Carol 1 Angels from the Realms of Glory (LSB 367)
Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship; Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds in the field abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing, Yonder shines the Infant Light.
Come and worship, come and worship; Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Δ All creation, join in praising, God the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising, To th’ eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship; Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Invocation
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

Confession and Holy Absolution
P: Let us confess our sins to God our Father.
C: Lord of heaven and earth, no secrets are hidden from Your sight. You know our sins: our rebellions of thought,

word, and deed; our failure to do what You command. We admit that we have sinned against You and deserve nothing but Your eternal anger and punishment. But we are sorry for our sins and repent of them. Forgive us, we pray, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live to Your praise and glory. Amen.

P: In love and mercy God sent His only Son for you, who was born in human flesh to be your Savior. By His death on the cross, Jesus Christ made full atonement for your sins and by His resurrection from the dead He has sealed the triumph of eternal life to you and to all believers. May the Lord who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C: Amen.

The Collect for the First Sunday after Christmas P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray.

C: O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The First Lesson Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they shall dwell secure, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And He shall be their peace.

The Second Lesson Galatians 4:4-7 Epistle for the 1st Sunday after Christmas
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Carol 2 On Christmas Night, All Christians Sing (LSB 377)
On Christmas night all Christians sing, To hear the news the angels bring, (Repeat) News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King's birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad, Since our Redeemer made us glad, (Repeat) When from our sin He set us free, All for to gain our liberty?

All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night, (Repeat) "Glory to God and peace to men Now and forevermore. Amen."

The Third Lesson Isaiah 52:7-10 Old Testament for Christmas Day How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. 9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

The Fourth Lesson Hebrews 1:1-6 Epistle for Christmas Day Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days He has

spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”? Or again, “I will be to Him a father, and He shall be to Me a son”? 6 And again, when He brings the Firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God's angels worship Him.”

Carol 3 O Little Town of Bethlehem (LSB 361)
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by: Yet in thy dark streets shineth, The everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in Thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, And, gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep, Their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars together, Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the king, And peace to all the earth!

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The Fifth Lesson Revelation 1:1-6 First Reading for St. John’s Day (Dec 27) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. He

made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Sixth Lesson 1 John 1:1-2:2 Epistle for St. John’s Day (Dec 27)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon

and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 the Life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal Life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Apostle’s Creed

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 everlasting. Amen.

Carol 4 It Came upon the Midnight Clear (LSB 366)
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, goodwill to all, From heav'n's all-gracious king." The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing.

All you, beneath your heavy load, By care and guilt bent low, Who toil along a dreary way, With painful steps and slow:
Look up, for golden is the hour, Come swiftly on the wing,
The Prince was born to bring you peace; Of Him the angels sing.

For lo, the days have come to pass, By prophets seen of old, When down into the circling years, Came Christ as was foretold. His word of peace shall to the earth, God's ancient promise bring, And all who take this gift will hear, The song the angels sing.

3

The Seventh Lesson Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Old Testament for the 1st Sunday after Christmas I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Carol 5 What Child Is This (LSB 370)
What Child is this who laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The babe, the son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here, The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The babe, the son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, peasant king, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise the song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary!

The Eighth Lesson Luke 2:22-40 Gospel for The First Sunday after Christmas When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to

Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”

33 And His father and His mother marveled at what was said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon Him.

4

Carol 6 See Amid the Winter’s Snow (LSB 373)
See amid the winter's snow, Born for us on earth below, See, the gentle Lamb appears, Promised from eternal years.

Refrain: Hail, O ever-blessed morn! Hail, redemption's happy dawn! Sing through all Jerusalem: "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Lo, within a stable lies, He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime, Sits amid the cherubim. Refrain

Sacred Infant, all divine, What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss, Down to such a world as this! Refrain

The Ninth Lesson John 1:1-14 Gospel for Christmas Day In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with

God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but came to bear witness about the Light.

