The First Sunday in Advent
December 01, 2024
The First Sunday of the new Church Year
Jesus Is Coming Soon
Are YOU Ready for Him?
This morning we’re going to be observing two “beginnings.” The first is the beginning of a new “Church Year;” the second is the start-up of the pre-Christmas season known as “Advent.”
The Christian “Church Year”
The practice of observing a “Church Year” goes back to the earliest days of the Christian Church. The first Christians (most had been converts from Judaism) chose to continue some of the Jewish customs which had been a part of their religious background. One of those customs was to start their “calendar year” in the spring (rather than on January 1st, as we do today). By the 4th century, in what was at first an unrelated event, Christians living in Gaul (southern France) began to formally celebrate the Jesus’ birth on December 25th. Gradually, the celebration of Christ’s birth and the start of the Christian “worship year” were joined together. Subsequently, the beginning of the pre-Christmas season of Advent became the starting point for the new church year. That’s why our “Church Year” starts 4 Sundays before Christmas, rather than in the spring. The major divisions/seasons of the Christian Church Year (in order) are as follows: Advent; Christmas; Epiphany; Lent; Easter; and the Pentecost/Trinity season. The first five seasons collectively are also known as the “Festival” portion of the church year since nearly all of the “major” festivals (Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost) take place during them. The Festival portion covers, roughly, half the year – from December through May. The sixth portion of the church year (Trinity/Pentecost), accordingly, spans the other half of the year, from June through November. It is often referred to as the “Non-Festival” portion of the Church Year, owing to the fact that no major church-wide festivals take place during this time (the observances of the Reformation of the Church and Thanksgiving Day notwithstanding).
The Season of Advent – a brief history
The four week season of “Advent” that we’re also starting today developed out of an early Christian practice having to do with a period of fasting/penitence (which new confirmands were expected to undergo prior to their reception into the Christian fellowship on Epiphany [January 6th]). With the introduction of Christmas as a church festival, this period of penitence was placed before the celebration of Christ’s birth. Eventually it developed into a period of fasting and repentance for the entire church (although it was not intended to be as rigorous or as deeply penitential as the repentant behavior associated with the 40 days of Lent). At first the length of the season of Advent varied considerably, ranging from three to seven weeks. Over the years the season of Advent eventually became a firmly established period of four Sundays, concluding with Christmas Eve. By the 5th century, the first Sunday of Advent was officially recognized as the first day of the Church Year, a designation it holds to this day.
The Significance and Emphases of Advent
As with the season of Lent, the colors of Advent are violet/blue, symbolizing its penitential character. The term “Advent” is taken from a Latin word (“Advenio”) which means “I am coming.” Typically this season is used to focus the Church’s attention on three Biblical truths: (1) the coming [past] of Christ into the flesh, commemorated at Christmas; (2) the coming [present] of Christ to us on a continuing basis through God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper; and (3) the visible [future] coming of Christ in glory for judgement and deliverance at the end of time. Another of the “customary” emphases during Advent touches the three “Offices,” or roles, which the coming Christ will fulfill for His people: namely, the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. Old Testament prophecies (especially through Isaiah) pertaining to the coming and work of the Messiah are also routinely incorporated into the worship and study life of the Church during this period of the year. Additionally, congregations often use the time of Advent to study more carefully those portions of the New Testament Gospels which give us a record of the events immediately leading up to and heralding the Savior’s first coming to earth (notably, Luke 1 and Matthew 1).
Our Worship on this First Sunday in Advent
One special feature in this morning’s service – and it will continue throughout the Sundays in Advent – will be our “liturgical use” of one of our Lutheran Church’s traditional Advent hymns “Lift Up Your Heads You Mighty Gates” in place of the customary canticle-hymn “Gloria in Excelsis” (“Glory be to God on High”). It is printed out in the worship flyer. This hymn, incidentally, is based on today’s Psalm reading. Psalm 24 has traditionally been used in Christian churches on the First Sunday in Lent to usher in the Advent and Christmas seasons. It’s use on this Sunday goes all the way back to the earliest days of the Christian Church. A Messianic Psalm (pointing to the work of the Messiah), Psalm 24 emphasizes the importance of our being eager and ready to receive the “King of Glory” as He comes to us.
