December 1st and 2nd, 2012 First Sunday of Advent Holy Communion ELW 5

INTRODUCTION Advent is about the "coming days." God's people have always lived in great expectation, but that expectation finds specific, repeated enunciation in the texts appointed for these four weeks. The ancients anticipated a "righteous Branch to spring up for David." The Thessalonians awaited "the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints." Our Lord's contemporaries hoped for the time "to stand before the Son of Man." With them we eagerly await the coming days: another Christmas celebration, a second coming, and the advent of our Lord in word and supper. CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed. An usher will gladly provide you with assistance. As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service. We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so that we may record your presence with us.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP PRELUDE Chorale Prelude on Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland J. S. Bach Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Now come, saviour of the gentiles, Der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt, recognised as the child of the Virgin, Des sich wundert alle Welt, at whom all the world is amazed Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt. that God decreed such a birth for him. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS All may stand and make the sign of the cross, the sign with which we are marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you. O Israel. O come, O Branch of Jesse, free your own from Satans tyranny; from depths of hell your people save, and give them victory oer the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you. O Israel.

Please kneel, silence is kept for reflection.

Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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 whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Please stand and sing: GATHERING SONG: The King Shall Come (ELW 260) GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

KYRIE

BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH AND CHILDRENS MESSAGE O faithful and loving God, we praise you for your tender compassion and give you thanks for your steadfast love for us and all creation. Bless us who see the light of this wreath, that we may be strengthened by the hope of your advent among us, and live toward the completion of all things in you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL SONG: Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (ELW 240), v. 1 PRAYER OF THE DAY

PSALM: Psalm 25:110 Refrain:

Tone:

Let us pray. Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Please be seated.

To | you, O LORD, I lift | up my soul. 2 My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be | put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph | over me. 3 Let none who look to you be | put to shame; rather let those be put to shame | who are treacherous. 4 Show me your | ways, O LORD, and teach | me your paths. R
5

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 33:1416

14

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15In 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. 16In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness." The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Silence for reflection on the reading

Lead me in your | truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all | the day long. 6 Remember, O LORD, your compas- | sion and love, for they are from | everlasting. R
7

Remember not the sins of my youth and | my transgressions; remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your good- | ness, O LORD. 8 You are gracious and up- | right, O LORD; therefore you teach sinners | in your way. 9 You lead the low- | ly in justice and teach the low- | ly your way. 10 All your paths, O LORD, are steadfast | love and faithfulness to those who keep your covenant and your | testimonies.

SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 3:913

9

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please stand for the reading of the gospel

when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 29 Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 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, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be 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 Man." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION AND VERSE Please be seated SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson Please stand and sing: HYMN OF THE DAY: Savior of the Nations, Come (ELW 263) Alleluia. Stand up and | raise your heads--* drawing near. Alleluia. (Luke 21:28) your redemption is | CREED We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

GOSPEL: Luke 21:2536 The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.
25

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. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28Now

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Filled with expectation and longing, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God's creation. You may kneel or sit as you are able Each petition ends with: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Hear the prayers of your people, O God, and in your mercy grant us all we need, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please stand as we greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. Please be seated ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFERTORY HYMN: Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW 186)

TEMPLE TALK Kathy Steele from Mid-Ohio Workers Association

ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING Chorale from Cantata 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme J. S. Bach Please stand and sing:

OFFERING PRAYER God of abundance, we bring before you the precious fruits of your creation, and with them our very lives. Teach us patience and hope as we care for all those in need until the coming of your Son, our Savior and Lord. Amen. DIALOGUE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Holy God, the Beginning and the End, our Salvation and our Hope, we praise you for creating a world of order and beautyThrough him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen. LORD'S PRAYER Make us bold, O merciful God, to address you as Abba as we pray: 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. Please be seated INVITATION TO COMMUNION God fills the hungry with good things. Come with joy to the feast. Lutherans believe the true body and blood of Christ are really present in the Supper of our Lord under the form of bread and wine and are there distributed and received. All baptized persons are welcomed to Communion when they are visiting this congregation. If you wish to commune, please come forward to receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ with your hands cupped. If you cannot or do not wish to commune you may come forward with your hands crossed over your chest for a blessing.

PREFACE by the pastor HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

COMMUNION The body of Christ, given for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen. LAMB OF GOD

SENDING OF COMMUNION Gracious God, whose mercy endures from generation to generation: As Mary set out to visit Elizabeth before she gave birth to her son, bless those who go forth to share your word and sacrament with our sisters and brothers who are sick/homebound/imprisoned. In your love and care, nourish and strengthen those to whom we bring this communion, that through the body and blood of your Son we may all know the hope of your promised coming in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BLESSING

May God direct your ways in peace, make you abound in love for one another and for all, and strengthen your hearts until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.
SENDING SONG: Jesus Shall Reign (ELW 434) DISMISSAL Go in peace. Remember the poor. Thanks be to God!
HYMN DURING DISTRIBUTION: Let Us Break Bread Together (ELW 471)

POSTLUDE

Chorale Prelude on Jesus Shall Reign

Wells

SONG AFTER COMMUNION: Now, Lord (ELW 201) Please stand PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Holy One, we give you thanks that in this holy communion we have received the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, that in this bread and cup we have feasted again on your endless love by. Let that love overflow more and more in our lives, that we may be messengers to prepare your way, harvesters of justice and righteousness, and bearers of your eternal Word, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God and in honor of Georgianna Mickles on the occasion of her 50th birthday. Presented by Russ and Sharon Thacker

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK Monday, December 3, 2012 Francis Xavier, missionary to Asia, died 1552 A native of the Basque region of Spain, Xavier became a missionary to India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Philippines. He also helped to found the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Tuesday, December 4 John of Damascus, theologian and hymnwriter, died around 749 A monk in an abbey near Jerusalem, John wrote many hymns as well as theological works. One of his works, The Fount of Wisdom, remained influential for centuries. Thursday, December 6 Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, died around 342 Little is known about Nicholas, except that he was a bishop in present-day Turkey. According to legend, he was famous for his giving to the poor, and so has become a symbol of anonymous gift-giving. Friday, December 7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, died 397 While a governor of northern Italy, Ambrose was elected bishop of Milan on the same day he was baptized. He was a famous preacher, a writer of hymns we still sing today, and helped lead St. Augustine to faith.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2012 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26794.

Thank you to Kathy Steele and the Mid-Ohio Workers for their participation in todays service.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH? We receive members throughout the year by Baptism, Affirmation of Faith, Confirmation, Letter of Transfer, and New Member Instruction. Please contact the church office with any questions. 224-6818. Please feel free to take your bulletin and happenings with you. If you wish to discard your bulletin, a recycling box is located at the exit. Thank you.