9 The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Carol 7 A Great and Mighy Wonder (LSB 383)
A great and mighty wonder, A full and holy cure: The virgin bears the infant With virgin honor pure!

Refrain Proclaim the Savior's birth: "To God on high be glory, And peace to all the earth!" The Word becomes incarnate, And yet remains on high,

And cherubim sing anthems, To shepherds from the sky. Refrain Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored,

The infant born in Bethl'em, The Savior and the Lord. Refrain All idols then shall perish, And Satan's lying cease,

And Christ shall raise His scepter, Decreeing endless peace. Refrain

Reflection on the Word

Carol 8 Go Tell It on the Mountain (LSB 388)
Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev'rywhere;

Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watching, O'er silent flocks by night,

Behold, throughout the heavens, There shone a holy light. Refrain The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! above the earth

Rang out the angel chorus, That hailed our Savior's birth.

Down in a lowly manger, The humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation, That blessed Christmas morn.

Refrain Refrain

5

The Prayers & The Lord’s Prayer

The Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

C: Amen.

Carol 9 Let Us All With Gladsome Voice (LSB 390)
Let us all with gladsome voice, Praise the God of heaven, Who, to bid our hearts rejoice, His own Son hath given.

To this vale of tears He comes, Here to serve in sadness,
That with Him in heav’n’s fair homes, We may reign in gladness.

We are rich, for He was poor; Is this not a wonder? Therefore praise God evermore, Here on earth and yonder.

Christ, our Lord and Savior dear, Be Thou ever near us. Grant us now a glad new year, Amen, Jesus, hear us.

***ANNOUNCEMENTS***

Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God by the Todd Family in loving memory of their beloved Abbey Todd.

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Bethel Lutheran Church

December 12, 2020

December 13, 2020

Bethel Lutheran Church

December 12, 2020

WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special

welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex

and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your

faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Third Sunday in Advent December 13, 2020

Liturgy: Matins (pages 219-228)*
Hymns: #334, #345, #343

THE PSALM - Psalm 85:8-9, 12-13

Show us Your steadfast love, / O Lord, and grant us Your sal- / vation.

Let me hear what God the / Lord will speak,
for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints, but let them not turn back to / folly,

Surely His salvation is her to those who / fear Him, that glory may dwell / in our land.

Yes, the Lord will give / what is good, and our land will yield its / increase.

Righteousness will go be- / fore Him and make His foot- / steps a way.

Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit; as it was in the be / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.

Show us Your steadfast love, / O Lord, and grant us Your sal- / vation.

Lighting the Advent Wreath

The season of Advent is a time of repentance and prayer to make ready for the celebration of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem and His coming again at the end of the age. Week by week, as light gathers on our Advent wreath, we speak and sing words of hope.

P: Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Psalm 43:3)

C: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav’nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Let us pray

Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE OLD TESTAMENT READING - Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (ESV)

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. . . .

For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.

THE EPISTLE 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (ESV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.

THE HOLY GOSPEL John 1:6-8, 19-28 (ESV)

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through Him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the Light. . . .

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Bethel Lutheran Church

December 5, 2020

December 6, 2020

Bethel Lutheran Church

December 5, 2020

WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special

welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex

and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your

faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Second Sunday in Advent

December 6, 2020

Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting One (pages 151-166)

Hymns: #344, #347, #636, #349

______________________________________________________________________________________

THE INTROIT

Ps. 80:1, 8a, 9b, 7; antiphon: Ps. 80:3

Restore us, / O God;
let Your face shine, that we / may be saved!

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph / like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, / shine forth.

You brought a vine out of / Egypt;
it took deep root and / filled the land.

Restore us, O / God of hosts;
let Your face shine that we / may be saved!

Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.

Restore us, / O God;
Let Your face shine, that we / may be saved!

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

The season of Advent is a time of repentance and prayer to make ready for the celebration of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem and His coming again at the end of the age. Week by week, as light gathers on our Advent wreath, we speak and sing words of hope.

P: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through Him.

