GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS December 7, 2011

Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell

II. Magnificat Secundi Toni #2 - Johann Pachelbel

THE ORDER OF EVENING PRAYER FOR THE WEEK OF THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE CHURCH
Dearest Jesus, You came to be my Savior even as You promise to come and be my Judge. Because You are my Savior I need not fear the end. I know that by the power of the Holy Spirit I am given strength to live my life according to Gods will for the sake of the Gospel. Grant that the love that You have shown to me might be reflected in my life in prayerful service to You and to others so that in everything God may be glorified through Your work for me and for all. I pray this in Your holy name. Amen

Service of Light
Stand

Versicles
P C P C P C The Spirit and the Church cry out: Come, Lord Jesus. All those who await His appearance pray: Come, Lord Jesus. The whole creation pleads: 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.

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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. Amen

Reading
Stand

C
Sit

The Holy Gospel

Luke 1:2638

Psalmody
Psalm
P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them. The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126 (antiphon v. 5)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgins name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin? And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holythe Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. P C O Lord, have mercy on us. Thanks be to God.

Sermon Hymn: O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

LSB 334

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 Those who sow in tears C shall reap with shouts of joy!

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Catechism
P What benefits does Baptism give? C It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. P Which are these words and promises of God? C Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16)

Offering

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You - Kimberly Kondal Patterson

Canticle
5 Sins debt, that fearful burden, Cannot His love erase; Your guilt the Lord will pardon And cover by His grace. He comes, for you procuring The peace of sin forgivn, His children thus securing Eternal life in heavn. He comes to judge the nations, A terror to His foes, A light of consolations And blessd hope to those Who love the Lords appearing. O glorious Sun, now come, Send forth Your beams so cheering, And guide us safely home.
Stand

Magnificat: My Soul Rejoices

LSB 933

Public domain

Sit

Sermon The Apostle Peter and a Vision of the End

1 Peter 4:1-11

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

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 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 our Synodical President, and 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 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. 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.

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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

Silence for individual prayer may follow.

Benedicamus

[Psalm 103:1]

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. 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

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Closing Hymn: Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow

LSB 880

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 Chris and Betty Pils in celebration of their 35th wedding anniversary and in thanksgiving for the Lords many blessings.

THOSE WHO SERVE

5 My loved ones, rest securely, For God this night will surely From peril guard your heads. Sweet slumbers may He send you And bid His hosts attend you And through the night watch oer your beds.

Pastor: Director of Parish Music: Acolyte: Greeter: Handbell Choir:

Public domain

Postlude

Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow - Paul Manz

Ushers: Nursery Attendant: Altar Guild:

Rev. James C. Walter Nathan Beethe Lauren Faulkner Debbie Penny Jon Cline, Debbie Craig, Christina Junkans Emily Junkans, Gina Junkans, Susan Mahnken Randy Middaugh, Riley Middaugh, Linnea Weed Jon Cline, Shaun Baker, Ron Krueger Mary Ann Dyer Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter

Our thanks to the ACTS and JOY CLUB groups for serving our Advent dinner this evening. - 11 - 12 -