THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT Gaudete December 13, 2015 New Member Sunday 8:00am & 10:45am St. John Lutheran Church and School The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Senior Pastor: Mark Elliott Associate Pastor: Jeff Caithamer School Principal: Joel Burgener Divine Service II with Holy Communion Page *stand as you are able Hymn Comfort, Comfort Ye My People 347 *Invocation, Confession, Absolution 167 *Introit dated insert *Kyrie 168 *Salutation & Collect 172 First Reading (8:00) The King Shall Come Men s Choir (10:45) Gradual dated insert Epistle Reading *Alleluia and Verse 173 *Gospel Reading (8:00) Children s Devotion Hymn Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding 345 Sermon *Apostles Creed 175 (8:00) Adult Confirmation/Reception of All New Members *Prayers 175 Gathering of Tithes and Offering (8:00) People, Look East Men s Choir *Offertory 176 *Service of the Sacrament 177 Communion Hymns 338, 343, 344 *Post Communion Canticle (Thank the Lord) 181 *Collect and Benediction 183 Preaching Rev. Mark Elliott Liturgist: Rev. Jeff Caithamer
WELCOME TO ST. JOHN! We ask members and guests to fill out an attendance card located by the hymnals; indicate your attendance at Holy Communion. Cards may be placed in the offering plate. Note that there are two glasses in the center of each tray with diluted wine. ABOUT THE LORD S SUPPER: Our congregation is a member of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, a family of congregations who pledge themselves to teach and to believe the same doctrines. We invite those persons who are members in good standing of a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or of a church in fellowship with the LCMS to receive the sacrament. We want to express our sincere welcome to guests and to assure them that it is in their spiritual interest that we practice closed communion. Guests desiring to learn more about our beliefs are asked to make an appointment to speak with one of our pastors. SERVING TODAY - Organist: Keith Williams. Elders: 8:00 Rex, Jim & Jeff; 10:45 Matt, John, Jr & Dan. Greeters: 8:00 Earl & Barb. Acolytes: 8:00 Stuart; 10:45 Anna. OUR CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY The altar flowers are given today in memory of Nellie, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, by Jan and family. The Radio Ministry is sponsored by Frank in memory of Betty. We also remember the following people in our prayers; for peace and comfort: Gladys and family and Tish and family at the death of John; for healing and recovery: John, Joan, Ed, Nicholas, Tom, Lingli; for successful treatments: Jeannette, Linda, Joan, Joe, Lea, Nancy, Maxine, Jeff, Ken; for missions: Pastor Randrianasolo Dembiniana Havanjanakary and the Madagascar Lutheran Seminary, Pastor Magnus Bengston and Lielsalaca Lutheran Church in Latvia, Pastor Obot Ite and the Lutheran Mission in Kingston, Jamaica; for those in the military: Taylor, Ashley, Andy, Luke, James, Christopher, Brandon, Suzzana, Cpt. Ben, Allyson, Tom; for our homebound: Mary, Mary, Norman, Lavina. For requests for the prayer chain or to be added to the chain, use the web form: http://stjohnmedia.org/cm/ prayer.html New Member Sunday Today in the 8:00 service we will have the Rite of Confirmation for our adult confirmands, as well as a reception of all new members to the congregation who have joined through Transfer of Membership. Please join us in welcoming them at the brunch following the service. Adult Confirmation: Stephen, Joshua, Nick, Rachel Transfer of Membership: Cassandra, Hannah, Margaret, Don & Nancy, Robert. Baptism We pray for Jacob who will be baptized today in a private ceremony.
