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St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Maytown, Pennsylvania
The Rev. Robert M. Lescallette, Pastor
Keith Smith, Organist and Choirmaster
Charlie Johns, Vicki McConnell and JoNan Shirk Youth Leaders
Diane Leonard, Parish Secretary
Becky Fleckenstein, Parish Sexton
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he Second Sunday in Advent December 7, 2008
St.
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, 397 a.d. 10:30 am
This Service Employs the GREEN Hymnal
THE PRELUDE MUSIC
THE OPENING HYMN – #26 “Prepare the Royal Highway” Sung standing
THE CONFESSION OF SINS/ABSOLUTION
PASTOR: Blessed be the Holy Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
One God,
Who is the light and life of all the ages.
ALL: AMEN.
PASTOR: Trusting in Jesus Christ,
Who came to share our humanity
And bring light to this broken world,
Let us come before God without fear
to make our confession.
Comforting God,
ALL: We confess before you and in the presence of one another that we are sinners who fail to live as you desire. So after we place our trust in ourselves and not in you. We do not love each other as you have commanded. Because of us, your whole creation suffers. For the sake of your son, Jesus Christ, forgive us.
In your boundless mercy and patience, lead us to live by faith in your promise. Amen.
PASTOR: God’s Love for us is greater than all our sins. God’s promises full pardon and complete forgiveness to all who
turn from sin and place their trust in Christ, the light of the
world. Hear and believe the good news that all your sins
are forgiven. With God, nothing is impossible.
PEOPLE: Amen
THE GREETING
PASTOR: Grace and peace be with you in the name of the Triune God who washed you in the waters of his healing baptism - the one who was, who is, and who is to come.
PEOPLE: Grace and peace be also to you.
THE PRAYERS OF THE DAY See insert...and
PASTOR: Almighty God, you have raised up for your church faithful bishops like your servant Ambrose, who served your people in Northern Italy so long ago, and who still speak to us of you, in the words of so many fine hymns. May the memory of his life be a source of joy for us and a bulwark of our faith, so that we may serve you and boldly confess your name before the world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
PEOPLE: Amen. All sit following the prayer
THE HYMN - #28 “Savior of the Nations, Come” Verses 1 and 7 only.
This hymn text was written by St. Ambrose, whose baptism, ordination, and consecration as a Bishop we remember today, over 1600 years later.
THE FIRST READING – Isaiah 40:1-11
THE ADVENT CAROL - #34 “Oh, Come, Oh Come Emmanuel”
Verses 1 and 2 only
As the carol is sung, the acolyte gets fire from the right candle on the altar, which is symbolic of Christ, and lights the two most distant blue candles, in the window sills, indicating Joseph and Mary’s progress toward Bethlehem and Christmas - and ours.
THE SECOND READING - 2 Peter 3:8-15a
THE ANTHEM
THE HOLY GOSPEL – Mark 1:1-8 All rise for the reading of the Gospel.
Please sit, following the reading.
THE HYMN OF THE DAY - #36 “On Jordan’s Banks the Baptist’s Cry”
THE SERMON
THE NICENE CREED - p. 64 Confessed standing.
THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
“...stir up your power, O’ God.”
Response - “Stir up your power and come!”
THE SHARING OF THE PEACE All sit following the Peace.
THE ORGAN OFFERTORY - “” L. Smith
THE OFFERINGS Regular and World Hunger
THE OFFERTORY FOR ADVENT Sung standing
“What can I give him poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him –
Give my Heart!” - C. Rossetti
THE PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
ALL: God of faithfulness, we bring before you
the precious gifts of your creation, and with them
our very lives. teach us patience and hope as we
care for those in need and prepare for your son’s
advent into our hearts.
Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Preface – p. 68
The Sanctus – p. 69 “Holy, Holy, Holy”
The Prayer of Thanksgiving Prayed by Pastor in a special resource.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Agnus Dei - p. 72 “Lamb of God”
The Distribution Standing, continuous, by intinction.
Come forward via the center aisle; receive the Host (wafer) from the Pastor; dip the Host in the Chalice held by the Deacon; and return to your pew via the side aisle on “your” side of the church. The choir communes first; then the Christ Window side of the church; then the Luther Side; then the Balcony; and finally the servers.
All who are baptized and who believe that the Risen Christ is present in this communion, bestowing upon the faithful His strength, salvation, and forgiveness, are welcome to our altar. The un-baptized and those who do not wish to commune may come forward for a blessing or remain in their pews.
THE HYMNS SUNG DURING COMMUNION –
#25 “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers”
#37 “Hark! A Thrilling Voice” Sung to “Merton”
“Lift Up Your Heads” See page 5
#39 “Joy to the World”
“He Came Down” See Page 6
THE BLESSING All rise.
