Redeemer Lutheran Church Sunday, December 4 Prepare for Christ’s Coming: Hear the Words of Promise !

Welcome to Redeemer! Welcome in God’s name to worship. We continue our Advent series today as we hear the words of God that promise the coming of the Lord. May we be prepared for his arrival!

For Our Guests If you have questions, let us try to help. Speak with an usher, greeter, or the person next to you. If you’d like to learn more about Redeemer and its ministry, please talk to Pastor Wolfe or a church member after the service.

Children’s Message Each week, our younger worshipers are invited to the front of church before the sermon hymn to hear a special message for them from Pastor Wolfe.

Need to Know what’s going on? Check the church calendar, Get access to sermons, and more. Our church website has the info you need right at your fingertips

Prayer before Worship Lord Jesus, bless the words we say and sing today in worship. Fill our hearts with joy at the promise of your coming, and cause our hearts to overflow with joy and love. Send your Spirit that we may proclaim your praise. Amen.

Please be courteous and silence all pagers and cell phones. Thank You

Mission of the Month Thailand: Hand- Crafted items for sale

Church Decorating Tuesday, December 6 Pizza served at 6:00 p.m. Wish list item: Outdoor nativity scene (please speak to Pastor Wolfe)

Sunday School Christmas Program On December 18th our Sunday school children will present their Christmas program in a special family Christmas service at 4:00 p.m. A potluck fellowship dinner will be held after the service.

Spreading Christmas Joy  Non-perishable food items or gifts of money  Items will be used for Christmas baskets for Redeemer members in need.  Donations accepted until December 18.

Christmas For Kids Saturday, December 10 th 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children ages 3 to 6 th Grade Crafts, songs, cookies, hot dogs & more! Donations and workers needed Sign-up Sheets in the back or

Christmas Cards Support Redeemer & Great Plains Lutheran High School this Christmas payment for cards should be given to Lorraine Moos or Lois Miller

Redeemer Needs Your Help  Bulletin worker  Usher  Money counter  Youth program helper  Visit shut-ins & members in the hospital

Donations Appreciated  Ink cartridges  Box tops  Central Market receipts  Soup labels  Clean, empty pill bottles Central African Medical Mission

Prepare for Christ’s Coming: Hear the Words of Promise !

There's a Voice in the Wilderness Crying CW #13 Verses 1-3 Text: James L. Milligan, Setting: ASCENSION Tune: Henry H. Bancroft,

Verse 1: There's a voice in the wilderness crying, A call from the ways untrod; Prepare in the desert a highway A highway for our God! The valleys shall be exalted, The lofty hills brought low; Make straight all the crooked places Where the Lord our God may go!

Verse 2: O Christians, you bring good tidings; Get up to the heights and sing! Proclaim to a desolate people The coming of their King. Like the flow’rs of the field they perish; Like grass their works decay. The pow’r and pomp of nations Shall pass like a dream away;

Verse 3: But the Word of our God is eternal; The arm of the Lord is strong. He stands in the midst of the nations, And he shall right the wrong. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, The lambs shall gently hold, To pastures of peace shall lead them, And bring them safe to his fold.

Opening Verses Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And also with you.

Confession of Sin Pastor: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and to serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.

Confession of Sin All: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child.

Confession of Sin All: But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.

(Pastor announces our forgiveness) All: Amen.

Pastor: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

Oh, Taste and See ♫ All: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are they who take refuge in him. Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

Oh, Taste and See ♫ All: Your faithfulness continues forever. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are they who take refuge in him.

Prayer of the Day Pastor: Let us pray. (The pastor says the Prayer of the Day.) ♫ All: Amen. (Please be seated)

God’s Word to His People Isaiah 40: 1-11 Hear the message: The Savior Comes:

Psalm #85 All ♫ Refrain:

You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. All ♫ Verses:

Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. All ♫ Verses:

All ♫ Refrain:

I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. All ♫ Verses:

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. All ♫ Verses:

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. ♫ All:

All ♫ Refrain:

God’s Word to His People 2 nd Peter 3: 8-14 Wait with patience and repentance

Song by the Choir Prepare! By Lloyd Larson

Refrain: Prepare, prepare for the coming of the Lord; In the desert prepare a road. Ev’ry valley shall be lifted high, each mountain and hill made low.

