1. Rejoice at the Lord’s coming deliverance Saturday, December 15 th

2. Welcome to St. Peter! Come and rejoice with us that the Savior’s arrival to deliver us from sin, death and hell is near! The calendar tells us that. But it doesn’t tell us how near the Savior’s second coming is, so it’s time for more rejoicing, prayer and trust!

3. Welcome to St. Peter! There are friendship registers at the end of each row. Please take a moment to give us your information so that we have a record of your time with us today. Thank you!

4. 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 St. Peter and its ministry, please talk to a pastor or member after the service.

5. Need to Know what’s going on? Our church website has the info you need right at your fingertips Check the church calendar. Sign up for seminars or events. Get access to devotions, sermons, and more. www.stpeterschofield.org

6. Prayer before Worship Jesus, your arrival is closer than last week. Help us to be ready to celebrate the joy of your birth as well as the reality of your return the final time, whenever that is. Amen

7. Please be courteous and silence all pagers and cell phones. Thank you

8. Congratulations to the St. Peter Youth group 1 st place in the Wausau Christmas parade – Reason for the Season category

9. The Stories of Advent Thursday, Dec. 20 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. “Advent Action”

10. NLHS Christmas Concert Sunday, December 16 th 3:00 p.m.

11. Sunday JAM Christmas Service The Wonder of it All Sunday, December 23 rd 10:30 a.m.

12. St. Peter Christmas Services Christmas Eve Services of Lessons & Carols 4:00 & 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 10:00 p.m. Christmas Day Festival Service 9:00 a.m.

13. Girl & Boy Pioneers  Sunday, December 16 th  12:30-2:30 p.m.

14. Rejoice at the Lord’s coming deliverance Saturday, December 15 th

15. How Many Kings By: Germain & Martel

16. Praise Team: Follow the star to the place unexpected. Would you believe after all we’ve projected, a Child in a manger?

17. Praise Team: Lowly and small, the weakest of all, unlikeliest hero, wrapped in His mother’s shawl. Just a Child, is this who we’ve waited for?

18. Praise Team: ‘Cause how many kings stepped down from their thrones? How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me?

19. Praise Team: And how many gods have poured out their hearts to romance a world that has torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

20. Praise Team: Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior, all that we have, whether costly or meek, because we believe. Gold for His honor and frankincense for His pleasure and myrrh for the cross He’ll suffer.

21. Praise Team: Do you believe? Is this who we’ve waited for? It’s who we’ve waited for.

22. Praise Team: ‘Cause how many kings stepped down from their thrones? How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me?

23. Praise Team: And how many gods have poured out their hearts to romance a world that has torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their sons for me? Only One did that for me.

24. All: How many kings stepped down from their thrones? How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me?

25. All: How many gods have poured out their hearts to romance a world that has torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their sons for me? Only One did that for me.

26. Opening Verses Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen. Pastor: Oh, how I love your law! All: I meditate on it all day long.

27. Opening Verses Pastor: Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, All: for they are ever with me. Pastor: I have more insight than all my teachers All: for I meditate on your statutes.

28. Opening Verses Pastor: How sweet are your words to my taste, All: sweeter than honey to my mouth! Pastor: All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

29. Opening Verses All: so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Pastor: Yet so often we have despised God’s Word and failed to gladly hear and learn it. For this and all our sins, we bow before God and humbly ask his forgiveness.

30. Confession of Sin All: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.

31. Confession of Sin All: But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

32. (Pastor announces our forgiveness) All: Amen.

33. Prayer of the Day Pastor: Let us pray. (Pastor says the prayer of the day) All: Amen.

34. God’s Word to His People Zephaniah 3:14-17 Sing, O Daughter of Zion

35. Emmanuel By: Chris Tomlin

36. Praise Team: What hope we hold this starlit night: a King is born in Bethlehem. Our journey long, we seek the light that leads to the hallowed manger ground. What fear we felt in the silent age. Four hundred years; can He be found:

37. Praise Team: But broken by a baby’s cry, rejoice in the hallowed manger ground. Emmanuel, Emmanuel. God incarnate, here to dwell. Emmanuel, Emmanuel. Praise His name, Emmanuel.

