https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJKQfZ5HZQo

Rejoice in the Lord Always!

The Third Sunday in Advent, December 15, 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 – Dave Stuebe

Bulletin Announcements: Email: zionclyman@gmail.com

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

Altar Guild for December:  Nancy 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 Are you feeling the joy?  At this point in December, many people are not feeling joy but are overwhelmed by all the preparation for Christmas.  No matter how we come to worship this morning, stressed, distracted, anxious, here in His house God comes to you and shares with you His Joy.  His joy which is not found in anything this world offers, but in the fact that He sent His Son as the Babe of Bethlehem to be your Savior!  As we continue to prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth, may we continue to enjoy and share the joy He has given to us and all believers.

 Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

The Lighting of the Advent Wreath

We light our Third Advent candle. The third, pink Advent candle has been known as the shepherd’s candle or the candle of joy. The third Sunday of Advent is known also as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete in Latin means “rejoice,” as found in Philippians 4:4.  We find our joy in Christ this season and always as we prepare to celebrate His birth. Jesus affirms the joy found only in Him: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”       The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.  Guided by Jesus, the light of joy, we respond with the psalmist: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!  Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into His presence with singing!  Know that the Lord, He is God!  It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.   Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!  Give thanks to Him; bless His name!   For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

Hymn “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”    LSB 347

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

Confession and Absolution – God calls us to confess our sin, trusting in Him the one true God who is faithful and just and who will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.    Almighty God, our maker and redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that 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 die for us and for His sake forgives us all our sins.  Upon hearing 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 X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

Kyrie                                                      LSB 186

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in Excelsis    Pastor:      Glory be to God on high:          LSB 187

Psalm of the Day –  Psalm 146 – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.  The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.  The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.  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.

Prayer of the Day – Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.     Amen.

 Old Testament Reading   Zephaniah 3:14-20

Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel!  Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!  The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy.  The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.  On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.  The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.  At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you.  I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles.  I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.  At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home.  I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD.

Epistle       Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

    Holy Gospel       Luke 7:18-28                                                                                            The Holy Gospel according St. Luke, the Seventh chapter.   Glory to You, O Lord.  John’s disciples told him about all these things.  Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”  When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”  At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.  So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”  After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed swayed by the wind?  If not, what did you go out to see?  A man dressed in fine clothes?  No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’  I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”            This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to You, 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 men 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 X of the world to come.    Amen.

Hymn**vs1-4**  “Savior of the Nations, Come”      LSB 332

Sermon

 Prayers of the Church

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.

We Gather our Tithes and Offerings

Service of the Sacrament 

Preface   2 Timothy 4:22 – The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Lift up your hearts.  We lift them to the Lord.  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Proper Preface –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.  John called sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when Jesus our Lord, 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 195

Prayer of Thanksgiving – Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and out of perfect love sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Instill in us the joy of receiving Your healing grace through Christ’s body and blood given and shed for us.             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.     

Pax Domini   The peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen     LSB 197

Agnus Dei                                               LSB 198

Distribution Hymns:

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”                         LSB 803

“Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord”                 LSB 352

“Hark!  A Thrilling Voice is Sounding”               LSB 345

Nunc Dimittis                                          LSB 199

Post-Communion Thanksgiving – 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;  We pray this in the name of 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 upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.   Amen.   

Hymn**vs7&8**  “Savior of the Nations, Come”                     LSB 332

ANNOUNCEMENTS

YES IN CHRIST    Saying Yes With Our Treasures                                       Needed per week to make budget: $3177                            Attendance/Communed: 12/8/2024 = 56/49               12/11/2024 = 29/27

Giving: 12/8/2024: Envelopes = $2100     Plate = $180

Memorials: General Fund from Tim Dornfeld for Eli Dornfeld

Happy Birthday:          Jadelyn A 12/15           Matson R 12/16

Warren J 12/17   Ronald L 12/17         Malachi D 12/20

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

• Wednesday December 18^th: Advent Service at 7pm
• Tuesday December 24^th: Christmas Eve Service at 7pm
• Wednesday December 25^th: Christmas Day Service at 8:30am
• Sunday December 29^th: Church Service at 8:30am
• Tuesday December 31^st: NO SERVICE
• Wednesday January 1^st: NO SERVICE
• Sunday January 5^th: Church Service at 8:30am
• Wednesday January 8^th: Services Resume at 7pm
• Thursday January 9^th: Council Meeting at 6pm

Choir meets on Wednesday nights at 6pm in the Sanctuary.  We welcome everyone to join in the singing fun.  Handbell Choir will be starting in January.  All are invited. Practices will be immediately following the Sunday service.

Advent theme this year will be: “His Name Shall Be Called” – Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father.  Prince of Peace.  These titles from Isaiah 9 describe the Savior who is to come, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God in human flesh.  During our 3 Wednesday services we will encounter the person and work of Christ as it was foretold by the prophet Isaiah.  Service will begin on Wednesday 18^th at 7pm.

Christmas Eve Service: December 24^th at 7pm.

Christmas Day Service: December 25^th at 8:30am.

Special Prayers

We continue to keep in prayer, Carol, Mother of Erica Tyler who is recovering from surgery and may start cancer treatments in January.

Pray for Pastor Groth, and all in our congregation who are in need of God’s comfort, healing, and strength.

We keep Pastor & Karen Schempf and their family in our prayers as their son Philip passed away on November 25^th. Philip’s celebration of life was held on December 6^th in St. Charles, Missouri. If you would like to send them a card or note, their address is:  Pastor Michael & Karen Schempf: 7 Olde Coventry Ct.; St Charles, MO 63301

The Gathering Source is in need of the following:

Canned Fruit,                                Cream of Mushroom soup            Ketchup

Canned Vegetables,                     Cream of Celery soup                   Mayo

Canned Spaghetti Sauce              Cream of Chicken soup                 Salad Dressing

Canned Tuna (Name Brand)         All canned soups                           Canned Fish

Cake Mixes                                   Canned Stew                                 Canned Beans

Cookie Mixes                                 Chili                                                Vegetable Oil

Pasta & Rice                                 Boxed Cereals                               Oatmeal

Boxed Milk                                    Saltines

Personal Hygiene Items: Deodorant, Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste,  and Mouthwash.

Any & all donations are greatly appreciated.