THE CANTICLE - pp. 72-73 “Thank The Lord”
THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
ALL: God for whom we wait,
we give you thanks for this meal of life
that you have set before us.
May our sharing of this heavenly food,
in which you are present even now,
nourish our faith,
strengthen us for service,
and deepen our hunger for the
coming of your reign
on earth as in heaven.
Amen.
THE BLESSING
PASTOR: God our Father fill you with the light of divine love.
ALL: Amen.
DECON: Jesus, our Emmanuel, bring your assurance he will come again.
ALL: Amen
KEITH: The Holy Spirit lead you until the dawning of the new day.
ALL: Amen.
PASTOR: Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
ALL: Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
PASTOR: Go in peace. Christ is with you.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
THE RECESSIONAL HYMN - BLUE hymnal #626 “People, Look East”
THE SILENT PRAYER
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THE
ORGAN
POSTLUDE
THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR
…this morning are presented to the Glory of God and in honor of their 27th Wedding Anniversary. By Debbie and Keith Smith
THE BULLETINS
…are given in memory of Charles Walter, Jr. By Anna Walter
his Week at St. John’s
Today 9:00 am Sunday School
10:30 am Traditional Advent Communion
Noon Bill Vogel Care Meeting
12:30 pm A.C.F.L.B.
5:00 pm Senior Youth Group
7:00 pm Alpha & Omega Bible Study
Monday 1:30 pm Leave for Cherry Street Home
Christmas Party
7:00 pm Property Committee
Tuesday 6:00 pm Maytown Historical Society
Christmas Banquet - Social Hall
7:30 pm Bible Study
Wednesday 10:00 am Longwood Bible Study
Noon Farm Women - Social Hall
7:30 pm Senior Choir
Thursday 7:00 pm Christian Education committee
Friday 7:00 pm Knitting & Crocheting
Saturday 9:30 am Church tree erection
9:30 am CIA Children’s baking of cookies
for the Food Bank - church kitchen
1:00 pm Children’s Pageant Play practice
Next Sunday 9:00 am Sunday School
10:30 am Music Sunday Traditional Service with
Toothpaste and toothbrush collection
Noon Holiday Covered Dish Ham dinner
THANKS TO
...Vernetta Wallander, Ginny Zimmerman, Ruth Sweitzer, and Leonard Marx for making a dozen quilts that were taken down to New Windsor, MD on Monday, to the LWR warehouse, by Pastor, Chris Harnish, and Aurelia Flowers - together with nine blankets donated by the congregation on “Blanket Sunday”.
...our Worship and Music Committee, for creating and hanging the Advent wreath.
...everyone who helped clean-up the remains of our red oak trees after PPL cut them down.
...Connie Longenecker and her Fellowship Committee cohorts, for planning and carrying out the day trip to Bethlehem last week. It was wonderful!
...the 18 St. Johners who attended the Thanksgiving Eve service at Zion Marietta, and who learned that we raised a total of $8,208 to fight world hunger through this year’s C.R.O.P. Walk.
...the five adults who cleaned up leaves at the Vogel’s house last week.
LAST WEEK
...the congregation gave 246 rolls of toilet paper to our Food Bank and individuals agreed to provide Christmas gifts to all the residents of the Cherry Street Home in Columbia...speaking of which, - the tag for Sherry Kinsey was chosen by someone, but not recorded on the list of names, please let Sheri Hafer know you have that name so she can be assured there will be a gift for her.
TODAY
...we ask you to further support our Social Ministry Committee’s Christmas service project by donating boxes of tissue paper to the Food Bank. Leave you gift on the tower window shelf.
NEXT WEEK
...our giving project concludes with an appeal for toothpaste and toothbrushes. Thanks for caring for over 100 poor families in our neighborhood.
BILL AND PAT VOGEL
...need our help. Find out exactly what we need YOU for, when Bill returns to Maytown from Philadelphia around Christmas, by attending a special meeting in our parlor immediately after the service. Ask your questions and, if possible, volunteer to help be part of a caring team. All adults and older teens are asked to help if you can.
ATTENTION ALL COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND GROUP LEADERS!
Please make sure that Diane has a written or PREFERABLY TYPED (you may also email your report to Diane - jdleonard5@comcast.net) report that details your committee’s ministry in 2008 and its plans for 2009 no later than December 15th, so that it can be included in the Annual Bulletin of Reports, as mandated by our constitution. Groups that maintain separate treasuries, such as WELCA, Social Ministry, Fellowship, and the Youth, are required to submit financial reports as well, that show opening (January 1) and closing (December ?) balances, and that detail income and expenses.
