BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD First Sunday in Advent

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH Louisville, Kentucky November 29, 2015 WELCOME TO WORSHIP WELCOME to all our guests. It truly is a pleasure to have you with us today. In order to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, please allow us to answer some common questions about our church and our worship services. Our restrooms are located off the church entryway on either side of the drinking fountain. Baby changing stations are available in both restrooms. We encourage children of all ages to participate in our worship services. So, please don t be afraid to bring them into the service. However, we also realize that children can become restless. We have a nursery room with toys, books, chairs, and other items that you can use to help calm your child. Our ushers will be glad to direct you to the nursery room at any time. Our entire worship service is printed in this booklet. The order of service that we use is a version of the historic liturgy that the Christian Church has used for centuries. Explanations of the various portions of the service are included in footnotes within the service. If at any time during the service you have a question, please feel free to ask someone sitting near you for help. We are more than happy to assist you in any way we can. Headsets are available for those who desire assistance hearing the service. Please speak to an usher to obtain a headset if you would like to use one during the service. Before you leave today, please sign our guest register. It is located on the lectern in the church entryway. If you have any other questions, please feel free to speak to our pastor. Our ushers and greeters also stand ready to assist you. God bless your visit. We hope to see you again soon. Acknowledgements Worship materials contained in this service folder are reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net A-702363 and CCLI License #3039838. Scripture passages marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved. Scripture passages marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Cover artwork by Ian M. Welch. Copyright 2014 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. Divine Service II: Copyright 2008 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Advent Gathering Song: Copyright 1995 by GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Psalm 24: Copyright 2006 John Reim. All rights reserved. Used by permission. 2

A NOTE TO ALL OUR GUESTS During this service, we will celebrate the Lord s Supper. Since this sacrament is the Lord s Supper and not ours, we are careful to follow our Lord s instructions. In particular, we take to heart these important truths: 1. In the Lord s Supper, Jesus truly gives us his body and blood together with the bread and the wine. Jesus says, Take and eat; this is my body Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood (Matthew 26:26-28). 2. In the Lord s Supper, we express a unity of faith with one another. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf (1 Corinthians 10:17). 3. Our Lord urges us to practice this unity with great love and care. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself (1 Corinthians 11:27,29). Because we take these truths seriously, we invite all communicant members of our congregation or of a sister congregation in the Wisconsin Synod (WELS) or the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) to commune with us today. However, we ask that those who are not members of a sister congregation refrain from taking the Lord s Supper with us at this time. In doing this, we are not judging anyone s faith. Out of love for our Lord and all people, we simply desire to discuss the Bible s teachings with our guests before communing together. We want all who commune to receive the Lord s Supper for their benefit and in a way that follows our Lord s instructions. If you have any questions about this or any other teaching of the Bible or if you would like information about how to join our congregation please feel free to speak to our pastor. 3

DIVINE SERVICE II PREPARATION Personal Prayers for Worship are found on pages 10-11 in the front part of the hymnal. A Personal Preparation for Holy Communion is found on page 156 in the front part of the hymnal. Out of courtesy to your fellow worshipers, please silence all electronic devices before the service. ADVENT GATHERING SONG Words and music by James J. Chepponis The cantor will sing the refrain once. The congregation will then sing the refrain continuously as the cantor sings the verses. Cantor verses: 1. Our Redeemer forever, oh come. 2. We are clay, you are potter, oh come. 3. Rouse your power to save us and come. 4. God will strengthen us always, so come. 5. Stay awake and be watchful, oh come. 6. The appointed time will come. INVOCATION 1 M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: (spoken) Amen. 1 The name of the triune God and the sign of the cross remind worshipers of their baptisms. 4

CONFESSION OF SINS M: Our Savior Jesus Christ commanded Baptism when he said: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. All of us are born into this world with a deep need for Baptism. From our parents we inherit a sinful nature; we are without true fear of God and true faith in God and are condemned to eternal death. But Jesus took away our sin by giving his life on the cross. At our baptisms he clothes us with the robe of his righteousness and gives us a new life. Our sinful nature need not control us any longer. We recall what Baptism means for our daily lives as we speak these words: C: Baptism means that the sinful nature in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and desires be put to death. It also means that a new person should daily arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. M: As baptized children of God we confess our sins: 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. 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. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM M: In obedience to the command of our Lord and trusting in his promise, you have brought this child to be baptized. Jesus told us: Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. It is in Baptism that God grants the new life of forgiveness, joy, and peace to little children. By the power of God s Word, this gracious water of life washes away sin, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. M: Receive the sign of the cross on the head and heart to mark you as a redeemed child of Christ. The minister applies water as he says: Ezra Mitchell Burmeister, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Almighty God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has forgiven all your sins. By your baptism, you are born again and made a dear child of your Father in heaven. May God strengthen you to live in your baptismal grace all the days of your life. Peace be with you. 5