Today’s Children’s Lesson will remind us that just as we pack a suitcase when we’re getting ready to take a trip somewhere, so paying close attention to and believing in God’s Word helps us get ready to meet Jesus, prepared either for Jesus’ return (Judgment Day) or to die and go to heaven….whichever comes first for us.
In this morning’s Epistle Lesson Peter shows us a number of things related to the Day of the Lord (Judgement Day): 1) many people will scoff at that the Bible teaches about Christ’s return; 2) God will come, according to His own timetable; 3) [today’s emphasis] The last day will come when no one expects it, so Christians need always to be ready to meet Christ; 4) the existing heavens and earth will be laid bare; 5) God will bring into being a new heaven and a new earth; and 6) since the end is coming, we must heed God’s gracious warning to be prepared for Jesus return and our heavenly inheritance.
Today’s Gospel Lesson includes Jesus telling His followers that no one knows the exact day and hour of His return for judgement. Therefore, He stresses the necessity of their (and our) being prepared at all times for His inevitable return in glory. He goes from there into the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. In it the virgins represent all those who are members of the visible church. The Bridegroom symbolizes Jesus. All the virgins were aware that the Bridegroom was coming, but only half were prepared to meet Him. As members of Christ’s Church on earth, by the grace of God we are also aware that He is coming. Exactly when, we do not know. Therefore, lest we be caught off guard, may all of us always be prepared to meet our Maker, so that, when eternity does begin, we may be found “inside,” rather than “outside” the doors of the Bridegroom’s heaven.
Finally, our Sermon, based on Romans 13:11-14, will wrap our up study and application of what God’s Word tells us about being spiritually ready for the Redeemer’s return, first by urging us to be continually aware of the “nearness” of Christ’s return – due to the increase in wickedness in our world – and also by recognizing our need for regular repentance of our sins, and finally by daily depending on the merits and mercies of Christ for our eternal deliverance.
Situated in the front of the church, to the right of the lectern, you’ll find an “Advent Wreath.” It’s been our practice at Grace Lutheran to use an Advent Wreath during the Advent and Christmas seasons as a symbolic means for both preparing ourselves for the arrival of the Christ child and then joyously reflecting upon the arrival of that Savior. The following brief history and explanation of the Advent Wreath’s symbolism is intended to help you enjoy and benefit from this traditional Christian expression.
The Advent Wreath
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 also has a long history of religious use. One of the most popular themes for the medieval “mystery plays” revolved around the telling of the story of Paradise. In those plays, the Garden of Eden was typically portrayed by a fir tree hung with apples. In the Eastern churches (Eastern/Greek Orthodox) December 24th was celebrated as the Feast Day of Adam and Eve. The custom of putting up a Paradise tree in the home on December 24th, decorated with apples, came into Europe (and the Americas) by way of the East. In Germany there was also a custom of placing a lit Christmas candle on top of a wooden pyramid decorated with evergreen twigs. In time the wooden pyramid was replaced by the Paradise tree, decorated with apples and lighted candles.
No doubt the Advent wreath was suggested, at least in part, by the Christmas tree. It seems that the Advent wreath originated a few hundred years ago among the Lutheran Christians of eastern Germany. A wreath of evergreens, made of 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 wide-spread 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 the Light of the world.
The color of the candles in the Advent wreath is dictated by whatever emphasis a particular home or congregation gives to the season. While the emphasis may change somewhat according to the sermons, the traditional emphases in Advent are those of repentance and anticipation (the Sunday sermons are generally more “up-beat” and “joyous,” while mid-week sermons tend to be slightly more “sober” and “penitent” in character). That’s why the altar cloths and furnishings are in the color of purple (the traditional color of repentance) throughout the Advent season. It’s no wonder, then, that the prevalent color (three out of five) of the Advent wreath candles is purple.
