. From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARK S: Today 16 December Third Sunday of Advent 10:00 AM Adult Class 11:00 AM Holy Eucharist 12:15 PM Fellowship Hour: Audrey Huka Wednesday 19 December 10:00 AM Urban Clergy Pericope Study Thursday 20 December 6:30 PM Chapel Liturgy Saturday 22 December 9:00 AM Church and Social Hall Decorating Sunday 23 December Fourth Sunday of Advent 10:00 AM Adult Class 11:00 AM Holy Eucharist 12:15 PM Fellowship Hour: Charles Smith & Alexander Smith-Burden From Sunday, 9 December: Attendance: 63 Offering: $3230 Altar Greens are given to the glory of God and in memory of my brother, John Philips, on the anniversary of his death, 12/16, by Joan Philips Hoyle.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: We extend a warm welcome to our visitors we are very happy to have you worship with us this morning! Please take a moment to fill out a Visitor s Slip (in the pew) and return it in the offering plate. We would like to stay in touch with you. You will find us on the web at stmarksbaltimore.org and also on Facebook. St. Mark s Updated Constitution: Copies of the newly updated and approved constitution are available. If you would like a copy, please see Teri Bennett. TODAY is the final day for Christmas Decoration order forms. You will find an order form included with this bulletin. If you have not yet done so, please fill out a form, and return it today. Remember to please PRINT. Thank you! Advent Giving Tree: The tree set up in Lehr Hall is for you to help decorate with your contributions of warm, winter items such as mittens, gloves, scarves, socks, and the like. These items will be removed and the tree receive it s Christmas decorations on the 22 nd. Many thanks for your generosity! THURSDAY, 20 December, we will hold our 6:30 pm worship service followed by dinner. All are invited to join us. Christmas at St. Mark s: Our liturgies to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord will be Christmas Eve, 24 December, at 7:30 PM and Christmas Day, 25 December, at 9:30 AM. A reception will be held in Lehr Hall following the Christmas Eve liturgy. Please invite family and friends to join us here at St. Mark s for these festive celebrations. It s a proven fact that personal invitation is the best way to interest people in attending church. Sign Up, Sign Up! A sheet has been posted on the lectern in the main hall (outside Lehr Hall) for you to indicate what buffet food item you would be willing to contribute for our Holiday Reception on Christmas Eve following the liturgy. If you would like some suggestions, please contact Joan Hoyle. Thank you!