Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. This is the holistic approach God had in mind for both Advent and Christmas. It s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. Welcome! Welcome to the season of Advent! As we prepare for the season of Christmas, Easter Lutheran Church will celebrate Advent with a four-week sermon series called Advent Conspiracy. As a community of faith, together we are encouraged to live outside of mainstream consumerism and embrace Christmas as a time to WORSHIP FULLY, SPEND LESS, GIVE MORE, and LOVE ALL. For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:49) Parents, you can find canvas activity bags for your children in the back of the sanctuary. For infants up through age three, the nursery is available. Thank you for joining us today. We welcome you! You are also invited to take an Announcements sheet here at Easter, or visit easter.org for events & activities (Announcement sheets are posted weekly under Events & News). Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully November 26, 2017 8:30 & 10 a.m. Easter Lutheran Church to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ Prelude: Nun danket alle Gott - Kaufmann Ben Kornelis, organ Greetings and Announcements As Jesus did, we welcome children of all ages as integral members of the body of Christ, and we welcome the sounds and activity that accompany them! Thank you Parents/Grandparents for bringing your children to worship! Gathering Confession and Forgiveness Pastor: In the darkness of winter s advent, we wait for a star. Congregation: We are people who have walked in the dark. P: We live in a land of deep darkness. C: Because in God s light we can see all light. P Sometimes, though, we forget about the light. C: We forget to shine. We become stuck in the darkness of selfishness, pride, shame, and anger. Injustice and complacency become like shadowy friends. Yet, even in the darkness God s light calls to us and we seek God s shining forgiveness. We are sorry, God, for forgetting to shine. (silence for a moment of reflection) P: Jesus is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. So, in the bright and warm joy of shimmering stars, our shining sun, and the gleaming moon, receive God s complete forgiveness. Arise, shine: for your light has come! C: Let us be good light! Amen.
Advent Introit: Comfort, Comfort, Now My People Easter Choir Advent Litany: Leader: God says, Comfort, comfort now my people. All: And so, in the light of this candle we will take a moment to be still. Leader: We will take a moment to breathe together, which is what the word conspire really means; to breathe together. (Take a quiet moment to reflect.) Leader: All: Leader: All: it. Leader: All: Leader: All: In this stillness, we wait. We wait for the birth of Christ. We conspire to believe that peace has come to earth. In Christ is life, and the life is the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome The Spirit of God is here among us, conspiring with us. God says, Comfort, comfort now my people. And we say, Amen. Advent Antiphon: &b &b &b &b œ œ œ œ œ œ "Com - fort, com - fort now my peo - ple; tell of peace!" So says our God. œ œ œ œ œ œ Com - fort those who sit in dark - ness mourn - ing un - der sor - row's load. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ To God's peo - ple now pro-claim that God's par - don waits for them! œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w Tell them that their war is o - ver; God will reign in peace for -ev - er. The Sharing of the Peace is a way of demonstrating hospitality and grace with others. Please understand if some people choose not to shake hands while sharing the Peace for health reasons, but simply greet you with a smile. Sharing of the Peace Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Congregation: And also with you. Gathering Hymn: Open Your Ears, O Faithful People Hymnal #519 2 continued on next page
Open Your Ears, O Faithful People continued Greeting: Leader: Congregation: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Kyrie continued on next page 3
Kyrie continued Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. continued on next page Advent Antiphon: œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w O come, O Day- spring. come and cheer; œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w O sun of jus - tice, now draw near. œ œ œ œ œ w œ œ w Dis - perse the gloo - my clouds of night, œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w and death's dark shad - ow put to flight. œ w œ w Re - joice! Re - joice! œ œ œ œ œ w œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w Em- man - u - el shall come to you, O Is - ra- el. Prayer of the Day Be with us, God of peace, as we worship. Fill our songs with truth. Guide our lives with love. Send us out, building peace. Holy is your name! Amen 4