The purple candle lit on the first Sunday in Advent is called “the Candle of Prophecy,” and symbolizes the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Savior. The second Advent candle (also purple) is referred to as the “Bethlehem Candle,” symbolizing the coming to earth of Jesus, the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. The Third Advent candle (pink or rose-colored) is the “Shepherd Candle” and represents the coming of the Savior into the hearts and lives of His believers through His Holy Word. The pink/rose color serves to remind us that a note of joy should also heard in this penitential season. The final purple candle is the “Angel Candle,” symbolizing the final coming of the Savior in glory with all His holy angels. The white candle at the center of the wreath is the “Christ Candle,” symbolizing the perfection of Christ, the fulfillment of prophesy, and the centrality of Jesus in our Advent preparations. This “Christ Candle” remains unlighted during Advent in anticipation of the birth of the Savior, the Light of the world. Advent’s penitent emphasis focuses our attention on our sins and the need for a Savior, but on Christmas Day we joyfully celebrate the birth of that Savior….and so we then light the white Christ Candle.
White candles also replace the purple and pink ones, and the purple altar cloths are replaced by white altar cloths with the arrival of Christmas Day. The wreath, now with all white candles, continues to be used until the Christmas Season officially ends with the arrival of Epiphany on January 6th. The white altar cloths continue to be used through the first Sunday of Epiphany. The colors then change to green.
A Word Of Welcome To Our Guests . . . Good morning and welcome to Grace Lutheran Church. We’re pleased that you’ve chosen to be a part of our worshiping assembly this morning. Whether you are a guest today or a member of this Christian family, your presence at this service is sincerely appreciated. It is our wish that the time you spend here will be enjoyable and spiritually edifying, and so it is our desire to serve you in the best way we can. If there is anything that we might do to assist you in your worship today, please speak with one of our Elders, Ushers, or our Pastor. They will be pleased to serve you in any way they can.
Following the worship service this morning, we invite you to join those around you for some coffee, refreshments, and good conversation during our fellowship period. If you are able, we would also be honored to have you remain after today’s fellowship time in order that you might further hear and study the Scriptures with us in one of our Bible Classes or Sunday School classes. And, we hope that you will come back soon to again praise the Lord with us. May God bless you and your worship of Him today.
About Our Worship Service . . . . . The order for our worship service is printed in this service bulletin. You will find that our worship is made up of three essential ingredients: praise, instruction from God’s Word, and prayer. We sing our praises to God for all of His gracious blessings. We receive instruction from His Word in our various Scripture Lessons and through the Sermon. Our prayers consist of expressions of our repentance for our sins, plus requests for God’s forgiveness, guidance, and continued blessings.
A few additional brief explanations of how we worship might be helpful. The congregation in worship (we are not part of an audience, but participants in the action of worshiping) generally is seated to listen to God’s Word and sing the regular hymns. The pastor faces the congregation when he is serving as God’s spokesman. He faces the altar both when he is serving in the capacity of the congregation’s spokesman, and when he joins the congregation as a fellow worshiper. One final note: Because Jesus is our Lord and King as well as our Savior and Redeemer, we customarily stand out of respect for the words of Jesus during the reading of the Gospel Lesson.
