BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES: Members celebrating Birthdays from Dec. 22-Dec. 28 are Jackson Prater, Lloyd Behrends, Carol Dean, Amber Tomko, Bill Behrends, Shellie Messman, Lynn Marassa. Happy Birthday to All!! WEEKLY CALENDAR How we worshipped the Lord on 12/23/18 Attendance: Offering: $. Average/Person in Attendance: $ Sunday, December 23, 2018 9:00a.m. Divine Service 10:15 a.m. Children Christmas Program Monday, December 24, 2018 6:00pm Christmas Eve Services Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Merry Christmas 10:00am Christmas day Service w/holy Communion Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Thursday, December 27, 2018 Friday, December 28, 2018 Saturday, December 29, 2018 5:00 p.m. Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Divine Service Dec. 29, 2018 & Dec. 30, 2018 The 1 st Reading: Ex. 13:1-3a, 11-15 The Epistle Lesson: Heb. 1:1-16 (7-12) The Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 Dec. 31, 2018 The 1st Reading: Is. 30:(8-14) 15-17 The Epistle Lesson: Rom. 8:31b-39 The Gospel: Luke 12: 35-40 Serving Us Next Week: Altar Committee: Brenda Davenport-Fornoff, Linda Walker, Jan Hackman Elder of the Month: Mark Perkins Dec. 29, 2018 6:00 p.m. Divine Service Acolytes: Abby Whitlow Dec. 30, 2018 9:00a.m. Divine Service Acolytes: Noah Blakeley Madison Tomko Greeters: Ken Trimpe & Doris Allison Ushers: Kevin Fornoff Gavin Fornoff 929-35) Sound Booth: Matthew Clark Saturday Service 6:00 p.m. Sunday Service 9:00 AM Sunday School/Bible Class 10:15 a.m. ------------------- Office (309)543-4850 Pastor s Cell (309) 253-5089 Parish Hall & Fax (309)543-2125 Secretary s Office Email: stpaulsoffice@grics.net Pastor s Email: stpaul@grics.net Treasurer s Email: sptreasurer@grics.net Church Website: www.stpaulslutheranhav ana.com St. Paul s Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 121 N. Pearl St. P.O. Box 534 Havana December 24, 2018
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church " Church of the Lutheran Hour" Building Families in Jesus Christ Brothers and Sisters in Christ gathered together in God s household through God s Word and Sacraments being built on the loving foundation of Jesus Christ. Rev. Kevin Wendorf, Pastor December 24, 2018 WELCOME to Divine Service this evening! Let us join together in song and prayer and hearing the Word of the Lord that we may be refreshed in the Spirit and encouraged for the week ahead. Come again soon! You are always welcome here at St. Paul s! We ask that all guests and members sign the fellowship pads you will find in the pews. Please hand the page to the usher as you leave. Visitors please fill in your address and phone number. Members please fill in address and phone number changes if you have recently moved. PRAYER UPON ENTERING CHURCH Dear Lord God in heaven; Thou who didst give unto us the time and the place for worship; Bless us with the attitude of true worship from Thine abundant grace and mercy; So that we may worship Thee in Word and Sacraments, That we may grow and mature spiritually; Thru Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost Are worshiped one God, now and forever. Amen. Serving Us Today: ALTAR COMMITTEE: Jan Hackman, Brenda Davenport-Fornoff, Linda Walker ELDER OF THE MONTH: Mark Perkins ORGANIST: Randy Bell COMMUNION ASSISTANT: ACOLYTES: Mia Specketer GREETERS: Jay & Noreen Frye USHERS: Jay Frye, Landon Frye, Logan Frye, Lucas Frye SOUND BOOTH: Mark Hackman 2019 POINSETTIA LIST NAME IN MEMORY OF St. Paul s Foundation Ed & Freda Hermann Worth & Marilyn Smith Krause Family Albert & Alice Krause Wallbaum Family Love One Ken & Tina Trimpe Jim and Mary Trimpe The Roos Family Janet Roos Jerry & Janis Hurley Lloyd Behrends Phyllis Behrends Gary & LaVeta Gathman Jay & Noreen Frye Steve & Marilyn Morgan Donald and Jean Fletcher Julie Morissette Gisela Morgan Mike & Mary Perkins Our Families Knake Family William G. Knake Kachanuk Family John Kachanuk Kachanuk Family Fran Kachanuk Danny and Leah Gaye Houghton Love Ones Brenda & Scott Dean Our Parents Jim Sarnes Ron & Diane Barnes Thanks to all who brought Poinsettia for this Christmas Season.
HYMN: Silent Night, Holy Night #363 After the Hymn we extinguish the candles. BENEDICTION Pastor: People: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen RECESSIONAL HYMN: Joy to the Word #387 Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series B, Quarter 4. Copyright 2018 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. December 24,2018 AS WE GATHER Fear not. Nearly two thousand years ago, an angel of the Lord speaks these two simple words to shepherds on a dark night outside the little town of Bethlehem. However, this is not the first time an angelic messenger has spoken this profound imperative. Fear not is the angel Gabriel s message to Mary when it was announced that she would bear the Savior. Fear not are the angel s words to Joseph when he was instructed to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife. Fear not will be the comfort spoken to the women at the empty tomb of Easter. But fear not are words for your ears too. Whatever anxieties, heartaches, or fears you have this night, hear the message of the angel for you: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10 11). OPENING HYMN: O Come, All Ye Faithful #379 INVOCATION Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen OPENING SENTENCES Pastor: The people who walked in darkness People: Have seen a great light;
Pastor: Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, People: On them has light shined. Pastor: O little town of Bethlehem, People: How still we see thee lie! Pastor: Above thy deep and dreamless sleep People: The silent stars go by; Pastor: Yet in thy dark streets shineth People: The everlasting light. Pastor: The hopes and fears of all the years People: Are met in thee tonight. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Pastor: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. As we gather together this Christmas Eve, let us confess our sins to God our Father. People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. 23 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, O Christ APOSTLES CREED CHILDREN S MESSAGE HYMN OF THE DAY What Child Is This #370 SERMON PRAYER OF THE CHURCH LORD S PRAYER OFFERING HYMN Go Tell It on the Mountain #388 Christmas Candle Light Ushers come forward to light candles. After candles are lighted we sing the following: Amen.
15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. CHOIR Silent Night, Holy Night Mohr & Gruber Arrg. Joseph Martin Director: Alice Emme HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 1:18 25 Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the first chapter. People: Glory to You, O Lord. 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Pastor: Today we celebrate the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works. Because of this Savior born for us, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. Introit for Christmas Eve Pastor: I will tell of the decree: People: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you." Pastor: The earth is the LORD s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, People: Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? Pastor: And who shall stand in his holy place? People: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. Pastor: He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. ALL: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Pastor: I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. HYMN OF PRAISE: Angles We Have Heard on High #368 SALUTATION Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Gradual for Christmas Eve To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! PRAYER OF THE DAY Pastor: Let us pray. O God, You make this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; Pastor: through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 7:10-14 10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. 13And he said, Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. CHOIR A Christmas Trilogy ( Joy to the World The First Noel Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ) Arrg. Joseph Martin EPISTLE 1 John 4:7 16 Director: Alice Emme 7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.13by this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.