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SERVICE NOTES ADVENT Advent is a Latin word that means coming. The season of Advent is the four week period before Christmas that the Church uses to remember the coming of the Christ. We celebrate that he came once as a baby in Bethlehem, and that he will come again at the end of time. The image on the next page depicts the Annunciation, or the moment when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that Jesus would be born of her. Above kneeling Mary, is the dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Gabriel said, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. May God bless your worship. 2
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH A Changeless Message for a Changing World Pastor Jon Schroeder Church Office: 770-253-4007 Home Phone: 770-253-6565 Fax: 770-253-4007 Email: jonathaneschroeder@gmail.com Those who serve: Assistant: Vicar Caleb Bassett Organist: Greta Watkins DECEMBER 7, 2008 ADVENT 2 Welcome! Thank you for joining us for worship this morning. In our service we gather before our almighty God to offer him our worship and praise. We also gather to strengthen ourselves through the study of God s holy and powerful word. Please take a moment to sign our guest register in the back of the church. Restrooms are located in the hallway directly opposite the entrance to the sanctuary. Cry-room. If you have need of a cry-room, there is a children s room immediately to the left as you exit the sanctuary. A speaker there allows you to hear the service. Hearing assistance devices are available. Speak to an usher. Large print service folders are available. Speak to an usher. Staffed nursery is available, down the hall to the left. TODAY S THEME: PREPARE THE WAY! 3
SERVICE OF WORD AND SACRAMENT THE GATHERING RITE: 1 The cantor introduces the refrain. Then the congregation repeats the refrain and sings it again as indicated. L(eader): Come, O come, O come, Emmanuel. Come with us on earth here to dwell. C: Refrain L: Rouse us from sleep, wake us from our slumber, banish the darkness of night. C: Refrain 1 Normally, no hymn of praise is sung during Advent and Lent. This practice accentuates the solemn and penitential nature of these seasons. This Advent the Gloria is replaced by the gathering rites for the season. 4
GREETING: L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. CONFESSION OF SINS L: The Lord Jesus comes to us and offers his grace and love. It is good for us to repent of our sins and to plead for his mercy. C: Holy and Merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. L: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. 5
LORD, HAVE MERCY Kyrie L: Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God s kingdom. Lord, have mercy. L: You come in Word and Sacrament to strengthen us in holiness. Christ, have mercy. L: You will come in glory with salvation for your people. Lord, have mercy. L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY L: Let us pray. The leader says the Prayer of the Day. C: Amen. 6
THE WORD OF GOD THE CHILDREN S SERMON THE FIRST LESSON: ISAIAH 40:1-11 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." 9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. 7
THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH 2 Refrain Choir: A flickering candle sheds its light in hope of dawn s victorious might, and backward scurries cowardly night reminded of the morning. All: Refrain Choir: God s messenger prepares the way, on sin he shines a piercing ray; he bids us greet the dawning day renewed and purified. All: Refrain 2 The Advent Wreath is a combination of two very common symbols: light and the fir tree. From the early centuries of Christianity it has been the practice to represent Christ by a burning candle. The fir tree has a long history of religious use. No doubt the Advent Wreath was suggested by the Christmas tree. It seems that the Advent Wreath originated a few hundred years ago among the Lutherans of eastern Germany. A wreath of evergreens, made in various sizes, was either suspended from the ceiling or placed on a table. Four candles representing the four Sundays of Advent were fastened to the wreath. Eventually the use of the Advent Wreath became wide spread and moved also from the home into the church. The general symbolism of the Advent Wreath lies in the growing light of the wreath, increasing each week as we approach the birthday of Jesus, the Light of the world. 8
THE SECOND LESSON: 2 PETER 3:8-14 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. THE VERSE OF THE DAY 9
THE GOSPEL LESSON: MARK 1:1-8 1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" 3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." THE HYMN OF THE DAY: #16, On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry THE SERMON: A Radical Prophet for Radical Preparation Mark 1:1-8 10
THE 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 fully 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 in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian 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. THANKSGIVING THE OFFERING: The members of Faith Lutheran Congregation have joined together to do the Lord's work in this community and around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH: THE LORD S PRAYER: C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 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. 11
THE SACRAMENT Faith Lutheran Church practices close communion. We ask that only members partake of the Sacrament. L: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give him thanks and praise. L: Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Through his holy prophets, he promised a King to bring light to those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ. To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory forever and ever. 12
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION: L: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. C: Amen. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. The peace of the Lord be with you always. LAMB OF GOD 3 Agnus Dei Ladies Choir Lamb of God, you take away the sins of all the world, show mercy on us. Lamb of God, grant us mercy and your peace. THE DISTRIBUTION: 3 The Latin title for this song simply means Lamb of God. Believers approach the altar of God by the sacrificial substitute who died in our place. We join with the cry of John the Baptizer (John 1:29) to the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world and grants us mercy and peace. The Christian church has sung this text before communion for more than 13 centuries. 13
THE SONG OF DEPARTURE: #702, Prepare the Royal Highway Choir sings verse 1 and the Congregation sings verses 2-4 Printed on the next page THE LORD S BLESSING L: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness. C: Amen. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. + + + The flowers at the altar today were given by the Higgs family. Service Participants: Greta Watkins, Mary Beth Eckhardt... Accompanists Roy Joyner... Guitar Duane Peterson... Trumpet Laura Eckhardt... Tambourine The following items are reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-709467 Lead Us to Your Light. Text and tune: 2001 Carol Browning by GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. A Flickering Candle. Text and tune: 2008 Stephen P Folkemer by Birnamwood Publications. All rights reserved. 14
Choir: All: All: All: 15
Announcements Welcome to guests and visitors! We are glad that you are here, and hope that you will join us again soon. Advent Dinners and Devotional: We will be having Wednesday night dinners and devotional to celebrate the Advent season that begin at 6:00PM. This Wednesday, December 10 th, the menu will be Mexican. There are 2 sign up sheets in the gathering area, one for those who wish to attend and one for bringing food. Christmas Worship Schedule: December 24: 5:00PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service w/children singing & recitation 7:00PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 25: 10:00AM Christmas Day Worship December 28: 10:30AM Worship Service (There will be No Adult Bible Study or Sunday School on his Sunday) Poinsettias: There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the gathering area for those who would like to purchase poinsettias to beautify the church for Christmas. You can take the poinsettias home with you after the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Sunday School Christmas Party: There is a Sunday School Christmas party after church on December 14th. There is a signup sheet in the gathering area so they can plan for food and crafts. If you have any questions, please speak with Richard or Joan Bjornas. 2009 Calendar: The youth group has created a 2009 calendar to be sold to raise money to support one of our synodical schools, Luther Preparatory School. The calendars will be printed during the month of December, so if you would like to purchase one, please place your order after any church service in December. Each calendar costs $3 AND 100% goes to the school. Upcoming Schedules: Week of Dec 8 Dec 13: Cleaning: Hendricks Dec 14: Nursery: Poage/J. Schroeder Week of Dec 15 Dec 20: Cleaning: Cook Dec 21: Nursery: Caparoso 16