Come Down, O Love Divine!

Week 1: God’s Love Calls us To Be Ready Week 2: God’s Love Calls us To Repent Week 3: God’s Love Calls us To Persevere Week 4: God’s Love Calls us to Believe his Promise

December 7-9, 2019 Emanuel Lutheran Church New London, Wisconsin

Welcome to Worship!

“Let’s go to the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1) We rejoice that you’re here today. Each time we gat her, we hear of God’s grace and respond with prayers and songs of praise.

Visitors: Thank you for worshipping with us today! Take a moment to sign a Friendship Register located at the end of each pew. Your info helps us get to know you and allows us to stay in touch with you. Restrooms are located at the east end of the entryway, past the Coffee Nook.

Parents with Young Children: Helping little ones learn to praise God is a messy project! Feel free to choose a place where kids can engage with the sights and sounds of worship. Make use of our ‘busy bags’ from the rack in the entryway. A closed-circuit TV is also located in the parent room to watch and listen to the service. An usher can assist you in locating this room, also called the “Gathering Place”.

Limited Mobility? For your convenience, there are two areas set aside to accommodate those with wheelchairs, walkers, or other special space needs. Ushers are available to assist you.

Hard of Hearing? A hearing loop system is in place. Adjust your hearing aids to “T” coil. For the best reception, sit on the pulpit side of church, excluding the back four rows. Special receiver packs with earbuds are also available if needed.

LARGE PRINT: A large print copy of the worship service, including hymns, psalms and service wording, is available in the back of church on the main floor. You may also ask an usher for a copy.

2 Worship Notes Today’s Theme -- The Second Week of Advent God’s Love Calls us to Repent

Worship Theme: The time of Advent can be very topsy-turvy. Our schedules can suddenly be adjusted by unplanned events as we get ready for holiday celebrations. Today, we witness the ways in which God can turn us around in a very strange episode from the life of the prophet Daniel. We meet the man who was responsible for the fiery furnace and the lions’ den: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. But notice how God sought to lead this enemy away from evil by his gracious power! When we think of encountering our Advent King, may God keep our hearts turned toward his grace as well!

About the Service: Today’s service begins with the hymn, “Come Down, O Love Divine” which also serves as the theme for our series. Notice how the idea of repentance is found at the heart of the poetry. L et holy charity mine outward vesture be and lowliness become mine inner clothing-- true lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part, and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

Prayer before Worship: Lord Jesus, this is special time to be spending with you and your Word. It is good for me to be here! Today, you have invited me to lift my heart to you. When you inspect it, you will find the residue of sin and shame. Use your Word to clean and refine the heart which you have purchased with your own blood. As I prepare my home for guests this season, prepare my heart that it might receive you as a guest today. Amen.

Holy Communion: One of the high points of today’s service is the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. It is a blessing to celebrate the communion that we share with our Lord Jesus, but also the confession of faith we share as members of a Christian congregation. We therefore ask that only members of Emanuel and our church body, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, partake of the Lord’s Supper. If you are visiting, or are not yet a member, we ask that you speak with one of the pastors before communing with us today.

3 Order of Service

Opening Hymn “Come Down, O Love Divine” Text: Bianco of Sienna (1350-1434)

As we await Jesus’ second coming, we pray that Jesus would daily come to us through his Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. This ancient prayer is a preview our synod’s new hymnal project.

Stand

4 Invocation M: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

Confession M: Dear friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For faithless worrying and selfish pride, For sins of habit and sins of choice, For the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, You should cast me away from your presence forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.

Absolution M: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In his great mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the word of Christ through his called servant: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

Lord, Have Mercy | Kyrie M: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. For the well-being of all people everywhere, that they may receive from you all they need to sustain body and life, hear our prayer, O Lord. C: Lord, have mercy. M: For the spread of your life-giving gospel throughout the world, that all who are lost in sin may be brought to faith in you, hear our prayer, O Christ. C: Christ, have mercy. M: For patience and perseverance in this life, that we may not lose the hope of heaven as we await your return, hear our prayer, O Lord. C: Lord, have mercy.

5 M: Lord of life, live in us that we may live for you. C: Amen.

Glory Be To God | G loria in Excelsis Tune: CW 38 1 All glory be to God on high! Your name, O Lord, we glorify; We praise you for your peace and grace, Your favor toward our fallen race. 2 Our grateful thanks to you we bring, For your great glory, heav’nly King, For all, O Father, you have done Through Jesus Christ, your only Son. 3 O Lamb of God, to you we pray. You take all human sin away. Have mercy, Lord; receive our prayer; From God’s right hand, your mercy share. 4 You, Christ, are holy—Lord alone; The Father’s glory you made known. We by your Spirit sing again: “All glory be to God!” Amen.

