GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

(Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS December 1, 2013

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

PRAYER UPON ENTERING CHURCH
Son of God and Marys Son, Savior of the Nations, King of glory, You came humbly to give Yourself into death so that I might have life according to Gods promise. You also promised that You will come again in great power. By Your Spirits power grant that I do not fear Your coming but find joy in Your return for You have redeemed me and given to me an everlasting hope. Keep me steadfast in my faith so that by it I might be blameless at Your return. In Your name I pray. Amen

WELCOME
Welcome to Grace! Happy New Church Year! Grace is a family of believers dedicated to sharing the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. We believe and confess that this is done as the Means of Grace, Gods Word and Sacraments, are shared and administered in their truth and purity. Living as His people we bear witness to His love and mercy shown to us and to all. We recognize that others will know that we are Christians by our love shared in word and deed which is our response to His love for us. If you are visiting it is our prayer that you will realize these things about us as Gods people gathered in this place. If you wish to learn more about our teachings as drawn from Gods Word please speak with our Pastor. We are glad you are here and we invite you to come again. We ask that everyone fill out an attendance registration card found at each pew and return it to an Usher as the Offering is collected. Children are welcome in our Service and will be invited to come forward for a Childrens Message. Parents may accompany them if they wish. We have a staffed nursery facility for infants and toddlers located downstairs in this building for anyone who has need. Restroom facilities are located downstairs as well as on this floor level across the bridge before entering the fellowship hall. If you have any questions, please speak with an usher or greeter.

HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion will be celebrated in our 10:45 Service today. In this sacrament we receive Christs very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Those who are not members of Grace are asked to speak with our Pastor before partaking of this sacrament so that the unity of faith might be established. Thank you for honoring this request.

AS WE GATHER
There are many different questions in life. Some are rather inconsequential: Paper or plastic? Do you want fries with that? Other questions are of greater importance: What do you want to be when you grow up? Will you marry me? Your question today might be, Why do we have a Palm Sunday reading for this First Sunday in Advent? Among all of lifes questions, however, there is one that is of the greatest importance. Who is Jesus? That is the question that the crowds asked on Palm Sunday as the whole city was stirred up, saying, Who is this? Consider who you say Jesus is. Perhaps the best answer is that Jesus is the Savior of the nations and, specifically, He is your Savior.

THE ALTAR FLOWERS

The Altar Flowers are given today to the glory of God and the beautification of His House by Chris and Betty Pils in celebration of their wedding anniversary and in thanksgiving for Gods many blessings.

THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Vicar: Seminarian: Director of Parish Music: Secretary: Early Childhood Center Director: Acolyte: (8:15) Cantor: (8:15) Assisting Elder: (8:15) Ushers: (8:15) Greeters: Altar Guild: Acolyte: Cantor: Communion Assistant: Ushers: Greeters: Altar Guild: Choir: Coffee Hosts: Altar Guild: Nursery Attendant: (8:15) (8:15) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) Rev. James C. Walter David Witte Kevin Ray Nathan Beethe Pat Funk Colleen Moorman Lily Woodyard Joel Junkans Kurt Shrader Roy Andrews, Roy Bullard John Ketcher, Gary Proud Janet Killough Pat Funk Claire Hammond Kurt Shrader Frank Royster Paul Krueger, Gervais LeBlanc Jeff Ralston, Jacob Ralston Chris and Betty Pils Ginny Ralston Mens Choir Board of Parish Fellowship Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter Mary Ann Dyer

(Wed. evening)

NEXT WEEKS READINGS - The appointed readings for next Sunday, December 8th, the Second Sunday in Advent, are: The Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10, The Epistle Reading: Romans 15:4-13, and The Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:1-12.
Grace Lutheran Church P. O. Box 250769, Little Rock, AR 72225 www.gracelutheranlr.org Telephone Number: 501-663-3631

-2-

THE ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Pre-Service Music Lighting of the Chancel Candles Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell
Partita on "Savior of the Nations, Come" - Timothy Shaw

8:15 Service
Baptism Hymn: God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It Holy Baptism 8:15 Service continues with the Introit. LSB 594
p268

10:45 Service
Invocation
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen

Introit
P Behold, your king is coming to you; C righteous and having salvation. P Save us, we pray, O LORD! C O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Ps. 118:2528; antiphon: Zech. 9:9b, alt.