Repeat Refrain: Prepare, prepare for the coming of the Lord; In the desert prepare a road. Ev’ry valley shall be lifted high, each mountain and hill made low.

Verse 1: All you who ‘wait the coming, rehearse the joyful song that shall be sung forever with voices clear and strong!

Refrain: Prepare, prepare for the coming of the Lord; In the desert prepare a road. Ev’ry valley shall be lifted high, each mountain and hill made low.

Verse 2: With hearts and hands and voices we plead, O Lord, to see the day of earth’s redemption that sets Your people free.

Refrain: Prepare, prepare for the coming of the Lord; In the desert prepare a road. Ev’ry valley shall be lifted high, each mountain and hill made low.

Repeat Refrain: Prepare, prepare for the coming of the Lord; In the desert prepare a road. Ev’ry valley shall be lifted high, each mountain and hill made low.

Prepare for the coming of the Lord!

God’s Word to His People Mark 1: 1-8 Christ’s forerunner announces his coming

♫ All: Praise be to you, O Christ! (Please be seated)

Children’s Message

On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry CW #16 Verses 1-5 Text: Charles Coffin, Setting: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR Tune: Michael Prätorius,

Verse 1: On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Awake and hearken, for he brings Glad tidings of the King of kings!

Verse 2: Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin; Make straight the way for God within, And let us all our hearts prepare For Christ to come and enter there.

Verse 3: We hail you as our Savior, Lord, Our refuge and our great reward; Without your grace we waste away Like flow’rs that wither and decay.

Verse 4: Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, And make us rise to fall no more; Oh, let your face upon us shine And fill the world with love divine.

Verse 5: All praise to you, eternal Son, Whose advent has our freedom won, Whom with the Father we adore, And Holy Spirit, evermore.

On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry 1)See the Advent Messenger 2) Hear the Advent Message

Apostles’ Creed All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Apostles’ Creed All: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

Apostles’ Creed All: He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Apostles’ Creed All: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church. the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

In thankfulness for our salvation, we support God’s work with our offerings.

Prayer of the Church Pastor says the Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer All: 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.

Lord’s Prayer All: Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Lord’s Prayer All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen

Text: Charles Wesley, Setting: ST. HILARY Tune: Source unknown Come, O Long-Expected Jesus CW #6 Verses 1-2

Verse 1: Come, O long-expected Jesus, Born to set your people free; From our sins and fears release us By your death on Calvary. Israel's Strength and Consolation, Hope to all the earth impart, Dear Desire of ev'ry nation, Joy of ev'ry longing heart.

Verse 2: Born your people to deliver, Born a child and yet a king, Born to reign in us forever, Now your gracious kingdom bring. By your own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By your all-sufficient merit Raise us to your glorious throne.

Pastor: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ♫ All: Amen.

God’s Blessing Pastor: 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. ♫ All: Amen, Amen, Amen.

Rise, Arise CW #30 Verses 1-3 Text: Anna B. D. Hoppe, Setting: FAHRE FORT Tune: Johann E. Schmidt, , alt.

Verse 1: Rise, arise! Christian, rise to greet your King. Open wide the gates before him; Let the glad hosannas ring; Haste to worship and adore him. Hark! The watchman on the mountain cries: Rise, arise!

Verse 2: Oh, rejoice! Christ has come as long foretold. The Messiah long-expected, The incarnate Word behold! Though by earthly kings rejected, Hail him Lord of all with mighty voice. Oh, rejoice!

Verse 3: Crown him King! His exalted name confess. From his heav’nly throne descending, Jesus, Lord our righteousness, Brings us joy and peace unending. Oh, let heart and tongue his praises sing! Crown him King!

Silent Prayer