About Our Congregation . . . . . . . Grace Lutheran Church is a fellowship of families and individuals who have found the Lord Jesus Christ to be the only safe and reliable answer to all of life’s problems and critical questions. We are members of the WELS, or the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Wisconsin indicates the geographical origin of a group of Christians (organized in Milwaukee, WI in 1850) who believe, teach, and confess that the Bible is the inspired and error-free Word of God, and who are united in their efforts to proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. Evangelical declares that we believe and proclaim the great Gospel principles of the Bible that sinners are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone, on the basis of Scripture alone. Lutheran indicates that we hold to the historic Christian faith of Jesus Christ and the Apostles, almost lost to the Church at one time before God restored it through the Lutheran Reformation. Synod states that we are part of a gathering of over 1200 Christian congregations through-out the United States plus congregations in 23 other nations, all of which “walk together” for the express purpose of serving and sharing the Good News about our gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
A CHILDREN’S NURSERY is available to assist parents with small children during the worship hour. We encourage parents to bring children into worship whenever possible. This helps children learn why we come here each week: to praise God and to learn from Him. In addition, we know that the power of God the Holy Spirit in the written and spoken Word blesses the hearts and souls of little children, no less than adults. But for very young children the nursery is, at times, a necessity. When such situations occur, we encourage parents to take their children into our nursery to give him/her a few moments to become calm again. After that, we encourage you to return to the sanctuary to continue to worship and grow in God’s Word. The Nursery can be found in our second/rear seating area, behind the first door along the north wall. It is available to you at any time today.
Prayer in Preparation for Worship: Heavenly Father, please guide me in wisdom and truth through Your Holy Spirit, as I spend this hour meditating on Your Word and rejoicing in Your limitless love for me. Assist me in being attentive in heart and mind to Your Word, as well as to the hymns of praise, the various petitions, and the prayers of thanksgiving my voice directs toward You. Use this worship service, O Lord, to deepen my love for You, to strengthen my trust in You, and to renew my commitment to You. All this I ask for the sake of and in the name of Your One and only Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Pre-service prayer
Pre-worship music
We Praise Our God
The Greeting and Introduction to Worship
after the greeting, the Congregation will rise
Our Psalm for Today Psalm 24
P: The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.
C: for He has founded it upon the seas; and established it upon the rivers.
P: Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in His holy place?
C: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who does not lift up his soul to what is false And does not swear deceitfully.
P: He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
C: Such is the generation of those who seek Him, + who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
P: Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
C: Who is this King of glory? + The Lord strong and mighty, + the Lord mighty in battle.
P: Lift up your heads, O you gates; And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
C: Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord of hosts — He is the King of glory!
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 19 “O Lord How Shall I Meet You?”
1 O Lord, how shall I meet you, How welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you, My Hope, my heart’s Delight.
O Jesus, let your word be A lamp to light my way,
To show me how to please you, To guide me ev’ry day.
2 Love caused your incarnation; Love brought you down to me.
Your thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling That led you to embrace
In love, all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race!
3 Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted, Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o’er joys departed And tremble at your doom.
Despair not; he is near you, He’s standing at the door
Who best can help and cheer you And bids you weep no more.
4 Sin’s debt, that fearful burden, Let not your souls distress;
Your guilt the Lord will pardon And cover by his grace.
He comes, for you procuring The peace of sin forgiv’n,
His children thus securing A heritage in heav’n.
5 He comes to judge the nations, A terror to his foes,
A light of consolations, And blessed hope to those
Who love the Lord’s appearing. O glorious Sun, now come,
Send forth your beams most cheering, And guide us safely home.
Following the hymn, the Congregation will rise
We Confess our Sins to the Lord
Congregation – “O God our Father, + since You have set forth the way of life for us in Your Beloved Son, + we confess with shame + our slowness to learn of Him, + our failure to always follow Him, + our
reluctance at times to bear the cross for Him. + Forgive us the poverty of our worship, our frequent neglect of fellowship + and of the Means of Grace, + our hesitating and inconsistent witness for Christ, + our evasion of our responsibilities in Your service, + our imperfect stewardship of Your gifts. + Forgive us also, + that so little of Your love has reached others through us, + and that we have often been thoughtless in our judgments, + hasty in our condemnation, + grudging in forgiving others the way You have forgiven us, + and unwilling to serve our neighbors as we ought. + Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your unfailing love; + according to Your great compassion blot out our transgressions. + Wash away all our iniquity + and cleanse us from our sin. + Create in us pure hearts, O God, + and renew steadfast spirits within us. + Do not cast us from Your presence + or take Your Holy Spirit from us. + Restore to us the joy of Your salvation, + and grant each of us a willing spirit to sustain us.