C: He was not the Light, but came to bear witness about the Light. The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:6-9)

C: Blessed is He who comes in the name / of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we / bless you.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times didst give the Law, in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, free them from Satan’s tyranny That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

P: Let us pray.

C: Stir up, our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE FIRST READING 2 Isaiah 40:1-11 (ESV) Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a 4highwayforourGod. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low ;the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

GRADUAL

P: 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.

THE EPISTLE 2 Peter 3:8-14 (ESV)

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of Good, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for hese, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 1:1-8 (ESV)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

*ANNOUNCEMENTS *

ALTAR FLOWERS are placed to the glory of God by Ross and Lynn Betts in loving memory of Lynn’s mother, Marcia Droege.
TRI-PARISH ADVENT SERVICE - will be held on Wednesday, December 9th at 7pm at Bethel and Wednesday, December16th at 7pm at St. John’s.

TRI-PARISH CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE – will meet on Thursday, December 10th at St. John’s.

TRI-PARISH SEWING GROUP - is scheduled for Friday, December 11th at 1:30pm at Bethel.

CONGREGATION BUDGET MEETING—is scheduled for Sunday, December 13th after the service.

RESERVATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE—Please call the church at 412-486-5777 or put your name on the signup sheet, and how many people are coming, if you plan to attend Christmas Eve service at Bethel at 8:00pm.

TRI-PARISH CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE—is scheduled for 11 am at Zion.

Bethel Lutheran Church

November 29, 2020

November 28, 2020

Bethel Lutheran Church

November 29, 2020

WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special

welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex

and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your

faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.

_________________________________________________________________________________

First Sunday in Advent November 29, 2020

Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting Three (pages 184-202) Hymns: #331, #348, #622, #350

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O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who ord’rest all things mightily, To us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

P: Let us pray.

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

THE INTROIT

Ps. 25:1-3; antiphon: Zech. 9:9b, alt.

Pastor: Congregation: Pastor: Congregation: All:

Behold, your King is com- / ing to you; righteous and having sal- / vation.

To You, / O Lord, I lift / up my soul.

O my God, in You I trust; let me not be / put to shame; let not my enemies exult / over me.

Indeed, none who wait for You shall be / put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly / treacherous.

Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be- / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.

Behold, your king is com- / ing to you; righteous and having sal- / vation.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

P: The season of Advent is a time of repentance and prayer to make ready for the celebration of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem and His coming again at the end of the age. Week by week, as light gathers on our Advent wreath, we speak and sing words of hope.

P: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

C: those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

P: And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? C: My hope is in You. (Psalm 39:7)

THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 64:1-9 (ESV)

Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence— 2as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at Your presence! 3When You did awesome things that we did not look for, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence. 4From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides You, who acts for those who wait for Him. 5You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? 6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7There is no one who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.

8But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand. 9Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all Your people.

GRADUAL

All: 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.
Blessed is He who comes in the name / of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we / bless you.

THE EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—6even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 11:1-10(ESV)

When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and He sat on it. 8And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

* * ANNOUNCEMENTS * * *

ALTAR FLOWERS are placed to the glory of God.

RESERVATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE—Please call the church at 412.486.5777 or put your name on the signup sheet, and how many people are coming, if you plan to attend Christmas Eve service at Bethel at 8:00pm.

GOOD BOOKS—If you need a good book to read, Bethel is starting a library in the side room of the Social Hall. Take a book, bring a book. DIRECTOR NEEDED—to be in charge of the Altar Guild. Duties include: organizing volunteers who set up and clean up communion, purchasing palms, Easter lilies and Poinsettias, communion supplies, filling candles, changing paraments, etc. If you feel you could serve the Lord in this capacity, please speak to Fred Heintz.

TRI-PARISH CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE—is scheduled for Thursday, December 10th at 7pm at St. John’s.
SEWING GROUP—will meet Friday, December 11th at 1:30pm.

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A Service of Lessons & Carols

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