The Second Sunday in Advent

December 9, 2007 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. We're glad you're here! Please sign the Friendship Register. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. Here you will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and an appreciation of being part of God’s family.

The Lord's Supper is being celebrated today. This special meal, instituted by Christ, unites us with Him and our brothers and sisters in the faith. This sacrament is intended for those who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven; and believe that the true body and blood of Jesus are present with the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Guests who share this faith are invited to speak with the pastor before joining us in this holy meal.

Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service. Stick around for a time of socializing and refreshments. We hope you are able to stay! The Education Hour follows at 10:30. Welcome!

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

The Greg Schuyler family, greeters

Nicole Burkhardt, organ and keyboard

Jennifer Arps, Liberty Belter, Linda Henkel, April Pearson, & Marcia Schuyler, special music

Joel Meier, communion assistant

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Order of Service: The Common Service, page 15 in front of the hymnal

Hymns: 1 13 19 16

Message: Matthew 3:1-12

“John: God’s Man To Prepare Hearts For The God-Man”

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 11:1-10

(The Offspring of Jesse will bring righteousness to all in the power of the Spirit.)

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord-- and He will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears; but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

EPISTLE Romans 15:4-13

(They are the true Israel who bear the fruits of repentance and faith

and thus glorify God for His mercy.)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name."

Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people."

And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to Him, all you peoples."

And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, One who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in Him."

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'"

John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:00am Refreshments and Social Time

10:30am Sunday School and Adult Bible Class

7:00pm Coordinating Council Meets

Monday: 6:30pm Bible Information Class

7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study

Tuesday: 11:30am Senior Luncheon at St. John’s, Minneapolis

7:00pm Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday: 5:30pm Confirmation Class

6:30pm Sunday School Teachers Meet

Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Study

7:00pm Christmas Cookie Exchange

Saturday: 9:30am Children’s Christmas Practice

Next Sunday: 9:00am Children’s Christmas Service

10:00am Birthday Party For Jesus

3:00pm Christmas Concert at Martin Luther College/New Ulm

The Lord’s Supper is being celebrated on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of December.

All Students: See Jennifer Arps after church so that she can get your email address. Thanks!

Cookie Exchange: Christmas is coming and so is our annual cookie exchange – this Thursday, December 13^th at 7:00pm. Bring 3 dozen cookies to exchange and 1/2 dozen to taste. Feel free to invite friends, neighbors and relatives to join us in the exchange. The more the merrier - and the better the variety of cookies. It is also a non-threatening way to bring people to the church building. Coffee, hot cider and tea will be provided. Join us!

Christmas Caroling: You are cordially invited to come and participate in the congregational Christmas caroling that will take place on Tuesday, December 18^th, at 6:00pm. There will be a caroling party following. Please bring an appetizer and cookies or sweets to share. Cocoa, hot cider, and coffee will be brewing! Come and join in the fun!

Christmas Concert At SCLHS: The Music Department will present its annual Christmas concert on Friday, December 21, at 7:00pm in the SCL gym. All choral groups and bands, along with ensembles and soloists, will perform both secular and sacred pieces. One highlight of the evening is the traditional performance of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” by the combined choirs, alumni and friends. Everyone is invited to attend this concert and enjoy an evening of music focusing on the reason for the Christmas season, the birth of the one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Money For New Round Tables for the Fellowship Hall is still needed. There’s still time for you to donate one or two tables – only $56/each! Thank you!