Pastor – “Find comfort for your souls, then, in these words of our Lord: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will purify us from all unrighteousness, because we have One Who speaks to the Father in our defense —
Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” And now, upon this, your voluntary confession, I, because of my office as a called servant of God’s Word, announce the grace of God to all of you. And, in the place of, and according to the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God be with you. Amen.”
Pastor – Behold, people of God! Your King comes to you;
Congregation – He is just and brings salvation!
Pastor – Rejoice people of God! Your Lord Jesus Christ has appeared and fulfilled God’s promises of old for your comfort and salvation.
Congregation Let us receive Him in humility and give Him the praise He deserves.
1 Lift up your heads, you mighty gates! Behold, the King of glory waits.
The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here.
Life and salvation He will bring; Therefore rejoice and gladly sing.
To God the Father raise Your joyful songs of praise.
2 The King is born in poverty, His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness, His scepter, pity in distress.
The end of all our woe He brings; Therefore the earth is glad and sings.
To Christ the Savior raise Your grateful hymns of praise.
Redeemer, come! I open wide My heart to You; here, Lord, abide!
Let me Your inner presence feel, Your grace and love in me reveal;
Your Holy Spirit guide us on Until our glorious goal is won.
Eternal praise and fame We offer to Your name. Amen.
The Prayer For The First Sunday in Advent
Stir up Your Power, Lord Jesus, and come! + Protect us from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins. + Redeem us from the devil + whom You conquered by Your victory on the cross, + for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, + one God, for ever and ever. + Amen.
after which the Congregation will be seated
We Hear God’s Word
The Children’s Lesson Mark 13:32-33
32 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Watch! Be alert and pray, because you do not know when the time will come.”
Are You “Packed” and Ready to Go?
The Epistle Lesson 2 Peter 3:3-14
3 First, know this: In the last days scoffers will come with their mocking, following their own lusts. 4 They will say, “Where is this promised coming of his? For from the time that our fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have from the beginning of the creation.” 5 You see, what they are intentionally forgetting is that the heavens came into existence long ago by the word of God and that the earth came together out of the water and between the waters. 6 Through these waters the former world perished, when it was flooded with water. 7 And now, by that same word, the heavens and earth have been stored up for fire, since they are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: For the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to do what He promised, as some consider slowness. Instead, He is patient for your sakes, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be dissolved as they burn with great heat, and the earth and what was done on it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed, what kind of people ought you to be, living in holiness and godliness, 12 as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God? That day will cause the heavens to be set on fire and destroyed, and the elements to melt as they burn with great heat. 13 But according to his promise we look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, dear friends, as you look forward to these things, make every effort to be found in peace, spotless and blameless in His sight.
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 24:36 – 25:13
36 “No one knows when that day and hour will be, not the angels of heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father. 37 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man returns. 38 In fact, in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day that Noah entered the ark. 39 And they did not realize what was coming until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man returns.
40 “At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 So be alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: If the master of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 You also need to be ready for this reason: The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he returns. 47 Amen I tell you: He will put him in charge of all that he has. 48 But if that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will return on a day when he does not expect it and at an hour he does not know. 51 The master will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take any oil with them; 4 but the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, ‘No, there may not be enough for us and for you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were away buying oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the other virgins also came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, let us in.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Amen I tell you: I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
after which the Congregation will rise to join in confessing
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light. Very God of Very God. Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Sermon Hymn Hymn 206 “Wake Awake, for Night Is Flying”
1 “Wake, awake, for night is flying,” The watchmen on the heights are crying,
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!” Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices: “Oh, where are all you virgins wise?
The Bridegroom comes — awake! Your lamps with gladness take! Alleluia!
