3461 Merle Ave Modesto, CA 95355 (209) 551-0563 www.stpetermodesto.org W The Third Sunday in Advent DECEMBER 17, 2017 Ready to Receive elcome! Thank you for joining us for worship this morning. We gather for worship so that we can receive from God the good news of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus is at the center of our faith and our lives. Without him we have nothing. With him we have everything. Welcome Worshiper Cards are located in the book racks. Please fill one out and place it in the offering plate later in the service. Restrooms are located in the entryway. Two Nursery-Rooms are available in the entryway for parents with small children. Footnotes throughout the worship folder help explain the different parts of the service. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP The word Advent means "coming." Christ came in the flesh in the past. Christ comes in Word and Sacrament in the present. Christ will come in glory in the future. During this season get ready for all three of his advents among us. Today we are reminded that Christ is the Light of the world and brings light to the world. Light can bring destruction (like fire) or warmth and gladness (like the sun). Therefore, we must listen to what God's Word says about the Jesus and firmly put our trust in him. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP O Lord our Maker, Redeemer, and Comforter we are assembled in your presence to hear your holy Word. We pray that you would open our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that through the preaching of your Word we may repent of our sins, believe in Jesus, and grow day by day in grace and holiness. Hear us for Jesus sake. Amen. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Flowers adorning our altar this morning are given to the glory of God by Renda Barnett praising God for his blessings and mercy. Minister: Pastor Dan Schroeder Pianist: Karen Adams Flute: Linka Schroeder French Horn: Bob Fromuth Cantors: Judith Winsor and Jason Toepel The following were reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-706579: Advent Gathering Rite - text & tune: James Chepponis; 1995 GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Magnificat - setting: Marty Haugen; 1990 GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Artwork by Ian M. Welch. Copyright 2015 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. paramentics.com The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV ) copyright 2017 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org
ADVENT SEASON IN HISTORY Advent (the word means coming ) as a season of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus originated in France. Its observance was general by the time of the second Council of Tours in 567 AD. In some places, six or seven Sundays were included. (We observe four Sundays in our church year calendar today. It was probably not until the thirteenth century that Advent was universally recognized as beginning the Christian year, which up to that time had begun with the Festival of the Annunciation in March, or in some places, with Christmas. While Advent never attained the severely penitential character of Lent, it has always been regarded as a season of solemn anticipation and of spiritual preparation and purification. We do well to observe a threefold advent Jesus coming in the flesh, his return on Judgment Day, and his regular coming to his people through the use of the Word and Sacraments. The seasonal color is blue, meaning hope. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE * Minister: We light three Advent candles remembering Jesus, the Light of the world. He came to defeat the prince of darkness. Congregation: John proclaimed him the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. M: We light three Advent candles as a sign of our trust and confidence. C: We hear his call to see the light. M: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. C: Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed. * The Advent Wreath is a combination of two very common symbols: light and the fir tree. From the early centuries of Christianity it has been the practice to represent Christ by a burning candle. The fir tree has a long history of religious use. No doubt the Advent Wreath was suggested by the Christmas tree. It seems that the Advent Wreath originated a few hundred years ago among the Lutherans of eastern Germany. A wreath of evergreens, made in various sizes, was either suspended from the ceiling or placed on a table. Four candles representing the four Sundays of Advent were fastened to the wreath. Eventually the use of the Advent Wreath became widespread and moved also from the home into the church. The general symbolism of the Advent Wreath lies in the growing light of the wreath, increasing each week as we approach the birthday of Jesus Christ. The color blue (three of the candles) symbolizes our hope and expectation at the coming of the Christ hope both in the Christchild in the manger and in Christ's second coming in glory at the end of time. A rose (or pink) candle is often used on the third Sunday (today), historically observed as Gaudete (Rejoice!) Sunday, as a reminder that Advent is also a time of joy. The fifth candle is white. It is lighted on Christmas Day and symbolizes the perfection and purity of God s gift his Son. 1
ADVENT GATHERING RITE The minister will sing the refrain one time and the congregation will then sing the refrain. The minister will sing the verses and all will sing the refrain where indicated. The name Emmanuel, a name for Jesus, is a Hebrew word that means God with us. M: Refrain Refrain For the spirit of God has... Refrain Tell of the freedom to captives, and... Refrain For God s justice and praise will... Refrain We rejoice in the Lord, and... Refrain The Almighty works marvels, so Refrain Oh make straight his way and... Refrain 2
CONFESSION OF SINS AND ABSOLUTION M: The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. (Psalm 146:8) C: They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. (Isaiah 35:2) M: Standing before the majesty and glory of our God, we confess our sinfulness to him. C: I confess before you, O Lord, that I am sinful. I have failed to treasure your Word and as a result I have lived for myself instead of living my life for you. You intend your Word to shine forth light, yet, at times, I choose to live in darkness. Therefore I confess my sin and lay it all before you by faith in my Savior Jesus Christ who suffered, died, and rose for me. Receive me according to your merciful promise, grant me your forgiveness, and cleanse my heart that I may enter into your gracious presence with joy as your redeemed child. M: Greatly rejoice in the LORD; for he clothes us with garments of salvation and covers us in a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10 adapted). Upon this, your confession, I as a called servant of Christ, and by his authority, announce the grace of God to all of you. In the place and by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. 3
