Today’s Theme –

“Mary’s Christmas!”

Advent Theme – “HIStory…

the Coming of the Savior We Need.”

Advent 3 – December 16, 2012

WELCOME… thanks so much for choosing to worship with

us today. If you need anything please speak to a pastor or

one of the ushers.

CONTACT INFORMATION… Phone – (608) 839-3770

Email – info@abidingshepherd.org

Website – www.abidingshepherd.org

Facebook – Like us @ www.facebook.com/abidingshepherd

Twitter – follow us @ http://twitter.com/abidingshepherd

SNACKS… please help yourself to some

refreshments before and after the service.

WORSHIP CARDS… if you are a first-time

guest, or if you didn’t get a chance to fill out

a card on your last visit, please take a

moment to fill out one of our guest cards,

then place it in the offering plate after

today’s sermon.

FOR YOUR CHILDREN… we have coloring bulletins in

the lobby on the table. There are changing tables in the

handicapped stalls of each restrooms. Please also feel free

to make use of the Little Lambs Room off the lobby if you

would like more privacy with your child(ren).

Prayer Board (early) & Prayer Sheets (late)

Opening Prayer Pastor – O Lord, our Maker, Redeemer and

Comforter, we are assembled in Your

presence to hear Your holy Word. We ask You

to open our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, so that

through the preaching of Your Word we may

be taught to repent of our sins, to believe on

Jesus in life and in death, and to grow day by

day in grace and holiness. Hear us for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Confession & Absolution of Our Sins

Pastor - Our dear Lord invites us to

come before Him and make

confession of our sins. He has

promised pardon and peace for all

who repent and trust in His

forgiveness. Trusting in His mercy, let

us humbly confess our sins. I ask you

in the presence of God who knows

our hearts:

Do you confess that you have

sinned, and do you desire the

Lord’s forgiveness?

If so then answer: “I DO”

Do you believe that Jesus Christ

has redeemed you from all your

sins by His perfect life and His

sacrificial death on the cross?

If so then answer: “I DO”

Upon your confession, by virtue of

my office as a called and ordained

servant of the Word, I announce to

you the grace of God, and in the

stead and by the command of our

Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all

your sins in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit. Peace be with you. Amen.

Gloria

Prayer for the Day

Pastor – Lord, because of Your promises we enjoy the

blessings of Your love every day. You said You would

send a Savior – and You did. You promised He would

pay for all our sins – and He did. He told us He would die

and rise back to life – and He did. He promised He

would come again to take us to heaven – and we

know He will. Holy Spirit, keep us prepared for His return.

Until then, help us to celebrate the gift of Your love.

Amen.

We learn from the Scriptures

Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to

Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be

married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of

David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said,

“Greetings, you who are highly

favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his

words and wondered what kind of

greeting this might be. 30 But the

angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,

Mary, you have found favor with

God. 31 You will be with child and

give birth to a son, and you are to

give him the name Jesus. 32 He will

be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father

David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob

forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I

am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon

you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow

you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son

of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have

a child in her old age, and she who was said to be

barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible

with God.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it

be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Confession of our Faith (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 is seated at the right hand of God the

Father Almighty;

from there He shall 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.

Sermon Luke 1:39-56 – “Mary’s Christmas!”

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. 45 Blessed is she who has

believed that what the Lord has said to her will be

accomplished!”

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my

spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been

mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on

all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty

One has done great things for me - holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from

generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty

deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are

proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down

rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent

the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his

descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months

and then returned home.

Prayer & 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.

Gathering of the Thank-Offerings & Tithes

Blessing

Closing Hymn (next page)

Closing Prayer

Pastor - Lord, we offer to You our heartfelt thanks that

You have taught us what You would have us believe

and do. Help us, O God, by Your Holy Spirit, for the sake

of Jesus Christ, to keep Your Word in pure hearts, for

through it our faith is strengthened, our lives renewed,

and we are comforted in life and in death. Amen.

~ OUR MISSION ~

Bring them in! Lift them up! Send them out!

~ OUR VISION ~

Every Member in the Word! Every Member a Servant!

THANK YOU to those who helped serve us today...

Music – Matt Banbury

Ushers – Karow family

Hospitality Helpers – Kulow, Maier & Cook Families

CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK

Today – 8:45 am – Social / Snack time

9:00 am – Worship

10:00 am – Social / Snack time

10:10 am – Sunday School

10:45 am – Worship

4:00 pm – Christmas for Kids Grand Finale

6:00 pm – E.P.I.C. Youth Ministry

Monday – 10:00 am – Staff Meeting

7:00 pm – Contemporary Worship

Wednesday – 7:00 am - Men’s Foxhole Meeting

6:00 pm – Family Education Night (FEN)

Next Sunday

8:45 am – Social / Snack Time

9:00 am – Worship Service with Communion

10:00 am – Social / Snack Time

No Sunday School

10:45 am – Worship Service with Communion

No E.P.I.C. Youth Ministry

Next Monday – 5:00 & 7:00 pm – Christmas Eve Services

Next Tuesday – 10:00 am – Christmas Day Service

REACHING OTHERS AT CHRISTMAS

On the table in the lobby you will find beautiful

Christmas cards, hand-crafted by the

ladies of Abiding Shepherd. Please help

yourself and send to family, friends and

neighbors as we spread the Christmas

message of Immanuel – God with us. Each

card has the times of our Christmas Eve

and Christmas Day services!