First Sunday in Advent December 3, 2017 TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

First Sunday in Advent December 3, 2017 TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

First Sunday in Advent Christ Is Coming! Be Ready! December 3, 2017 Welcome to all both visitor and member alike! May our gracious God fill your heart with joy, peace, and hope through the message of forgiveness in our living Savior, Jesus Christ! If you are in need of restrooms, they are located on the left as you leave church. Parents please use the welcome center or church fellowship hall to quiet an upset child. Please silence all cell phones and devices before worship. Please limit your conversations in the sanctuary and narthex. Please do use the welcome center to greet one another. Preparing for Worship Two things happen during Advent. 1) We prepare for the celebration of Christ's first coming at Christmas. 2) We look forward to Christ's return, his second coming, on the Last Day. As we live during this "in-between time," let us make every effort to be ready for both. THE ORDER OF WORSHIP: DIVINE SERVICE I The Lutheran church is a liturgical church. Lutherans believe that the gospel is not only good news that Jesus has saved sinners, but also a power God uses to create and strengthen faith in Jesus. Lutheran worship places the gospel in central focus in an order of service called the liturgy. In message and meal (Holy Communion), in specially selected Bible readings, and in carefully crafted songs, prayers, and confessions, the liturgy points to Jesus as the Savior of all. OUR PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP Lord God, Ruler of heaven and earth, cleanse our lives and purify our hearts so that your Son, the King of glory, may come in and lead us rejoicing to your heavenly city, where with the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen. 2

OPENING HYMN: 2 Savior of the Nations, Come Please stand 3

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. CONFESSION OF SINS, PRAYER AND PRAISE 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 4

M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning 5 continued on the next page

sa crifice for our sin s. Th erefore, as a cal led ser vant of Ch rist and by his au thority, I forgive yo u all yo ur sins in the na me of th e Fa ther an d of th e Son + and of th e Holy Sp irit. 6

C: Amen. M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. GLORY BE TO GOD Gloria in Excelsis 7

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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. Please be seated THE WORD FIRST LESSON Isaiah 63:16b, 17; 64:1-8 You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. 17Why, O Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 2As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 5You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But 9

when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? 6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. 8Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 10

PSALM OF THE DAY: 24 The earth is the LORD S, and everything in it,* the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas* and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?* Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart,* he will receive blessing from God his Savior. Refrain Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors,* that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?* The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,* that the King of glory may come in. 11

Who is he, this King of glory?* The LORD Almighty he is the King of glory. 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 Refrain Tune: Richard Proulx. 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL, www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission. SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- 6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. VERSE OF THE DAY: Alleluia. He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Alleluia. (Revelation 22:20) Please stand GOSPEL Mark 13:32-37 M: The holy Gospel for First Sunday in Advent, according to St. Mark, chapter 13. 32"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' " 12

M: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Please be seated CHILDREN'S MESSAGE Young children are invited to the front for a brief message. 13

HYMN OF THE DAY: 472 Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray SERMON 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Please stand Can You Go the Distance? 14

NICENE CREED We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and 15

his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Please be seated OFFERING & FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS Please stand PRAYER OF THE CHURCH LORD S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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. THE SACRAMENT We believe that God comes to us with forgiveness in very tangible means as we participate in Holy Communion. Because the Bible has convinced us that Jesus body and blood are present in the Lord s Supper, and that receiving this sacrament together is a public statement of complete oneness in our beliefs and commitment, we invite to the Lord s Supper members of Trinity and guests from sister congregations of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) and the ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod). If you are a member of another Lutheran denomination or another Christian church and would like to commune with us in the future, please speak with our pastor after the service and he would be delighted to explain what that entails. We don t want to be 16

presumptuous and put you in the position of stating your agreement with our convictions before we have had an opportunity to explain them. We do look forward to any opportunity to discuss the Christian faith with you. PREFACE M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. C: It is good and right so to do. M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist 17

prepared when he called people to repentance and pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song: 18

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Sanctus WORDS OF INSTITUTION M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my + body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; this is my + blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. 19

M: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen. O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD Agnus Dei Opportunities to Grow & Serve at Trinity This Week Sunday 9:00 am Worship w/holy Communion 10:30 am Bible Class & Sunday School 1:30 pm Advent By Candelelight Monday 6:30 pm Worship w/holy Communion Tuesday 9:00 am Elders Meeting 3:30 pm Board of Education Wednesday 8:15 am Midweek Chapel 9:30 am Quilters 12:15 pm Lunch Break Bible Class 4:00-5:30 pm Public School Bible Class & Confirmation Class 6:15 pm Youth Group 6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal Thursday 9:00 am Pastor Circuit Meeting in Antigo Sunday 9:00 am Worship 20

Upcoming Holiday Worship Opportunities at Trinity Children s Christmas Service Let Us Go to Bethlehem Sunday, December 17 at 9:00 am Monday, December 18 will be a regular worship service. Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols God Is Faithful Sunday, December 24 at 6:30 pm Christmas Day Festival Worship Perfect Gifts Monday, December 25 at 9:00 am There will be no Monday evening worship. New Year s Eve Worship God s Gift (Card) of Time Sunday, December 31 at 5:30 pm There will be no Monday evening worship. 21

DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION HYMN: 310 I Come, O Savior, to Your Table Verses 6-15 continued on the next page 22

6 Weary am I and heavy laden; With sin my soul is sore oppressed. Receive me graciously and gladden My heart, for I am now your guest. Refrain: Lord, may your body and your blood Be for my soul the highest good! 7 You here will find a heart most lowly That feels unworthy in your sight, That duly weeps o er sin, yet solely Your merit pleads, as it is right. Refrain 8 By faith I call your holy table The testament of your deep love, For by your gift I now am able To know the heart of God above. Refrain 9 What higher gift can we inherit? It is faith s bond and solid base; It is the strength of heart and spirit, The covenant of hope and grace. Refrain 10 This feast is manna, wealth abounding Unto the poor, to weak ones pow r, To angels joy, to hell confounding, And life for me in death s dark hour. Refrain 11 Your body, giv n for me, O Savior, Your blood, which you for me have shed These are my life and strength forever; By them my hungry soul is fed. Refrain 12 With you, Lord, I am now united; I live in you and you in me. No sorrow fills my soul; delighted, It finds its peace on Calvary. Refrain 13 Who can condemn me now? For surely The Lord is near, who justifies. 23

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) www.wels.net Pastor Principal Rev. Stephen Luchterhand Mr. Michael Wieting Cell: (602) 377-0940 Cell: (608) 617-7040 Email: stephenluchterhand@gmail.com Email: wieting1@hotmail.com Regular Worship Schedule Sundays at 9:00 am Mondays at 6:30 pm Welcome to Trinity In the name of Jesus Christ, we welcome you to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. We especially welcome our guests who have joined us today. If you have any questions during your time with us today, please ask an usher for assistance. If you would like to know more about our church, our teachings, our Christian school (grades K-8), our preschool (3-4 year old) or the studies and programs offered at Trinity, please introduce yourself to our pastor. He would be delighted to speak with you and serve you in whatever way he can. Our mission at Trinity Lutheran Church is to teach the Word of God, to train believers for lives of Christian service, and to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to the Northwoods community and to the world. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church & School 8781 Brunswick Road Minocqua, WI 54548 (715) 356-2255 E-mail: Trinity@trinityminocqua.org Website: www.trinityminocqua.org 24