GLORY TO GOD M: The works of the Lord are great and glorious! His name is worthy of praise! Minister: Refrain Congregation: Refrain Refrain Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father. Congregation: Refrain We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Congregation: Refrain Lord Jesus Chris, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the father: receive our prayer. Congregation: Refrain For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Congregation: Refrain 4
PRAYER OF THE DAY The Prayer of the Day is a brief but significant prayer which is usually related in thought to the Gospel or Second Lesson for the day, and its chief function is to prepare the mind for the lessons. With an unbroken use of nearly fifteen centuries by multitudes of believers in all lands, the Prayer of the Day constitutes an important part of the liturgical inheritance of the church. Our prayer this morning has been prayed in Christian churches on the Third Sunday in Advent for over 1,200 years. M: Let us pray. Hear our prayers, Lord Jesus Christ, and come with the good news of your mighty deliverance. Drive the darkness from our hearts and fill us with your light; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. PRESCHOOL PROGRAM See Insert 5
PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 89 God s people sing because God kept the promise made to King David The cantors will sing the verses of the psalm. The congregation will sing the refrain with the cantors. Cantors: Refrain I will sing of your love all my days, O God, your faithfulness is forever. You are love everlasting and compassion stronger than the sky. The heavens proclaim your wonders; the stars above tell of your love. Where is there an equal? What god can compare with you? O God, how your people rejoice in you! You call us forth to share your light. In your name we find our joy and your justice will be our song. I have sought and found my servant; with holy oil I will anoint you. My hand will always be watchful; my arm will be your strength. All will sing and proclaim to me: My God, my rock, my safety. I will honor my promise; my love will always be with you. 6
HYMN OF THE DAY Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel Christian Worship #23 stanzas 1-3 Since the 6th century AD, Christians have joined in singing what are called the Great O Antiphons during the season of Advent. Each one of these seven verses consists of a title given to Christ in the Old Testament and a petition asking him to come and fulfill the Scriptural promise or prophecy. The name Emmanuel means God with us. This morning in our worship we sing four of the Great O Antiphons (one at the close of the service). Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel! Oh, come, O Day-spring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel! Oh, come O Root of Jesse, free Your own from Satan s tyranny; From depths of hell your people save, And bring them vict ry o er the grave Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel! SERMON Matthew 1:18-25 Great News for Joseph, Great News for All! This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us ). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. The Hymn of the Day is assigned to this day because of its rich content and connection to the day s Gospel Lesson. 7
SONG OF MARY (MAGNIFICAT) Based on Luke 1:46-55, Martin Luther considered this song one of the most magnificent statements of faith in all the Scriptures. The Magnificat is the song of the faithful church as she waits quietly for the fulfillment of the word of promise. The Magnificat became part of the worship service in the 1st century AD. It has been sung at Vespers (an evening service) in the Western church since the 6th century at least. Lutherans carried the Magnificat into Vespers, where it still occupies a prominent place today. 8
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER OFFERING The members of St. Peter congregation have joined together to do the Lord s work in this community and around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH AND LORD S PRAYER M: Sovereign Master, Creator of everything on which we draw for sustenance and life, you alone give us cause to hope and reason to rejoice. We lift up our voices in praise of your unfailing goodness. Nowhere but with you is perfect constancy. In your holy revelation we have discovered the basis for our inner peace. C: In you at last our hearts may rest secure. You neither fail us nor forsake us. Our restless hearts find rest in you. M: Draw to the comfort of your unfailing love the hurting and the ill, all those who mourn, and the fearful. We pray for all whose desperate state is unknown to us, especially those who keep their critical needs hidden from our eyes and bear them in silent, crushing secrecy. C: Lead them to know that they do not walk alone, that there is a helping and sustaining hand, a friend. What they cannot share with us let them share with you. M: As we prepare for the coming of the very Son of God, give each of us the courage to make straight the pathways of our lives and to sweep clean the corners of our hearts so that the King may find in us a welcome home. C: And since there is no power in us to renovate our soiled and sinful hearts, we seek to wash ourselves clean in the blood of the very Lamb whom we prepare to welcome. Special prayers and intercessions may follow. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer. M: Provide wisdom and vigor and perseverance to the president of our nation, the president of our church body, teachers, doctors, police, and military personnel, and any who bear the burden of leadership and service. C: Our prayer is brought before you in the name of Jesus, our hope, our Savior, our Friend, and our heavenly Guest. Amen. 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. 9
HYMN 1. Hosanna to the coming Lord! Hosanna to the incarnate Word! To Christ, Creator, Savior, King Let earth, let heav n hosanna sing. 3. O Advent King, our sins forgive; Come in our lives and hearts to live, And let our humble souls become A temple worthy of your name. Hosanna to the Coming Lord Christian Worship #21 2. O Savior, with protecting care Abide in this your house of prayer, Where we your parting promise claim, Assembled in your sacred name. 4. Then in the last and dreadful day, When earth and heav n shall melt away, Your flock, redeemed from sinful stain, Shall swell the sound of praise again. PRAYER AND BLESSING M: O almighty God, you have moved us to joy because of the gift of a Savior. Sustain us in his joy that we may not give in to despair. Build us up in hope so that we may share with others the joy and peace of our Savior. Help us to remain holy and blameless until our Lord comes again; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness. 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. CLOSING HYMN Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel Christian Worship #23 stanza 4 Oh, come, O Key of David, come, And open wide our heav nly home. Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel! 10