GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS December 12, 2012

THE ALTAR FLOWERS The Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God and the beautification of His House by Robert and Sheila Wilimzig in thanksgiving for Gods many blessings.

THE ORDER OF EVENING PRAYER FOR THE WEEK OF THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE CHURCH Almighty God and Lord, with You nothing is impossible. You have done for me what I could not do for myself. You sent Your Son to be my Savior, even the Savior of the world. In a miraculous way You have provided for me my faith and its object so that by believing I may have forgiveness and life in His name. Keep me steadfast in this faith so that I might always willingly allow You to freely give to me just as You have said. I pray this in Jesus holy name. Amen WELCOME
This is a busy time of year. It is good that you have chosen to take this time to be here this evening. There are many things for us to do in this season and there does not seem to be enough time to do them. Use this time to be strengthened by Gods Word, refreshed by the Gospel which is the power to salvation. If you are visiting with us and have any questions about Grace Congregation, please speak with our Pastor. We invite you to come and worship with us again.

THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Vicar: Director of Parish Music: Acolyte: Greeter: Choir: Ushers: Nursery Attendant: Altar Guild: Rev. James C. Walter David Witte Nathan Beethe Lauren Faulkner Debbie Penny Handbell Choir, Mens Choir Shaun Baker, Ron Krueger Tim Sweeney, Greg Warren Mary Ann Dyer Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter

AS WE GATHER
Advent has long been a time of preparation, preparation for the celebration of Christmas and for recognizing that our Lord Jesus will come again in glory. As we wait to once again hear the story of Christmas we cannot forget how God, from before the beginning of time, had a plan. While that is a mystery for which we can wonder, we must remember that faith accepts God at His Word and so we are left in our wonderment to confess that, while we may not understand we believe. Our believing is Gods work in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. During our Midweek Evening Prayer Services we will be considering the Wonders of Advent. In so doing we will see how Gods plan found its fulfillment through His working amongst ordinary people like us in order to accomplish great things. We will see how Zechariah, Mary and Joseph wondered about what they were told by Gods messengers. This evening Mary Wonders, How Will This Be?

Our thanks to the ACTS group for serving our Advent dinner this evening.

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. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

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Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell

II. Magnificat Secundi Toni #3 - Johann Pachelbel

Phos Hilaron: O Light Whose Splendor

LSB 891

Service of Light
Stand

Versicles

1989 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479.

Thanksgiving For Light

A Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, king of the universe, who led Your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of Your Christ; may His Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for You are merciful, and You love Your whole creation and we, Your creatures, glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. C Amen

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Responsive Reading
A My soul magnifies the Lord, C and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, A for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. C For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; A for he who is mighty has done great things for me, C and holy is his name. A And his mercy is for those who fear him C from generation to generation. A He has shown strength with his arm; C he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; A he has brought down the mighty from their thrones C and exalted those of humble estate; A he has filled the hungry with good things, C and the rich he has sent empty away. A He has helped his servant Israel, C in remembrance of his mercy, A as he spoke to our fathers, C to Abraham and to his offspring forever. C 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
Sit

Luke 1:46b-55

But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, Go and tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. A O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.
Stand

The Holy Gospel

P C The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the first chapter. Glory to You, O Lord.

Luke 1:2638

Readings
Old Testament Reading
2 Samuel 7:111, 16

Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.

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 virgins 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 holythe Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this

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

Sermon Mary Wonders, How Will This Be?

Stand

Luke 1:26-38

Catechism
Sit

Sermon Hymn: The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

LSB 356

Service Note: The Men's Choir will sing stanzas 1 & 2, with the congregation joining for stanzas 3 & 4.

A The Second Article: Redemption C I believe 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. A What does this mean? C I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.
Sit

Offering

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Henry Gerike

Public domain

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Canticle
Stand

Prayer
Litany LSB 933
Service Note: The congregation's response may begin just as the leader's petition ends so that the word "Lord" is sung simultaneously by both leader and congregation.

Magnificat: My Soul Rejoices

P For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For Matthew, our Synodical President, and Roger, our District President, for all pastors in Christ, for all servants of the Church, and for all the people, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For our President, for all public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

1991 Stephen P. Starke. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479. Public domain

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P For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For . . . [additional bids for prayer may be inserted here] . . . let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. The prayers then continue:

Collect For Peace

P O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen

Luther's Evening Prayer

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Lord's Prayer
P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray: 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

Matthew 6:913

Silence for individual prayer may follow.

Benedicamus

[Psalm 103:1]

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Benediction

Closing Hymn: All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night

LSB 883

When in the night I sleepless lie, My soul with heavnly thoughts supply; Let no ill dreams disturb my rest, No powrs of darkness me molest. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavnly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night - Richard Hillert

D6

Public domain

Postlude

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