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erving God’s People Today
Lector – Sheri Hafer
Acolyte - Connor Ness and Chris Chapman
Crucifer - Amy Chapman
Greeters - Jamey and Buffy Shirk
Head Usher –
Altar Care – Wanda Long
Flowers – Keith and Deb Smith
Bulletins – Anna Walter
Offering Counters – Cliff Hafer, Chris Harnish and
Ruth Sweitzer
IMPORTANT SIGN UP SHEET TODAY!!!
So that our Social Ministry Committee can host yet another successful Holiday Covered-Dish banquet in the Social Hall next Sunday following the service, we are asking all who plan on attending the meal to sign-up and tell us what side dish, salad, appetizer, or dessert you will provide. The committee will supply ham, rolls, and a beverage. The meal is free and open to all - members and non-members alike, but a donation basket to cover expenses will be available.
THE MAYTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
...will hold its catered Christmas Banquet in our Social Hall on Tuesday night at 6:00 pm. Ticket holders only, please.
MUSIC SUNDAY
Next Sunday we will have our annual Music Sunday Service with special music by our choir and musicians. Don’t miss this festive event, and invite your family, friends and neighbors.
HELP!
On Saturday, at 9:30 am we need you and yours to help with two big projects at church:
1. Adults and teen are asked to help erect and decorate our tree in the sanctuary...questions, see Pastor
2. Children - and their parents, too! Are asked to help bake cookies for the 100 families served by our Food Bank, in the church kitchen. Questions? See Charlie Johns or JoNan Shirk.
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erving God’s People Next Week - December 14th
Lector – Pat Vogel
Acolyte - Alex Smith
Crucifer - Amber Smith
Greeters -
Head Usher –
Altar Care – Wanda Long
Flowers – Skip and Tina Nell
Bulletins – Betty Henny
Offering Counters – Cliff Hafer, Chris Harnish and
Ruth Sweitzer
OUR CHURCH COUNTS ON YOU
...to sign up and donate money to provide flowers for our altar and bulletins each week of 2009, as well as to sign up to serve as head usher for one or more months. Please don’t go by the sign up sheets today without signing up. Thank you! Please be sure to put a awith your name on the flower chart if you would like Diane to order your flowers for you...thanks.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT TO DATE
With only four more Sundays and Christmas Eve to go in 2008, we are doing fairly well in our financial support of the church’s budgeted ministry in the areas of Synodical Benevolence and World Hunger, but we are far behind in giving to “Current” and still have roughly $13,000 to go in order to meet our belfry repair fund goal. Can you help? Will you?
Pastor again challenges each household in the congregation to do as he will, and give an extra $100 or more to “Current” in December and help us catch up.
The specific giving figures to date are:
WHERE WE WHERE WE
FUND ARE NOW SHOULD BE NOW
Current Operating $101,195 $115,416
Synodical Benevolence 6,739 6,875
World Hunger 2,202 2,292
Building/Belfry/Painting 31,346 44,033 *
Seminarian Support 1,227 no goal set
* Sum of $5,958 called for in regular building fund goal plus $38,075 approved by congregation for building painting and belfry repairs.
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING
...Council, at its December 1 meeting, voted to delay the removal of the tree stumps along Queen Street until the spring so that, hopefully, there will be money in the Building Fund to pay for the $1,000 job. Property Committee will discuss what trees will be planted in the oaks’ place and how such trees might best be funded...stay tuned.
UANNA MAE DERRU
A life long member of our family in Christ, Anna Mae Derr, died on Wednesday of this past week, following a stroke and a fall which resulted in a broken hip and partial paralysis. Anna Mae was 94 years old, and she was the second person to be baptized in our marble font, in 1915. She was often remembered for her childhood “recitations” in church and Sunday school, and for her marriage to Lloyd Derr. The Derrs raised four boys and one girl in our church and Anna Mae was a member of WELCA and the Social Ministry committee. She seldom missed a worship service and took an active interest in our fellowship even as a nursing home resident for several years.
A service of Christian burial will be held in our church tomorrow at 11:00 am, with a fellowship meal in the social hall after the interment.
We thank God for Anna Mae Harner Derr and commend her to the care of our Easter Lord.
ALPHA & OMEGA BIBLE STUDY GROUP
...meets again tonight in the parlor. Last week only four of us showed up, but we had a great session that explored the book of Jonah using the “Literary” method. How about joining us?
THE MOSS FAMILY
...has moved in to their new home. Their address is -
222 Fallowfield Drive
Leola, PA 17540
Phone: 717-656-6455
