SAINT JOHN S LUTHERAN CHURCH 959 VALLEY ROAD ARROYO GRANDE, CA 93420 REV. RANDY OUIMETTE, PASTOR DECEMBER 13, 2015 10:00 A.M.
3 rd Sunday in Advent December 13, 2015 (Please silence your cell phones.) PRE-WORSHIP MUSIC Made To Worship Songfest WELCOMES, REGISTRATION & PASSING THE LORD S PEACE GATHERING SONG There s A Light Songfest INVOCATION SALUTATION P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY (all pray) Lord, hear our prayers and lighten the darkness of our hearts by your gracious visitation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. FIRST LESSON Psalm 95:1-7 Pew Bible pg. 479 LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH SHEPHERD S CANDLE When Will the Little King Come (All Sing) SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MUSICAL PAGEANT MIRACLE ON MAIN STREET (SEE SEPARATE BULLETIN) TIME FOR PHOTOS AT CONCLUSION SECOND LESSON Philippians 4:4-7 Pew Bible pg. 955 ANTHEM Carol of the Bells Cross & Clef GOSPEL Luke 1:46-55 Pew Bible pg. 832
BRIEF MESSAGE Joy Pastor Ouimette HYMN OF THE DAY Joy to the World Hymn # 267, vs. 1,3 OFFERING & OFFERTORY O Little Town of Bethlehem (based on Forest Green, traditional English carol by R. Vaughan Williams) by Wilbur Held OFFERTORY RESPONSE O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymn # 257 vs. 1 & 6 PRAYERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST (rise) THE LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT (Time Permitting) SENDING HYMN My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness Hymn # 251, vs. 1, 3 P: Go in peace, serve the Lord! C: Thanks be to God! POSTLUDE Shepherds (based on a Bohemian carol) by Wilbur Held Please join us for Cookies, Coffee & fellowship
TODAY S CLASSES DECEMBER 13 YOUTH AND ADULT GROWTH CLASSES WILL RESUME JAN. 3, 2016 Weekly worship services may be viewed by live streaming or choosing from the archives by going to our website, www.saintjohnsag.com. Under the tab, Worship Info & Directions click Live Stream & Gallery. Click Worship Services Online for archived services or on Sunday click the link for either the 9:00 am or 11:00 am service to watch live. Announcements We welcome all of you this 3rd Sunday in the 4 Sunday Advent season. There is a liturgical tradition that the 3rd Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Joyful) Sunday. The three scripture texts all reflect that wonder and great joy at what the Lord God is about to do in the historic and radical Incarnation (God in the flesh) birth of Jesus in order to usher in the Kingdom of God to all peoples. We are so thankful to the Sunday School leaders, children and youth for their hard work making possible today s Christmas musical pageant. We also thank Coastal Christian School for the loan of their backdrops for the musical today, and to Ron Lindstaedt and Fred Tuggey for transporting and setting them up.
Today at 11:30 AM is the ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING with two items of business: 1.) Presentation of the Proposed 2016 General Fund Budget for congregation vote; 2.) Ratification vote of Constitutional changes in the constitution of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) that reflects the new relationship with Confessing Lutherans for Renewal (CORE). All Confirmed members are voting members. Please sign in at the table and bring into the meeting the handouts. Immediately following today s Formal Meeting, the Council is inviting all interested members to stay for a few more minutes so they can share with you the adjustments to the Pastoral Call Process and Vote that they are instituting as a result of the recent procedure. We do this in love and grace as we desire that all have a voice and all are informed and all are respectful. COMBINED SERVICES - Today begins a 4 week series of Combined Services at 10:00 am, due to the special time of the year: Dec. 13, 20, 27, Jan. 3. The usual schedule of 9AM Songfest led and 11AM organ led services, with Sunday School Classes at 10:10 AM, will resume Jan. 10, 2016. Please join us this coming Sunday, December 20, as our combined Chancel Choir, Heavenly Handbells, Cross & Clef, and instrumentalists present our annual Christmas Cantata, "A Noel Celebration" at a 10:00 am combined service. The narration and
music tell the story of Jesus' humble beginnings in the stable in Bethlehem, culminating with His birth and the fulfillment of the age-old prophecy. Be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to this special annual event!! We invite you and your family & friends to the CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 at 4:00 PM AND 7:00 PM. The Heavenly Handbells play at the 4PM and the Chancel Choir sings at the 7:00 PM. STAFF MEMBERS CHRISTMAS - Yes, we have the opportunity to give to our STAFF Members. These are the people that keep our church on track and running. Yes, they get a paycheck, yet they will all go above and beyond for our church. It would be so wonderful for us, to do the same for them. We have 17 people on staff at Saint John s, please join with me and take a pew envelope and enclose a check, some cash or some spare change but let us show our love to them. The money you give will be divided up amongst them all. So, PLEASE, let s all follow Proverbs 3:27 if it is in our power to do so. DEADLINE FOR JANUARY 2016 NEWSLETTER ARTICLE SUBMISSION IS MONDAY DECEMBER 14 TH. New January March 2016 PORTALS OF PRAYER are available now in the Commons. We invite you to enrich your Advent Season by using the daily devotional from the NALC entitled, O Come - Amen, Come, Lord Jesus! written by the Rev. Dr. David Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop. You will find them on the table in the Commons, printed out by our office. It they are all taken,
please ask Cheryl or Pam print more. Should you want the electronic version go to our website, htttp://saintjohnsag.com, click on Worship Info, Weekly Bulletins, 2015 Advent Devotional. COME! HELP START OFF THE NEW YEAR! Let s get hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions. Hear God s voice calling you to a passionate love relationship with Him. Please join members Scott & Louise Taylor, at their home for a weekly study of God s Word facilitated by the DVD small group study titled Crazy Love by Francis Chan. WHEN: Monday - January 11, 2016 TIME: 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm WHERE: 880 Pearl Drive, Arroyo Grande 93420 We re located off Valley Rd. & Leanna (kitty-corner from Saint John s) Warming Center for the South County - SOS is looking for VOLUNTEERS!! Can you help staff the Warming Center located in Arroyo Grande one day per week when the nights are cold? The Warming Center is sponsored by People's Kitchen. The Center will offer an evening meal, breakfast and shelter from the cold/wet winter nights. If you are interested or need more information, please contact Emanda Miller, 473-8127 or ebm.cats@sbcglobal.net, or sign up on the Registration Sheet.
