Populus Zion. Calendar. The Second Sunday in Advent December 6, Statistics. Stewardship Bulletin Sentence

Calendar Populus Zion Monday 12/7 Wednesday 12/9 12:00pm Table Talk 6:00pm Supper: hosted by Council 7:00pm Vespers Council (following service) 8:30am Divine Service Sunday School following service Next Sunday 12/13 The Second Sunday in Advent December 6, 2015 Statistics 45 38 Last Sunday Morning: Midweek Advent: October Income: October Expenses: Loss Communicants: 40 6,317.75 6,791.83 (474.08) Year to Date Income: 74,594.43 Expenses: 72,882.68 Gain 1,711.75 Praise the Lord! Stewardship Bulletin Sentence Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28. When the world starts to fall apart, when things go badly, when nation rises against nation Jesus tells us to lift up our heads because redemption is nigh. What a wonderful reminder that we Christians really do have nothing to fear! Jesus has conquered and He will deliver the full victory to us in His Second Advent. Therefore we are free to live godly, generous, faithful lives here and now: for we have nothing to be afraid of. Stewardship Bulletin Sentence: Courtesy of LCMS.org About the cover: Elijah s Ascent in Chariot is a woodcut by Gustav Doré. Permission to use this image is limited to non commercial purposes. Courtesy of www.scholia.net Saint John Lutheran Church LCMS 504 Wallace Avenue (PO Box 64), Curtis, NE 69025 stjohn.curtis.ne@gmail.com 367 4238 Rev. Derrick C. Brown 367 6625 pastor.dcbrown@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook/stjohncurtis Sermons: www.stjohncurtis.podbean.com!... look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28 NKJV

Divine Service (Setting Three, page 184 ff.) Because the eating and drinking of our Lord s body and blood in an unworthy manner may cause the Lord to discipline us, (1 Corinthians 11:27 28) and because partaking in the Lord s Supper is a public confession of the faith which is taught at this altar, the Lord s Supper is offered only to those who have been adequately instructed in the teachings and practices of this church and are able to examine themselves. Those who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, are asked to first speak with the Pastor before coming to the Table of our Lord. We consider it a privilege to offer a class of instruction for those unfamiliar with what we believe, teach, and confess. Introit Opening Hymn: #355 O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide Confession and Absolution (page 184) The Psalmody Psalm 50:1 15 (the Gloria Patri is sung, pg. 186) Kyrie (page 186) the Gloria in Excelsis is omitted during Advent Salutation and Collect of the Day Readings from Scripture Malachi 4:1 6 Romans 15:4 13 Luke 21:25 36 Apostles Creed (page 192) Hymn of the Day: #336 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending Sermon Offertory (page 192 ff.) The Offerings The Litany (page 288 ff.) Preface and Proper Preface (page 194) Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy Lord s Prayer (spoken by all) The Words of our Lord Agnus Dei Lamb of God (page 198) Distribution Distribution Hymns: #333 & #354 Nunc Dimittis Song of Simeon (page 199) Salutation Benedicamus Benediction Closing Hymn: #353 Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring

Populus Zion The Second Sunday in Advent INTROIT Ps. 80:1, 3, 14, 17; antiphon: Is. 62:11b; 30:30, 29 Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes. The LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard, and you shall have gladness of heart. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see. But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes. The LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard, and you shall have gladness of heart. COLLECT OF THE DAY Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. VERSE Luke 21:26b 27 Alleluia. The powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Alleluia.

Notes on the Season and the Service The word advent is derived from the Latin words, advenire (to come to) and adventus (an arrival). That we might be prepared to celebrate the blessed Feast of the Nativity of Christ our Lord, the Church has set aside the season of Advent as a time to reflect and meditate upon the coming of our Lord Jesus in the Flesh, through His Word and Sacraments, and on the Last Day. Advent is also a time of preparation for Christ s coming through repentance and faith. Due to the penitential nature of Advent, we therefore abstain from the Gloria in Excelsis, for as is the case with all fasting in Christendom, we give things up to subdue our flesh and to enhance our joy in them when they return. For indeed, the time will come when we shall fast no more. This season also affords us the opportunity to confess our faith by means of the Apostles Creed, the most ancient of the Three Ecumenical Creeds. And as we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, we make use of the Litany to focus our prayers upon the tender mercies of God: that He sent His own Son into the world that we might not perish, but have eternal life. The Second Sunday in Advent is also known as Populus Zion, which, in Latin, means: people of Zion (The ESV translates as daughter of Zion ). This is the opening phrase of the Introit appointed for the Church s worship today. Say to the daughter (people) of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes. (Isaiah 62:11b). In the Gospel, our Lord speaks of that great Day when He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

Announcements Birthday blessings to everyone with a December birthday! The Lord bless and keep you the whole year through. Church decorating for Christmas will follow service today. The church Council will meet Wednesday evening after service. Please note the date and time change. Gospel Notes is a new weekly Bible study, designed specifically for the laity, which focuses upon the upcoming Sunday s lesson. Copies may be found on the table located near the nursery. If you would like to regularly receive a copy, please request so on the sign up sheet located on the same table. Around the Word. If you would like to to regularly receive these devotions, please request so on the sign up sheet located on the small table near the nursery. Please sign up even if you are currently receiving these devotions. The Lutheran World Relief insert is provided by the ladies of the LWML. The Sunday School Christmas concert will be held during the Sunday morning service on Dec 20. In our Prayers: For Restoration to Health: Luella Glaze For Our Homebound and Those in Nursing Facilities: Lisa Ehlers and Helen Nelson If you wish to have a prayer concern added or removed, please contact Pastor Brown.