6:30 pm 8:30 am Orders of Worship December 7 & 8, 2013 (See a separate bulletin for 10:45) At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the light of Christ's coming. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more hurt or destruction. From the Lord's table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 508 Center Street Ashland, Ohio 44805 telephone 419-289-2126 web www.trinityashland.org e-mail trinity@trinityashland.org trinitylutheranashland
WELCOME TO TRINITY! We are glad you are here at one of our FOUR WORSHIP SERVICES this weekend, each centered around the same scriptures but with four different musical styles. THIS BULLETIN contains information for the 6:30 p.m. Saturday night folk service and the 8:30 a.m. traditional service. A SEPARATE BULLETIN lists the two 10:45 a.m. Sunday services, one a festive setting here in the sanctuary and the other a praise worship in Jack s Place, our new fellowship hall. We invite you to turn to the insert in this bulletin for HELPFUL INFORMATION for visitors and members alike, such as restrooms, child care and service participants. WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENT sheets are available at the doors or from a host or usher and are available online at www.trinityashland.org. SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for all ages are Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. See the hallway information board or a Sunday School host for class listings and locations. SATURDAY NIGHT 6:30 FOLK COMMUNION December 7, 2013 - Second Sunday of Advent We gather to sing at 6:20 p.m. though the musicians practice beginning at 6 p.m. You are welcome to come as early as you like to prepare for worship. The service is on the screen, or you may use the blue books distributed by the host families. This evening we use Setting Six from the ELW for a Service of Holy Communion. It begins on page 165 of our red book. ALL BAPTIZED BELIEVERS ARE WELCOME TO COMMUNE. Please sign a communion card from the pew rack if you have not done so yet this year and hand it to the person who directs you forward to the communion rail. Communion is by INTINC- TION. After you receive the wafer, dip it in the goblet of wine or grape juice and partake. GLUTEN FREE WAFERS are available at each station. Please indicate your desire to the communion deacon. CHILDREN who do not yet commune are invited with their families to the altar rail to receive a blessing. You are encouraged to join in the singing of the hymns and to respond Amen as the elements are received. GATHERING SONGS E2 Jesse s Great Delight E7 I m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing C2 Here Comes Jesus G10 God Leads Us Along CONFESSION / ADVENT CANDLE - see pg. 4 > LESSONS - Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 SERMON - Pastor Sanford C. Mitchell WHEN HEARING THE BAD NEWS IS VITAL OFFERTORY SONG K25 Because He Lives COMMUNION SONGS B2 B7 E3 E8 Given and Shed For You Welcome Table Drawn to the Light Peace in the Valley SENDING SONG C22 Soon and Very Soon 2
SUNDAY MORNING 8:30 WORSHIP December 8, 2013 - Second Sunday of Advent This BULLETIN contains the order of our worship. The red Evangelical Lutheran Worship in the pew racks contains liturgy in the front, and hymns listed below in bold numbers in the back. PAGES 91-93 provide interesting background information on the pattern of our worship. LARGE PRINT BULLETINS of this service are available from the ushers. OUR LITURGY is based on Setting Three, which begins on page 138 of the ELW, but also includes several traditional additions for the Advent season. + + + GATHERING + + + The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God. GATHERING MUSIC On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry - based upon Kristina Langlois Mark Koehler, organ WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS *GATHERING SONG Prepare the Royal Highway ELW 264 *Please stand, as able. *GREETING, CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS +The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism. Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, our life, our mercy, our might. Amen. As we await the day of the Lord, let us confess our sin. Silence is kept for reflection. Great and Holy One, In this time of waning daylight, we confess the shadows of sin in our lives. We build ourselves up at the expense of others. We rely on our own efforts to make our lives secure. Yet you, O Lord, are the potter, and we are the clay. Come to restore us in your image, remake us into your people, and rebuild what sin has broken, that we and the whole creation may rejoice. Amen 3
Fear not, people of God: the Almighty has done great things for us. God casts away our sin from us and makes of us a new creation. In + Jesus Christ, God comes to set you free. Take heart in the tender compassion of our God. Amen. *LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH / CANTICLE OF LIGHT Prayer by Candlelight - Martin Kral (2010) Cantor sings Refrain first time, then All repeat two can - dles two can - dles Cantor sings Stanza 1, then All repeat Refrain 1. Oh, how it flickers reminding me how You came to bring light to brighten my days. And oh, how the wax melts reminding me how my sins will be melted away. Refrain LEADER: (After Refrain, as two candles are lit) 6:30 Nicolaus & Lisa Schwan 8:30 Joel & Kathryn Tooman, Benjamin, Caroline 10:45 John & Donna Ferguson, Ashley Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. John the Baptist calls all people to prepare the Lord's way for the kingdom of heaven is near. Bless us as we light two candles on this wreath. Baptize us with the fire of your Spirit, that we may be a light shining in the darkness welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us, for he is our light and our salvation. Blessed be God forever. Amen 4
PASTOR: Let us pray. Cantor sings Stanza 2, then All repeat Refrain 2. Oh, how the flame burns reminding me how Your free gift of love can warm me inside. And oh, how the smoke climbs reminding me how My prayers are lifted up high. Refrain Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection alert us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and redeem us for your life of justice, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen Please be seated ANTHEM Prepare the Way, O Zion - Mary Kay Beall Sonrise Singers Ron Marenchin, director SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM - Jaida Rose Duffey, Starrlynn Duffey & Jaiden Carson Duffey + + + WORD + + + God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching and song. FIRST READING Isaiah 11:1-10 Pew Bible, OT pg. 710 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 5 6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM 72:1-7,18-19 Read responsively Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the king s son. 2 That he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice; 3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, and the hills, in righteousness. 4 Let him defend the needy among the people, rescue the poor, and crush the oppressor. 5 May he live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another. 6 Let him come down like rain upon the mown field, like showers that water the earth. 7 In his time may the righteous flourish; and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more. 18 Blessed are you, LORD God, the God of Israel; you alone do wondrous deeds! 19 And blessed be your glorious name forever, and may all the earth be filled with your glory. Amen. Amen. SECOND READING Romans 15:4-13 Pew Bible, NT pg. 170 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; 10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; 11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; 12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." 6
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. *GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Lord, to Whom Shall We Go? pg. 142 *GOSPEL Matthew 3:1-12 Pew Bible, NT pg. 3 The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Please be seated SERMON WHEN HEARING THE BAD NEWS IS VITAL Pastor Sanford C. Mitchell 7
HYMN OF THE DAY On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry ELW 249 PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION After each portion of the prayers: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. OFFERING Love, Peace, and Joy - John Leavitt Mark Koehler, piano *CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING People, Look East [STANZA 1] ELW 248 Please stand and sing the first stanza of this French carol as the offering is presented. *THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD pg. 220 Luther held that the Word and Sacraments were central in our worship. On Sundays when we do not celebrate the Sacrament of Communion, we thank God for the gift of the Word which we have received. The prayers conclude either: For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise. or:...be honor and glory forever. Amen. *LORD S PRAYER pg. 221 *BLESSING + + + SENDING + + + God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. *SENDING SONG Soon and Very Soon ELW 439 *DISMISSAL Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. *PASSING OF THE PEACE NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 all services will meet in the Worship Center in Jack s Place for A Christmas Suite, our 29th annual Christmas musical presented by the Trinity Choir and Orchestra as part of the morning s worship service. It will last a little longer than an hour. Please invite your family and friends to join you!