WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHURCH during this Advent season. As we prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we take this time to reflect upon our lives and all of the ways that we have been blessed with the means to look beyond ourselves and consider those who are in need in our society and throughout the world.
WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE LORD’S TABLE to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and the powerful freedom of a new life in Christ. Please come down the center aisle, proceed to the communion rail, and kneel or stand at the first open space. Hold out your hand to receive the bread. Gluten-free wafers are available. Please indicate your desire at the time you are offered the bread. You may drink either from an individual glass, which will be served first, or from the chalice. The individual glasses in the center of the tray contain grape juice. An acolyte will pass by to pick up your individual glass. In the spirit of continuous communion, please return to your seat via the side aisles after you have drunk from the glass or chalice. After everyone has been served at the communion rail, the ministers will serve anyone in the pew that is unable to come forward. Please indicate your desire in this regard to the pastor. Parents who desire that their children not receive communion may bring them forward for a blessing.
PLEASE INDICATE YOUR ATTENDANCE at worship today and your participation at the Lord’s Supper by completing the enclosed Worship Registration form and placing it in the offering plate. Please join us for fellowship and refreshments in the lounge after the service.
NURSERY CARE is available in the Nursery for children of any age. Please ask the usher for directions.
OUR PRAYERS are for our homebound, and for all those in need of healing in body or spirit.
TEXTS FOR NEXT SUNDAY: Malachi 3:1-4; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6.
First Sunday of Advent November 29, 2015
Prelude “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” J. S. Bach
BWV 645
Welcome and Announcements
SERVICE OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Confession
P: There are plenty of signs about the distress among the nations of the world that causes people to live in fear about all that could happen in this world toward our own destruction. Our hearts are weighed down with anxiety about what the future holds. In order to be set free from this fear and anxiety, we are called upon to confess our sins and turn to the God of righteousness for our forgiveness.
(Silent Confession)
P: God of justice and righteousness,
All: We confess to you that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our entire being. We have not loved our neighbors as you so graciously have loved us. Our pride gets in the way of our humility. Our fear overpowers our capability to love. Our greed concentrates on our wants rather than the needs of others. Our envy puts us in competition with others. Our anxiety keeps us stuck in patterns of self-centeredness. Our anger blinds us to peaceful resolutions. Our resentment keeps us from any form of reconciliation. As we prepare ourselves for what is coming to this world, we want to move forward with hearts that are holy and lives that are blameless before you. Forgive us and restore whatever is lacking in our journey of faithfulness and obedience to your will.
Absolution
P: The day has come when God will execute justice and righteousness throughout the world. Included in this promise is God’s gift of forgiveness whereby God has forgiven your sins and remembers them no more. Once again, you are free to live in the security of God’s grace and peace.
C: Amen.
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Opening Hymn & Lighting of Candles
(After the Advent candles are lit, you may stand as you are able and face the cross as it is carried forward.)
Greeting
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Kyrie (Sung 3 times)
Prayer of the Day
A: Let us pray together:
C: Most holy and gracious God, as we enter this Advent season, we pray most earnestly that you would restore whatever is lacking in our faith. Grant to us your Spirit so that we may increase and abound in love for one another and for all people just as we abound in our love for you. Cleanse us of the fears and anxieties that inhibit our capacity to love as we have been loved, and strengthen our hearts in holiness and righteousness all of our days. We pray in the name of Jesus who has brought the reign of God into our midst. Amen.
(Please be seated)
First Lesson Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are surely coming, says God, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: God is our righteousness."
L: Holy Wisdom. Holy Word.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm Hymn “Wait For the Lord”
Second Lesson 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
Now may our God and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may Jesus make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may Jesus so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
L: Holy Wisdom. Holy Word.
C: Thanks be to God.
(Please stand as you are able)
Gospel Acclamation
“Glory to God”
(in Latin)
Gospel Luke 21:25-36
Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Humanity coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the realm of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Humanity."
P: The Gospel of the risen Christ.
C: Thanks be to God.
(Please be seated)
Sermon
(Please stand as you are able)
Hymn of the Day “O How Shall I Receive You”
Prayers of the People
Exchange of Peace
P: The peace of God be with you always.
C: And also with you.
