St. Paul Lutheran Church In Jesus name, Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with God. St. Paul is an open, affirming, and inclusive church, welcoming all who seek God. 515 South Wheaton Avenue - Wheaton, Illinois - 630-668-5953 Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:30 a.m. December 24, 2017 Word Made Flesh
Welcome to St. Paul Visiting today? We are glad you are here! Stop by the Welcome Center and receive a sweet gift. Please write your name and other information on the yellow welcome card. There are multiple areas and resources designed for children to participate in worship according to their needs, including but not limited to: a Children's Message at the start of worship, Rainbow Bags with quiet toys, and an attended Nursery on the lower level of the building for 0 to 3-yearolds. Additional info about resources for parents and kids is on the "Children at St. Paul Wheaton" laminated page posted at the outside aisle-end of your pew. Assisted listening headphones are available for those having difficulty hearing. Members, please wear your name tag. Extras are located in the pew racks. About Worship We follow an ancient pattern through the liturgy (which literally means the work of the people ). Some parts of the service may change each week, but there is a consistent flow: praising God, hearing God s word, offering our prayers and gifts, celebrating communion, and being sent into the world for service. The format remains fairly constant, but the style will vary widely. Sometimes we sing with the pipe organ, and the ministers chant. Sometimes we worship accompanied by piano, guitars, drums, violins, flutes or whatever our folk play. We range from Bach to blues, because we know that different styles connect to different people. So we all worship together, and change the style every few weeks. It s one of the ways we minister to and with each other and build community. Thank you for being part of our worship and community today! *At the asterisk, stand as you are able. P: Presiding Minister A: Assisting Minister L: Lector C: Congregation ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) page numbers are printed in the lower corners in the front portion of the hymnal. Hymn numbers are large numbers printed beside hymn titles in the rest of the book. Serving Today Presiding Minister Pastor Jared Olson Assisting Minister Mina Kerr Director of Music Carl Heine Lector Stacie Pierce Communion Deacon Greg Born Bread Hosts Warren & Jill Ludvigsen Crucifer/Acolytes Sherri, Marina & CJ D Agostino Greeters Pat Pape, Tom & Marilyn Dashiell Ushers Warren Ludvigsen, Bud Kridk, Rita Hansen, Ron Diener Welcome Center Pat Pape Altar Care Charlie & Cathi Boone Counters Carlo D Agostino, Chuck Taylor, Nancy Wilen
Preparing to Worship Prelude Lo, How a Rose arr. B. Blume Welcome Children s Message Pastor Jared Pastor Jared *Entrance Hymn: As the Dark Awaits the Dawn (v. 4) ELW, #261
*Entrance Rite and Blessing of Advent Wreath P: We praise you, O God, for this circle of light that marks our days of preparation for Christ s advent. As we light the candles on this wreath, kindle within us the fire of your Spirit, that we may be light shining in the darkness. Enlighten us with your grace, that we may welcome others as you have welcomed us. Grant this through Christ our Lord, whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. C: Amen Repeat Entrance Hymn, v. 4 Gathering Together in Worship *Confession and Forgiveness P: Most merciful God, C: we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. P: Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C. Amen.
*Prayer of the Day P: Loving parent, you have given us the immeasurable gift of the Word made flesh. May his light abide within us as we strain with anticipation toward the fulfillment of your promise in this holy season. In Jesus name. C: Amen. Responding to the Word of God *Gospel Acclamation Return to the Lord Re turn to the Lord, your God, re - turn to the Lord, your God, who gra -cious and mer-ci - ful, slow to an-ger and a -bound-ing in stead-fast love. *The Gospel John 1:1-18 P: The Holy Gospel according to John. C: Glory to you, O Lord. 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of
blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me. ) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father s heart, who has made him known. L: The Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ. Sermon Pastor Jared *Hymn of the Day Let All Together Praise Our God (vs. 1, 2, 5, 6) ELW, #287
*Christmas Creed I believe in Jesus Christ and in the beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem. I believe in the one whose spirit glorified a little town; and whose spirit still brings music to people all over the world, in towns both large and small. I believe in the one for whom the crowded inn could find no room, and I confess that my heart still sometimes wants to exclude Christ from my life today. I believe in the one who the rulers of the earth ignored and the proud could never understand; whose life was among common people, whose welcome came from people of hungry hearts. I believe in the one who proclaimed the love of God to be invincible: I believe in the one whose cradle was a mother's arms, whose modest home in Nazareth had love for its only wealth, who looked at people and made them see what God's love saw in them, who by love brought sinners back to purity, and lifted human weakness up to meet the strength of God. I confess my ever-lasting need of God: The need of forgiveness for our selfishness and greed, the need of new life for empty souls, the need of love for hearts grown cold. I believe in Jesus, the son of the living God, born in Bethlehem this night, for me and for the world. *Prayers of the People After each petition of the prayers: A: Creator God. C: Hear our prayer. *Passing the Peace P: C: The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. P: Let us share the peace.
Offering He Whom Shepherds Once Came Praising arr. C. Heine *Offertory Response *Offertory Prayer A: As John testified to the light, so we bear witness to your grace through our worship, our service, and our giving. Accept these offerings of our hearts and lives; bless us and all those who receive them, for the sake of your dearest son. C: Amen.
*The Great Thanksgiving Sharing the Eucharistic Meal P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise. P: It is indeed right... join their unending hymn. *Sanctus *Eucharistic Prayer
P: Lord, here us as we pray *The Lord s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. The Distribution of Communion The body and blood of Christ are present in this sacrament, for the forgiveness of sin and the strengthening of faith. All people are welcome to share in this meal with us. Parents, if you have a young child who receives communion, please indicate that when the minister comes to you. Those who do not receive communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing; simply keep your hands folded. Come forward and receive the bread from the minister. Gluten-free wafers are available. The gold chalice contains wine; you may drink directly from the cup or dip your bread into the wine. The pottery chalice contains non-alcoholic grape juice, which you may receive by dipping your bread into the juice. Return to your seat by the side aisles. If you would like communion brought to you, simply let an usher know. Agnus Dei Lamb of God
Music During Communion Three Moves for Marimba, #2 P. Lansky Hymn: Of the Father s Love Begotten ELW, #295
*Post-Communion Prayer A: God for whom we wait, in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day when the hungry will be fed with good things. Send us forth to make known your deeds and to proclaim the greatness of your name, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen. *Post Communion Canticle Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers (v.4) ELW, #244
Going Out into the World Sent by God Announcements *Benediction P: The God of all grace, bless you now and forever C: Amen. *Sending Hymn: People, Look East ELW, #248
*Dismissal A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Postlude Three Moves for Marimba, #1 Marimba: Will Richards Soloist: Olivia King Dancers: Abby Olson, Caroline DeMay, Sasha Baumgartner, Grace Campbell, Anne Campbell Thank you to the following who gave poinsettias that beautify the sanctuary today. George & Marianne Avery Elsie Bitterman Bob & Renee Cabay Lillian Danielsen Eric & Patty Fess Kevin & Michelle Harvey Bud & Anne Krick Warren & Jill Ludvigsen Carolyn Lukens Dan & Vanda Marsh Mike & Jean Nass Bob Polzin John Thorse Terrie & Diana Troxel Joseph & Susan Valecka John & Lori Whitnell