Children s Message Word JAM Kids! You can go to the Fellowship Hall now to join your Small Group. Have fun learning about Jesus! God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song Lesson: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NRSV) Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. L: The word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Lesson: Philippians 2: 9-11 (NRSV) Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. L: The word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation: œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w O come, O Wis - dom from on high, œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w em - brac - ing all things far and nigh: œ œ œ œ œ w œ œ w in strength and beau - ty come and stay; œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w teach us your will and guide our way. œ w œ w Re - joice! Re - joice! œ œ œ œ œ w œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w Em- man - u - el shall come to you, O Is - ra- el. 5
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-56 (NRSV) In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. L: The gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ. Sermon: Pastor Rolf Jacobson Hymn of the Day: My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness Hymnal #251 6 continued on next page
Hymn of the Day: My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness continued Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Father is a specific and accessible image of God that Jesus gave us. Jesus did not limit God to this image. References to God as Creator, Parent, Mother, Counselor can be equally as helpful and valid. Another translation of catholic church is church universal Prayers of Intercession Each prayer petition will conclude: Pastor: Lord, in your mercy, Congregation: Hear our prayer. 7
The offering is an act of worship. We give ourselves, our time and resources as a symbol of our love and appreciation for God s grace, and our investment in God s work through this church. Offering of Gifts Meal Offering Hymn: Accept, O Lord, the Gifts We Bring Hymnal #691 NEW! Text-to-Give Simply send a text message to 651-419-3775 with the amount you would like to contribute (example: 25). Within a few minutes, you ll be sent a text with a link to register. We hope you enjoy this new way to share your generosity, and thank you for supporting the ministries of Easter Lutheran Church. Presentation: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymnal #885 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heav nly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Offering Prayer God of peace, we wait with hushed breath for Jesus s birth. For the sake of the world, you became flesh to bring the riches of your grace. As you have blessed us with your gifts, let us be blessings for others. Be in our worship, give us wisdom, and help us to share all that we are. With the trees of the field, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 8
The Great Thanksgiving All are invited to receive these gifts of God. Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Children are welcome to come forward for a blessing. Children who have received instruction are welcome to commune. Communion today is by intinction - the dipping of the wafer in the wine. Please come to one of the stations, as directed. Gluten-free wafers are at the back of the sanctuary near the sound booth. Holy, Holy, Holy Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. Words of Institution 9
Lord s Prayer 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. Distribution Lamb of God Augsburg Fortress, 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert My God, How Wonderful Thou Art Hymnal #863 10
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty Hymnal #413 Prayer after Communion Sending Blessing Dismissal Postlude: Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir - Pachelbel Ben Kornelis, organ 11
Download the Easter Lutheran Church App now! The App features: A weekly podcast by the Easter pastors, based on the upcoming weekend theme The weekend sermons from both sites, along with Grow Guides and some accompanying videos Resources that point to other podcasts and websites recommended by Easter s pastors and staff Questions? Contact Cindy Wilson at cwilson@easter.org or 651-452-3680 Did you pick up your Announcements? The Announcements tell you what s going on at Easter in the coming weeks. They can be found at the doors to the sanctuary. Check it out! Visit easter.org for details Serving Today 8:30 10:00 Greeters: Lowell & Kathy Bahrke Ushers: Paul Rasmussen Gary & Judy Englund Larry Hegle Randy Olson John & Rebecca Schmidt Readers: Katrina Johnson Bruce Gaard Communion set-up: Lynn Carlson Melinda Backman Communion: Dave Unmacht Tim & Darci Dawson Nursery: Megan Palmer Megan Palmer Brooke Gray Liturgist: Kim Johnson Kim Johnson Sound: Bruce Gaard Jared Dawson Live Streaming: n/a Sue Seidl Easter Lutheran Church Ministers: All the members of Easter Pastors: Kristen Capel, Brandon Newton, Rolf Jacobson, Steve Thomason 4200 Pilot Knob Road (Hill) Phone: 651-452-3680 4545 Pilot Knob Road (Lake) easter.org to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