GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

(Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS January 13, 2013

THE ALTAR FLOWERS The Altar Flowers are given today to the glory of God and the beautification of His house by John and Emma Jane Ohnemus in thanksgiving for the blessing of their family. THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Vicar: Director of Parish Music: Secretary: Early Childhood Center Director: Acolyte: (8:15) Cantor: (8:15) Communion Assistant: (8:15) Ushers: (8:15) Greeter: Altar Guild: Acolyte: Cantor: Ushers: Greeters: Altar Guild: Choir: Coffee Host: Altar Guild: Nursery Attendant: (8:15) (8:15) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) Rev. James C. Walter David Witte Nathan Beethe Pat Funk Colleen Moorman Perryn Andrews Paul Walter Allen Deislinger Bill Allaben, Bobby Bemberg Tim Loyd, Ed Mahnken Kay Jenkins Jim and Judy Keppel Andrew Warren Ron Krueger Rudy Bischof, Jeremy Hammond Ken Ross, Richard Sanders Shaun, Justine and Maxwell Baker Beverly Sanders Adult Choir Bette Bogart Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter Mary Ann Dyer

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

PRAYER UPON ENTERING CHURCH
Father in heaven, just as You looked upon Your Son at His Baptism and announced Your approval, You looked upon me at my Baptism and pronounced Your approval as You forgave me my sins and made me Your child, an heir of life everlasting. Keep me in my baptismal grace until that day I behold You face to face. In the name of Your beloved Son Jesus, I pray. Amen

WELCOME
Welcome to Grace! We are now in the season of Epiphany. At Christmas God gave His very best Gift. Epiphany is the unwrapping of that Gift to see what God has given, to thank Him for His Gift, and to put His Gift to use. We are glad you are here with us this morning! Grace is a family of believers dedicated to sharing the Good News of salvation in Jesus. 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 from Gods Word please speak with our Pastor. 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 8:15 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.

(Wed. evening)

AS WE GATHER
Since the Fall we are less than what God created us to be. Nevertheless He has assured His people throughout history that He loves us and that we need not doubt His promises. To the Israelites He promised, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. St. Paul wrote that we have been re-created, as it were, through our Baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ; we are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Today we celebrate The Baptism of our Lord, where Jesus fulfilled all righteousness for us. Because we have been baptized into Christ, the Fathers approval of Jesus extends to us; totally by grace, with us He is well pleased.

NEXT WEEKS READINGS - The appointed readings for next Sunday, January 20th, The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, are: The Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5, The Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and The Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11.
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 BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

Confession of Sins (8:15)

P O almighty God, merciful Father, C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
John 20:1923

Pre-Service Music Lighting of the Chancel Candles Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell Opening Hymn: To Jordan's River Came Our Lord LSB 405
To Jordan's River Came Our Lord - Stephen P. Johnson

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen

Confession of Sins (10:45)

P Almighty God, our maker and redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. C O most merciful God, who has given Your only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us and for His sake grant us remission of all our sins; and by Your Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of You and of Your will and true obedience to Your Word, to the end that by Your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
Mark 16:16; John 1:12

Confession and Absolution

Stand The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen

P Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us and has given His only Son to die for us and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe on His name He gives power to become the children of God and has promised them His Holy Spirit. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Grant this, Lord, unto us all. C Amen

Exhortation

Hebrews 10:22; Psalm 124:8; Psalm 32:5

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. P Our help is in the name of the Lord, C who made heaven and earth. P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.

Service of the Word

Introit
P Behold my servant, whom I uphold, C my chosen, in whom my soul delights.
Ps. 2:711, 12c; antiphon: Is. 42:1a

-3-

-4-

P I will tell of the decree: C The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. P Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, C and the ends of the earth your possession. P You shall break them with a rod of iron C and dash them in pieces like a potters vessel. P Now therefore, O kings, be wise; C be warned, O rulers of the earth. P Serve the LORD with fear, C and rejoice with trembling. P for his wrath is quickly kindled. C Blessd are all who take refuge in him.

Gloria Patri

Kyrie

Mark 10:47

Gloria in Excelsis

Luke 2:14; John 1:29

-5-

-6-

Salutation and Collect of the Day

1991 Robert E. Voelker. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479. Public domain

P Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Old Testament Reading

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

Isaiah 43:17

Gradual

Ps. 117:12a; 96:8

Sit

Anthem

God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It - Kevin Hildebrand (LSB 594)

Service Note: The Congregation is invited to join in singing on Stanza 5.

Praise the Lord, all | nations!* Extol him, all | peoples! For great is his steadfast | love toward us,* and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for- | ever. Ascribe to the Lord the glory | due his name;* bring an offering, and come in- | to his courts!

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

Romans 6:111

-7-

-8-

Alleluia and Verse

P You are my be- | lovd Son;* with you I am | well pleased.

Mark 1:11b

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

Holy Gospel
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the third chapter.

