https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1OHrbiglEE

Bethlehem Ephrathah, out of you will come a ruler over Israel!

The Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 22, 2024

ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH – LCMS

700 Main St.  P.O. Box 220   Clyman, WI  53016  

Rev. Daniel L. Bohn & Church 1(920) 341-2025 – shepherdatzion@gmail.com

Worship Times: Sundays – 8:30am & Wednesdays – 7:00pm

To View Past Services & Other Information: Website – zionclyman.org or Facebook – zionclyman

Watch Live on Sunday @ 8:30am: YouTube – zionclyman

Music –  Dee Dee Wille      Elder – Greg Schwartz

Bulletin Announcements: Email: zionclyman@gmail.com

Congregation Information: Neal Kohlhoff Email: neal.kohlhoff50@gmail.com

Altar Guild for December:  Nance Basol                          Thank you.

 Guests.  Welcome to Zion.  We are happy to have you worship with us.  Please sign our guestbook located in the Narthex.  About Holy Communion:  We welcome to the Lord’s Table all who have repented of their sins and seek to amend their sinful life; all who believe that Jesus is truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine; and all who believe that through the words “given and shed for you” forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given.  If this is your confession and you are a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, then come with a thankful heart and join us.   If you are a visitor and would like to commune, please talk with Pastor Dan before the service.  To help in preparing to receive Holy Communion open the front cover of the Burgundy hymnal or turn to pages 329 & 330.  Gluten free wafers are available, please talk with an Elder or Pastor before the service if you would appreciate them.

As We Gather  The Advent season of preparing for the promised Savior to be born as one of us, soon reaches its climax.  Even though we may be wondering if we have done all that is needed to get ready for our Christmas celebrations, we give thanks that at the center of our Christmas celebrations, Christ our Lord, has prepared and given all we need to celebrate victory over this world and live with Him in the eternal celebration of heaven!  On this last Sunday of Advent, may we find peace in the preparations of the babe of Bethlehem in all He has done for us in His grace, mercy, and love.

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

 Invocation – In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen

 The Lighting of the Advent Wreath – We light the fourth Advent candle as we prepare for the arrival of the Savior.  In a world of darkness, a light shines, Jesus Christ, the light of the world.  The fourth Advent candle has been called the angel candle and the candle of love.  On this last Sunday of Advent we look forward to hearing the Angels news of great joy!  A Savior born for us and all sinners of the world!    “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  How precious is Your steadfast love, O Lord, our God!

Hymn  “O Little Town of Bethlehem”       LSB 361

Confession and Absolution – 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.  Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.      All: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of all my sin.  Almighty God, our maker and redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  We have sinned against You by thought, word, and deed.  Wherefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.  By Your Holy Spirit, increase in us true knowledge of You and of Your will, and true obedience to Your Word, to the end that by Your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.   Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us and has given His only Son to be born in our flesh and to die for our sins.  For His sake He forgives us all our sins.  As a called and ordained servant of the Word, and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen     To those who believe on His name He gives the power to become the children of God and has promised them His Holy Spirit. Those that believe and are baptized shall be saved. Grant this, Lord, to us all.  Amen.

Prayer of the Day –  Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Our Old Testament Reading Micah 5:2-5 –   “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.  He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.  And he will be our peace.

Our Epistle or New Testament Reading Hebrews 10:5-10 –    Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.  Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’”  First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law.  Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”  He sets aside the first to establish the second.  And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 Verse – Alleluia!  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.  Alleluia.               

The Holy Gospel  Luke 1:39-45     The Holy Gospel according St. Luke, the First chapter.       Glory to You, O Lord.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”      This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn  “My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord”       LSB 934

Sermon

Apostles’ Creed –  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.

Prayers of the Church

We gather our Tithes and Offerings

 Service of the Sacrament  

 Preface   2 Timothy 4:22 –   It is truly good, 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 to be the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  He called sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath of condemning judgment 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 singing;

Sanctus                                                                       LSB 208

Prayer of Thanksgiving –   Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and have showed Your gracious power to us through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. We give You thanks that in His Holy Supper You nourish us that, firmly connected to Christ the one born for us in Bethlehem, we may grow in our faith and in Your grace. Grant that we may receive the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that come to us in His gift of His very body and blood.    Amen.

The Words of Our Lord – Consecration of the Elements

Proclamation of Christ  1 Corinthians 11:26; Revelation 22:20 –  As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.      Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

The 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.

Pax Domini – The peace of the Lord be with you always.    Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                  LSB 210

Distribution Hymns: “O Bless the Lord, My Soul”  LSB 814                            “Seek Ye First” LSB 712     “The Gifts Christ Freely Gives”    LSB 602

Nunc Dimittis                                                            LSB 211

Closing Prayer –   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 in 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.   Amen

Benediction      Numbers 6:24–26 – 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 X give you peace.   Amen.  

Dismissal – Go in the peace of the one Born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ the Crucified, Risen and Triumphant Lord!  Serve Him in all you do!  Amen!  So Shall it be!  Let it be so!  Amen

Hymn “My Soul Rejoices”     LSB 933

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

YES IN CHRIST    Saying Yes With Our Treasures                                    Needed per week to make budget: $3177                             Attendance/Communed: 12/15/2024 = 33/31                                                   Giving: 12/15/2024: Envelopes = $2499                                                            Memorials: Pew Fund $100 from Tim Dornfeld for Eli Dornfeld                         General Fund: $25 from Neal & Kris Kohlhoff for Rita Greinert

Happy Birthday:          Karen H 12/25                Riley M 12/26

Doug S  12/28         Karl F 12/30

Happy Anniversary:    Jim & Erica G 12/23         Felix & Janet O 12/29

Kevin & Sandra S 12/29

The small Christmas tree on the steps leading to the altar  is in memory of Allen Kohlhoff from Mary Jo Kohlhoff and Family.

Dates to Remember

Tues Dec 24^th: Christmas Eve Service at 7pm                                                Wed Dec 25^th: Christmas Day Service at 8:30am                                         Tues Dec 31^st: NO SERVICE                                                                                  Wed Jan 1^st: NO SERVICE                                                                                       Sun Jan 5^th: Church Service at 8:30am                                                                      Sun Dec 29^th: Church Service at 8:30am                                                         Wed Jan 8^th: Services Resume at 7pm                                                          Thurs Jan 9^th: Council Meeting at 6pm