AGAPÉ LOVE THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 23, 2018 1 10:30 Service
INFORMATION FOR OUR GUESTS WELCOME TO OUR WORSHIP! A warm welcome to our guests this morning! It is a privilege to have you join us as we worship and praise our Savior, Jesus Christ. We want you to feel at home here so we are providing the following information to make your visit as pleasant as possible. NAME TAGS When visiting, please fill out a name tag so we will know who you are and can welcome you. Name tags are located at the podium as you enter the church. CHILDREN S BULLETIN Children s Bulletins can be obtained from an usher if you have little ones with restless hands. CONNECTION CARD When the offering is being collected, all are asked to fill in the Connection Card which is in your bulletin. Please print your address and telephone number on the slip so that we may better serve you and send you more information. RESTROOMS AND WATER FOUNTAINS Restrooms are located off both the front and rear entrances to the sanctuary. Signs are located on the wall. NURSERY A nursery, with a qualified attendant, is provided for the care of children three years or younger and is located in the back of the church (Luther Hall) from 9:00 11:30 SUNDAY SCHOOL Classes for children age 3 through 6 th grade are held from 9:15-10:15 a.m. Kid s Connect is held during the 10:30 a.m. service following the children s message. A SPECIAL INVITATION for everyone to join us in Adult Bible Classes at 9:15 a.m. in the Conference Room. COFFEE IS SERVED! Coffee fellowship every Sunday 9:00 10:30 in the Breezeway. Come have a donut and enjoy fellowship with one another! LARGE PRINT BULLETINS AND HYMNALS Large print bulletins and hymnals are located in the front entrance of the church (narthex.) Please ask an usher for assistance. RECEIVING COMMUNION Please see the communion statement in this bulletin. The Common Cup and Individual Cups are both available. White grape juice is found at the center of the Individual Cups for those having that medical need. If you choose the Individual cup when communing at the altar, please hold on to it until the chalice has passed. Please advise an usher if you need to commune in your pew. HOW CAN YOU BECOME A MEMBER? If you have a previous membership in a Lutheran church, you can transfer your membership to Our Savior by contacting the church office. We will gladly contact your previous church for your transfer. You may also join by profession of faith. New members are welcomed regularly, and New Member Classes are scheduled in the fall and spring. For any assistance or information, please call the church office 954.473.6888. VISIT OUR WEBSITE at www.oslplantation.church Watch Sermons, Events Calendar, Weekly Newsletter and a Link to our Facebook Page. 2
Our Savior Lutheran Church 8001 Northwest 5 th Street Plantation, Florida 33324 Rev. Tony Durante, Pastor Serving Christ-Serving Others-Changing Lives AGAPE LOVE December 23, 2018 Prelude (Bells rung to begin service) As We Gather Please take a minute to fill in your Connection Card. Divine Service 10:30 (P=pastor, L=liturgist, C=congregation, R=reader) Please stand Opening Song Our God Water You turned into wine, Opened the eyes of the blind; There's no one like You, none like You. Into the darkness You shine, Out of the ashes, we rise; There's no one like You, None like You. Chorus Our God is greater, our God is stronger; God, You are higher than any other. Our God is healer, awesome in power, our God, our God. Bridge And if our God is for us, Then who could ever stop us, And if our God is with us, Then what could stand against? And if our God is for us, Then who could ever stop us, And if our God is with us, Then what could stand against? (Then) what could stand against? (Chorus, Bridge) Mixer (You may go choose a partner in the room or remain seated) Share your name. Tell a story about a time when you spent Christmas away from home. Please be seated Announcements 3
Bell Choir I Wonder as I Wander Please stand Hymn of the Day God Loves Me Dearly Public domain Invocation L In the Name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. The Fifth Commandment L Together we read the commandment. C You shall not murder. L What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. 4
Confession and Absolution L Our help is in the name of the Lord, C who made heaven and earth. L If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared. L Let us kneel and confess our sins to God our Father. L Since we are gathered to hear God s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God be merciful to me, a sinner. C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen. P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. Service of the Word Please stand Lighting of the Advent Wreath R Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life." C We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ. R Then shall Your light break forth like the dawn, and Your healing shall spring up speedily; Your righteousness shall go before You; the glory of the Lord shall be Your rear guard. C Come, Lord Jesus, our Light and Life. R Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Now let us sing four verses of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel! O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who ord rest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai s height In ancient times didst give the Law, In cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou branch of Jesse's tree, Free them from Satan's tyranny; That trust Thy mighty pow'r to save, And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to you, O Israel. 5
Salutation and Collect of the Day L The Lord be with you. C And also with you. L Let us pray. L Lord Jesus, because You first loved us we love. Because You gave us Your life we live. Let Your love be shared among us today that we might see You in one another, the children of the heavenly Father who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God now and forever. C Amen. Please be seated First Reading - Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 The LORD said to Moses, 2 Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. 15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. 16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor s life. I am the LORD. 17 Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. 18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. R This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Second Reading - Ephesians 5:25-33 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church 30 for we are members of his body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32 This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. R This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. 6
