THE BRIGHT STAR OF BETHLEHEM Star of nity Christmas Cantata The Love of God at Christmas Our Savior Lutheran Church Newton, Iowa December 15, 2013
OR SAVIOR LTHERAN CHRCH Missouri Synod www.oursavlutheran.com Email: oursavr@iowatelecom.net Office Phone: 641-792-1084 Reverend John M. Moore, Pastor Email: pastorjmmoore@iowatelecom.net Cell Phone: 521-3000 Rev. Dr. Fungchatou & Kalia Lo, Our Missionaries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Rev. Carl & Chen Hsi Li Hanson Our Missionaries, Hong Kong, China Third Sunday in Advent December 15, 2013 We have a hearing assistance system. Contact an usher if you would like to use a personal receiver. Welcome to Our Savior Lutheran Church! We thank God you are here and pray that God s Word will speak to you today. Guests, we hope you will join us often as we gather around the Word. We want to know how we may serve you, so please sign the guest book. Also, please introduce yourself to those around you and to the Pastor. Those desiring to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament at the Altar, please review both sides of the Communion Registration Card in the pew before. If you are in agreement you may hand it to our usher as you come for communion. Those Serving This Week Celebrant: Elder: Organist: Praise Band Leaders: Choir Director: Media Team Lay Readers: shers: Greeters: Altar Guild: Acolyte: Bulletin Assembler: Pastor John Moore Randy Ervin Joy McGinley Sarah & Emma Glenn Julia Dlouhy Rachelle Tipton Carole Zimmermann Jim Krizman & Steve Shelton Tim & Linda Glenn Mary Ervin Jake VanDalen Steve Shelton Attendance 12/8 94 Elders at Our Savior Chairman Doug Ringger Secretary Rick Hartz Charities Bill Rozendaal shers/music Gary Gerdts Altar Guild Gary Gerdts Lay Readers/Greeters Randy Ervin 2
THE BRIGHT STAR OF BETHLEHEM STAR OF NITY Christmas Cantata The Love of God at Christmas Third Sunday in Advent - December 15, 2013 CALL TO WORSHIP P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of creation, C Shine now and enlighten the whole world! P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of hope, C Shine now and heal hopeless hearts! P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of unity, C Shine now and gather us all as one! P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, light of joy, C Shine now and bring your gladness! P Shine now, Bright Star of Bethlehem, and bring your light and your life to us! C Amen. HYMN OF PRAISE Come, We, Now to Worship the Lord LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH P Today we light the third candle of our Advent wreath. As we light this candle, we pray for peace and unity in our deeply divided world. (The first candle.) P At the dawn of creation, God said, Let there be light! C Advent Lord, shine your light on us! Alleluia! (The second candle.) P When Jesus came, hope was born! C Advent Lord, shine your light on us! Alleluia! (The third candle.) P The light of Christ brings unity to our world. C Advent Lord, shine your light on us! Alleluia! PRAYER OF THE DAY P Jesus, Bright Star of Bethlehem, as we gather in worship this day, we pray for the deeply divided world in which we live. Shine your light on us and lead us to actively work for the unity you came to bring, for you are our One Lord and in your name we pray. C Amen. 3
OLD TESTAMENT READING Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. NEW TESTAMENT READING Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. GOSPEL READING John 17:20-26 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. HYMN O Little Town of Bethlehem CHILDREN S SERMON OFFERING CHRISTMAS CANTATA The Love of God at Christmas Created by Joel Lindsey, Sue C. Smith and Russell Mauldin Arranged and Orchestrated by Russell Mauldin Christmas Is the Love of God with the Love of God God s Love Medley The Love of God / O Little Town of Bethlehem / Joy to the World! / Angels We Have Heard on High King of Love The Saints and Angels Song 4
More than Wonderful You Make this Night Divine with Silent Night! Holy Night! The Love of God with O Holy Night! LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION CLOSING HYMN Let the earth now praise the Lord By Tim Runtsch. Children s sermons by Megan Barone. 2013 by Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved. Printed in the SA. 5