Luke 3:1522

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

Apostles' Creed (10:45)

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. 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 (8:15)

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,

-9-

- 10 -

Sit

Offering
Stand

All Christians Who Have Been Baptized - Ronald Nelson

Children's Message Sermon Hymn: All Christians Who Have Been Baptized
Service Note: St. 1-2 - All, St. 3 - Women, St. 4 - Men, St. 5-6 - All

LSB 596

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.

Sermon Wanted: Dead and Alive

Stand

Romans 6:111

Each petition ends with the following: P Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.
Psalm 51:1012

Offertory

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 page 20

Service of the Sacrament (8:15)

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

Sit

- 11 -

- 12 -

Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:913

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; for what had been hidden from before the foundation of the world You have made known to the nations in Your Son. In Him, being found in the substance of our mortal nature, You have manifested the fullness of Your 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:

Sanctus

Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9

- 13 -

- 14 -

The Words of Our Lord

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

Agnus Dei

John 1:29

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: Once in the Blest Baptismal Waters Hymn: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise Hymn: The Star Proclaims the King Is Here
Stand

Pax Domini

John 20:19

LSB 598 LSB 394 LSB 399

- 15 -

- 16 -

Nunc Dimittis

Luke 2:2932

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

Benedicamus Thanksgiving
Psalm 107:1

Psalm 103:1

- 17 -

- 18 -

Benediction

Numbers 6:2426

Service Concludes (10:45)

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

Collect Closing Hymn: How Firm a Foundation Postlude LSB 728

How Firm a Foundation - Kevin Hildebrand

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: How Firm a Foundation Postlude T

Acknowledgments

LSB 728
How Firm a Foundation - Kevin Hildebrand

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.

- 19 -

- 20 -

THIS WEEK AT GRACE 8:15 a.m. Divine Service with Holy Communion 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 4:00 p.m. Financial Peace University MON - FRI: 7:30 a.m. Early Childhood Development Center MONDAY: 5:00 p.m. 8th Grade Confirmation 6:30 p.m. The CALL Information Meeting in Parker Hall 7:00 p.m. Board of Elders TUESDAY: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Class 12:00 noon Fellowship Club 4:00 p.m. 7th Grade Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Board of Church Properties WEDNESDAY: 6:30 a.m. Mens Bible Class at St. Vincents 6:00 p.m. Handbell Choir 7:00 p.m. Mid-Week Service 7:00 p.m. Adult Choir THURSDAY: 6:00 p.m. Parking Lot/Playground Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. LWML Evening Guild NEXT SUNDAY: 2:00 p.m. Baby Shower for Megan Calvillo TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL - Jesus Baptism (Luke 3:1522) is the Bible story taught today. God sent the Holy Spirit at Jesus Baptism, announcing that Jesus was Gods Son. At our Baptism, God makes us His children through the work of the Holy Spirit. Let your children tell you the dramatic events of this story, and share with them that because of Gods wrath and anger over sin, the people were looking for a Savior. We, too, need a Savior, for God is angry with our sin. But thanks be to God, who in His mercy makes clear at Jesus Baptism that we need look no more, for the Savior is here! PASTOR WALTERS CLASS meets on Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m. upstairs in Parker Hall. Pastor is leading a study on our liturgy and why we do what we do in worship. 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. - 21 SUNDAY:

LAST WEEKS STEWARDSHIP Attendance: Sunday 1/6: 178 (8:15 95 and 10:45 83). Mid-week Service 1/9: 10. Offerings: Sunday 1/6: $10,683.00. New Years Eve: $2,610.00. Building Fund: $810.00. Fan into Flame: $325.00. Seminary Fund: $250.00. Memorials: $400.00. Missionary Megan Kincaid: $25.00. REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Martha Pils is in Baptist Hospital recovering from a fall. Irvin Clawitter has returned home from the hospital. Marietta Gutierrez has returned home from the hospital. Gisela Spieker continues her recovery at home. Jeanette Keehn continues receiving care at home. Sherry Bischof continues her recovery and treatments. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Jan. 17 Kara and David Mainard HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Jan. 13 Dennis Fastenau Jan. 15 Colleen Haley Jan. 18 Holly Raney CONGRATULATIONS to Robert Bemberg and Emily May who were married here at Grace on December 29th. Pastor Walter officiated. Robert is the son of Bobby and Lydia Bemberg and grandson of Norma Bisgood. Congratulations to Robert and Emily! OUR CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY to Debbie and Joe Craig on the death of their brother-inlaw Joe Eddy of Olive Branch, Mississippi on December 30th with funeral services on Saturday, January 5th. Our thoughts and prayers are with Debbie and Joe and their family. BABY SHOWER You are invited to a Baby Shower for Megan Calvillo next Sunday, January 20th, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Parlor. Its going to be a boy!!! The Calvillos are registered at Babies R Us and Target. Hostesses are Sammy Sue Harrill, Carole Nichols and Pat Funk. PORTALS OF PRAYER for January March, 2013 are on the table in the rear of the sanctuary. Please pick up your copy today. Remember to recycle your old Portals of Prayer when you are finished with them.