P Blessd is he who comes in the name of the LORD! C We bless you from the house of the LORD.

-3-

P The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. C Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! P You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; C you are my God; I will extol you. 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 Behold, your king is coming to you; C righteous and having salvation.

The Litany
P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P C P O Lord, have mercy. O Christ, have mercy. O Lord, have mercy. O Christ, hear us. God the Father in heaven, have mercy. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy. Be gracious to us. Spare us, good Lord. Be gracious to us. Help us, good Lord. From all sin, from all error, from all evil; From the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death; From pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion; From lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water; and from everlasting death: C Good Lord, deliver us. P By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity; By Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial;

-4-

C P C P C P

C P C P

C P C P C P C P C P C

By Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter: Help us, good Lord. In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment: Help us, good Lord. We poor sinners implore You to hear us, O Lord. To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church; to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your Church in the true knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain them in holy living; To put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived; To beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit: We implore You to hear us, good Lord. To raise those who fall and to strengthen those who stand; and to comfort and help the weakhearted and the distressed: We implore You to hear us, good Lord. To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in every time of need; To direct and defend our president and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people; To watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel; To grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in their blessings; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them; To strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all: We implore You to hear us, good Lord. To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers: We implore You to hear us, good Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we implore You to hear us. Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy. Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy. Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace.

-5-

P C P C P C P C

O Christ, hear us. O Lord, have mercy. O Christ, have mercy. O Lord, have mercy. Amen

Canticle: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

LSB 357

Public domain

Service of the Word

Salutation and Collect of the Day

-6-

P Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sit

Anthem Old Testament Reading

P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Henry Gerike Isaiah 2:15

Gradual

Zech. 9:9; Ps. 118:26, alt.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of | Zion.* Shout aloud, O daughter of Je- | rusalem. Behold, your king is com- | ing to you;* righteous and having sal- | vation. Blessd is he who comes in the name | of the Lord.* From the house of the Lord we | bless you.

Epistle
P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
Stand

Romans 13:1114

-7-

Alleluia and Verse

P Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O | ancient doors,* that the King of glory | may come in.

Ps. 24:7

Holy Gospel
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-first chapter.

Matthew 21:111

The reading of the Holy Gospel. P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Apostles' Creed (8:15)

C 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.

-8-

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 T everlasting. Amen

Nicene Creed (10:45)

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen
Sit

-9-

Children's Message Sermon Hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come Sermon Who Is This?
Stand

LSB 332 sts. 14

Matthew 21:111

Offertory

Psalm 51:1012

Sit

Offering
Stand

Two Settings of "Savior of the Nations, Come" - Charles W. Ore

- 10 -

Prayer of the Church

P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. Each petition ends with the following: P Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer. The prayers conclude with the following: P Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. C Amen

10:45 Service continues on the next page

Service Concludes (8:15)

Collect
P Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christs holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. C Amen

Benediction
P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift His countenance upon you and T give you peace. C Amen

Closing Hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come Postlude

LSB 332 sts. 58

Toccata on "Savior of the Nations, Come" - Paul Manz

T - 11 -

Service of the Sacrament (10:45)

Preface
2 Timothy 4:22; Colossians 3:1 Psalm 136

Proper Preface
P It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

- 12 -

Sanctus

Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9

Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:913

- 13 -

The Words of Our Lord

Matthew 26:2628; Mark 14:2224 Luke 22:1920; 1 Corinthians 11:2325

- 14 -

Pax Domini

John 20:19

Agnus Dei

John 1:29

- 15 -

Sit

Distribution Communion Instructions: The Pastor invites the communicants, those who are able, to kneel and then distributes the host which may be received into the hand or the mouth. The Elder distributes the individual cups. The communicants are asked to hold their cups until the Pastor says, Take and drink. Hymn: Jesus Comes Today with Healing Hymn: The Advent of Our King Hymn: Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come
Stand

LSB 620 LSB 331 LSB 350

Nunc Dimittis

Luke 2:2932

- 16 -

Thanksgiving

Psalm 107:1

Post-Communion Collect
P Let us pray. O God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving-kindness sent Your only-begotten Son into the flesh, we thank You that for His sake You have given us pardon and peace in this Sacrament, and we ask You not to forsake Your children but always to rule our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled constantly to serve You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Salutation

2 Timothy 4:22

- 17 -

Benedicamus

Psalm 103:1

Benediction

Numbers 6:2426

Closing Hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come Postlude

LSB 332 sts. 58

Toccata on "Savior of the Nations, Come" - Paul Manz

T
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.

