Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 357 Division Street Elgin, IL 60120 Phone: 847.742.2025 Radio Broadcast on WRMN 1410AM on Sunday at 9:30am Website: www.holytrinityelgin.com Angels Among Us: Do Not Be Afraid 4 th Sunday of Advent December 24 th, 2017 9:30am Make Ready A People: More Love (Our Advent services are designed to draw you in and help you contemplate the impact of the angels visiting someone who never expected to be part of God s plan. We hope that you will experience the peace and the power of this beautiful season of the church year.) (Please silence your cell phone) We Gather Gathering Music Love Came Down at Christmas Irish Carol, arr. Allanson Brown Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them. Matthew 18:20
(Please stand as you are able) Angels from the Realms of Glory 1 Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o er all the earth; once you sang creation s story, now proclaim Messiah s birth: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king. 2 Shepherds, in the fields abiding, watching o er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king. 3 Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar; seek the great desire of nations, you have seen his natal star. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king. 4 All creation, join in praising God, the Father, Spirit, Son, evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king. 2 (Please be seated) Welcome and Announcements Gathering P We gather for worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen Confession and Forgiveness P We make our confession. C God, we have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors. Forgive us. P Born that day was love for all of us! We are forgiven. C Thanks be to God. Silent Night arr. Max Reger Marge Malmquist Prayer P Let us pray. C Holy Living God, Blessed Jesus, Guiding Spirit, alight within us your flame of love this day. Grant us openness to hear your message. Grant us courage to be your messengers in the world, creating more love. Amen 3
Entrance of the Advent Candle Light One Candle sung by Hannah & Nathan Kolakowski, Cody & Blake Hammer We Proclaim God s Word Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20 P The sky was brighter than usual that night, making it easier to keep track of the sheep. And then it got really bright. You would have thought that all that glory shining would have been the sign. That s what most of us look for great big obvious clues about God s presence. But instead, the angel says that a baby a newborn helpless baby in a feeding trough was it God s sign that more love is possible for all of us. Hear the angels sing; Christ is coming! Hear them tell of the Savior s birth. Hear the angels sing; Christ is coming! Glory to God, and peace to the earth. Alleluia! Angels sing! Alleluia! A Savior is born, alleluia! Christ is coming. All of heaven and earth, adore. Hear the angels sing; Christ is coming! Hear them tell of the Savior s birth. Hear the angels sing; Christ is coming! Glory to God, and peace to the earth. The First Noel 1 The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, on a cold winter s night that was so deep. Refrain Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel. 2 They looked up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Refrain Text: English traditional Text: Robin Cain 1999 Robin Cain, admin. Augsburg Fortress 4 5
Sermon Pastor Jeff Mikyska (Please stand as you are able) The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came 1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came, with wings as drifted snow, with eyes as flame: All hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary, most highly favored lady. Gloria! 2 For know a blessed mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honor thee; thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, most highly favored lady. Gloria! 3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head; To me be as it pleaseth God, she said. My soul shall laud and magnify God s holy name. Most highly favored lady, Gloria! 4 Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born in Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn, and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say: Most highly favored lady. Gloria! Text: Basque carol; para. Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924 Creed P We confess our faith. C We believe in one God, who is Creator, maker of all we see and all we don t see. Who is Ruler of the universe: Source of all creation! We believe in one God, who is Jesus Christ, God from God, Light from Light, true God and true human. He is one with the Creator; the Word made flesh, our Messiah: Savior of all creation! We believe in one God, who is Holy Spirit, Breath of God moving among us; Who is one with the Creator; one with the Christ; our Comforter and our Guide: Mentor of all creation! (Please be seated) Surely the Presence Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can feel the brush of angels wings, I see joy on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. 6 7
Young Messengers Message Deaconess Andrea Delaney Offering Music Noel: Chartres Nicolas LeBegue (Please remain seated) Offering Response To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One, praise, honor, might, and glory be from age to age eternally. Amen. Text: Latin hymn, 9th cent.; tr. Hymnal 1940, alt. Text 1940 Church Pension Fund, admin. Church Publishing Incorporated. All rights reserved. Prayers of the People The assisting minister will end each prayer petition with: A Lord, in your mercy, C hear our prayer. The prayers will end with: P We raise our prayers to you, O God, in the name of the one who is, who was, and who is to come, Jesus Christ our Lord. C Amen Amen, amen, amen. Meal P You sent your Son, Jesus - your messenger-made-flesh to dwell among us. Through Jesus you gave birth to your church and sealed a new covenant by water and the Spirit. On the night in which Jesus gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, 8 9
C gave it to his disciples, and said: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to God, gave it to his disciples, and said: Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. As we anticipate the birth of hope anew, we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. The Lord s Prayer P Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us: 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 Communion Our table is open to all who wish to share in the sacrament. Non-communing children and adults are invited to receive a blessing. Please kneel if you are able or stand at the communion rail. If you would rather have grape juice, a wheat wafer or a gluten-free wafer, please let the communion assistant know. Communion Music Savior of the Nations, Come arr. Charles Ore Angels We Have Heard on High arr. Rebecca Owens (Please stand as you are able) Blessing after Communion P May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen us and keep us in his grace. C Amen 10 11
(Please turn and face the Light as it leads us out into the world) Sending Angels We Have Heard On High 1 Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Refrain Gloria in excelsis Deo; gloria in excelsis Deo. 2 Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav nly song? Refrain 3 Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king. Refrain Text: French carol; tr. H. F. Hemy, The Crown of Jesus Music, 1864 Benediction P Almighty God, Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us now and forever. C Amen Sending Forth the People of God P Go in peace and serve the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Sending Music On This Day Earth Shall Ring Piae Cantiones (1592) arr. Paul Manz Pastor Jeff Mikyska Organist Michael Fetzer Assisting Organist Luke Engen Assisting Minister Beth Quathamer Communion Assistants Ursula Digman, Michael Hanneman Bob & Julia Langlois Ushers Bill Fisher, Jessica Williams Dick Quathamer Greeter Pam Williams 12 13
The worship folders and radio broadcast are given by her family in honor of Kim Brant on her birthday. The radio broadcast is given by his dad & mom in memory of R. Todd Merkau. The radio broadcast is given by an anonymous donor. Christmas Worship Services Christmas Eve services will be held on Sunday, December 24 th at 2:00pm, 5:00pm (our children s service), and 11:00pm. Each service will have communion and candle lighting. Christmas Day worship will be held at 9:30am. 2018 Offering Envelopes The 2018 envelopes are ready to be picked up. They re on the counter in the Community Center. Please do not start using them until 2018. Ruth: Discovering Your Place Bible Study Color with friends. Be drawn into scripture. Struck by tragedy. On the fringes of society. Seizing upon hope. Ruth didn t wait for hope to arrive. She sought it out and grabbed hold of it. Compelled by need, animated by faith, she dared to leave the only land she knew. Ruth s resilience and resourcefulness offer a creative vision to navigate life s struggles. Deaconess Andrea will lead this Bible study beginning Wednesday, January 10 th at 10:00am. Books are $8. 14 15
16