Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Service Theme: “He Comes Bearing Gifts: the Gift of Love!”

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Advent

December 23, 2018 – Advent 4

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Our Mission

By grace, the mission of

Beautiful Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church is

to proclaim the Word of God so that we may praise his name,

grow together in the knowledge of our Savior,

and share with others his message of forgiveness and eternal life.

Welcome-- We are glad you could join us today! It is our hope that this service is a blessing to you. Please join us for worship again soon.

• Please save the last two rows of pews for parents with small children.

• Parents with little ones: If your child becomes restless during the service, that’s okay… We’re glad they’re here, and Jesus is pleased when they are brought to hear his Word: “Let the little children come to me.” If you need to be with your child in the Fellowship Hall, the service can be heard through a speaker. We also have Children’s Church during second service following the Children’s message down the preschool hallway.

• Five minutes before the worship service begins the usher will light the candles. This is our signal to quiet down and prepare our hearts for worship. (There are prayers for worship preparation on page 10 in the front part of the hymnal.)

• Restrooms are conveniently located to the left as you exit the sanctuary.

• Everyone is invited to join us in the fellowship hall after worship for coffee, snacks, and conversation! Please help to keep the chapel clean by leaving all food and drinks in the fellowship hall.

• Please silence your cell phone before the start of the service.

Kent Holz, Pastor kent.holz@gmail.com Barbara Noon, Preschool Director beautifulsaviorpreschool@gmail.com

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 2526 Whitfield Road Clarksville, TN 37040

931-905-1400 Bslc.clarksville@gmail.com

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WELS Connection Opening Hymn O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (Hymn 19, v. 1-3) Please stand.

Invocation P: We worship in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. Confession and Absolution P: Father of mercies and God of all consolation, come to the aid of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may attend to your Word, confess our sins, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer. C: Amen. P: Let us make confession to God. C: Almighty God, Merciful Father: I, a troubled and penitent sinner, confess to you all my sins and iniquities with which I have offended you and for which I justly deserve your punishment. But I am sorry for them, and repent of them, and pray for your boundless mercy. For the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ, be gracious and merciful to me, a sinful being; forgive my sins, give me your Holy Spirit for the amendment of my sinful life, and bring me to life everlasting. Amen. P: Almighty God in his mercy has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. Through his Holy Spirit he cleanses us and gives us power to proclaim the mighty deeds of God who called us out of darkness into the splendor of his light. As a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

Song of Praise O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (Hymn 19, v. 4-5)

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Prayer of the Day P: Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the burden of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen Please be seated.

First Lesson Micah 5: 2-5a “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. 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 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 their peace. Response Psalm 130 (p. 114) Gospel Lesson Luke 1: 39-55 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Children’s Message Ages 3 thru grade 5 are invited to come forward for a Bible lesson. Children’s Church During the second service, parents may choose to take their children (ages 2-6) to Children’s Church. There they will hear a Bible story, sing songs, learn a prayer and do a craft. They will return to the sanctuary during the offering.

Hymn of the Day The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (Hymn 24)

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Sermon Revelation 12: 1-6 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

“What wondrous love in the birth of our Savior!”

Apostles’ Creed (We join together to give public confession of our faith) I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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.

Thank Offering “We love because he first loved us.” 1Jn 4:19 God’s love in sending Jesus to live, to suffer, and to die for each of us motivates the members of Beautiful Savior to show their love and thanks by returning a portion of their income to the Lord. Through these free will offerings, this congregation and its ministries are maintained.

Prayer of the Church and the Lord’s Prayer P: Come, dear Savior, we long for your appearing! Come to cheer us with your promises as you once cheered your ancient people throughout their long years of waiting. Come to restore our hope. C: Rouse us from the slumber of despair, lift our hearts from petty, earthbound goals, and direct our eyes to you.

