December 8, 2011
The Lord be with you
This coming Sunday is the Third Sunday in Advent. The appointed lessons are Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 and John 1:6-8, 19-28. The text for the sermon is Isaiah 61:10 and the sermon is titled “A Sharp Dressed Man”. We will be using the third setting of the Divine Service (page 184). This is a communion service. You may prepare by reading what the catechism says about the Lord’s Supper. Our opening hymn will be “Come, Thou Almighty King” (LSB 905). The sermon hymn will be “The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace” (LSB 580). The closing hymn will be “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer” (LSB 918). Our distribution hymns will be “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding” (LSB 345), “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” (LSB 636), and “Hark the Glad Sound” (LSB 349). Because it is Advent we will omit the Gloria in Excelsis. Our choir will be singing.
In our prayers Sunday we will remember the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) along with its Presiding Bishop the Rev. Walter E. Obare, Concordia International School Hanoi, the persecuted believers in Azerbaijan, and our sister congregations Trinity, Mount Rainier, MD; First, Odenton, MD; Good Shepherd, Olney, MD; Christ the King, Owings Mills, MD; and Good Shepherd, Charleston, SC. We will continue to remember those who are trapped by the modern practice of slavery, and those who have fallen victim to our cultures acceptance of abortion and advocacy of sexual immorality. We will also remember the orphans in Haiti that our youth are seeking to help.
The video below is of our closing hymn, “Hark the Glad Sound.” I gave up trying to find a video of someone singing it at a lively pace (as the opening words would seem to suggest it should be).
Our adult Bible class this coming Sunday will pick up at Matthew 12. Class begins at 9:00 AM. As always, everyone is invited to come.
Preview of the Lessons
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11: This is one of Isaiah’s famous “Servant” songs. The “Servant” is Jesus. What the Servant gives is a sure thing. The message of the Servant is God’s message. The Trinity is clearly revealed in verse 1: “The Spirit [Holy Spirit] of the Lord GOD [the Father] is upon me [the Son] …” This passage is pure Gospel and forms the foundation for Sunday’s message so I’m not going to say anything else.1 Thessalonians 5:16-24: As Paul ends this letter, he encourages us to pursue various aspects of a “sanctified” life: rejoicing, praying, giving thanks in all circumstances, not quenching the Spirit, testing all teaching by the standard of God’s Word, holding to what is good and avoiding what is evil. He then pronounces a blessing on us that the Lord will accomplish this in us and keep us “blameless” in our “whole spirit and soul and body” until Christ returns. God is surely able to do this. The blessing is upon our entire being, indicating that our salvation applies to both our physical as well as our spiritual being. Christ’s redemption is comprehensive.
John 1:6-8, 19-28: This is John’s testimony concerning John the Baptist, which includes the Baptist’s own testimony concerning himself. John tells us that he is all about Jesus. We should be also.
Tidbits
• Our Cub council is scheduled to meet Sunday after the worship service..
• The LWLM will have their Christmas party after Sunday’s worship service.
• We will “GREEN” the church Wednesday. Those who attend the 12:15 service will begin the process and those who attend the 7:00 service will finish the job.
• The saint we will focus on during Wednesday’s Advent service will be Nicholas of Myra, Pastor. Our first service is at 12:15 and our second service is at 7:00 PM. We will also have a soup supper beginning at 6:15 PM.
• The choir will practice after the evening Advent service. New voices are welcome.
• The following Saints’ Days are upcoming: Lucia, Martyr (December 13); Daniel the Prophet and the Three Young Men (December 17). Visit the blog on those days to read a post about them.
Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
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