EDUCATION HOUR TODAY Adult Bible Class - God s Word for Today, Pastor Elliott, fellowship hall New Member Class - Lutheranism 101, Pastor Caithamer, Room 1A Sunday School - Opening for 3-K will be in 3C & 4C. Opening for 1-8 will be in the Sanctuary. High School will meet in the Youth Room. 3 s- pre K Rooms 3C & 4C 5 th & 6 th Grade Room 4B Kindergarten Room 3A 7 th & 8 th Grade Room 2B 1 st & 2 nd Grade Room 2A High School Youth Room 3 rd & 4 th Grade Room 1C Thank you to all members of St. John who helped make the LWML Cookie Walk a success. Through a combined effort of calling members to bake, baking the many cookies, bringing the cookies to the fellowship hall, setting up and tearing down the tables, providing the music, etc., we had a successful event--a beautiful selection of cookies and Christian fellowship while making it happen. We hope you enjoy the cookies. Lifelight Returns in January to study the book of Ezekiel, the prophet-priest called by God as a watchman over the house of Israel. Nine-week classes start January 13 and 14: You can attend on Wednesday evening, Thursday morning or Thursday evening. Sign up at the table in the overflow or contact Steve, Eunice or Matt. We hope you can join us. Please Join Us for the final midweek Advent Service Wednesday at 3:30 or 7:15. The Junior High Youth will be serving sloppy joes and cheesy potatoes in between services. All donations for the dinner help send our youth to the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans in July 2016. Habitat for Humanity recently contacted our Fellowship Committee asking for volunteers to help wrap gifts at Market Place Mall this Christmas Season. Shifts start at 10am and last 2-4 hours. If you are interested in volunteering and would like to fill a time spot please contact Sarah or Kim ( See paper version for details). Thank you to everyone who donated items for our kindergarten and preschool classes. Ram Rebate - To get ready for the Christmas shopping season, Ram Rebate orders will be placed every week until Christmas break. Ram Rebate offers lots of bonuses this time of year. Sign up for Presto Pay to take advantage of these offers. Stop by the school office or visit www.shopwithscrip.com or www.myscripwallet.com for details. The 2016 Altar Flower Chart is now hanging in the overflow for anyone who would like to reserve a Sunday or more. All you need do is fill in your name and phone number, and our Altar Guild ladies serving that month will call you. The cost for altar flowers is $50. A Mobile Lutheran Bible Study - Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL. This week's topics include: Adam & Eve, The Prophet Daniel, Mary Visiting Elizabeth, The Doctrine of Justification, Katie Luther and more. You can listen on-demand at www.issuesetc.org and on the new Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.
OUR WEEK AHEAD Today 3 rd Sunday in Advent, New Member Sunday; 8:00 Holy Communion; 9:30 New Member Brunch, Adult Bible Class, Sunday School; 10:45 Holy Communion; 2:00 LYF Fest; 4:00 Sunday School Program Monday 9:00 MOPS; 6:00 Finance Board Tuesday 10:15 Adult Bible Class; 6:00 Council; 6:30 Day School Christmas Program Wednesday 8:05 Chapel; 3:30 Advent Service; 4:30 Advent Dinner; 5:45 Midweek School; 6:00 Handbells; 7:15 Advent Service Thursday 6:00 Men s Choir; 6:45 Mixed Choir Sunday 4 th Sunday in Advent; 8:00 Holy Communion; 9:30 Adult Bible Class, Sunday School; 10:45 Holy Communion (Mixed Choir); 4:00 Christmas Caroling The LYF Fest Christmas Party is today from 5:00-7:00. We'll meet in the Youth Room for pizza, games and a gift exchange. Bring a wrapped gift ($6 limit). Sunday School Christmas Program - Please join us for the Sunday School Children's Christmas Program this Sunday, December 13 at 4pm to celebrate our Savior's birth. Christmas Caroling - Please come join us as we share Jesus' love with homebound and nursing home members through Christmas carols Sunday, December 20 at 4 p.m. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at church to carpool and return approx. 5:30 or 6 for a potluck there afterwards. Please bring a snack, dish or dessert to share. Drinks and table service provided. Call or email Vanessa. Giving Tree - The Evangelism Board and the PTF are collecting coats, hats, mittens, scarves, and a few other items for children in the foster care system at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Please bring new and gently used items to the Christmas tree in the Fellowship Hall. There are a few items that LSSI has requested listed on the bulletin board across from the Fellowship Hall. This week, MOPS donated 47 adorable fleece hats to our tree. Please consider bringing a coat, some mittens, or another item from the list. We will collect donations until noon on Sunday, December 20. Thank you for your help. God's Love at Christmas - Everyone is invited to join our day school students as we celebrate Jesus' birth on Tuesday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the gym. Parent Training Course - Faith Block will offer the Becoming a Love and Logic Parent training course on Wednesday nights beginning, January 13, 2016. We will meet from 5:45 to 7:00 pm. The course will last for 8 weeks. The cost of the class is $10 to pay for the workbook. A registration form is available on the Narthex table. Children can attend the midweek classes while you attend the parenting class. (Midweek classes are offered for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade.) If you have questions, please contact Faith. Please register by January 6, 2016.
LEARN BY HEART THE FAMILY ALTAR The families of St. John are encouraged to learn these words from the Small Catechism by heart this week: The Lord s Prayer The Fifth Petition - And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us. Bible Passage: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 Hymn: 357 O Come, O come, Emmanuel (sts. 5-7) Psalm 2 Bible Readings for the Week: The Birth of Christ is Announced to Shepherds Luke 2:8-14 The Shepherd Visit Bethlehem Luke 2:1-20