3461 Merle Ave Modesto, CA 95355 (209) 551-0563 www.stpetermodesto.org First Sunday in Advent NOVEMBER 27, 2016 W elcome! Thank you for joining us for worship this morning. We gather for worship so that we can receive from God the good news of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus is at the center of our faith and our lives. Without him we have nothing. With him we have everything. Welcome Worshiper Cards are located in the book racks. Please fill one out and place it in the offering plate later in the service. Restrooms are located in the entryway. Two Nursery-Rooms are available in the entryway for parents with small children. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP O Holy God, when the time had fully come, you sent your Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law. Help us during this holy time of Advent anticipation to fully appreciate that phrase, when the time had fully come. Share with us the anxious joy that heaven felt as the time of fulfillment approached that, when the birth of our Lord is upon us, our joy may be complete. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Flowers adorning our altar this morning are given to the glory of God by Tina Bulot along with Kendall and Avery Funk and Ty and Will Bulot in celebration of Colin Funk s birthday. Minister: Daniel Schroeder Pianist: Karen Adams
ADVENT SEASON IN HISTORY Advent (the word means coming ) as a season of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus originated in France. Its observance was general by the time of the second Council of Tours in 567 AD. In some places, six or seven Sundays were included. (We observe four Sundays in our church year calendar today. It was probably not until the thirteenth century that Advent was universally recognized as beginning the Christian year, which up to that time had begun with the Festival of the Annunciation in March, or in some places, with Christmas. While Advent never attained the severely penitential character of Lent, it has always been regarded as a season of solemn anticipation and of spiritual preparation and purification. We do well to observe a threefold advent Jesus coming in the flesh, his return on Judgment Day, and his regular coming to his people through the use of the Word and Sacraments. The seasonal color is blue, meaning hope. TODAY S FOCUS During the season of Advent, we prepare our hearts for Christ's arrival. This week we are reminded that no one knows the day or time of that arrival. We cannot wallow in the darkness of sin or we will be swept away in judgment. No, because the day is coming, we must always be ready. Let us wake up and walk in the light of the Lord. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE M(inister): We light one Advent candle, remembering Jesus who is coming again. He will come to gather his people from everywhere, both the living and the dead. C(ongregation):We remember Jesus who will come at the end of time. None of us knows what day that will be. M: We hear his call to watch. C: We light one advent candle as a sign of our watchfulness and waiting. M: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. C: Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed. Amen. 1
ADVENT GATHERING RITE The choir will sing the refrain one time and the congregation will then sing the refrain. The minister will sing the verses and all will sing the refrain where indicated. Choir: Refrain Congregation: Refrain Refrain To the house of the Lord we shall... Refrain Let us climb God's mountain and we... Refrain Let us walk in the light and we... Refrain Let us wake from our sleep and now... Refrain For the day draws near, so Refrain Be prepared for the day God will... Refrain 2
CONFESSION OF SINS M: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. 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. LORD, HAVE MERCY (KYRIE) ABSOLUTION M: 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. PRAYER AND PRAISE M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. 3
THE GLORIA 4
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PRAYER OF THE DAY * M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Let us pray. Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. THE WORD OF GOD THE FIRST LESSON Isaiah 2:1-5 Because the day is coming, let us walk in the light of the Lord. THIS IS WHAT ISAIAH SON OF AMOZ SAW CONCERNING JUDAH AND JERUSALEM: 2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD. * The Prayers of the Day for Advent are some of the oldest in Christianity, dating back to the early Christian church fathers. They are simple and short and perfectly capture the nature of the preparatory season of Advent. They are entirely appropriate for daily use in the home during these four weeks, supplementing one s other personal prayers. 6
PSALM OF THE DAY (sung responsively) Psalm 18 The grace of God is the security of the church. No enemy will remove believers from God's right hand. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He rescued me from my powerful enemy. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Refrain You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. You save the humble, but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You give me your shield of victory; and your right hand sustains me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son And to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, Is now, and will be forever. Amen. Refrain 7
THE SECOND LESSON Romans 13:11-14 Because the day is nearer now than ever, let us wake from our slumber. AND DO THIS, UNDERSTANDING THE PRESENT TIME: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh HYMN RESPONSE Oh, joy to know that you, my Friend, Are Lord, beginning without end, The first and last, eternal! And you at length O glorious grace Will take me to that holy place, The home of joys supernal. Amen, Amen! Come and meet me, Quickly greet me! With deep yearning, Lord, I look for your returning. How Lovely Shines the Morning Star Christian Worship #79 stanza 4 8
THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 24:36-44 Because the day comes unexpectedly, let us always be ready After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings: B UT ABOUT THAT DAY OR HOUR NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. After the Gospel, the congregation sings: 9
THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. THE HYMN OF THE DAY Savior of the Nations, Come Christian Worship #2 The words of this hymn have a 1,600 year history in the church. They were originally penned by Ambrose, one of the great fathers of the early church. Ambrose lived in the 4th century and is often referred to as the father of church song. He helped make the singing of psalms and hymns and integral part of worship. This hymn states so clearly the Bible teaching of the miracle of God becoming a human being through the virgin birth. 10
THE SERMON Isaiah 2:1-5 See the Church s Glory in the Last Days 1. All nations will stream to it 2. May we not run from it THE RESPONSE 11
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER THE OFFERING The members of St, Peter Congregation have joined together to do the Lord s work in this community and around the world. Guests at St. Peter are welcome to participate in the offering but need not feel obligated to do so. THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH M: Eternal Father, throughout the centuries you repeated and affirmed your promise to send the offspring of the woman to crush the serpent s head. Through your prophets of old, you continually directed the eyes of your people to the advent of their Savior. C: We praise you, O Lord, for keeping your promise and sending your Son to destroy the works of the devil. M: As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our King, use your mighty Word to shatter our pride and to rouse us from spiritual slumber and apathy. C: Move us to take to heart the words of John: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. M: You sent your Son to redeem us from sin. Let this good news be our joy and strength. Use it to cheer the lonely, encourage the fearful, and give hope to the despairing. In these days before Christmas, spare us from the stress of deadlines and the frenzy of commercialism. C: Fill our lives with the message of your peace and the music of your grace. M: Direct our eyes not only to the manger but also to the skies, where we will see your Son coming again, not as a lowly child but as the Lord of lords. C: Lift up our hearts in joyful anticipation of that day. Special prayers and intercessions may follow. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer. M: Come quickly, Lord Jesus, in your grace, in your power, and in your glory. C: Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. THE LORD S PRAYER 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. 12
HYMN The Advent of Our King Christian Worship #1 PRAYER AND BLESSING M: Almighty God, grant to your Church the Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes from above. Let nothing hinder your Word from being freely proclaimed to the joy and edifying of Christ s holy people, so that we may serve you in steadfast faith and confess your name as long as we live, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen M: 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. C: Amen. CLOSING HYMN Hosanna to the Coming Lord Christian Worship #21 The following were reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-706579: Psalm 18 Dale Wood. Reprinted from Seasonal Psalms 1978 Augsburg Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Advent Gathering Rite text & tune: James Chepponis; 1995 GIA Publications All rights reserved Cover artwork by Ian M. Welch. Copyright 2015 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NIV, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. 13