Please stand. EXHORTATION M: Brothers and sisters in Christ, our Lord commands that we teach his precious truths to all who are baptized. Christian love therefore urges all of us, especially parents and sponsors, to assist in whatever manner possible so that Ezra may remain a child of God until death. If you are willing to carry out this responsibility, then answer: Yes, as God gives me strength. C: Yes, as God gives me strength. M: Let us pray. Merciful Father in heaven, we thank you for the blessing of Baptism by which you offer and grant the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Help us to regard our baptisms as the robe of righteousness we are to wear all the days of our lives. Look with special favor on Ezra and grant him a rich measure of your Spirit that he may grow in faith and godly living. Make us willing to carry out our responsibilities to those who have been baptized, so that all of us may finally come to the blessed joys of heaven, through Jesus our Lord. C: Amen. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES M: 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: We remember Jesus, who will come at the end of time. None of us know 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. One Advent candle is lit. 6

PRAYER OF THE DAY 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: (spoken) Amen. Please be seated. The Word 2 FIRST LESSON Isaiah 64:1-9 God s people yearn for the coming of the Lord. 1 If only You would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence 2 as fire kindles the brushwood, and fire causes water to boil to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that nations will tremble at Your presence! 3 When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains quaked at Your presence. 4 From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened, no eye has seen any God except You, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him. 5 You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right; they remember You in Your ways. But we have sinned, and You were angry. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? 6 All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. 7 No one calls on Your name, striving to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity. 8 Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands. 9 LORD, do not be terribly angry or remember our iniquity forever. Please look all of us are Your people! (HCSB) 2 We gather at Jesus feet and hear his Word in Lessons from the Old and New Testaments and in the sermon. 7

PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 24 Setting from Christian Worship: Supplement SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 God will strengthen us to wait until he returns. 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God for you because of God s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, 5 that by Him you were enriched in everything in all speech and all knowledge. 6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly 8

wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (HCSB) VERSE OF THE DAY Revelation 22:20 Alleluia. He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Alleluia. Please stand. 3 GOSPEL Mark 11:1-10 The Lord comes to his people. M: The Gospel according to Mark chapter 11. C: (spoken) Glory be to you, O Lord. 1 When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples 2 and told them, Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone says to you, Why are you doing this? say, The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away. 4 So they went and found a young donkey outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, 5 and some of those standing there said to them, What are you doing, untying the donkey? 6 They answered them just as Jesus had said, so they let them go. 7 Then they brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their robes on it, and He sat on it. 8 Many people spread their robes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One! 10 The coming kingdom of our father David is blessed! Hosanna in the highest heaven! (HCSB) 3 The congregation stands and speaks words of acclamation out of respect for the words of Christ, our King. 9

M: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: (spoken) Praise be to you, O Christ. Please be seated. CHILDREN S MESSAGE The children of the congregation are invited to come to the front of the church for the children s message. HYMN OF THE DAY The King of Glory Comes CW 363 SERMON Please stand. 10

APOSTLES' CREED 4 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. Please be seated. OFFERING 5 Please stand. 4 This ancient statement of our Biblical beliefs summarizes what Christ s apostles taught about our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 5 In response to God s love, we bring him our offerings. 11

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH 6 M: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs, saying: Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. M: Dear Jesus, You told Your disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field. We need faithfully trained men and women to serve Your Church in so many different ways. C: Bless and direct those who teach and those who learn in our seminary and colleges, so that together we can boldly bear witness to the love of God in Christ Jesus. M: Heavenly Father, Your Word calls us to live holy lives lives set apart for Your purposes. Work among us by Your Holy Spirit; work through Your Word and Sacraments to enlighten us and keep us in the faith. C: Grant us grace to live out, Monday through Saturday, the things we hear on Sunday. M: As we begin the holy season of Advent, rend the heavens and come down, O Lord. Prepare us to celebrate anew the miracle of Your incarnation. C: Let us be faithful witnesses to the true reason for the Christmas season of celebration and goodwill. M: Lord of life, we intercede for those who are sick or suffering. [Today we particularly remember.] In the midst of their trouble, be the rock to which they can always go. C: Enable them to wait upon You to renew their strength, and in Your time, grant them relief. M: Guide and direct those who make, administer and interpret our laws. Protect us from danger and grant us strength in times of trial or temptation. Jesus, thank You for the unconditional love, the unfailing mercy and the everlasting life You won for us on Calvary. C: Blessing and honor and glory and might be Yours, Savior now and forever! M: Receive our thanksgiving for all those who have departed this life trusting in the Savior. C: Bring us to share with them the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Special prayers and intercessions may follow. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer. 6 We go to God with our prayers and requests, confident that he will hear and answer us in the way he knows is best. 12

