First Sunday in Advent November 27, 2016 Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN 55118 Church Office: (651) 457-9232 Fax: (651) 457-1893 www.saintjameslutheran.com stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com facebook.com/stjwsp @stjameswsp Pastor Michael Albrecht 651-457-6796 malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley 651-689-3253 dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director 651-336-2117 tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Ralph Rokke 651-457-3955 rrokke@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler 651-338-8621 rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse 651-210-3380 pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com
WELCOME TO WORSHIP! First Sunday in Advent November 27, 2016 THE TITLE FOR TODAY S SERMON IS: How to Shake the Darkness. Even though we want light, the blessings of God, we so often wrap ourselves in darkness. How do we shake that off? GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome, Guest card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. For every guest who completes this form, Saint James will donate $5 to the Neighbor s Food Shelf. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Read 2 Samuel 22. As you read, consider how God has saved us from our enemies sin, death, and hell on the cross and how God remakes us pure in His image through Christ. LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in both locations. 2
THE ORDER OF SERVICE PRELUDE: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland Anton Kniller In Thee is Gladness Bach GATHERING HYMN: Come, Sun and Savior, to Embrace (Sung to the Tune found in Christian Worship #38) 1 Come, Sun and Savior, to embrace Our gloomy world, its weary race, As groom to bride, as bride to groom: The wedding chamber, Mary's womb. Those able, please stand for final stanza 2 At your great Name, O Jesus, now All knees must bend, all hearts must bow. All things on earth with one accord, Like those in heaven, shall call you Lord. 3 Come in your holy might, we pray, Redeem us for eternal day; Defend us while we dwell below, From all assaults of our dread foe. 4 Praise we the Father and the Son And Holy Spirit, with them One; And may the Son on us bestow, The gifts that from the Spirit flow. Public domain Evening Hymn for Advent, 8th C. PASTORAL GREETING Pastor Critchley INVOCATION Please be seated PSALM 122 P: 1 I was glad when they said to me, C: Let us go to the house of the LORD! P: 2 Our feet have been standing C: within your gates, O Jerusalem! P: 3 Jerusalem built as a city C: that is bound firmly together, P: 4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, C: as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. P: 5 There thrones for judgment were set, C: the thrones of the house of David. P: 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! 3
C: May they be secure who love you! P: 7 Peace be within your walls C: and security within your towers! P: 8 For my brothers and companions sake C: I will say, Peace be within you! P: 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, C: I will seek your good. A confirmation student lights the first candle on the Advent wreath, called the prophecy candle, or hope candle. This candle reminds us that Jesus came and fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies. This is the reason for our hope! PRAYER OF THE DAY LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Light one candle for hope, one bright candle for hope. He brings hope to every heart, He comes, He comes. Light one candle for joy, one bright candle for joy. Every nation will find salvation in Bethl em s Baby Boy. Light one candle for hope, one bright candle for hope. He brings hope to every heart, He comes, He comes. In Advent, we look back at Bethlehem and forward to Jesus coming again at the final resurrection on the last day. Isaiah gives us a vision of what the new earth will look like. Because we are already citizens of that new creation, how does that change our lives now? OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 2:1-5 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! Through Paul, God reminds us again of our eternal citizenship. Why live as if we have no hope when we ve been set free to eternal life? It changes how we see and respond to every aspect of life. THE EPISTLE LESSON: Romans 13:11-14 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! 4
VERSE RESPONSE: Christian Worship, page 40 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! THE GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 21:1-11 1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord needs them, and he will send them at once. 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden. 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, Who is this? 11 And the crowds said, This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! Those able, please stand The Gospel lesson emphasizes another coming of Jesus, His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Those worshiping Him in this text would later learn that He was coming not to conquer Rome or other enemies, but sin, death, and the devil by going to the cross for us. HYMN OF THE DAY: Christian Worship #15 Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding Please be seated Children are invited to come forward during the final stanza. SERMON: Text: Romans 13:11-14 Theme: How to Shake the Darkness 5
Those able, please stand CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: Come, let us go to the mountain of the house of the Lord and confess our sin in His presence. C: Lord Jesus, Light of the World, we so often choose darkness over light, making our priorities the temporary things of this world over Your eternal kingdom. Because You rode into Jerusalem all the way to the cross for us, clothe us with the light of Your righteousness, and cast out the darkness. P: Behold, your king is coming to you, has already come, and comes to you now. Salvation is nearer to you now than when you first believed. God came into your darkness. The light of Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen! Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! APOSTLES CREED: Christian Worship, page 31 Please be seated Give online at give.4gvn.us You can find step by step directions in the I Give Online card available in the pew racks. OFFERING: Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your income. Proverbs 3:9 OFFERTORY: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland Bach 6
HYMN OF REDEDICATION: LSB #337, stanzas 1, 4, 5 The Night Will Soon Be Ending Those able, please stand 5 God dwells with us in darkness and makes the night as day; Yet we resist the brightness and turn from God away. But grace does not forsake us, however far we run. God claims us still as children through Mary s infant Son. 1998 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission: OneLicense.net, no. A-724499. Public domain PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS Please be seated LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION Those able, please stand SENDING HYMN: Christian Worship #2, stanzas 1, 2, 5 Savior of the Nations, Come POSTLUDE: Savior of the Nations, Come Manz Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House. 7
SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Dale Critchley (preaching) Pastor Ralph Rokke Organist: Tom Rowland Acolyte: Josie Thune Ushers: (8:00) Bill Grabuski and Team #1 (10:30) Steve Lehmann and Team #2 Audio Video Team: Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Becky Martinez, Lorna Redding, Leif Thune and Gil Ude Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN 55118 the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Dennis & Marie Grover, Earl & Ruth Grundei, LaJene Ihfe, Lee Hubler MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for Don and Pam Leonard, working with Jasmine to coordinate Project Video, using local talent to produce and distribute Bible videos in Thailand and China. FLOWERS The Thanksgiving arrangement on the altar has been provided by the Saint James Altar Guild. Stewardship Thought We always have time for things we put first. (Contributed by a Saint James member) Living as a Local Missionary If you get a prayer request from a coworker, pray out loud, and start by saying, OK, let s pray to invite them to join you in prayer. If you would like to order FLOWERS to be placed in the chancel, please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Kathy Stadler at 651-450-6452 or stadlerek@comcast.net. 8