Holy Trinity Lutheran Church December 16, 2018 Our Mission Statement: Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world. The Rev. Matthew Masko Pastor 24
Welcome to Worship On this THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT The presence of the Lord in your midst in the wonder of the holy supper is cause for singing. The nearness of the Lord in prayer, in every circumstance, is cause for rejoicing. The coming of one more powerful than John, even with his winnowing fork in his hand, is good news and cause for exultation for us who are being saved. Great joy is the tone for the third Sunday of Advent. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA 535 S. 14th St., New Castle, IN 47362 (765) 529-2421 htlc2421@sbcglobal.net Pastor Matthew Masko (765) 529-2421 Cell: (563) 663-6674 Pastor@holytrinitync.org CHRISTMAS FOR SALVATION ARMY In the narthex you will find several ways that you can support our outreach ministry with Salvation Army. Holy Trinity is sponsoring five families for Christmas! * cards asking for a specific child's wants and needs (items due December 17th) * " boxed " food items needed to fill Christmas food baskets * Christmas tree to place your donations of underclothes or socks. Sizes needed for boy/girls and men/women. Show your love for these people in our community! Thanks, Your Evangelism Team Stephen Price, Music Director (765) 529-2421 sprice@holytrinitync.org ADVENT/CHRISTMAS AT HOLY TRINITY GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God. Wednesday, December 19, 2018 6:00pm: Soup Supper 7:00pm: Meditations and Music Sunday, December 23, 2018 10:30am: Worship with Holy Communion Prelude Monday, December 24, 2018 7:00pm: Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion 2 Welcome & Announcements Sunday, December 30, 2018 10:30am: Christmas Lessons and Carols with Holy Communion 23
We will not be having Sunday morning Faith Formation on December 30th, 2018. Next week s readings are: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] In our prayers John Maher Mike Poeppelman (Jessica Wenning s father) Angie Libby (Linda Maher s friend) Marilyn Nichols (Darlene Manthei s mother) Kermit Razor Mary Kay Denney Erin Kitchell Sean Kitchell Dorothy Phillips (Bethany s mother) Judy Prince Johnston (Linda Adams friend) Lesley Reece Box Fox (Ginny Hess brother-in-law) Donna Stanley Maxwell, Meganne, and Matt Masko Lighting the Advent Wreath During and following the lighting of the Advent candles, the assembly is invited into a time of silent meditation and prayer. P Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. Your prophets spoke of a day when the desert would blossom and waters would break forth in the wilderness. Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath. Strengthen our hearts as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. May he give water to all who thirst, for he is our light and our salvation. Blessed be God forever. C Amen. RESPONSE ELW 240 WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY ON PROVERBS Have you ever wished you had a guidebook for life? You do: the book of Proverbs. This book is full of teaching truths about how the world works and how to live well in it. Join our study on Proverbs with Sue Edwards. This study, "Discovering Ancient Wisdom" will lead you in your pursuit of wisdom and help you translate what you learn into skillful and joyful living. Order your study book by December 23rd by signing up in the narthex or calling the church office. Please pray about joining this group of Holy Trinity's women! 22 3
GREETING P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love the God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C And also with you. DISMISSAL P Go in peace. Christ is with you. C Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE 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 Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen The assembly is seated. WORD SERVING TODAY Acolyte/Crucifer Ashlyn Bell Ushers Steve Hamilton, Michael Mahoney, Todd Hiday, Todd Thalls Altar Guild Leesa Olsen, Callie Yanos, Lindsey Wilkey, Marti Allen Building Steward Carlos Gray Teller Bethany Phillips Lector Carlos Gray Coffee Fellowship Marvin & Gislind Pentecost Greeter Ken Nordstrom Attendance Last week: 75 God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song. 4 WEEKLY CALENDAR Sunday 12/16 9:15 a.m. Faith Formation 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion Wednesday 12/19 6:00 p.m. Soup Supper 7:00 p.m. Advent Service Sunday 12/23 9:15 a.m. Faith Formation 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion 21
Sending song elw 259 First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20 20 The prophet Zephaniah s message is mostly one of judgment for sin. This reading, however, which comes from the conclusion of the book, prophesies joy for Judah and Jerusalem. Judgment has led to repentance, and God s salvation is at hand. 14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15The 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. 16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17The 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 18as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19I 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. 20At 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 The reading concludes: P The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Lord. 5
Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6 2Surely 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. 3With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4And 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. 5Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Children s sermon PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION P Let us pray. Holy One, we give you thanks that in this bread and cup we have feasted again on your endless love. Let that love overflow more and more in our lives, that we may be messengers to prepare your way, harvesters of justice and righteousness, and bearers of your eternal Word, our Savior Jesus Christ. C Amen. BLESSING SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. P May God direct your ways in peace, make you abound in love for one another and for all, and strengthen your hearts until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. C Amen. 6 19
LORD S PRAYER Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray. 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. INVITATION TO COMMUNION God fills the hungry with good things. Taste and see that the Lord is good.. Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7 Despite being in prison, Paul is remarkably upbeat as he writes this letter. Here, he urges his friends in Philippi to trust God with all their worries and concerns, with the hope they will experience God s joy and peace. 4Rejoice 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. The reading concludes: P The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. COMMUNION 18 7
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE The congregation will please stand. Gospel acclamation P Holy God, the Beginning and the End, our Salvation and our Hope, we praise you for creating a world of order and beauty. 8 When we brought on chaos, cruelty and despair, you sent the prophets to proclaim your justice and mercy. At this end of the ages your Son Jesus came to bring us your love and to heal all the suffering world. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Remembering, therefore, his life, death, and resurrection, we await his coming again in righteousness and peace. Send your Spirit on us and on this bread and wine we share: strengthen our faith, increase our hope, and bring to birth the justice and joy of your Son. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. C Amen 17
GOSPEL: Luke 3:7-18 P The holy gospel, according to Luke. C Glory to you, O Lord. John the Baptist heralds the mighty one who is coming. John teaches that preparation for God s reign is not a matter of identity but of bearing fruits of merciful justice, radical generosity, and vocational integrity. 7John 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. 10And 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. 15As 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. 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. P The gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ. 16 9 SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY ELW 264 10 15
OFFERING PRAYER P Let us pray. 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 Savior and Lord. C Amen. Great thanksgiving NICENE 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. 14 11
Prayers of Intercession. P As we await the coming of Christ, we pray in hope for the church, the world, and all of creation. A brief silence. P For choirs, hymn writers, musicians, and off-key singing, we give you thanks, Holy One. Fill us with your song of joy. Open us to proclaim your glory in our singing, speaking, and silence. Lord, in your mercy, C hear our prayer. OFFERTORY OFFERTORY SONG P Confident that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we bring to you these prayers and those unspoken, in the name of Christ, our Savior and Lord. C Amen. PEACE P The peace of Christ be with you always. C And also with you. MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. 12 13