M: Into Your hands, heavenly Father, we commit all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy for the sake of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. The Sacrament 7 PREFACE 8 M: The Lord be with you. C: (spoken) And also with you. M: Lift up your hearts. C: (spoken) We lift them up to the Lord. M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: (spoken) 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, who comes with his Father to make his home in human hearts, working repentance and faith by his Spirit until he comes again. Therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song: 7 Having been fed by Jesus Word, we prepare to feast on his true body and blood in the sacrament of Holy Communion. 8 The words of the Preface mark the beginning of the Sacrament section of the service and lift the worshipers hearts in praise. The opening sentences are among the oldest in the Christian liturgy. 13

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY 9 Sung to the tune of CW 19 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 10 M: Blessed Lord, we praise you because you have fulfilled what you promised through your holy prophets of long ago and have sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us. We give you sincere and humble thanks for your Son s gracious advent: He has come near to us in human flesh, redeeming the world from darkness; He comes near to us in Word and sacrament, giving us life and light; He will come near in glory, banishing forever the shadows of night. As we receive his body and blood, once given and poured out for us, lift up our hearts to the day when we will see our Redeemer face-to-face. Then we will need no light, nor lamp, nor sun, for the Lord will be our light. Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord s death until he comes. Come, Lord Jesus. C: (spoken) Amen. 9 Used possibly as early as the second century, this canticle was in wide use among Christians in worship by the fourteenth century. 10 Jesus took bread and gave thanks (Matthew 26:26). 14

LORD S PRAYER 11 C: 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. WORDS OF INSTITUTION 12 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. M: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: (spoken) Amen. 11 We pray the prayer that Jesus taught us. 12 As he speaks the Words of Institution, the minister both proclaims the words of Jesus to the congregation and sets apart the bread and wine for the Lord s use. The sign of the cross reminds us of Christ's death. See Matthew 26:26-28 and 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. 15

LAMB OF GOD 13 13 Jesus is God s Lamb, who was offered as a sacrifice for sin once for all. 16

PRAYER OF PREPARATION 14 C: Lord Jesus Christ, you call to yourself all those who labor and are heavy burdened, to refresh them and to give rest to their souls. Let us also experience your love at the heavenly feast, which you have prepared for your children on earth. Remove the spotted garment of our flesh, and adorn us with the garment earned by your blood. Strengthen our faith, increase our love, and bring us safely to your heavenly table, where we will feast with you forever. Amen. Please be seated. DISTRIBUTION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER Guests, please read and take note of the explanation of our communion practice on page 3 in this worship folder. If you have any questions about this or any other Bible teaching, please feel free to speak to the pastor after the service. We thank you for your help. 14 Jesus wants us to be properly prepared to receive his Holy Supper. Therefore, all those intending to commune today join in praying a prayer of preparation. 17

DISTRIBUTION HYMN Rise, Arise CW 30 18

DISTRIBUTION HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates CW 3 19

Please stand. SONG OF SIMEON 15 Sung to the tune of CW 93 M: We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that you have given us to eat and to drink in this sacrament. Through this gift you have fed our faith, nourished our hope, and strengthened our love. By your Spirit help us to live as your holy people until that day when you will receive us as your guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: (spoken) Amen. 15 Through God s Word and Sacrament, we have seen Jesus Christ, and like Simeon we find divine peace and comfort through faith in the Savior. 20

BLESSING 16 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: (spoken) Amen. CLOSING HYMN Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers CW 7, st. 4 16 The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God s people for over 3,500 years. The Lord said, So they will put my name on [them], and I will bless them (Numbers 6:27). 21

4200 Shenandoah Dr. Louisville, KY 40241 (502) 423-1211 www.hopelouisville.net Steven Lange, Pastor