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St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran ChurchSUNDAY November 29th, 2020

To our Church FamilyWe’re Glad You’re Here.

WELCOME

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Today's Hymns from the Tower                 Church Carillon The Westminster Strike

Announcements

Prelude: The Messiah George Frideric Handel II. Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye, My People

III. Every Valley Shall be ExaltedTim Culver, tenor

First Candle - The Candle of HopeThe Patriarchs, Abraham, the Old Testament Ancestors of Jesus

Leader: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord All: Thanks be to God 

Leader: Today is the First Sunday of Advent, in which we recall the hope we have in Christ.

God told Abraham that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed, because he trusted and put his hope in God. The Old Testament spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Savior would be born, a king in the line of King David. He would rule the world wisely and bless all the nations. We too believe in God's promise to send Jesus again to this world to establish his kingdom upon the earth. 

(A person lights the First Candle here)

Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Leader: Let us pray: All: God of Abraham and Sarah and all the Patriarchs of old, you are our Father too. Your love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Son of David. Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth, to make our hearts ready and to place our hope in you. Help us today and every day to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your hope with others. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

GATHERING SONG  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ELW 257

Verses 1-4

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GREETINGDuring this time, the presiding minister and the assembly greet each other.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.And also with you.

KYRIE 

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Prayer of the Day

Let us pray.Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9

 1O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,  so that the mountains would quake at your presence— 2as when fire kindles brushwood  and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries,  so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,  you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4From ages past no one has heard,  no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you,  who works for those who wait for him. 5You meet those who gladly do right,  those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned;  because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6We have all become like one who is unclean,  and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf,  and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7There is no one who calls on your name,  or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us,  and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. 8Yet, O LORD, you are our Father;  we are the clay, and you are our potter;  we are all the work of your hand. 9Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD,  and do not remember iniquity forever.  Now consider, we are all your people.

The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

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Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you—7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Gospel: Mark 13:24-37

The holy gospel according to Mark 13th chapterGlory to you, O Lord.

[Jesus said:] 24“In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,  and the moon will not give its light, 25and the stars will be falling from heaven,  and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.26Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.  28“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass

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away.  32“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”The gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Rev. Mark Kreemer

HYMN OF THE DAY  Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers ELW 244

Verse 1: AllVerse 2: Men’s Voices

Verse 3: Women’s VoicesVerse 4: All

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CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.

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I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.*On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.

PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.And also with you.

OFFERING Anthem: The Lord’s Prayer Albert Hay Malotte

Tim Culver, tenor

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

God of power and might, tear open the heavens and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.

After each petition the following response is given:Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

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LORD’S PRAYER 

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.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.

SENDING SONG  Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending ELW 435

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BLESSING

The Creator of the stars bless your Advent waiting,the long-expected Savior fill you with love,the unexpected Spirit guide your journey,☩ now and forever.Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

Postlude: Hornpipe from Water Music George Frideric Handel

Music Notes

Guest Musician

Tenor Timothy Culver has become a staple in the Great Lakes music scene. He has been described as having “a rich but penetrating tenor” and that he “faces florid tenor writing with a fearless vivacity.” Equally at home in both operatic and musical theatre works, Mr. Culver has performed with the Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Lansing Lyric Opera, Porthouse Theatre, Huron Playhouse and the Cleveland Orchestra. Some recent roles include Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Alfredo in La Traviata and Albert Herring in the title role. During the inaugural season of the Opera Theatre of Lucca in Lucca, Italy, Mr. Culver performed and studied under the direction of internationally renowned baritone, Lorenzo Malfatti. A frequent recitalist, oratorio and concert soloist, Mr. Culver sang in the U.S. premiere of Erwin Schulhoff’s H.M.S. Royal Oak with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony.

In 2002, Mr. Culver began as an assistant professor of voice at the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Currently, he resides in Stow with his wife and three children.

Prelude/Postlude: George Frideric (G.F.) Handel was born in Germany, but lived and work for most of his life as a composer and court musician in England. Although he and Bach lived and worked at the same time, they never met each other. Handel’s music is lively and virtuosic, primarily composed for entertainment of audiences.

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Hymns, Liturgies, and Live stream permissions granted by the following:

Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License # SAS027923Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

GATHERING SONG  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ELW 257"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-734490. All rights reserved

HYMN OF THE DAY  Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers ELW 244PUBLIC DOMAIN

SENDING SONG  Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending ELW 435PUBLIC DOMAIN

"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from CCLE, License #20472231 All rights reserved.”

FlowersThe Altar flowers today are donated in loving memory of Richard Scott by Martha Scott

In our prayers today we will remember

Cindy Lash, Carla & Eric Myers, Laura Mottice, Chase Haines, Ray Jones, Connie Crabtree, Jeannie Tidwell, Renee Brown, Chris Collard, Chuck Evans, Josh Keller, Dr Donald Zimmerman, Nancy Straughn, Martha Scott, Judy Hall, Bob Keefer, Lynda Klein, Sara Hughes, Chrissy Sturtz, Donna Viles, Betty Ayers, Jean Dexter, Janet Duke, Betty George, Marjorie Hill, Bob Kirsch, Dan Landig, Anna Langenfeld, Scott & Darlene Lewis, Angela Sutter, Amy White, Maria Lictenberger, Diane Brant, Karen Lunkwitz, Dave Paul, Ron Meimer, Hazel Draper, Jennifer Mays, Alice Ferguson, Cheryl Shaw