John the Baptist's clothing, diet, and desert-dwelling marked him as a countercultural prophet against Israel's leaders and way of life; his message was a proclamation that God was about to deliver his people through a coming anointed one; and his presence in the story is a reminder that God does not essentially need us, but gladly invites us to participate in his plan to redeem his creation back to himself through his Son Jesus.
Readings and sermon were delivered by Pastor Aaron Mueller.
Order of service:
Readings:
- Reflection on God's Forgiveness is from Romans 8:35-39
- Psalm reading is from Psalm 85
- Old Testament reading is from Isaiah 40:1–11
- Epistle reading is from 2 Peter 3:8–14
- Holy Gospel is from Mark 1:1–8
Songs and Hymns:
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
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Text and tune: John F. Wade
Public domain - Prepare the Royal Highway
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Text: Franz Mikael Franzen, tr. from Lutheran Book of Worship
© 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, used with permission: LSB Hymn License #110001220
Tune: Swedish, public domain - Gesù Bambino
- Tune by Pietro Yon, public domain.
- Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
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Text: Johann Olearius, tr. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Trente Quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva
Public domain - By Grace Alone
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Text by Martin Luther
Tune by David Ward, © 2002 ThousandTongues.org
Used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740 - When I Behold Jesus Christ
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Text by Almaz Belhu (sts.1-3, ref.), Joseph Herl (st.4), trans. Jim and Aurelia Keefer
Tune by Almaz Belhu
Text and tune, © 1970 Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
Text (st. 4), © 1998 Concordia Publishing House
Used with permission, LSB Hymn License #110001220 - O God, Our Help in Ages Past
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Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, alt.
Tune: William Croft, 1678–1727
Text and tune: Public domain
Liturgies:
- Kyrie
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Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda
Music: Columbian Harmony
Text and music: © 1990 Concordia Publishing House
Used with permission: One License #728607-A - Gloria
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Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, © 1990 Concordia Publishing House,
Used with permission, One License #728607-A;
Tune: Felix Mendelssohn, public domain. - Credo
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Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, © 1990 Concordia Publishing House,
used with permission, One License 728607-A.
Tune: Welsh, pubic domain. - Sanctus
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Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, © 1990 Concordia Publishing House,
used with permission, One License 728607-A.
Tune: John B. Dykes, public domain. - Agnus Dei
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Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, © 1990 Concordia Publishing House,
used with permission, CCLI license #20286740.
Tune: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872, public domain.
Recording:
- Audio:
- Video:
- Watch on YouTube
Announcements:
- Sunday, Dec 10:
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- Worship Service: 9 AM to 10:15 AM
- Sunday School: 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
- Adult Bible Study: 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
- Annual Congregational Meeting: 11:45 AM
- Wednesday, Dec 13:
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- Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM
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Downstairs.
- Fellowship Meal: 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM
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Please join us for a fellowship meal, this Wednesday, December 13 in the fellowship hall at 6:30 PM.
- Friday, Dec 15:
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- Youth Group Christmas Party: 7 PM to 9 PM
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Downstairs.
- Saturday, Dec 16:
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- Women’s Bible Study: 9 AM
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Ephesians 3:14-21, Lesson 10 “Power.”
- Sunday, Dec 17:
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- Children’s Christmas Program: 9 AM
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Please mark your calendars for the children’s Christmas Program which will be next Sunday morning, December 17th at the beginning of worship service. Practice will be held during Sunday School today.
- Parents please have your children to the church by 8:40 AM on December 17th for costuming as the program will begin sharply at 9:00 AM.
- The Christmas program will be live streamed as part of the normal Sunday morning service. If anyone has any questions regarding this or would not like their child to be a part of the live-stream please contact McKenzie Brakenhoff or William Ellington to sign the opt-out form for the Christmas program.
- Family Christmas Breakfast: 10:30 AM
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Join us, next week, December 17th, for St. James’ family Christmas Breakfast following the worship service.
- Mercy Ministries
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Glen-Ed Pantry is currently collecting Fixings for Christmas Dinner Baskets. Please consider donating instant potatoes, gravy mixes, yams, pineapple, canned mixed vegetables or carrots or canned fried onions. If you wish to donate toward the purchase of perishable items such as pies, hams and turkeys please visit www.glenedpantry.org/donors.
- Ministry Spotlight – St. James Prayer Team
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Did you know St. James has a prayer team? This team is devoted to continually praying for our church family, community, leaders and individual prayer requests. If you would like more information about becoming a part of our prayer team, or if you have an individual prayer request, please don’t hesitate to reach out through the church office or at prayer-team@stjamesglencarbon.org.
- Decorated for the Season of Advent
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The decorations in the church have been changed to blue to mark the Season of Advent. Advent, a preparatory time of waiting and watching, communicates the message of hope. Blue, the color of the sky, helps convey that powerful message.
Our Christian faith rests on the hope that Christ, who came in history assuming our flesh, will also return on the last day of time from that same blue sky he ascended long ago.
- Christian Masculinity – Craving Answers, Craving God
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Toxic masculinity has provided an easy target for those who want to critique traditional notions of gender and gender relationship, but the most common alternative to toxic masculinity in our culture appears to be a self-absorbed narcissistic male, concerned only with his own pleasure and power. In episode 80 of Craving Answers, Craving God Chuck and Aaron discuss the biblical option to both these unfortunate stereotypes: a vision of masculinity that is self-giving and leads by sacrificially serving, a masculinity whose foundation is the character of God in the one true man, Jesus Christ.
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