- 18 -

THIS WEEK AT GRACE SUNDAY: 8:15 a.m. Divine Service Coffee and Fellowship in the Parlor 9:45 a.m. Sunday School downstairs in Parker Hall 9:45 a.m. Junior and Senior High classes downstairs in the church 9:45 a.m. Pastor Walters Bible Class upstairs in Parker Hall 10:45 a.m. Divine Service with Holy Communion MON - FRI: 7:30 a.m. Early Childhood Development Center MONDAY: 7:00 p.m. Voters Meeting TUESDAY: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Class 12:00 noon Sit and Sew 5:15 p.m. 7th Grade Confirmation 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir WEDNESDAY: 6:30 a.m. Mens Bible Study at St. Vincents 5:30 p.m. Advent Dinner 7:00 p.m. Advent Evening Prayer Service THURSDAY: 4:00 p.m. 8th Grade Confirmation SATURDAY: 11:00 a.m. Christmas Brunch hosted by LWML Evening Guild NEXT SUNDAY: 12:00 noon Childrens Christmas Program practice 2:00 p.m. Decorate Christmas Trees in the Sanctuary TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL the lesson is the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist Luke (1:525). The children learned that God in His mercy promised to send John to prepare sinful people for the coming of the Lord. In His Word, God calls us (sinful people) to repentance, declaring us righteous because of His Son, Jesus. In your family discussions, ask the children to retell the story they learned. Talk about times when you have doubted Gods Word and how because of Jesus, God forgives our doubts, granting us faith to believe through the power of the Holy Spirit. PASTOR WALTERS CLASS meets this morning at 9:45 a.m. upstairs in Parker Hall. Pastor Walter continues a study of The Augsburg Confession and Its Apology The Lutheran Confessions Series with Session 10 The Holy Supper of Our Lord. Come and review what we believe, teach and confess as Lutheran Christians. SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for children ages 3 years through 6th grade meet in the lower level of the Family Life Center. JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES meet in their classrooms downstairs in the church.

- 19 -

HOLY BAPTISM This morning in our 8:15 Service, Evan Andrew Beethe, son of Nathan and Crissy Beethe, will be received into Gods Kingdom of Grace through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. His sponsors are Joel and Gina Junkans. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Dec. 1 Betty and Chris Pils Dec. 7 Suzanne and David Raddle HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Dec. 3 Tommy Borchert, Carol Jones, Beth Paulson Dec. 4 Heidi Litwa, Tallulah Ray Dec. 5 Caleb Bryant, Kyla Wilbert Dec. 6 Lindsey Long, Joshua Ralston Dec. 7 Michael Hawkins REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Anita Allaben is at home recovering from pneumonia. Larry Jones is a patient at University of Arkansas Medical Center. Ron Krueger is recovering following shoulder surgery. Norma Bisgood is a patient in Hospice Home Care on Bowman Road. Lance Whitney is recovering following hip replacement surgery. Judy Rivers is recovering following knee replacement surgery. Jeannie Worlund is recovering following knee replacement surgery. Jeanette Keehn continues receiving care at home. Sherry Bischof continues her recovery and treatments. LAST WEEKS STEWARDSHIP Attendance: Sunday 11/24: 177 (8:15 99 and 10:45 78). Offerings: Sunday 11/24: $5,633.50. Mid-Week 11/20: $115.00. Honorariums and Memorials: $225.00. Thanksgiving (as of 11/24): $275.00. Building Fund: $125.00. Mission Fund: $50.00. VOTERS MEETING was rescheduled and will be held tomorrow evening, December 2nd, at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Randy Middaugh is the executive director. 7th GRADE CONFIRMATION class will meet on Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. in the Parlor. 8th GRADE CONFIRMATION class will meet on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the Parlor. ADVENT EVENING PRAYER SERVICES will be held each Wednesday: December 1st, December 11th, and December 18th at 7:00 p.m. Join us this Wednesday for worship at 7:00 p.m. and dinner at 5:30 p.m. - 20 -