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P: Come and work in us a godly sorrow and grief over our sin. Forgive us for the shameful way we have dishonored you and one another. C: Through your mighty Word stir up in us a ceaseless yearning to give ourselves to others as you have given yourself to us. P: Come also to rekindle our joy as we prepare to celebrate your birth. Do not permit a frenzied busyness to rob us of your peace or deprive us of times to ponder and wonder at your Word. C: Set our hearts apart from the bustle and clamor of these days. Fill us with the quiet delight of finding you in the manger and keep our hearts and minds undisturbed by the many who seem to be uncaring. P: We pray also for those enduring great sorrow, for those undergoing spiritual trial and for those whose restless hearts have no knowledge of your coming. C: Comfort and strengthen them with the sweet peace that comes only through your love found in your Word. P: Hear us Lord as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer P: Come quickly Lord and fill our lives with the light of your coming. We wait. We keep watch, and in you we put our hope as we pray in your name and join to pray the prayer that you taught us: 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.

Please be seated.

Sermon Hymn To Shepherds as They Watched by Night (Hymn 53)

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Next Week’s Worship

Our theme for worship will be: “Our Savior is our Brother.” Our readings will be: 1 Samuel 2: 18-20,26, Hebrews 2: 10-18, Luke 2: 41-52. We will sing the following hymns: 42 Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising, 64 Let Us All with Gladsome Voice, 53 To Shepherds as They Watched by Night, 501 Our Father, by Whose Name, 707 Peace Came to Earth.

Closing Prayer P: Precious Savior, you first came into the world in utter poverty and in deepest humility. Today you also came to us in your Word, in love and in mercy. We know that you are going to come once again, in might and in majesty. Before that great day comes, implant your truth deeply in our hearts, so that all we attempt or achieve will serve to honor you, our Savior-King, who is worthy of all our praise. C: Amen. The Blessing

P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace.

C: Amen. Closing Hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem (66)

†

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THIS WEEK AT BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR

Today 8 & 10:30am Worship

No Sunday School

Monday 5 & 7pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Tuesday 10am Christmas Day Worship

Wednesday No Bible Information Class

Sunday 8 & 10:30am Worship

No Sunday School

Christmas Services We have special Christmas Worship opportunities to celebrate the birth of our Savior. On Christmas Eve, we will have candlelight services at both 5 and 7pm. On Christmas Day, we have a different service from Christmas Eve at 10am. Come make use of these special opportunities to give thanks to God for sending Jesus to be our Savior!

New Year’s Eve Vespers Service

Give thanks for the new year in the house of our Lord! We will have a simple service of song, Word, and sacrament as we give thanks for the blessings of the past year and ask for God’s blessings in the new. Service is at 6pm.

Ushers Needed

We are in need of about 6 ushers for both the 5pm and 7pm Christmas Eve services, mostly for the distribution and lighting of the candles. If you are able to help, please inform Pastor Holz. Thank you!

Volunteer Help Needed in Panama City Your help is still needed in Panama City. We need volunteers to help with drywall, painting, general construction, even cooking. Housing and meals are provided to all volunteers. If you would like to help us in this recovery effort in Panama City, Florida, please do two things. Register as a volunteer on the WELS Christian Aid and Relief website volunteer form. Then, contact Pastor Rich Warnecke at pastorwarnecke@christpewaukee.org. Even if you can help for only a short time please consider it. Feel free to call Pastor Warnecke with any questions at 262-424-8792. May our Lord’s love move us to consider serving in this unique way.

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Preschool Assistant Teaching Position

A position of Assistant Teacher has opened in the 3-4 year old classroom. The position is for Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 8am-12pm. Applicants must have a High School diploma. Experience in Early Childhood field is preferred but not required. Applications are in the office.