(Please be seated)
Children’s Sermon
Offering/Musical Offering “See What Love” Felix Mendelssohn
See what love hath the Father
bestowed on us in his goodness
that we should be called God’s own children.
(Please stand as you are able)
Offertory “The Lord is My Light”
Offertory Prayer
A: Let us pray together:
C: God of abundant love, we give you thanks for all that you have provided in order to sustain us in this life. In gratitude, we offer to you these fruits of our labor for the proclamation of your Word, the administration of these sacraments, the ministries of this congregation, and the revelation of your love throughout the world. Bless this bread and fruit of the vine so that we may be filled with your love and the strength to face whatever challenges may come our way on account of our trust in you. We pray in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
P: Blessed are you, O holy God:
You are the Life and Light of all. By your powerful word you created all things.
Through the prophets you called your people to be a light to the nations. Blessed are
you for Jesus, your beloved Child, who is your Light, shining in our darkness and
revealing to us your grace and truth.
In the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
In the same way, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the
forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, Jesus’ preaching and healing, his dying and rising, and his
promise to come again, we await that day when all the universe will rejoice in your holy
and life-giving light.
By your Spirit bless us and this meal, that, refreshed with this heavenly food, we may be light for the world, revealing the brilliance of our Prince of Peace, through whom all glory and honor are yours, both now and forever.
C: Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
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. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
(Please be seated)
Distribution of Communion
“He Came Down”
“Come, O Long Expected Jesus”
“With Joy Draw Water”
(Please stand as you are able)
Communion Blessing
P: May the body and blood of Jesus, our Christ, liberate us from our bondage to sin and fill us with the joy that abounds in love and good will for one another and all people.
C: Amen.
Post Communion Hymn “Sing, Praise and Bless the Lord”
Post Communion Prayer
A: Let us pray together:
C: God of all glory, we give you thanks for this gift of life and light. Grant us the faith and courage to resist all of the temptations of this world that would weigh us down with the worries of this life. Fill us with the hope of a new tomorrow when you will make all things new and execute the justice and righteousness that you promise among all of the nations of this world. We pray in the name of Jesus, our Christ. Amen.
Benediction
P: Go forth with joy in your hearts and peace on your minds that God already is present in this world to strengthen us in our weakness, encourage us in our apprehensions, and envelop us with the love that will dispel our fears for all that we are called to be and do according to God’s will. God’s peace be with you.
C: Amen.
Closing Hymn “We Hail You God’s Anointed”
Dismissal
A: Go in peace. Serve the Prince of Justice and Peace.
C: Thanks be to God!
Postlude Improvisation on “Ellacombe”
“Come and Fill Our Hearts”, “Kyrie Eleison”
“Wait for the Lord”, “Glory to God”, “The Lord is My Light”
“Blessing and Praise”, “Sing, Praise and Bless the Lord”,
© 1991 Ateliers et Presses de Taizé,
F-71250 Taizé Community, France
All rights reserved. Used with permission
OneLicense.net #A-708336
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS
Preacher / Pastor Ron Moe-LobedaAssisting Minister / Sam Rennebohm
Minister of Music / Brian Higham
Organist / William Bryant
Advent Candle Lighters / Michael Rouse
Ruth Ann Rouse
Julian Rouse
Acolytes / Ari Magelssen
Trygg Magelssen
Lectors / Craig Perkins
John Wott
Children’s Sermon / Maggie Pehrson
Communion Assistants / Janice Gockel
Larry Gockel
Lars Jenner
Sue Tong
Greeters / Mary Hillman
Craig Perkins
Ushers / Linda Maschhoff
Laura Koetke
Mark Hillman
Mary Hillman
Fellowship / David & Van Ginger
Altar Guild / Sue & Frank Gregory
Counters / Mary & Mark Hillman
Courtesy Driver / Vic Ensz
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
9:30 AM Service of Holy Communion
10:30 AM Fellowship in the lounge
11:00 AM Advent Fair in the fellowship hall
11:00 AM Quilters in room 208
YOU ARE INVITED TO COME TO THE ADVENT FAIR TODAY in the Fellowship Hall at 11:00 a.m. to join in the preparation for Christmas by making a wreath and/or swag ($10/each or $15/both) for your home or for someone else. A simple lunch will be served.