ADVENT DINNERS will be served at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday prior to the Advent Service. This week ACTS will be serving spaghetti. Join us for dinner and fellowship before our Advent service. CHRISTMAS BRUNCH The LWML Evening Guild is hosting a Christmas Brunch next Saturday, December 7th, at 11:00 a.m. in Parker Hall. We will enjoy a delicious Christmas brunch and some great fellowship; and then if you wish, youll be ready for an afternoon of shopping. Call Nancy Finkbeiner at 562-0846 or Pat Funk at 663-3631 or 231-2225 to make your reservations. POINSETTIAS We will be decorating the chancel area of our sanctuary with poinsettias for Christmas. If you would like to order a poinsettia, please fill out the form in the bulletin. The cost is $13.50. The deadline for ordering is TODAY, December 1st. Please make your check out to Grace Lutheran Church and place it along with the form in the offering place or send it to the church office. DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREES in the sanctuary on Sunday, December 8th, at 2:00 p.m. We now have pre-lit trees so decorating is much easier. Join us for a couple of hours of fun and fellowship. SIT AND SEW will meet this Tuesday, December 3rd, at 12:00 noon, downstairs in the church. Contact Sammye Sue Harrill or Carole Nichols for more information. WITTE BABY BOY SHOWER - You are invited to a Baby Boy Shower for Megan and David Witte on Saturday, December 14th, at 3:00 p.m. in the Parlor. The hostesses are Alisa Coffey, Lauren Schluterman, Paula Walter, Sheila Wilimzig and Riley Middaugh. Megan and David are most in need of diapers and gift cards. NOTES AND CARDS Please remember our sick and home bound members in your prayers and send them a note or card to let them know were thinking about them and praying for them. CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL 8TH GRADE CLASS is hosting a Parents Night Out on Friday, December 13th, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for ages 3 to 12 years old in the Christ Lutheran School gym and cafeteria areas. The deadline to sign up is December 12 th. All proceeds will benefit the 8th grade class trip to Washington, DC in 2014. Flyers with more information and a registration form can be found on the tables at each entrance to the sanctuary. - 21 -

MEMORIALS IN MEMORY OF REV. JAMES MEIMERSTORF Nephew of Mildred Burgess. TO THE GRACE GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND By Rudy and Sherry Bischof IN MEMORY OF MR. ARTHUR LANGLAIS TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Bette Bogart TO THE SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND By Janet Killough IN MEMORY OF MRS. MIRANDA ELLING Mother of Nancy Wade TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Bette Bogart

- 22 -

THE GREAT COOKIE WALK

Sunday, December 15th
Between Services in Parker Hall
What is it? Purchase a bag to fill with an assortment of cookies. Proceeds benefit Grace Families with special Christmas needs. Each year the fundraiser raises over $700, through your generosity. Help the effort by baking batches of your favorite cookies to donate to the event. That morning bring them to church by end of first service. The JOY Club will set out the amazing selection of treats for your choosing. Purchase a bag and fill it with an assortment of wonderful homemade cookies. Take home and enjoy, if you can wait that long!!! If you have questions, contact Bev Sanders at 425-8806 or 225-6390 or Riley Middaugh at 240-4035.

- 23 -

ADVENT EVENING PRAYER SERVICES Advent Prophecy

The theme for our Midweek Advent Evening Prayer Services is Advent Prophecy. We will consider Gods Promise of a Savior, who that Savior would be and where He would be born. Come and worship with us as we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and to hear the Good News of forgiveness that comes through Him. ADVENT SERVICES December 4th 7:00 p.m. Promise Genesis 3:15 December 11th 7:00 p.m. Person Isaiah 7:14 December 18th 7:00 p.m. Place Micah 5:2 ~~~~~~ ADVENT SUPPERS ADVENT SUPPERS will be served before the Advent Services at 5:30 p.m. each week in Parker Hall. The following menus will be served with salad and dessert. December 4th December 11th December 18th Spaghetti Served by ACTS Chili Served by JOY Club Soup Served by Board of Parish Fellowship

- 24 -