With bridal care Yourselves prepare To meet the Bridegroom who is near.”
2 Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is springing;
She wakes, she rises from her gloom, For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious; Her Star is ris’n, her Light is come.
“Now come, O Blessed One, Christ Jesus, God’s own Son. Hail! Hosanna!
The joyful call We answer all And follow to the wedding hall.”
3 Now let all the heav’ns adore you; Let saints and angels sing before you
With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone. Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where, dwelling with the choir immortal, We gather round your radiant throne.
No vision ever brought, No ear has ever caught Such great glory;
Therefore will we In victory Sing hymns of praise eternally.
After which the Congregation will remain seated for
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance, through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord. May the God of peace fill you with all joy in believing! Amen.
Sermon Text Romans 13:11-14
11 And do this since you understand the present time. It is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is drawing near. So let us put away the deeds of darkness and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let us walk decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual sin and wild living, not in strife and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give any thought to satisfying the desires of your sinful flesh.
The Alarm Is Ringing!
following the Sermon, the Congregation will rise for
The Post-Sermon Blessing
Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, to Him to glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!
We Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the Lord
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship. However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash, please) to our church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745); or
2) You can donate through our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
As the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation rises for prayer
-
-
Our Prayers for Each Other
Included in our prayers this morning:
A Prayer of Intercession on behalf of Tim Pfortmiller, who
is looking ahead to surgery to remove the cancer afflicting his body;
The Lord’s Prayer and Response
Congregation Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name;
Pastor Grant Father, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be proclaimed freely among us and throughout the world, and that we may live holy, Godly lives to the glory of Your name.
C: Thy Kingdom come;
P: Grant, Father, that the proclamation of the Gospel may bear much fruit, so that large numbers of men, women, and children from every nation and tribe may come to know and believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ.
C: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
P: Grant, Father, that we may never forget that it is Your will that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Grant that we may remember that we are to carry out Your will by being witnesses of Christ to the world. Father, may Your will be done through us!
C: Give us this day our daily bread;
P: Grant, Father, that we may always remember that every good gift is from above and that the earth and all that is in it are Yours. May we also trust in Your for our daily bread. Then we will confidently share our blessings with others and return to You a large, generous portion of the gifts You have entrusted to us.
C: And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
P: Forgive us, Father, for all the times we have given offense and kept others from coming to You. Forgive us for being so indifferent and cold to Christ’s command to preach the Gospel to every nation. Forgive us for so frequently forgetting that Christ died for us and that we should no longer live for ourselves, as a result, but for Him who died and rose again for us. Grant that we may also forgive those who sin against us, love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and do good to those who hate us, that we might, by all means possible, lead some to Christ.
C: And lead us not into temptation;
P: Grant, Father, that Satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh may not tempt us to neglect the supreme task of the Church. Grant that we never squander away our time while the world rushes toward Judgement Day; that we never waster our financial resources on the pleasures and luxuries of this life, and in so doing deny others the Bread of Life. Heavenly Father, keep us from these and all other temptations.
C: But deliver us from evil;
P: Protect us, Father, from all harm and danger, but grant that we will always boldly confess our faith in Jesus no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the result may be.
C: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation And also with you
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation We lift them up to the Lord
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Consecration of the Elements
Pastor – The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation – Amen.
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
TO OUR GUESTS AND FRIENDS
We ask that only “Confirmed, Communicant” members of this congregation, or of one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations come forward to receive the Lord’s Supper at this time.
We believe, according to Scripture, that only those who are “one,” that is, in complete doctrinal agreement, united in a common public confession of faith, are to commune together at the same altar (see I Corinthians 10:17 and I Corinthians 1:10).
To be “in communion” means to share and to hold in common. By eating and drinking at our Lord’s Table, we are not only sharing in, with, and under the bread and wine, Jesus’ very body and blood…we are also publicly declaring that we hold in common a specific confession of faith. In other words, as a result of having comprehensively studied the Scriptures together all of our communicants have agreed to accept and proclaim the same Biblical doctrines and practices.
