Trinity Lutheran Church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation. Trinity Lutheran ELCA is a welcoming and inclusive church. We welcome believers, seekers, and the curious, regardless of religious background. We are Reconciling in Christ and extend welcome and invitation to all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; race, ethnicity, or immigration status; economic status; physical, mental, or developmental issues; or other life circumstance. God loves and welcomes all people. We welcome all people to the life of Christ at Trinity. December 23, 2018 Trinity Lutheran Church 4th Sunday in Advent Jesus as Immanuel 10:30 a.m. Trinity - 3 congregations, 1 faith community You may notice there are other church folk around this place of worship, who are not Lutheran! Trinity Lutheran shares office and worship space with St. Paul's Episcopal and Mary of Magdala Ecumenical Catholic Community, as partners in ministry. Together we are better, as we share the ministry that God has given to us in the place and time. We are grateful for our partnership together, accompanied by the joys and challenges of living under the same roof. Thanks to God for this opportunity. We believe we are not a complete community, and that God is calling new people to join us and to find their place at Trinity. So, how can you learn more? Visit our website at www.trinitylutheranfc.org or contact our pastor for a chat. We invite you join us on the journey of faith! Saturdays at 5p.m. & Sundays at 10:30a.m. Trinity is a welcoming faith community living together in God s love to share the joy of Jesus Christ. Copyright Notes - Current Copyrights all music is reproduced under the following copyright license. CCLI #1432547 & One License. Net#A-705827. - 16 - Trinity Lutheran Church 301 E. Stuart St., Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 482-1226 Website: www.trinitylutheranfc.org email: office@trinitylutheranfc.org TLC Preschool - 221-9852 - 1 -
*POSTLUDE* Joy to the World Setting by Stephen Walley Trinity is a welcoming faith community living together in God s love to share the joy of Jesus Christ. Guests and Visitors: A special welcome to you from Trinity s pastor and congregation members. We pray that this worship will bring you comfort, joy, and renewal. All are invited to receive the bread and wine of Holy Communion. If you have any questions about the worship service or about Trinity, our Hospitality Team members (at the Welcome Desk or identified by name tag) are happy to help. Your offering is your presence with us in community. We encourage you to fill out a welcome card and place it in the offering plate. Please join us again! Parents and Caregivers: Please know that God s children of all ages are welcome in worship. Younger kids are invited to bring one of our specially-prepared busy bags into the worship service along with crayons. Both are available in the narthex as you enter the sanctuary. If you wish to step out with your child at any time, there is a special room just outside the worship space where you will be able to view and hear the service. If you prefer, we also offer a staffed Nursery. Children cared for in the Nursery are brought into worship for the Youth Message. Special needs: Hearing-assistance devices, as well as gluten-free wafers and grape juice for Communion, are available during our services. Holy Communion can also be brought to the seats of those with mobility trouble. Our Hospitality Team members can help with any of these special needs. Hospitality Team Assisting Minister Lector IN MINISTRY TODAY Delores Wisner Cherlyn Gorsky CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS: THE MEMBERS OF TRINITY Rick Reiten, Senior Pastor Kaari von Bernuth, Pastoral Assistant Paul Falk, Director of Choirs Alice Crawford, Church Musician Brenda Harju, TLC Preschool Director Debbie Schwartz, Financial Manager Deana Andrist, Office Administrator Amanda Backsen, Director of Communications Joshua Moore, AV Technician Tiffany Klijewski, Nursery Coordinator *Please stand as you are able* - 2 - Thank you for joining us on this beautiful Sunday morning. Please join us following the service for coffee, conversation and fellowship. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services: 1:30 pm St Paul s Christmas Eve Worship with Shared Children s Program Trinity Christmas Eve Candlelight Services with Holy Communion: 3:30 pm & 5:30 pm St Paul s Midnight Mass 10:30 pm Mary of Magdala Christmas Day 9:00 am St Paul s Christmas Day 10:30 am Christmas Day Lunch 12:00 pm - 15 -
COMMUNION SONG Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming ELW #272 4th Sunday in Advent *COMMUNION BLESSING* P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God s grace. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (10:25 am) PRELUDE In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst/arr. by Ken Christensen, Soloist Richard Walters *PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION* C: God for whom we wait, you come to us in the broken bread and the cup we share. Make us ready always to welcome Christ into our hearts, and send us forth to be your people in the world, announcing your coming among us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *BLESSING* P: May Christ, the Sun of righteousness, shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. *CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS* All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who comes to wake us from sleep, who leads us into the light of grace. P: Let us prepare the way of the Lord by confessing our sin against God and neighbor. Silence for reflection and self-examination. P: God of all time, C: we confess that we have not prepared for your merciful reign among us. We ignore our neighbors in need and fail in the labor of justice and peace. In your mercy forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your light and to seek the things that will endure until Christ comes again in glory. Amen. P: Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. In Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven and all things are made new. Rejoice in this good news! *SENDING SONG* Joy to the World ELW #267 *GATHERING SONG* O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ELW #257 Verses 1, 2, 6 & 7 *SENDING* P: Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. *INVOCATION* 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. - 14 - - 3 -
*KYRIE* *LORD S PRAYER* Our Father in heaven, holy 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 We come to the table by Jesus invitation. All are welcome! As you come forward, receive the bread and the red wine or white juice. Let us know if you need a gluten free wafer. If you are not ready to receive communion, but would like a blessing, please come forward with your hands folded. LAMB OF GOD - 4 - - 13 -
*HOLY, HOLY, HOLY* *WORDS OF INSTITUTION* P: Remembering his command to love one another, his life and death, his resurrection, and his ascension, we pray for his coming again: C: Amen! Come Lord Jesus! P: Send your spirit upon us and this meal, that all your promises may come to your creation. C: Amen! Come Holy Spirit! P: All glory and honor is yours, Mother God, both now and forever. C. Amen. - 12 - - 5 -
*SONG OF PRAISE* All Glory be to God on High Handel/Mason *OFFERING PRAYER* C: Savior of the nations, come. Make your home here in us. Feed us with your love, that our faith shine ever new and our lives reveal your light. Amen. *GREAT THANKSGIVING* *PRAYER OF THE DAY* C: God of promise, you made a commitment to Joseph that you would make Jesus a savior to all. Renew your commitment with us, so that all may know the saving grace of your son, Jesus. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Children are invited to come forward. Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah ELW #240 Verse 4 P: It is our duty and delight..we praise you name and join their unending hymn: ALL SING: Light four candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He is coming, tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining! - 6 - - 11 -
*OFFERING SONG* Of the Father s Love Begotten ELW #295 YOUTH MESSAGE CANDLE LIGHTING L: We praise you, O God, for this wheel of time that marks our days of preparation for Christ s advent. As we light the candles on this wreath, open our eyes to see your presence in the lowly ones of this earth. Enlighten us with your grace, that we may sing of your advent among us in the Word made flesh. Grant this through Christ our Lord, whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. ALL SING: Light four candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He is coming, tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining! MUSICAL OFFERING We Wait Ruth Elaine Schram Trinity Chancel Choir GOD S STORY Matthew 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. A: The word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. - 10 - - 7 -
SONG OF RESPONSE TO GOD S WORD O Word of God Incarnate ELW #514 MESSAGE Pastor Rick *SONG OF THE DAY* The King Shall Come ELW #260 *APOSTLES CREED* I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE* A: Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. *SHARING OF THE PEACE* P: The peace of Christ be with you all. C: And also with you. OFFERING Lo! How a Rose Arr. by Cynthia Bells of Trinity Dobrinski - 8 - - 9 -