Advent Conspiracy: Give More The gift God gave of God s self is the best gift in human history. The most powerful, memorable gift you can give to someone else is yourself. Welcome! Welcome to the season of Advent! As we prepare for the season of Christmas, Easter Lutheran Church will celebrate Advent with a fourweek 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: Give More December 10, 2017 8:30 & 10 a.m. Easter Lutheran Church to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ Prelude: Of the Father s Love Begotten arr. Carter Ben Kornelis, piano 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: In this stillness, we are inspired by the season of Advent. All: We conspire to believe that God s word is never broken. Leader: In Christ is life, and the life is the light of all people. All: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it. Leader: The Spirit of God is here among us, All: conspiring with us. Leader: God says, Comfort, comfort now my people. All: And we say, Amen. Advent Antiphon: & b œ œ œ œ œ œ Straight shall be what long was crook ed, and the rough er plac es plain. & b œ œ œ œ œ œ Let your hearts be true and hum ble, as befits God's ho ly reign. & b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ For the glo ry of the Lord now on earth is shed a broad, &b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w and all flesh shall see the to ken that God's word is never bro ken. 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. 2
Gathering Hymn: Come, Thou LongExpected Jesus Hymnal #254 & bb 1. 2. & bb & bb & bb Come, Born peo yet let now hope rule ev fi œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ thou thy ple free; a king; us thy of in 'ry cient find gra long ex peo ple all all our cious the our na tion, mer it pect ed to de from born our to rest in kingdom earth hearts Je liv thee. bring. fears reign thou a sus, er, and in born born sins us to a re for set child, œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ joy raise of us lease ev thy and œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ us; er, Israel's strength and con so la tion, By thine own e ter nal Spirit œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ art, lone; ev to dear by 'ry long thy glo de sire of thine all suf & bb œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ing rious heart. throne. 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. 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. 4 Prayer of the Day Be with us, God of peace, as we give ourselves away. Remind us that you said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Strengthen our spirits, that we will not grow weary in doing what is right. Holy is your name! Amen.
Anthem: Let Us Not be Weary Kornelis Easter Choir Jeff Shepherd, soloist Let us not become weary of doing good, For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Galatians 6:910a; Micah 6:8b Children s Message Word JAM Kids! You can go to the Fellowship Hall now to join your Small Group. Have fun learning about Jesus! Lesson: Acts 20: 35 (NRSV) In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. L: The word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song Lesson: Galatians 6: 710 (NRSV) Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvesttime, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. 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: Matthew 2: 112 (NRSV) In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage. When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage. When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. L: The gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ. Sermon: Pastor Rolf Jacobson Hymn of the Day: Brightest and Best of the Stars Hymnal #303 6 continued on next page
Hymn of the Day: Brightest and Best of the Stars 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 Baptism (10:00) Victoria Eva Crouse, daughter of Joshua & Vanessa Crouse. Her sponsors are Jandra Kober and Randall Wick. Lucas Cocker, son of Kraig Cocker & Samantha Nelson. His sponsors are Mitchell Nelson and Kimberly Linnell. P: Let us speak together words of welcome to our new sister and brother in Christ. C: We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ! 7
Prayers of Intercession Each prayer petition will conclude: Pastor: Lord, in your mercy, Congregation: Hear our prayer. 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: Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us Hymnal #707 NEW! TexttoGive Simply send a text message to 6514193775 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. 8
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. The Great Thanksgiving All are invited to receive these gifts of God. Children are welcome to come forward for a blessing. Children who have received instruction are welcome to commune. 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. You comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer, through whom you will also make all things new in the day when he comes to judge the world in righteousness. 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: Communion today is by intinction the dipping of the wafer in the wine. Please come to one of the stations, as directed. Glutenfree wafers are at the back of the sanctuary near the sound booth. 9
Holy, Holy, Holy Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. Words of Institution 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 10 Augsburg Fortress, 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert
Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service Hymnal #712 11
Each Winter As the Year Grows Older Hymnal #252 Prayer after Communion Blessing Sending Dismissal Postlude: Come, Thou LongExpected Jesus arr. Carter Ben Kornelis, Piano 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 Ushers: Dale & Geni Perry David & Shirley Beil Dean Hoffrogge Steve Moon Readers: Barbara Johnson Dean Hoffrogge Communion setup: Renee Farlee Becky Briggs Communion: Brice & Shirley Erickson Tim & Darci Dawson Kim Johnson Ryan & Catherine Ford David Unmacht Nursery: Megan Palmer Megan Palmer Lauryn Miller Liturgist: Barb Tjader Barb Tjader Sound: Dave Montgomery Tim Dawson Live Streaming: n/a Jared Dawson Easter Lutheran Church Ministers: All the members of Easter Pastors: Kristen Capel, Brandon Newton, Rolf Jacobson, Steve Thomason 4200 Pilot Knob Road (Hill) Phone: 6514523680 4545 Pilot Knob Road (Lake) easter.org to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