St. Paul Lutheran Church In Jesus name, Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with God. St. Paul is an open, affirming, and inclusive church, welcoming all who seek God. 515 South Wheaton Avenue - Wheaton, Illinois - 630-668-5953 Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016 Spirit of the Lord upon Me
Welcome to St. Paul Visiting today? We are glad you are here! Stop by the Welcome Center and receive a sweet gift. Please write your name and other information on the welcome pad. There are multiple areas and resources designed for children to experience and participate in worship according to their needs. Please see information for parents and "Children at St. Paul Wheaton" on the laminated page posted at the outside end of your pew. Assisted listening headphones are available for those having difficulty hearing. Members, please wear your nametag. Extras are located in the pew racks. About Worship We follow an ancient pattern through the liturgy (which literally means the work of the people ). Some parts of the service may change each week, but there is a consistent flow: praising God, hearing God s word, offering our prayers and gifts, celebrating communion, and being sent into the world for service. The format remains fairly constant, but the style will vary widely. Sometimes we sing with the pipe organ, and the ministers chant. Sometimes we worship accompanied by piano, guitars, drums, violins, flutes or whatever our folk play. We range from Bach to blues, because we know that different styles connect to different people. So we all worship together, and change the style every few weeks. It s one of the ways we minister to and with each other and build community. Thank you for being part of our worship and community today! *At the asterisk, stand as you are able. P: Presiding Minister A: Assisting Minister L: Lector C: Congregation ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) Page Numbers are printed in the lower corners in the front portion of the hymnal. Hymn Numbers are large numbers printed beside hymn titles in the rest of the book. Serving Today Presiding Minister Pastor Jared Olson Lector 8:30 Diane Campbell 11:00 Jane Toftey Communion Deacon 8:30 Rita Hansen 11:00 Meg Cook Bread Hosts 8:30 Warren & Jill Ludvigsen 11:00 Mike & Jean Nass Assisting Minister Karen Edwards Crucifer/Acolytes 8:30 Will Richards, Allie & Ben Mullinger 11:00 Sherri D Agostino, Victoria & John Tarpeh Greeters 8:30 Grant Eckhoff, Don & Mary Lou Winthers 11:00 Beth Baumgardner, Bob & Diane Marsh Ushers 8:30 Betty Bradshaw, Ed, Sam & Joe Mullinger 11:00 John Campbell, Mike Harrington, Mike Michalak Altar Care Pat Beck, Tricia Seagren, Birgit Lindgren Fellowship Jean Nass, Betty Polasik Welcome Center 8:30 Nancy Wilen 11:00 Anne Krick Counters Terrie & Diana Troxel, Dan Marsh Organist Carl Heine
Preparing to Worship Prelude Prepare the Royal Highway Welcome Pastor Jared Children s Message *Entrance Hymn: R. Hobby Dana King Prepare the Royal Highway (v. 3) ELW, #264
*Entrance Rite and Blessing of Advent Wreath P: We praise you, O God, for this circle of light that marks our days of preparation for Christ s advent. As we light the candles on this wreath, kindle within us the fire of your Spirit, that we may be light shining in the darkness. Enlighten us with your grace, that we may welcome others as you have welcomed us. Grant this through Christ our Lord, whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. C: Amen Repeat Entrance Hymn, v. 3 *Confession and Forgiveness Gathering Together in Worship Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. 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. Amen. P: Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. *Prayer of the Day You love justice and hate wrongdoing, O Lord. Plant within us this same love for what is right, that we might live it and be a beacon of your heavenly light. Through Jesus our Lord, Amen
Responding to the Word of God Reading Isaiah 61:1-11 L: The Reading is from the book of Isaiah. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. L: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation Return to the Lord Re turn to the Lord, your God, re - turn to the Lord, your God, who is gra -cious and mer-ci - ful, slow to an-ger and a -bound-ing in stead-fast love. P: The Holy Gospel according to Luke C: Glory to you, O Lord. *The Gospel Luke 4:16-21 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Sermon Pastor Jared
*Hymn of the Day: Comfort, Comfort Now My People ELW, #256
Receiving new members, (8:30) Bruno Tabis and Stacie Pierce *Prayers of the People After each petition of the prayers: A: Gracious God, C: Hear our prayer. *Passing the Peace Offering P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. P: Let us share the peace. Offertory Response:
*Offertory Prayer A: Bless these, the offerings of our hearts and lives, that they may glorify you and demonstrate your justice to all, in the places where you are not recognized, nor are your mercies enjoyed; in the name of Christ, C: Amen. *The Great Thanksgiving *Sanctus: Sharing the Eucharistic Meal P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise. P: It is indeed right... join their unending hymn. *Eucharistic Prayer *The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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
The body and blood of Christ are present in this sacrament, for the forgiveness of sin and the strengthening of faith. All people are welcome to share in this meal with us. Parents, if you have a young child who receives communion, please indicate that when the minister comes to you. Those who do not receive communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing; simply keep your hands folded. Come forward and receive the bread from the minister. Gluten-free bread is available. The gold chalice contains wine; you may drink directly from the cup or dip your bread into the wine. The pottery chalice contains non-alcoholic grape juice, which you may receive by dipping your bread into the juice. Return to your seat by the side aisles. If you would like communion brought to you, simply let an usher know. Agnus Dei: Lamb of God Music During Communion (8:30) O Come, O Come Emmanuel Music by Thomas Helmore Susan Brinkman Piano arr. Kevin Olson (11:00) St. Paul Choir Glory, Glory, Be Tune: F. Reklau arr. C. Heine Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emanuel ELW,
#257 *Post-Communion Prayer A: Lord God, we give you thanks that you have fed us even now with the banquet that is yet to come. Keep us alert for signs of your presence in the world around us. Send us as healing oil and sheltering comfort to those in need, and make us bold in testifying to the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen.
Announcements Going Out into the World Sent by God *Benediction P: God most high, God with us, God poured out on us, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever. C: Amen. *Sending Hymn: People Look East ELW, #248 *Dismissal Pastor Jared Postlude Toccata on Veni Emmanuel A. Carter