GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS November 30, 2011

Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell

THE ORDER OF EVENING PRAYER FOR THE WEEK OF THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE CHURCH

Service of Light
Stand

Versicles Heavenly Bridegroom, my Lord Jesus Christ, You have loved me with an everlasting love. You showed that love for me and for all by giving Your life into death so that I might have forgiveness of my sins and the hope of everlasting life. You are my righteousness. Keep me steadfast in my faith even as by Your Holy Spirits power I seek to live my life showing forth my love for You and my concern for those whom I know and even those I do not know. I pray this in Jesus holy name. Amen
P The Spirit and the Church cry out: C Come, Lord Jesus. P All those who await His appearance pray: C Come, Lord Jesus. P The whole creation pleads: C Come, Lord Jesus.

WELCOME
This is a busy time of year. It is good that you have chosen to take this time to be here this evening. There are many things for us to do in this season and there does not seem to be enough time to do them. Use this time to be strengthened by Gods Word, refreshed by the Gospel which is the power to salvation. If you are visiting with us and have any questions about Grace congregation, please speak with our Pastor. We invite you to come and worship with us again.

Phos Hilaron: O Light Whose Splendor

LSB 891

AS WE GATHER
Advent has long been a time of preparation, preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Yet the road to Christmas is anything but easy. It twists, it turns, and we meet many strange figures along the way. Prophets cry out in visions. John the Baptizer preaches in the desert. Angels appear whether you are sleeping or waking. The voices are varied, the places are strange, but one thing is certain: in each encounter, God is preparing us for the celebration of the greatest encounter of all, the birth of Jesus, His Son, our Savior, the Redeemer of the world. As we live our lives in that redemption freely given to us we await Christ Jesus Second Coming, when He will come in all of His power and glory, not in the way of humility but in the way of power and might to judge the living and the dead. By faith we recognize that in that great Day we need not fear for we will be given eternal life.
1989 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479.

-2-

Thanksgiving For Light

P Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, king of the universe, who led Your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of Your Christ; may His Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for You are merciful, and You love Your whole creation and we, Your creatures, glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. C Amen
Sit

Reading
Stand

The Holy Gospel

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

Luke 1:525

Psalmody
Psalm
P Restore us, O God of hosts; C let your face shine, that we may be saved! P Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! C You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. P Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might C and come to save us! P Restore us, O God; C let your face shine, that we may be saved! P O LORD God of hosts, C how long will you be angry with your peoples prayers? P You have fed them with the bread of tears C and given them tears to drink in full measure. P You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, C and our enemies laugh among themselves. P Restore us, O God of hosts; C let your face shine, that we may be saved! C 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 P Restore us, O God of hosts; C let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Psalm 80:17 (antiphon: v. 7)

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mothers womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. And Zechariah said to the angel, How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. And the angel answered him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time. And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people. P This is the Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to You, O Christ.

-3-

-4-

Hymn: Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers

LSB 515

Offering

Canticle
Stand

Magnificat: My Soul Rejoices

LSB 933

Public domain

Sit

Sermon The Apostle John and A Vision of the Bride Catechism

Revelation 21:1-7

P What is Baptism? C Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word. P Which is that Word of God? C Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)

1991 Stephen P. Starke. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479. Public domain

-5-

-6-

Prayer
Litany
Service Note: The congregation's response may begin just as the leader's petition ends so that the word "Lord" is sung simultaneously by both leader and congregation.

P For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For . . . [additional bids for prayer may be inserted here] . . . let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. The prayers then continue:

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 For Matthew, our Synodical President, and Ken, our District President, for all pastors in Christ, for all servants of the Church, and for all the people, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For Barack, our President, for all public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

Silence for individual prayer may follow.

-7-

-8-

Collect For Peace

P O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen

Benediction

Luther's Evening Prayer

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen

Closing Hymn: God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven

LSB 877

Lord's Prayer
P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray: 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 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

Matthew 6:913

Benedicamus

[Psalm 103:1]

Public domain

Postlude

-9-

- 10 -

Acknowledgments Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

THE ALTAR FLOWERS The Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God and the beautification of His House by Mrs. Lois Berner in thanksgiving for her family and for the Lords many blessings.

THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Director of Parish Music: Acolyte: Greeter: Handbell Choir: Rev. James C. Walter Nathan Beethe Kaylee Hammond Debbie Penny Jonathan Cline, Debbie Craig, Christina Junkans Emily Junkans, Gina Junkans, Susan Mahnken Randy Middaugh, Riley Middaugh, Linnea Weed Bill Allaben, Robert Bemberg, Sr. Tim Loyd, Ed Mahnken Mary Ann Dyer Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter

Ushers: Nursery Attendant: Altar Guild:

Our thanks to the Board of Parish Fellowship for serving our Advent dinner this evening.

- 11 -