Amid the challenges of Israelite disobedience and the looming threat of Babylonian invasion, Habakkuk questions God’s actions and struggles with the problem of evil. Yet, God responds by reminding him that His promises will be fulfilled in His time, and the righteous will live by faith in His faithfulness. Habakkuk’s bold questions and his eventual joyful trust in God despite the circumstances challenge us to look beyond our trials and rest in God's sure promises. Through Habakkuk’s story, we learn that the righteous live by trusting God, even when answers are delayed or seem difficult to ponder. Like Habakkuk, we are called to rejoice in the God of our salvation, knowing that He is always faithful to His promises.
Readings: Pastor Aaron Mueller. Sermon: Jonah Wilson.
Order of service:
Readings:
- Reflection on God's Forgiveness is from Romans 8:35-39
- Psalm reading is from Psalm 66:1–12
- Old Testament reading is from Habakkuk 2:1–4
- Epistle reading is from Philippians 1:2–11
- Holy Gospel is from Luke 3:1–20
Songs and Hymns:
- 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 - Great Is Thy Faithfulness
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Text: Thomas O. Chisholm
Tune: William M. Runyan
Public domain - Prepare The Way
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Words and Music by Darrell Evans and Eric Nuzum
© 1999 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Used with permission: CCLI license #20286740 - Blessed Assurance
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Text: Fanny J. Crosby, alt. Aaron Mueller;
Tune: Phoebe P. Knapp;
Text and tune: Public domain. - Joy to the World
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Text: Isaac Watts
Tune: George Frideric Handel
Public domain - Just as I Am, without One Plea
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Text by Charlotte Elliott
Tune by William B. Bradbury
Public domain
Liturgies:
- Gloria in Excelsis
- Text: Stephen P. Starke
- Sanctus
- Text: Stephen P. Starke
- Agnus Dei
- Text: Stephen P. Starke
- Nunc Dimittis
Recording:
- Audio:
- Video:
- Watch on YouTube
Announcements:
- Sunday, Dec 8:
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- Worship Service: 9 AM to 10:15 AM
- Congregational Meeting: 10:30 AM
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Agenda and Proposed Budget have been emailed to all members and are available in the narthex.
- Youth Confirmation: 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM
- Tuesday, Dec 10:
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- Second Tuesday Women’s Bible Study: 6 PM to 8 PM
- Wednesday, Dec 11:
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- Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM
- Advent Fellowship Dinner: 6:30 PM
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Please join us for an Advent Fellowship Dinner this Wednesday, December 11th at 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall. The meal will be prepared by the Jr. & Senior Youth Group, who will accept a free will offering that will be applied to St. James youth ministry.
- Sunday, Dec 15:
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- Youth Confirmation Meeting: 10:15 AM
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There will be a meeting of all youth confirmation families on December 15th immediately following worship. Please contact the church office if you have any questions.
- Farewell Celebration
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A farewell celebration for Pastor Mueller and his family will be held on Sunday, December 29th at noon at Metro East Lutheran High School and will be catered by Ravenelli’s. Please RSVP by Dec. 15th on the sign-up sheet in the narthex. If you have any questions, please contact Jen Weber or Tina Enke.
- Youth Group Schedule
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Please mark your calendars:
- Regular Youth Group Wednesday meetings will be paused during Advent and resume January 8th at the Staake home.
- Jr & Sr High Youth Christmas Party will be held Friday, December 20th at the Staake home 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
- Sunday School Christmas Program
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The Sunday School Christmas Program is scheduled for Sunday, December 22nd at the beginning of worship service. The last practice will be held during the Sunday School hour December 15th. Senior High students are encouraged to assist with practice or attend adult Bible study.
- Christmas Brunch
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Please mark your calendars for the annual St. James Christmas Brunch to be held immediately after worship on Sunday, December 22nd.
- Altar Colors
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The decorations in the church have 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 from the same blue sky he ascended to long ago.
- Christmas Flowers
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Help St James’ altar look beautiful for Christmas! Order your Christmas Poinsettia In Honor of, or In Memory of your loved one(s). We will list the donations in our Christmas service bulletin. You are welcome to take the poinsettia home after our Christmas Service or leave it for the rest of the season. To order your poinsettia, please complete the form in the narthex no later than December 15th. Questions? Contact Nic Schatte at nic@stjamesglencarbon.org.
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