- 22 -

2013 OFFERING ENVELOPES are on the table in the back of the sanctuary. Please pick them up today, and please throw away any of your 2012 envelopes. CONGRATULATIONS AND GODS BLESSING to Rev. Michael Middaugh as he is installed this afternoon as Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. Michael is the son of Randy and Riley Middaugh. BOARD OF ELDERS will meet on Monday, January 14th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor. Carter Stein is the director. BOARD OF CHURCH PROPERTIES will meet Tuesday, January 15th, at 7:00 p.m. Please note the time change. Charles Stein is the director. PARKING LOT/PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE will meet on Thursday, January 17th, at 6:00 p.m. in the downstairs classroom in the church. Contact Charles Stein if you have questions. 7th GRADE CONFIRMATION CLASS will meet on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in the Parlor. 8th GRADE CONFIRMATION CLASS will meet on Monday at 5:00 p.m. in the Parlor. THE C.A.L.L. INFORMATIONAL MEETING is tomorrow evening, January 14th, at 6:30 p.m. in Parker Hall. This is an opportunity to hear more about ways you can help children in foster care in Pulaski County. To register for this event go on-line to www.thecallinarkansas.org. The Grace Board of Evangelism is hosting this meeting. Talk with Abby Buchanan or Pat Funk for more information. FELLOWSHIP CLUB will meet on Tuesday, January 15th, at 12:00 noon in Parker Hall. Lunch will be provided by our ACTS friends. Join us for good food and fellowship. Contact the church office if you have questions. SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND - Please consider a special offering to the Seminary Scholarship Fund in 2013. Our Grace family is blessed to have Kevin Ray, a member of our congregation, enrolled at Concordia Seminary-St. Louis. Further, we anticipate other members of our congregation may enroll in seminary in coming years. Seminary education costs are in excess of $40,000 per year. To help defray these costs, the Board of Elders added a line item to this year's budget, Seminarian/Student Support. Additionally, the Board of Elders created the Seminary Scholarship Fund in order to allow members of our congregation to provide financial support for our seminarians. The Board of Elders encourages the members of the congregation to consider giving a gift above and beyond your current offering to the Seminary Scholarship Fund in 2013. - 23 -

LWML EVENING GUILD will meet this Thursday, January 17th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor. Pastor Walter will open our evening with a devotion. Please bring your old Christmas cards or other greeting cards to our meeting so that we can recycle them. We will cut off the fronts and send them to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Rogers to use as pictures for their scripture books. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday. Call the church office if you have questions. FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY (FPU) meets each Sunday from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in Parker Hall. The topics are designed to teach you how to handle Gods money Gods way. The cost is $89 per couple (or single) if purchased through Grace. Childcare is available. For more information call Randy Middaugh at 954-9281. SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE HOSTS We still have two Sundays in January and February open for you to sign up to serve refreshments between the early service and Sunday School/Bible Class. This is a great time for everyone to visit and for our visitors to get to know our members. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the Parlor so take a minute and sign up for the Sunday you can serve. Thanks!!! YOUNG ADULTS OF GRACE Our Young Adult Bible Study continues to meet every other Monday with our next meeting being Monday, January 21st, at 7:00 p.m. Please call or E-mail me at vicar@glclr.org for more detailed information on location. We are continuing to study Dietrich Bonheoffer's book "The Cost of Discipleship," which challenges us as Lutherans to examine scripture closely in accordance with what it means to be a true disciple of Christ. Vicar David Witte THE CULTURE WAR: CREATION vs EVOLUTION On Saturday, February 2nd, Faith Lutheran Church in Hot Springs Village is sponsoring a one-day Epiphany Series Seminar: The Culture War: Creation vs Evolution presented by Mr. Mike Riddle, president of Christian Training and Development Services and Speaker for Answers in Genesis. The cost is $17.00 per person which includes seminar materials, box lunch and coffee break refreshments. And the deadline to register is Wednesday, January 30th. If you are interested in attending, registration forms are available at each entrance to the sanctuary. For more information call Faith Lutheran Church at 501-922-5700.

- 24 -

MEMORIALS IN MEMORY OF MRS. DORIS PARKER TO THE DORIS PARKER MEMORIAL FUND By Guy and Marie Arcuri TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Gisela Spieker IN MEMORY OF MR. MARK CATE TO THE GRACE GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND By Samuel and Angell Jones Rosalyn Snyderman TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Gisela Spieker IN MEMORY OF MRS. BETSY WARREN Mother of Greg Warren TO THE GRACE GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND By Southwest Power Pool IN MEMORY OF MR. FRED EVANS Brother of Grover Bud Evans TO THE GRACE GENERAL FUND By Jim and Nancy Wade IN MEMORY OF MRS. RUTH SIELAFF Sister of Mildred Wilkins TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Gisela Spieker

- 25 -