FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT November 29, 2020
ORDER OF WORSHIP: LSB — Matins, pgs. 219ff
HYMNS: 331 - 332 - 350
SERMON: “The Advent of Our King” TEXT: Mark 11:9-10
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
From our sins release us.
Keep our hearts believing,
That we, grace receiving,
Ever may confess You
Till in heav’n we bless You.
(Lutheran Service Book, #333, stanza 4)
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
“Stir up Your might and come to save us!” (Psalm 80:3).
- That hearts and lives and voices of gratitude will always be fixed on God the giver of every good and perfect gift.
- That the Lord will deliver us from the fear of these days to the joy of worship in the fellowship, life and salvation we have in Jesus His Son.
- For Christ’s gracious gifts to His church as we begin another year of worship in His name.
- For healing for Rod Kraft who was hospitalized last week; for continued healing after injury for Ron Hommertzheim and for Linda Hoeme after illness; for healing for Glen Honeman who will have surgery in days ahead; for strength from the Lord’s healing hand for people of St. Paul, our families, friends, and neighbors who are ill or injured.
- For Rev. Delwyn and Lenita Campbell and their children Delwyn, Daniyah and Dinah (missionary family in Gary, Indiana), for Rev. Jacob Gaugert (Togo, West Africa), and for Rev. Tim and Beth Heiney (Guinea, West Africa) as these missionaries and families serve Christ’s church with His Word in this country and around the world.
ADVENT HAS ARRIVED, and in observance of this season, and in preparation for the days of Christmas, decorating of the church will take place after worship today. All willing helpers are gladly welcome to assist. Thank you
THE ST. PAUL LADIES’ Cookie Walk is next Sunday, December 6th, in the church basement after worship.
JUDAH, JOSHUA, JONAH, JOSEPH, and JESUS. . . They all start with “J,” but there’s a much stronger connection than that! Come and hear about it at our Wednesday evening Advent Services this year. Each week, beginning this week - December 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd - activities will begin at 6:30 pm with worship in the church, a supper in the basement, and Midweek classes to follow. All activities will conclude at 8:00 pm.
LADIES’ AID is asking for monetary donations, gift wrap, and large gift bags to be donated to Pratt County RSVP for the Angel Tree Program. Donations will be accepted through December 11th. A box is provided at the south entry of the church. All ladies are invited to participate and a future date will be announced for helping RSVP wrap the gifts. Thank you.
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS - the youth group of St. Paul will take orders today for the purchase of poinsettias for Christmas. There will be two sizes available: 6" for $15.00 and 8" for $25.00. The poinsettias will then be ready for pickup Sunday, December 6th, or they can be delivered by the youth group. Let them know if you prefer pickup or delivery when making the order. Thank you for your festive support of the youth group during this holy season of Christmas!
THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER. . . Study the Bible with the Church, past and present. The Word of The Lord Endures Forever is a new podcast from the producers of Issues, Etc. This is a daily, 15-minute, verse-by-verse Bible Study hosted by Pastor Will Weedon, a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Go to https://thewordendures.com/.
NOTES ON SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR TODAY. . . The Lord Jesus comes in meekness and humility to save us. Although we pray that God “would rend the heavens and come down” (Is. 64:1), that He would take vengeance against our enemies, we ourselves “have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Is. 64:6). We have continued in our sins for “a long time, and shall we be saved?” (Is. 64:5). Yet, the Lord does not punish us in anger. He comes in voluntary meekness and humility to save us by His grace. Just as He once came into Jerusalem to sacrifice Himself for us upon the cross (Mark 11:4-8), He still comes to His Church with the fruits of His Passion. By His ministry of the Gospel, we are “enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge,” and so he will “sustain you to the end” (I Cor. 1:5, 8). Although “heaven and earth will pass away,” His words “will not pass away” (Mark 13:31). As He sends disciples to call us to Himself in the fellowship of His Church, so will He “send out the angels” to gather us and all of His elect “from the ends of the earth” to Himself in heaven forever (Mark 13:27).
HEAD USHER: Gary McGuire ALTAR COMMITTEE: Marsha Giggy
USHERS: Gayle Bolen Terri Liggett
Helen Condict
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH EQUIPS, ENABLES, AND ENCOURAGES ITS MEMBERS TO GROW IN FAITH AND SHARE CHRIST’S LOVE WITH ALL PEOPLE.
CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK . . .
TODAY - 8:00 am – The Lutheran Hour, KGNO (Dodge City, 1370 AM)
8:00 am – The Lutheran Hour, KCVW (Wichita, Hutch., 94.3 FM)
8:25 am – The Lutheran Hour, KMMM (Pratt, 1290 AM)
8:30 am – The Lutheran Hour, KWBW (Hutchinson, 1450 AM)
10:00 am – St. Paul Radio Broadcast, KMMM (Pratt, 1290 AM)
6:00 pm – The Lutheran Hour, KREJ (88.1FM)
MONDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am – Secretary’s office hours
7:00 pm - Planning meeting for Christmas Eve Program
TUESDAY - 9 am -12 pm - Ladies’ Quilt Group
5:00 – 6:30 pm – Bread of Life Community Kitchen open – Pratt
WEDNESDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am – Secretary’s office hours
6:30 pm - Advent, Supper, Midweek
THURSDAY - 6:30 pm - Bible Study (St. Paul church parlor)
7:30 pm - Men’s Club
FRIDAY - 8:00-11:00 am – Secretary’s office hours
SUNDAY - 8:15 am - Service with masks
9:00 am – Sunday School and Bible Class
10:00 am – Divine Service with Holy Communion
THE LUTHERAN HOUR – “Magnum Opus" How is God like a band director? Learn how God enables us to play our part in His "Magnum Opus." (Daniel 8:27)
A PLANNING MEETING FOR THE CHRISTMAS EVE PROGRAM will be held on Monday evening, November 30th, at 7:00 pm.
STEWARDSHIP SENTENCES based on I Corinthians 1:9. . . “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” The faithfulness of God is our great comfort. He has made promises to us, and He will keep them. He is kind and loving toward us, and He will not break faith with us. This gives us the confidence to step out in faith, to leave fear behind. When it comes to following the Lord’s commandments for our daily lives, we know His will is best for us because our God is faithful.
About the Cover: Though the people who first joined in the cries of “Hosanna!” may not have understood what kind of salvation Jesus was bringing, we, on the other side of His cross and resurrection, do: He came to bring forgiveness of sins. As we prepare to celebrate our Lord’s birth and His second coming, we join the heavenly throng in shouting “Hosanna!” and trusting in what He has already accomplished.
OLD TESTAMENT READING - Isaiah 64:1-9
EPISTLE - I Corinthians 1:3-9
HOLY GOSPEL - Mark 11:1-10