38. Praise Team: The Son of God here born to bleed; a crown of thorns would pierce His brow, And we beheld this offering, exalted now, the King of kings. Praise God for the hallowed manger ground.

39. All: Emmanuel, Emmanuel. God incarnate, here to dwell. Emmanuel, Emmanuel. Praise His name, Emmanuel.

40. God’s Word to His People Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice always for the Lord is near

41. Seasonal Response Pastor: Alleluia. I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. Alleluia. (Please Rise)

42. God’s Word to His People Luke 3:7-18 John the Baptist’s call to repentance

43. Children’s Message

44. Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers CW #7 Verses 1-4 Text: Laurentius Laurenti, 1660-1722 Setting: HAF TRONES LAMPA FÄRDIG Tune: Hymnal and Order of Service, Rock Island, 1901

45. Verse 1: Rejoice, rejoice, believers, And let your light appear, The evening is advancing, And darker night is near. The Bridegroom is arising And soon is drawing nigh. Up, pray and watch and wrestle; At midnight comes the cry.

46. Verse 2: The watchers, on the mountain Proclaim the Bridegroom near; Go forth, as he approaches, With alleluias clear. The marriage feast is waiting; The gates wide open stand. Arise, O heirs of glory; The Bridegroom is at hand.

47. Verse 3: You saints, who here in patience Your cross and suff'rings bore, Shall live and reign forever When sorrow is no more. Around the throne of glory The Lamb you shall behold; In triumph lay before him Your shining crowns of gold.

48. Verse 4: Arise, Desire of nations; O Jesus, now appear, The Hope and Expectation Of ev'ry Christian here. With hearts and hands uplifted We plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth's redemption That sets your people free.

49. The Lord Is Near 1.Rejoice 2.Pray 3.Trust

50. Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates CW #3 Verses 1-5 Text: Georg Weissel, 1590-1635 Setting: MACHT HOCH DIE TÜR Tune: Johann A. Freylinghausen, 1670-1739

51. Verse 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.

52. Verse 1: Life and salvation he will bring; Therefore rejoice and gladly sing. To God the Father raise Your joyful songs of praise.

53. Verse 5: Redeemer, come! I open wide My heart to you; here, Lord, abide! Oh, enter with your saving grace; Show me your kind and friendly face.

54. Verse 5: Your Holy Spirit guide us on Until our glorious goal is won. Eternal praise and fame We offer to your name.

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

56. Offering Prayer Prayer of the Church Pastor: …Lord, in your mercy, All: Hear our prayer.

57. 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.

58. 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.

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

60. God’s Blessing Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. All: Amen.

61. It’s About the Cross By: Statema & Ball

62. Praise Team: It’s not just about the manger where the baby lay.

63. Praise Team: It’s not all about the angels who sang for Him that day.

64. Praise Team: It’s not all about the shepherds or the bright and shining star.

65. Praise Team: It’s not all about the wisemen who traveled from afar.

66. Praise Team: It’s about the cross. It’s about my sin.

67. Praise Team: It’s about how Jesus came to be born once, so that we could be born again.

68. Praise Team: It’s about the stone that was rolled away, so that you and I could have real life someday. It’s about the cross.

69. Praise Team: It’s not just about the good things in this life I’ve done. It’s not all about the treasures or the trophies that I’ve won.

70. Praise Team: It’s not about the righteousness that I find within. It’s all about His precious blood that saved me from my sin.

71. All: It’s about the cross. It’s about my sin. It’s about how Jesus came to be born once, so that we could be born again.

72. All: It’s about the stone that was rolled away, so that you and I could have real life someday. It’s about the cross.

73. Praise Team: The beginning of the story is wonderful and great, But it’s the ending that can save you and that’s why we celebrate.

74. All: It’s about the cross. It’s about my sin. It’s about how Jesus came to be born once, so that we could be born again.

75. All: It’s about God’s Son nailed to a tree. It’s about how ev’ry drop of blood that flowed From Him when it should’ve been me.

76. All: It’s about the stone that was rolled away, so that you and I could have real life someday.

77. All: so that you and I could have real life someday. It’s about the cross.

78. Silent Prayer