Lord, Teach us to Pray Remember in your prayers... More than 10,000 people who feared dead and thousands more who have lost their homes in the wake of the typhoon in the Philippines. Max Hodges, who now resides at the Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Darlene Seibert, Amanda Hartz s mom, as she has started radiation. Roger Holst, ongoing health concerns. The Ministry of the Hephzibah House. Rod Brouwer of the Ministries of Grace Without Borders. The Ministry of The Pregnancy Center of Central Iowa. Fungchatou & Kalia Lo, Pastor Jesse and Pastor Sarath, Our Missionaries to Cambodia. Carl & Chen Hsi Li Hanson, Our Missionaries to Hong Kong, China. Ed Strohschein, Business Manager for LCMS World Mission - Asian - Pacific. The Malaria Initiative and the end of Malaria deaths in the world. Jon & Julie Muhly, Our Missionaries in Eurasia 6
This Week at Our Savior... Sunday (15).............. 9:00am Choir Cantata Service........................ 10:30am Sunday School & Adult Bible Study........................ 11:45am Council Meeting........................ 3:30pm Christmas Caroling & Chili Supper Tuesday (17)............ Bulletin Deadline Wednesday (18)........... 6:00pm LWML Packaging food for St. Nick s........................ Christmas Club at American Legion........................ 7:00pm Star of nity Service Thursday (19)............ 9:00am Ladies Bible Study Friday (20)............... 6:30am Bible Study @ Midtown...................... Chronicler Deadline Sunday (22).............. 9:00am Children s Christmas Service........................ 10:30am Sunday School & Adult Bible Study Happy Bir thday December 17th Mya Hartz December 19th Brenan Auen December 18th Heather Tisdale December 21st Beth Stout Darren Corso Happy Anniversary December 19th Ron & Julie Dlouhy 7
Announcements BILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES Reflecting on a birth mother who chose adoption for her unplanned child, someone said, She put the needs of her child above the wants of her heart. The pregnancy counseling and adoption ministry of LFS has witnessed this selfless act of love on the part of hundreds of birth families over the years. If you know of a friend or family member who is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, help them connect with an LFS counselor to talk about their options. Be their link to a positive future. All services to birth families are provided at no cost, thanks to the support LFS has from its owners the 296 LCMS congregations and their members in Iowa. Lutheran Family Service of Iowa -7177 Hickman Rd, Ste. 3, DM, IA 50322 (515-251-4900) LIFE QOTES Christmas is also for the unborn. The Savior has come also for the children yet living in their mothers wombs. The Gospel message is addressed also to our youngest brothers and sisters. In fact, we can say it is addressed especially to them, because they are the most helpless. Father Frank Pavone, Priests for Life - A Life Quote is from Lutherans For Life - www.lutheransforlife.org ASK AND YO SHALL RECEIVE What a blessing OSL members are to the St. Nicks Christmas Club. I would like to inform you that we have received over $3000. We will be helping over 40 kids this year. That s a record for us! Many thanks for donations received, prayers that were said, elves that are helping with the shopping including Elf Gail for her bargain shopping. Well Done OSL. FOOD PANTRY We are collecting food items for the local food pantry. These 3 items are particulary needed year round: Ramen noodles, tuna and macaroni & cheese. READY-SET-RECYCLE I hope you are still turning in your ink cartridges and other items. As of March, $26,000 had been raised. These funds are being used to support and prepare for the upcoming National LWML Convention, which will be held in Des Moines in June of 2015. LEND A HELPING HAND On Wednesday, December 18th, 6:00 p.m., at the American Legion Hall they will be packaging food for the St. Nicks Christmas Club. A sign up sheet has been posted in the narthex if you would like to help with this project. Thank You. LWML Faith Society LWML FAITH SOCIETY There will be no LWML meeting Monday, December 16th, instead we will be packaging food for the St. Nicks Christmas Club on Wednesday December 18th, 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. PHILIPPINES TYPHOON RELIEF Go to http://www.lcms.org/disaster to learn more about donating funds. Your gifts for Disaster Response provide a constant resource of funds that can instantly be made available to help those in need. 8