FOR ALL YOUTH EVENTS: Sign up on back of Registration Sheet for more information or contact Rob Mees at (805) 489-1259 or at rcmees@gmail.com ************************************* Youth Christmas Party Wednesday December 16th 5-8pm White Elephant Gift Exchange and Potluck Bring a wrapped gift from home and food to share. ***************************************** Children and Family Ministries Annual Christmas Party! Saint John's Fellowship Hall Saturday, December 19th 6:00-8:00pm
Inviting ALL AGES of Youth, Children & Families Come and share the joy of Jesus' birth Gather for Sloppy Joe Dinner at 6:00 pm Building Gingerbread Houses Christmas Caroling to Local Seniors Please RSVP so we know how much food to make. Petal Pushers: Rose Parade Float Decoration When: December 29th - January 1st. 1. Travel to Los Angeles on Dec. 29th and stay overnight at a local church. 2. Dec. 30th and 31 st, go to Pasadena & decorate one of several Rose Parade Floats. 3. Jan. 1 st, we will join the crowd and watch the Rose Parade. COST: $25.00 Winter Camp is coming!
High School: Jan 29th - 31st Middle School: February 12th - 14th Spend a weekend in the mountains eating delicious food, playing fun games, making new friends, and learning about how we are all unique creations of our loving Father. Invite your friends! Cost: FREE IN OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR PRAYERS.. + Our friends & family: Terri D., Axel, Garry, Ellie, Rick, Tom, Diane, Shari, Myron, Jan G., Edna, Wanita, Anita, Rilla, Tim, Sandy C., Kippey, Winnie, Charlotte, Marq, Karen, Del and Cathy, Russ & Betty, Ron, the Lindstaedt family & Kathy s mom JoAnn, Nancy Duty s family, the Ouimette family, the Council as they prepare for an Interim Pastor, the Call Committee in their renewed search for a pastor and Pastor Randy as he prepares for retirement. + Pray for Saint John s congregation patience, healing and discernment in the Pastoral call process.
+ Pray for the City of San Bernardino, including families of the victims, the injured and the grieving, the first responders, the police, FBI and all those who are involved in this tragedy. This Week at Saint John s Sunday, December 13 10:00 am... Worship & Children s Musical 10:10 am... No Classes 11:15 am... Annual Congregational Meeting, Part I Monday, December 14 10:30 am... OA Meeting 1:00 pm... Literacy 2:30 pm... Good News 4:30 pm... Cross & Clef Rehearsal 5:30 pm... Heavenly Handbells Rehearsal 6:00 pm... Stephen Ministry 7:30 pm... Nominating Committee Tuesday, December 15 7:30 am... Men of the Word at Lebens
9:00 am... Crossways Bible Survey Class 1:30 pm... Undercover Rehearsal 4:30 pm... 7-8 Grade Confirmation 5:30 pm... Celebration Chorus 6:15 pm... AA Meeting Wednesday, December 16 8:00 am... Al-Anon Meeting 1:00 pm... Shalom Circle 5:30 pm... Songfest Rehearsal 6:00 pm... Senior High Youth Christmas Party 6:00 pm... Cantata Dress Rehearsal Thursday, December 17 10:00 am... Organist Rehearsal 1:00 pm... Literacy 6:00 pm... Undercover Rehearsal 6:00 pm... Women s Bible Study Group at Ouimette s 7:00 pm... Boy Scouts Friday, December 18 Pastor Randy Day Off Saturday, December 19 9:00 am... Men of the Word 6:00 pm... Children & Family Ministries Christmas Party & Caroling Nursery Care for Infant to Pre-K is located in the east wing across from the kitchen. Pagers are available for parents. The Cry Room is located in the back of the Sanctuary. Large Print Bulletins are available from the Ushers. Hearing Assisting Devices are available at the Media Center. Saint John s Office Phone 805-489-1259 Church E-mail........... saintjohnsag@hotmail.com Pastor Randy s Email..... pastorrandyo@hotmail.com Rob Mees, Dir. Youth Min rcmees@gmail.com Church Website.......... www.saintjohnsag.com
MUSIC: ORGAN: CROSS & CLEF LECTOR: USHERS: ACOLYTES: MEDIA CENTER: Songfest Dawn Russ Sandy Leggett Diane Rinehart Jerry Yops, Jerry De Vos Joseph March Rob Mees ALTAR GUILD: Kay Werner, Ethel Lenz, Rena Weiger GREETERS: Diane Schallen, Rose Goddard GUEST BOOK Nancy Duty, Lorraine Sundquist HOSTS Parents Christmas Cookie Reception NURSERY CARE: Michelle Mees PRAYER MINISTRY: Betty Knudson 481-5114 Jan Straka 481-4454 Attendance Last Sunday 9:00 = 120 YouTube = 3 11:00 = 64 YouTube = 4 TOTAL = 191 Adult Sunday School = 27 Our Mission is the Great Commission of our Lord to Go, make disciples of all nations, involving us in evangelism and discipleship.