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Thursday, December 17, 2020

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale
Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter
December 17, 2020
It’s good to be back from gall bladder surgery. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, cards and support. Next week is Christmas. There is no Wednesday service. Christmas Eve is Thursday and we are changing our normal schedule. There will be two Christmas Eve services, one at 5:30pm and the second at 7:30pm. We will wipe down the pews in between.

We are moving the late service to 7:30pm because we hope to draw more people to it and away from 5:30pm. Last year we had 158 at 5:30pm and 45 at the late service. Obviously we are going to have less people overall this Christmas Eve. We have a capacity for 75 at each service. If you have flexibility, I request that you come to the 7:30pm service. If you are wary of bigger crowds, I suggest you come to the 7:30pm service as well. Both services will be the same.  There will be no 11:30pm service.

Please notify Michelle in the office as to which service you will be attending with how many in your family. You can call 314-966-3220, email mfiala@glendalelutheranchurch.org or write a note on your membership card. On Christmas Day, we will celebrate at 9:15am. The Saturday after Christmas there will be no evening service. Thank you for being part of the Glendale Lutheran church family. It is good to be together and worship our Lord.
Please wear a mask during worship services.
Daily Bible Reading
The Glendale Lutheran Food Drive
The previous deadline mentioned has been extended...we are now collecting through Sunday, December 20!

It is a very sad picture to watch the long, long lines of people waiting to be given some food to take home.

Any contributions of food or money will be welcome. You can place the food on the table in the hall. Please think about bringing things like canned chicken and tuna, peanut butter, soups, etc. If you want to contribute but cannot do the shopping, you can give whatever amount--nothing is too small or too large--to either Marcia Hempel, Cathie Albers or Pastor Scott. We will be identifying a local pantry able to receive the food for distribution. Thanks to the Schlichters for getting the program started with a $250 Thrivent card--and to all the others who participate, thank you.

Update: Good News! Kirk Care has agreed to work with us on the distribution of the food we gather for those in need. Kirk Care distributes to people of all ages, but they say much more goes to families with children.

There are some T-shirts from Thrivent in the library. Most of them are large or X-large. You are welcome to take one if you would use it.
2021 Flower Chart
The Flower Chart for 2021 is posted near the church office. Sign up or simply email Michelle your preferred dates for altar flowers and she will reserve those Sundays for you. Thank you!
Financial Update
Next Sunday's Bible Readings
Isaiah 61:10—62:3; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40
Worship Leaders 12/20
Lector: Jerry Nicolaus
Communion: John Steele
S/V: Tony Petzoldt
Bible Class S/V: Jerry Nicolaus
Usher: Ken Clark
Worship Leaders 12/27
Lector: Beth Nicolaus
Communion: Mike Toney
S/V: Ken Clark
Bible Class S/V: Tony Petzoldt
Usher: Mike Toney
The Word Within the Word

Worship Bulletin


Welcome to Glendale Lutheran!

Pastor Scott Jonas would love to talk to you. You can contact him via cell 805-345-6658 or email scottjonas314@gmail.com.
Fourth Sunday in Advent
9:15am
Prelude

Greeting and Welcome

Lighting of the Candles

Hymn of Invocation – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (LSB 357)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.  Refrain

Refrain:  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.  Refrain

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.  Refrain

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.  Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.  Refrain

+ Preparation +

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

Confession and Absolution
P:  That our eyes and our ears may be open to receive the mystery of God’s love, let us first empty ourselves of everything that has closed our hearts to God, confessing our sin and need of forgiveness and life.
C:  At the Lord’s own invitation and command, I confess all my sins to God, the very thoughts, words, and deeds with which I have offended Him and hurt my neighbor. I come now in the sincere hope and faith of the forgiveness of God made known to the whole world in the mystery of His Son, Jesus Christ, who has sacrificed His own flesh and blood for me. Remove my sin and guilt for His sake, and restore a right spirit within me. Amen.
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 to 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 + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C:  Amen.

+ Word +

First ReadingPsalm 16:1-11
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

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

Epistle Romans 16:25-27
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
P:  This is the Word of the Lord.
C:  Thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel – Luke 1:26-38
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the first chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.                                                                                                  

Children’s Hymn – I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb (LSB 740)

I am Jesus’ little lamb,
Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my need and well provides me,
Loves me ev’ry day the same,
Even calls me by my name.

Day by day, at home, away,
Jesus is my staff and stay.
When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,
Into pleasant pastures leads me;
When I thirst, He bids me go
Where the quiet waters flow.

Children’s Sermon

Hymn of the Day – My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (LSB 576)

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
No merit of my own I claim
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.  Refrain

Refrain:    On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In ev’ry high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.  Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Redeemed to stand before His throne!  Refrain

Sermon I’m Feeling Hopeless

Apostles' Creed
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 + everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

+ Celebrating birthdays this week: 21 – Sherman Moore; 22 – Aaron Hempel; 24 – Jean Peterson; 25 – Mary Skouby, John Willmann

Special Celebrations and Needs:
+ Church family members: Judy George, recovering from heart surgery; Judy Thielker, recovering from Covid
+ Friends of our congregation: Gary Brugere, undergoing hip surgery; Donna, friend of the Brugere family, experiencing vascular health issues
+ Those who are homebound or in nursing facilities: Mary Guion, Corinne Gutzler, Anne Hammann, Bettie Welch, Joan Winkler, Ruth Wussler

Offertory
Offering
We are excited to announce a new option for electronic giving using your mobile device. Please scan the following QR code or visit https://tithe.ly/give?c=815174 to make a donation.
+ Sacrament +

The Words of Our Lord
P:  Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Lord’s Prayer
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.

Pax Domini
P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C:  And also with you.

Distribution

Blessing

Benediction
P:  The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C:  Amen.

Closing Hymn – Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (LSB 338)

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of ev’ry nation,
Joy of ev’ry longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver;
Born a child and yet a king!
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Postlude
+ + +

+ WORSHIP LEADERS +
Preacher/Celebrant/Liturgist – Pastor Scott
Pianist/Organist – Jim Thielker
Communion – John Steele
Sound/Video – Tony Petzoldt
Lector – Jerry Nicolaus
Usher – Ken Clark
Bible Class Sound/Video – Jerry Nicolaus

+ + +

Altar Flowers this morning are given by Mike & Lisa Grossenheider
In thanksgiving to God for blessings received

Acknowledgments
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.