| Prelude
Greeting and Welcome
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn of Invocation – Savior of the Nations, Come (LSB 332)
Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Your home! Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth.
Not by human flesh and blood, By the Spirit of our God, Was the Word of God made flesh— Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.
Here a maid was found with child, Yet remained a virgin mild. In her womb this truth was shown: God was there upon His throne.
Then stepped forth the Lord of all From His pure and kingly hall; God of God, yet fully man, His heroic course began.
God the Father was His source, Back to God He ran His course. Into hell His road went down, Back then to His throne and crown.
For You are the Father’s Son Who in flesh the vict’ry won. By Your mighty pow’r make whole All our ills of flesh and soul.
From the manger newborn light Shines in glory through the night. Darkness there no more resides; In this light faith now abides.
Glory to the Father sing, Glory to the Son, our king, Glory to the Spirit be Now and through eternity.
+ Preparation +
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.
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.
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. 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 + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.
+ Word +
Introit P: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. C: Blessèd is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, P: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; C: who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. P: The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. C: The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. P: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Kyrie Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Salutation and Collect of the Day P: The Lord be with you. C: And with thy spirit. P: 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. C: Amen.
First Reading – Daniel 5:1–6 King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Epistle – Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Alleluia Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Holy Gospel – Luke 7:18-28 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the seventh chapter. C: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
Nicene Creed 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, by whom all things were made; who for us 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 + of the world to come. Amen.
Children’s Hymn – Kids of the Kingdom (AGPS 150)
Kids of the kingdom, that’s what we are: Kids of the kingdom, that’s what we are. We love Jesus, we love the Lord. We love Jesus, we love the Lord.
Praise to the Father, praise to the Son, Praise to the Spirit, the Three in One. We love Jesus, we love the Lord. We love Jesus, we love the Lord.
Children’s Message – Jon Chapa
Hymn of the Day – The Advent of Our King (LSB 331)
The advent of our King Our prayers must now employ, And we must hymns of welcome sing In strains of holy joy.
The everlasting Son Incarnate deigns to be, Himself a servant’s form puts on To set His servants free.
As judge, on clouds of light, He soon will come again And His true members all unite With Him in heav’n to reign.
Before the dawning day Let sin’s dark deeds be gone, The sinful self be put away, The new self now put on.
All glory to the Son, Who comes to set us free, With Father, Spirit, ever one Through all eternity.
Sermon
Choral Offertory – Noel Alleluia
(Lyrics provided for reflection)
Noel, Noel, Noel alleluia, Noel, Noel Glory to God in the Highest, Angels are singing His birth Glory to God in the highest, Welcome the King to Earth Noel, Noel, Noel alleluia, Noel, Noel Glory to God in the Highest, Jesus our Savior is born Glory to God in the highest, Welcome Him, Christ the Lord O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Offering
Prayers + Celebrating birthdays this week: 18 – Elena Grossenheider; 21 – Sherman Moore
Special Celebrations and Needs: + Church family members: Sue DeFosset, recovering from surgery; Shirley Williams, in rehab at Laclede Groves; Jean Peterson, recovering from breast cancer surgery; Paul Schultz, in hospice; Sherman Moore; Sharon Gaal, recovering from surgery; Ken Kight + Friends of our congregation: Linda Teaters, upon the death of her father; Christine Neuman, mother of Ally Philpot, for healing; Judy Lubben, recovering from surgery; Karen, extended family member of Valerie Wehmueller, diagnosed with cancer; Barbara Huggins, in rehab + Those who are homebound or in nursing facilities: Twylah Atwood, Mary Aufderheide, Jules Bush, Frank & Sharon Gaal, Mary Guion, Jane Keathley, Vicki Lucas, Cindy Smith, Shirley Williams
+ Sacrament +
Preface P: The Lord be with you. C: And with thy spirit. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up unto the Lord. P: Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God. C: It is meet and right so to do. 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, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in 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 Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth; heav'n and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Lord’s Prayer 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.
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.”
Pax Domini P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen.
Agnus Dei O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen.
Distribution
Distribution Hymn – Of the Father’s Love Begotten (LSB 384)
Of the Father’s love begotten Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see Evermore and evermore.
Oh, that birth forever blessèd, When the virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bore the Savior of our race, And the babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face Evermore and evermore.
This is He whom seers in old time Chanted of with one accord, Whom the voices of the prophets Promised in their faithful word. Now He shines, the long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord Evermore and evermore.
O ye heights of heav’n, adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing. Pow’rs, dominions, bow before Him And extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, Ev’ry voice in concert ring Evermore and evermore.
Christ, to Thee, with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unending praises be, Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory Evermore and evermore. Amen.
Blessing
Nunc Dimittis Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou has prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Thanksgiving P: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, C: and His mercy endureth forever. P: Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.
Salutation and Benedicamus P: The Lord be with you. C: And with thy spirit. P: Bless we the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Benediction P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and + give you peace. C: Amen, amen, amen.
Closing Hymn – Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (LSB 715)
Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal. Chart and compass come from Thee. Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; Boist’rous waves obey Thy will When Thou say’st to them, “Be still!” Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore And the fearful breakers roar Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on the Thy breast, May I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot thee.”
Postlude
+ WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Liturgist/Celebrant – Pastor Scott Jonas Organist/Pianist – Seth Carruthers Lector – Steve Phelps Communion – Jerry Nicolaus & Seminary Student Sound/Video – John Steele Ushers – Ken Clark, Ron Froesel, Tony Petzoldt, Mike Toney Greeters – Terry & Jennifer Buchholz | 