Note from the Treasurer

USA TODAY paper reports that consumer spending for Christmas season this year will be up 4.7% over 2017. We can’t say the same for our general offerings though. But, it’s not too late. As Christmas approaches, please consider a special gift to the church. Our church and the ministry has many needs and we, its members, are the only ones that can meet those needs. With God’s blessings, we give a portion of what He has provided to us for the building up of His Kingdom. As we approach Christmas and the birth of our Savior, let us remember Him through a special Christmas offering gift. It is through him that our sins are forgiven and the path to eternal life is open. God bless everyone, thank you for the support you provide and may you all have a blessed Christmas. Joe Roth-Treasurer

JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING WEEKEND ON THE SLOPES WITH CHRISTIAN FRIENDS!

All youth grades 5-12 are invited to this exciting weekend in the Mountains of Gatlinburg on February 1-3. Activities begin Friday night and go through Sunday afternoon. Activities include tubing or skiing, ice skating, games, Bible Study, exploring the mountains, worship, and lots of food. Everything happens right in downtown Gatlinburg with hotel accommodations at the Edgewater Resort and the mountain activities happening at Ober Gatlinburg. The cost for the entire weekend, is all inclusive with all activities, meals, and a t-shirt for

$165. Snowboarding is also available at $175. Chaperones pay the same price-if a

chaperone elects to not participate in an activity, the cost is $130. The cost listed also

includes transportation. The link to register is southernskiweekend.com. The link for the

hotel is edgewater-hotel.com.

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Monday, December 24

5 and 7pm

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Upcoming Events and Holiday Worship Services Here is a look at upcoming events and holiday worship services

at Beautiful Savior.

• Monday, December 24 5pm & 7pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service • Tuesday, December 25 10am Christmas Morning Service • Sunday, December 30 8 and 10:30am Worship • Monday, December 31 6pm New Year’s Eve Vespers

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Prayer List Thank the Lord for the safe return of all the soldiers who recently came home and all soldiers and their

families who are facing deployment. Please keep in your prayers this week all soldiers who are currently deployed. Please also remember: Marianne Kiefer (health); Dawna Brooks, friend of Brenda Schultz-von Hawker (metastatic liver cancer); Dar Brickman (kidney transplant); Fred Benning, brother in law of Dar Brickman (open heart surgery); Ruth Amorth, twin sister of Hilde Fox (seriously ill); Gary

Davis, husband of Angela Davis (seizures); Rosalie Dixon, mother of Jennifer Geer (cancer); The Fox family, friends of Caryn McLain (Ed Fox gone to heaven); Joan Haughn (surgery); Jordan Grier, friend of Zach Schilling (cancer); Leon Daniel, husband of Mary Daniel (pneumonia); Terry Thompson, brother in

law of Jan Thompson (illness); Reni Karl, friend of Karin Galvin (health issues); Kourtney Dixon, step-sister of Jennifer Geer (illness); The Cutting family (Daughter Kiara Cutting gone to Heaven); The

Schroeder family (Recovery); James Smith (cancer); Donna Flowers, mother of Larry Flowers (kidney failure, dialysis); Gidget Tate (Health issues); Maria Sauer, Friend of Karin Galvin; Mychelle Reynolds,

daughter of Dann & Mary Reynolds (Health Issues). If you would like to have a name or situation included or if you would like to give an update on a prayer request, please contact Pastor Holz or call

the church office at 931-905-1400.

Serving in God’s House

Ushers: (early) John Vincent (late) Kevin Murphy & Joe Mclain Greeters: Frank Wood & David Cutting Kitchen: Margareta Smothers, Marion Bouie Piano: Barb Noon Fellowship: Families T-Z

Next week’s ushers: (early) Dave Johnson (late) Storm Sims Greeters: Mary Baines & Wally Pajala Kitchen: Volunteers Piano: Marcia Schilling Fellowship: Families All

Attendance and Offerings Summary

Last Week

Worship 135

Thru Wednesday 09/19 Weekly Offerings

Simply Giving (Vanco) $390.78

General Funds $15,642.00

Special Offerings $0.00

Additional Offerings, Building Funds, Preschool, etc. $2,315.86

Offerings Total $18,348.64 YTD

Available for General Use $16,032.78 $212,094.05

2018 BUDGET NEEDS $4,383.21 $219,160.50