Please stand L The Holy Gospel according to St John, the 21st chapter, verses 15-17 C Glory to You, O Lord. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. 16 Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you love me? He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. 17 The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep L This is the Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to You, O Christ. The Apostles Creed L Let us with one voice confess our faith saying The Apostles' Creed C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen. (Please be seated) Children s Message Song of the Day O Holy Night O holy night, the stars are brightly shinning, It is the night of our dear Saviors birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pinning, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new a glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born. O night, O holy night, o night divine. Led by light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the wise men from the orient land. The King of Kings lay in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our friend. He know our need, to our weakness no stranger, behold your King, before the lowely bend. Behold you King! Your King! Before Him bend. Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother, And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus rise we. Let all within us praise His holy name, Christ is the Lord then ever, ever praise we. His power and glory ever more proclaim, His power and glory, ever more proclaim. 7
Sermon Agapé Ephesians 5:25-33 Offering and Musical Offering Luke 2:8-20 Chorus: Glory to the New Born King. That s what we heard the Angels sing. Peace on Earth Good will to all Mankind. Prayer of the Church Please stand P Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and all people according to their needs. (After each petition: Pastor: Lord in your mercy. People: Hear our prayer.) P All these things and whatever else You know that we need grant us for the sake of Him who died and rose again and who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen. Service of the Sacrament Prayer of Thanksgiving P C Let us pray Amen The Lord's Prayer (sung to the tune of Away in a Manger) P Lord, remember us in Your Kingdom and teach us to pray. C Our Father in heaven, all praise to your name! Your kingdom among us, your will done the same By mortals and angels, Come, Lord, reign alone; Oh, hear us and bless us from heaven s high throne. The bread that we yearn for provide us each day; As we forgive others, our sins take away; In times of temptation, to lead us be near; From evil deliver Your children most dear. For Yours is the kingdom; o er all things you reign. And Yours is the power; all things You maintain. To You be the glory, resounding again From all of creation, forever! Amen. Words of Our Lord (Pastor) Pax Domini P The peace of the Lord be with you always. C And also with you. 8
Agnus Dei Please be seated Distribution and Hymns General Distribution: We invite you to come up to the altar for communion. Special Distribution: Those that are unable to use the stairs to commune at the altar, please stay seated until a communion assistant team comes to the bottom of the stairs. An usher will guide you to walk up and receive communion. For those who cannot walk to the front, communion assistants will commune you at your seat. Holy Communion is a gift from God. It is the Lord s Table to which He invites us. As we prepare to receive the Sacrament, we might ask ourselves the following questions: Do I realize that I am a sinful human being? Do I understand that our Lord gave His life, His body and blood, for me on the cross that I might be forgiven of my sins and in His resurrection raised me to a new life? Do I realize that in the Lord s Supper He gives me His true body and blood that I might be assured of forgiveness and that my faith is strengthened that I might serve my Lord and through Him serve others? If you are a baptized Christian and share these Biblical truths, please join us in the celebration of the Sacrament. If you have not yet been baptized or received instruction, please come forward for a blessing, crossing your arms over your chest to indicate you are not receiving the elements. Distribution Songs Breathe Verse1 This is the air I breathe, This is the air I breathe Your Holy presence living in me This is my daily bread, This is my daily bread Your very Word spoken to me Chorus And I, I m desperate for You. And I, I m lost without You. 9
Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License.NET, no. 100011830. Public domain Please stand Post-Communion Prayer P Let us pray C Amen 10
Benediction Closing Song One Thing Remains Higher than the mountains that I face, Stronger than the power of the grave Constant through the trial and the change One thing remains, This one thing remains Because on and on and on and on it goes, Before it overwhelms and satisfies my soul And I never, ever, have to be afraid One thing remains, This one thing remains Your love In death, and in life, I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love My debt is paid, there's nothing that can separate, My heart from Your great love, it never fails P Go in Peace and Serve the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Postlude Lutheran Service Book Divine Service, Setting Four LSBHymnLicense.net#100011830 11
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM - Communion Services 9:15 AM Sunday School and Bible Class THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SERVED TODAY... Altar Guild: Libby Martino and Edith Southerton 8:00 Carol Tucek and Jodi Whitt 10:30 Greeters: Junko Durante 8:00 Jan Withers 10:30 Acolytes: Connor Warfel and Nicole Sanchez 10:30 Liturgist: John Strang 8:00 Cantor: Gerry Gruenbaum 8:00 Advent Rob and Lerryn Latimer 8:00 Readers: Les, Juli and Jessia Mellott 10:30 Lay Reader: Donna Watson 8:00 Barbara Medley 10:30 Ushers: Bill May, Bob Slater, Mike and Sue Zaske 8:00 Bill Burkhardt, Tom Christensen, Duane Srot, Brian Warfel 10:30 Worship Howard Fischer, Lerryn Latimer, Jay Mathis, Neville Morrison, John Strang 8:00 Assistants Sarah Cochran, Kelly Concannon, Norma Miller, Carol Tucek, Jodi Whitt 10:30 Sound: Andy Clark / Wayne Shaw Organist: Carisa Meier Song Leaders: Chris and Ronda Ash 10:30 Choir Director: John Waldron 8:00 Choir Accompanist: Gerry Gruenbaum 8:00 Thank you to all the musicians and singers for serving our Lord with your gifts. Music used by permission CCLI#87284 Tony Durante, Pastor Linda Root, Principal Jan Withers, Administrative Assistant CHURCH OFFICE 954.473.6888 954.473-6895 Fax e-mail church@oursaviorplantation.org website www.oslplantation.church OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN SCHOOL Eighteen month olds through 8 th Grade 954.370.2161 954.473.0395 Fax e-mail school@oursaviorplantation.org website www.oslplantation.school 12