27 Nov BULLETIN – SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2022
WELCOME TO MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
3 Church Street, Halifax, PA 17032
Phone 362-4597
The Reverend Eric Anderson, Supply Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday, November 27, 2022
First Sunday of Advent
GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
Holy are you, God of power and glory; you promised to make your mighty presence known among the nations, and to strengthen your people to the end, when Christ will come in the clouds to gather his people. As we light this candle, open our eyes to see the sin that separates us from you and from one another, and restore us again, that we may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Stir up your power and come and save us.
Reveal your face to us, and give us life. Amen.
Light one candle
THE RESPONSIVE READING
Whenever evil or suffering hold sway; we pray, O Lord, Stir up your power and come.
Whenever war, evil, or crime oppress your people; we pray, O Lord, Stir up your power and come.
Whenever illness or injury causes pain; we pray, O Lord, Stir up your power and come.
Whenever pride or indifference imprison your people; we pray, O Lord, Stir up your power and come.
Whenever people grieve or hunger; we pray, O Lord, Stir up your power and come.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Page 56
ENTRANCE HYMN Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel #34
APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57
KYRIE and HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 57-60
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING ISAIAH 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
PSALM 122
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city that is at unity with itself;
to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, the assembly of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
For there are the thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls and quietness within your towers.
For the sake of my kindred and companions, I pray for your prosperity.
Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek to do you good.”
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
SECOND READING ROMANS 13:11-14
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 62
GOSPEL MATTHEW 24:36-44
[Jesus said to the disciples,] “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
SERMON
HYMN of the DAY The King Shall Come #33
PROFESSION of FAITH/APOSTLE’S CREED Page 65
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
As we prepare for the fullness of Christ’s presence, let us pray for a world that yearns for new hope. A brief silence.
God of all, your children everywhere cry out for mercy. Awaken the global church to the urgent needs of our time. Break down barriers of culture and custom and unite people of all faiths in your redemptive and healing work. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of wonder, the earth’s beauty and abundance is your gift. Teach us your ways of sharing resources and caring for life. Guard fragile habitats, preserve the wild places, and protect endangered plants and animals. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of peace, you judge the nations. Beat our weapons into tools for serving the neighbor. Strengthen the resolve of all who work for an end to war. We pray for lasting peace in the land of Jesus’ birth. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of lovingkindness, you desire fullness of life for everyone. Fill those who hunger. Comfort the grieving and attend to those near death. Bring help and hope to any who are sick or needing your care (especially). God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of community, you are present when we gather in your name. Guide congregations in transition or conflict (especially). Give wisdom to congregational councils, call committees, and ministry leaders. Keep us alert to unexpected opportunities for mission. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of promise, your goodness is everlasting. We give thanks for the lives of the faithful who now rest in you. We trust that you will bring us into the company of all the saints with rejoicing. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of our longing, you know our deepest needs. By your Spirit, gather our prayers and join them with the prayers of all your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERTORY Page 75
THE LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION Page 74
CLOSING HYMN O Zion, Haste #397
DISMISSAL Page 74
POSTLUDE
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Welcome back to our pulpit, Rev. Eric Anderson.
Altar flowers at St Peter have been presented by Don and Rhonda Hentz in memory of loved ones.
Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Dave and Jo Miller in memory of Marc.
PASTOR’S ABSENCE
Pastor Brody will be on vacation through Sunday, December 4th. Pastor Tom Bruner will cover emergency pastoral care in the event a member and/or family experiences emergency/ life threatening hospitalization or death.
Pastor Bruner may be reached at (717) 362-9519 during the day (except Saturday) or at (717) 362-7895 after hours and Saturdays. If there is no answer, please leave a voicemail.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
“Come One, Come All”
CHRISTMAS PARTY & CONCERT
Our churches’ Christmas party & concert festivities will be Sunday, December 4th at Messiah with a covered-dish fellowship dinner in the church basement at 5:30 PM.
Each church council will provide a meat entrée along with utensils, plates, cups, and napkins. Covered-dish favorites and holiday desserts to share are, as always, much appreciated. During the meal a special guest from the North Pole will visit and present Christmas treats to the young/ young at heart.
A Christmas concert will follow in the sanctuary at 7pm featuring the “Joyful Ringers,” adult hand bell choir, and several guest musicians: Brad Crum, and Charlotte Gingrich.
Please come Sunday, December 4th. Ask friends and family to join us for this special pre-Christmas event!
ANNUAL LIVE NATIVITY
On Sunday, December 11th at 7 PM the annual Messiah/St. Peter’s Live Nativity returns again with live animals and actors portraying the Holy Family, wise men, shepherds, and an angelic choir singing familiar Christmas carols. Please join in at Graceful Acres (193 Ridge Road, Halifax).
Accommodations in the new barn are spacious and comfortable, just not heated, so dress appropriately. No admission charge and everyone is invited.
HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS
A congregation member has a personal/family connection to Florida. Rev. Tammy Snyder is Executive Coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for the state of Florida and Caribbean Islands. CBF stays in communities long after others have left as they seek out marginalized communities to assist. They look for communities who need help, but don’t make the headline news or have adequate resources. Check out https://floridacbf.org.
You can also mail a check payable to CBF Florida and mail it to:
CBF Florida
P.O. Box 2556
Lakeland, Florida 33806
Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
HYMNALS AVAILABLE: HELP YOURSELF!
Starting in December hymn lyrics will no longer appear along with the bulletin in weekly emails. Please take the opportunity now to pick up your own copy of the green book, aka The Lutheran Book of Worship, for use at home. Copies are still available on the front pew at either church, if needed.
How would you like to follow the liturgy and turn pages in the green book while watching from home? See lyrics and read music to your favorite hymns during worship. Lutheran Books of Worship have been placed in the front of each church for you to own. Take as many as you need so there’ll be no reason not to fully participate as you watch online. Some small red Sunday school hymnals are also available. Please use and enjoy.
SOUP AND SUCH
Soup & Such will be taking a break through the holiday season and will return in February.
JOINT SERVICES
December 24th, 7:30PM at St. Peter
December 25th, 10AM at Messiah
Please note the exact time joint service will begin according to the date. On December 25, a time of fellowship featuring beverages and snacks will follow. Hope to see you there!
MORE INFORMATION
Please visit our website: halifaxmessiah.church for weekly updates and archived materials, bulletins with hymn lyrics, articles, descriptions of various programs and ministries, newsletters, recorded services, text versions of sermons, a monthly calendar, and a way to give online. Our 10am (and joint services) are available every week as a live streamed event via Facebook and available later in the day on YouTube. Please let us know if you watch online, have any questions, or would like to meet with the pastor in person.
We give thanks and feel blessed that you have chosen to worship with us today.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER
27 – First Sunday of Advent
8:30AM Worship Service at St. Peter
10 AM Worship Service at Messiah
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR DECEMBER
1 – 7 PM Bell choir rehearsal
4 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
8:30 AM Worship at St. Peter
10 AM Worship at Messiah with special music by our Bell Choir
5:30 PM Christmas Covered Dish Dinner
7:00 PM Bell Choir Concert