The Word

Salutation M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you.

Prayer of the Day M: Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

6 Be Seated

Lesson Daniel 4:19-26 Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar to repent: the ax is ready!

Psalm of the Day “For You, My God, I Wait” The psalm will be sung by the soloists. Psalm 130

For you, my God, I wait If you should list my faults, With hope born of your Word. The sins of heart and hand, Like sleepless ones who long to dream, Like sleepless ones who groan at dawn I wait and call my Lord. I know I could not stand. Lord, hear my pleading voice, For even from the deep And let me know you hear! I know you hear my cries. As sleepless ones feel rest approach, Like sleepless ones who dream at last, I know my God is near. I ease my weary eyes.

Lesson Acts 3:19-26 Peter and John preach a message of repentance and rescue

Stand

Gospel Matthew 3:1-12 John’s sharp words of repentance direct us to the truth of God’s salvation

M: This is the Gospel of the Lord! C: Praise be to you, O Christ!

Be Seated

Hymn of the Day On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry |#16

Sermon

7 Stand

Confession of Faith Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Be Seated

Offering

Stand

Prayer of the Church

The Sacrament M: The Lord be with you.

8 C: And also with you. M: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is good and right so to do. M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who will soon come again in glory to deliver us forever from this present evil age. Therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

Holy, Holy, Holy | Sanctus Tune: CW 19

1 O holy, holy, holy 2 Hosanna in the highest! Lord God of pow’r and might, How truly blest is he Your glory, earth and heaven Who in God’s name is coming In countless ways recite. To set his people free! Hosanna! Come and save us, He comes to bring salvation Lord God of hosts on high, And with his blood outpoured, And in your grace and mercy Deliver us from bondage— Receive our fervent cry. Hosanna, mighty Lord!

Prayer of Thanksgiving M: Blessed are you, O Lord of heaven and earth. We praise and thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, and we remember the great acts of love through which he has ransomed us from sin, death, and the devil’s power. By his incarnation, he became one with us. By his perfect life, he fulfilled your holy will. By his innocent death, he overcame hell. By his rising from the grave, he opened heaven. Invited by your grace and instructed by your Word, we approach your table with repentant and joyful hearts.Strengthen us through Christ’s body and blood, and preserve us in the true faith until we

9 feast with him and all his ransomed people in glory everlasting. C: Amen.

Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen.

O Christ, Lamb of God | A gnus Dei Tune: CW 19 O Lamb of God, most holy, For mercy now we call O Lamb of God, most holy Have mercy on us all. For all the world you suffered, From sin you grant release. O Lamb of God, most holy, Grant us your promised peace.

Distribution Anthem “T his Broken Bread”

10 Music: Sarah Lambrecht, Text: Laurie Gauger

Distribution Hymn Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness | # 311

Thanksgiving M: We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that you have given us to eat and to drink in this sacrament. Through this gift you have fed our faith, nourished our hope, and strengthened our love. By your Spirit help us to live as your holy people until that day when you will receive us as your guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

Blessing M: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace. C: Amen.

Be Seated

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Presiding Minister: Bill Heiges Preacher: Marcus Schulz Accompanist: Lynn Schmidt Soundbooth: Mara Dorn (Sat) Jen Schmitt ( Sun) Trinity Mulder ( Mon) Guitar: Lizzie Steingraber Singers: Sophie Leng, Hannah Stegman

200 E. Quincy Street, New London, WI 54961

Phone: (920) 982-5444 - Fax: (920) 982-0954

Church Contact School Contact Prayer Group [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.emanuelnl.org www.elstigers.org (920) 740-0782

Emanuel Staff

Pastor Bill Heiges Principal - Kirk Schauland [email protected] [email protected]

Ext: 311 Ext. 112

Pastor Marcus Schulz Staff Minister - Jack VandeGuchte [email protected] [email protected]

Ext: 310 Ext. 314

Pastor Mark Tiefel Executive Director - Mark Dobberstein [email protected] [email protected]

Ext: 313 (920) 579-9299

On-Call Emergency Pastor

December 9 - December 15:

Pastor Bill Heiges (920) 284-7044