Grace Lutheran Church Wednesday, December 16, 2015

WELCOME Welcome in Jesus’ name. We thank God for your presence among us and pray God’s blessing be upon your hearing of His Word. We know in this day and age you have many choices to choose from when it comes to Worship, Fellowship, and Bible study. We also know that people do not join churches like they join civil organizations, but rather, through Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit people are brought into the Kingdom of God and are declared His children to live and serve under Him. Here at Grace Lutheran Church we seek to honor Jesus Christ through Worship, Fellowship, Prayer, and Bible Study which enriches, engages, and provides many opportunities for service of love within and without our community.

We believe in the power of prayer and welcome your prayer requests on behalf of yourself or someone you know. Just fill out the Prayer Card located in the pew in front of you and place it in the offering plate. We will add your prayer request to our daily prayers. If you are looking for a church home, we would invite you to prayerfully consider Grace Lutheran. We welcome you to come and join us Sunday mornings from 9:00- 10:00 a.m. as we learn more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

SHARING THE PEACE.

LO! HE COMES WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING Lo! He comes with clouds descending, Once for favored sinners slain; Thousand thousand saints attending, Swell the triumph of His train: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.

LO! HE COMES WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING Every eye shall now behold Him Robed in dreadful majesty; Those who set at naught and sold Him, Pierced and nailed Him to the tree, Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see.

LO! HE COMES WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING Now redemption, long expected, See in solemn pomp appear; All His saints, by man rejected, Now shall meet Him in the air: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! See the day of God appear!

LO! HE COMES WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee, High on Thine eternal throne; Savior, take the power and glory, Claim the kingdom for Thine own; O come quickly! O come quickly! O come quickly! Everlasting God, come down!

INVOCATION P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen.

CONFESSION P The night is far gone; the day is at hand. C So let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

CONFESSION P Holy and gracious God, C I confess that I have sinned against You this day, O Lord. Some of my sin I know--- the thoughts and words and

CONFESSION deeds of which I am ashamed- --but some is known only to You. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask for Your forgiveness and I pray You to deliver and restore me, a lost and condemned sinner.

ABSOLUTION P By the mercy of God we are redeemed by Jesus Christ and in Him we are forgiven. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen.

P In peace let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy. P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord. C Amen

LIGHTING ADVENT WREATH O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who ord’rest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

PRAYER OF THE DAY P The Lord be with you. C And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY P Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation,

PRAYER OF THE DAY P for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen

Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you,

he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” “The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you;

they are a burden and a reproach to you. At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered.

I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples

of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord. R This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not

be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. R This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the seven chapter. C Glory to You, O Lord

John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the

Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’” At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he

replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached

to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a

prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least

in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” P This is the Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to You, O Christ.

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!

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

We hail Thee as our Savior, Lord, Our refuge and our great reward; Without Thy grace we waste away Like flow'rs that wither and decay.

Lay on the sick Thy healing hand And make the fallen strong to stand; Show us the glory of Thy face Till beauty springs in ev'ry place.

All praise, eternal Son, to Thee Whose advent sets Thy people free, Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Spirit evermore.”

GO AND TELL!

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And 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. He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

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.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P Let us pray on behalf of the world, all people as they have need, and the household of the faithful. that we may not walk in the darkness of sin and its death but in the light of the Lord; let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P That we may be steadfast in faith during times of test, trial, and tribulation, that Jesus may find us faithful and ready when He comes again; let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P That all who suffer, all the sick, all the sorrowful, and all in need may call upon the Lord and be comforted especially,_ that they may trust in God's grace for every trouble and circumstance; let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P That the nations may walk together in peace, that the leaders of the nations may act with integrity, wisdom, and justice for all people; let us pray to the Lord. C Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ; C Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER P Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:

LORD’S PRAYER C Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against

LORD’S PRAYER us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen

WHAT SHALL I RENDER What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.

WHAT SHALL I RENDER I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

BENEDICTION P 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 in favor and + give you peace. C Amen.

COME, O PRECIOUS RANSOM Come, O precious Ransom, come, Only hope for sinful mortals! Come, O Savior of the world; Open are to you all portals. Come, your beauty let us view; Anxiously we wait for you.

COME, O PRECIOUS RANSOM Enter now my waiting heart, Glorious King and Lord most holy. Dwell in me and never leave, Thought I am but poor and lowly. What vast riches will be mine When you are my guest divine!

COME, O PRECIOUS RANSOM My hosannas and my palms Graciously receive, I pray you; Evermore, as best I can, Homage I will gladly pay you, And in faith I will embrace Life eternal by your grace.

COME, O PRECIOUS RANSOM Hail! Hosanna! David’s Son! Jesus, hear our supplication! Let your kingdom, scepter, crown Bring us blessing and salvation That forever we may sing: Hail! Hosanna to our king!