Through membership in a particular church body (for us, that church body is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod), each person makes a public statement that he/she is in full agreement with the teachings and practices of that body. Because not every church body or Lutheran Synod teaches and practices the same things, we in the WELS want to be honest in our recognition of the doctrinal differences that, here on earth, separate us from other church bodies. Please bear in mind that we are not, in any way, judging the legitimacy of your Christian faith. Still, we ask that if you have not (upon study of the Word with us) declared yourself to be in full doctrinal agreement with us, you would respectfully not join us in the Lord’s Supper this morning.
It is our prayer that our Scripture-based practice of “Close Communion” will encourage anyone among us today who is not presently in full fellowship with us to seriously examine the teachings and practices of his/her church in order to determine if those teachings and practices are really in full agreement with God’s Word.
And if you are guest among us today, we want you to know that it is our earnest desire that you might become familiar with the Biblical doctrines our congregation confesses, in order that you might one day join with us at the Lord’s altar in this public expression of full unity of doctrine and practice. Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your participation as a fellow Christian in this worship service, and that we appreciate your understanding and respect of our Communion practice.
The Distribution Hymns Hymn 32 “When Sinners See Their Lost Condition”
1 When sinners see their lost condition And feel the pressing load of sin
And Jesus comes on his blest mission To heal the sin-sick heart within,
All grief must flee before his grace, And joy divine will take its place.
2 When Jesus enters meek and lowly To fill the home with sweetest peace,
When hearts have felt his blessing holy And found from sin complete release,
Then calm and joy within shall reign, And hearts divided love again.
3 When Jesus enters land and nation And changes people with his love,
When, yielding to his kind persuasion, Our hearts his truth and blessing prove,
Then shall our life on earth be blest; The peace of God on us shall rest.
4 When Jesus comes — O blessed story – He works a change in heart and life;
God’s kingdom comes with pow’r and glory To young and old, to man and wife.
Through sacrament and living Word Faith, love, and hope are now conferred.
5 Oh, may he soon to ev’ry nation Find entrance where he is unknown,
With life and light and free salvation, That Satan’s pow’r be overthrown,
And healing to all hearts may come In heathen land and Christian home!
“Your Table I Approach”
1 Your table I approach; Dear Savior, hear my prayer.
Let not an unrepentant heart Prove hurtful to me there.
2 Lord, I confess my sins And mourn their wretched bands;
A contrite heart is sure to find Forgiveness at Your hands.
3 Your body and Your blood, Once slain and shed for me,
Are taken at Your table, Lord, In blest reality.
4 Search not how this takes place, This wondrous mystery;
God can accomplish vastly more Than what we think could be.
5 O grant, most blessed Lord, That earth and hell combined
May not about this Sacrament Raise doubt within my mind.
6 Oh, may I never fail To thank You day and night
For Your true body and true blood, O God, my peace and light.
Following the distribution, the Pastor will invite the Congregation ro rise as
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look with favor upon you, and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn “The Savior Is Approaching“
to the tune of “Away in a Manger” (CW 68) cwh 2010
The Savior is approaching The promise is true
From Eden through Abram To Isaiah too
Christ comes, God-yet-human Salvation to bring
In mercy amazing His praises we sing.
The prophets foresaw Him His work they revealed
In hundreds of places Complete and Detailed
Conceived by the Spirit True Man, Virgin-born
The world’s sin – He’ll bear it To make us His own.
He’ll come as a Baby Despised, yet adored,
And grow into manhood Our King and our Lord.
His life He will lay down On Calvary’s tree
Then rise on the third day Our souls to set free.
From sin, death, and Satan – Redeemed and restored –
By His grace forgiven, We’ll live for our Lord
Each day here on earth We His servants will be
‘Til we’re called home to heaven Fo – – r e-ter-ni-ty.
Silent Prayer, Announcements
Post-service music
-