SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT SEEDS TO BRANCHES CELEBRATION! Peace Lutheran Church Saginaw, Michigan December 4, 2016 9:00 am Scripture of the Week Then Jesus asked, What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches. Luke 13:18-19 HYMN 837:1, 2, 5, 6 Lift High the Cross Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod, Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Led on their way by this triumphant sign, The hosts of God in conqu ring ranks combine. Let ev ry race and ev ry language tell Of Him who saves our lives from death and hell. 1
So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise to the Crucified for victory! INVOCATION AND OPENING SENTENCES Paraphrase of Psalm 148 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Praise the Lord! Praise God from the heavens: (Children) Praise God, all the angels, Praise God, heavenly hosts. Praise God, sun and moon, and all the shining stars. For God created and established them for ever and ever. (Children) Praise the name of the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise God from the earth: (Children) Sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy winds that blow, (Children) mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds. Praise the name of the Lord! Praise the Lord! All peoples of the earth, young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them all praise the name of the Lord! (Children) For his glory is above the earth and the heaven. Praise the Lord! 2
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 11:1 10 (From the stump of Jesse, the Savior will bring peace and righteousness for all.) A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. O Lord, have mercy on us. Thanks be to God. 3
Stand HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 3:1 12 (John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord by preaching a Baptism of repentance.) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 4 John s clothes were made of camel s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. O Lord, have mercy on us. Thanks be to God. 4
RESPONSORY FOR ADVENT 230 CHILDREN S SONG Born in Bethlehem (Wee Worshipers Kindergarten-Grade 2) Mary had a baby, a oh, my Lord. Born, born in Bethlehem. The hay is His pillow, the manger his bed, The beasts stand in wonder to gaze on his head, Yet there where he lies, he's so weak and so poor, Come shepherds and wise men to kneel at his door. Mary had a baby, a oh, my Lord. Born, born in Bethlehem. The glory surrounds them with angels on high, And "Peace upon earth!" heav'nly voices reply, Then come, little children, and hear what they say, That gladdened the world on that first Christmas day. Mary had a baby, a oh, my Lord. Born, born in Bethlehem. CHILDREN S MESSAGE 5
HYMN 817 Earth and All Stars Earth and all stars! Loud rushing planets! Oh, victory! Loud shouting army! He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song! Trumpet and pipes! Loud clashing cymbals! Harp, lute, and lyre! Loud humming cellos! He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song! Classrooms and labs! Loud boiling test tubes! Athlete and band! Loud cheering people! He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song! Knowledge and truth! Loud sounding wisdom! Daughter and son! Loud praying members! He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song! 1968 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License.NET, no. 100012126. SERMON Where There Is No Vision, the People Perish (Proverbs 29:18) (Rev. C. William Weis & Vicar Matthew Hauser) 6
Offering Verse Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Luke 3:8 OFFERING KYRIE 227 LORD S PRAYER 227 O Lord, hear my prayer. And let my cry come to You. COLLECT OF THE DAY Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. COLLECTS OF INTERCESSION and THANKSGIVING COLLECT FOR GRACE 228 BENEDICAMUS and BENEDICTION HYMN 515 Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear; The evening is advancing, and darker night is near. The Bridegroom is arising and soon is drawing nigh. Up, pray and watch and wrestle; at midnight comes the cry. 7
POSTLUDE The watchers on the mountain proclaim the Bridegroom near; Go forth as He approaches with alleluias clear. The marriage feast is waiting; the gates wide open stand. Arise, O heirs of glory; the Bridegroom is at hand. The saints, who here in patience their cross and suff rings bore, Shall live and reign forever when sorrow is no more. Around the throne of glory the Lamb they shall behold; In triumph cast before Him their diadems of gold. Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear; Arise, O Sun so longed for, o er this benighted sphere. With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth s redemption that sets Your people free! Please join us this Wednesday, December 7, at 6:30 pm for our annual Advent/Christmas Choral Celebration presented by the choirs of Peace Lutheran Church & School. The preservice organ recital by James Gladstone begins at 6:15. GUESTS: be sure you drop by our Welcome Center in the Church Entrance to pick up your gift. 8