sign in sign up
<<
Home , A Holly Jolly Christmas

2nd Sunday in

December 8, 2019

Pastor Rev. Dennis Matyas, M.Div., S.T.M. 248.227.3489 [email protected]

Director of Family Life Ministry Mr. David Schultz

Principal Mr. Jack Lustila 2nd Sunday in Advent December 8, 2019

St. Paul Lutheran Church & School Website: www.stpaulbaycity.org 6100 Westside Saginaw Road Church Phone: 989.686.7140 Bay City, MI 48706 School Phone: 989.684.4450 Sunday Worship: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Fax: 989.684.0882 Bible Classes & Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Email: [email protected]

WELCOME IN THE NAME OF TO ALL WHO WORSHIP WITH US HERE AT ST. PAUL LUTHERAN THIS MORNING!

Visitors and guests, please sign the friendship pad (which is at the end of the row), and include your address and phone number. Please take note of the communion information and guidelines on the inside upper panel of the friendship pad. If you are unable to come to the front for communion and desire to be communed, please sit on the end of the pew and notify the elder. Those receiving the individual cups are asked to please hold onto their cup until the elder passes by with the common cup so none will be missed. Care cards, located in the pew rack ahead of you, can be used for prayer requests. Please hand the card to an usher or place it into the basket when the offering is received.

LITURGY 8:00 a.m. - Divine Service 2 with Communion 10:30 a.m. - Divine Service 2

HYMNS 8:00 a.m. - 342, 344, 359, 369, 392, 345 10:30 a.m. - 342, 344, 345

READERS 8:00 a.m. - Jack Lustila 10:30 a.m. - Jeremy Warren

ACOLYTES 8:00 a.m. - Deanna Zeilinger 10:30 a.m. - Riley Jimenez

GREETERS 8:00 a.m. - Dale & Lynn Jezowski, Art & Jamie Zeilinger 10:30 a.m. - Ron & Ardith Reuther, Bonnie List

USHERS 8:00 a.m. - Group 3 – Herb Matthes, Bob Schlicker, Jason Schlicker, Art Zeilinger, Peter Auernhammer 10:30 a.m. - Group 6 – Brian Appold, Andy Weiss, Scott Weiss, Jeffrey Olson

PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING HOMEBOUND Erv Hoerauf Julie Roark Dolores Appold Jon Ittner Eleanor Schlicker Dorine Auernhammer Lorna Ittner Rose Anne Schmidt Gwen Bakus Mike & Karen Kusch Al Vogtmann Ruth Behmlander Irma McKenzie Al Wegener Armond Beiser Margaret Meyer Tim Wegener Rick & Bonnie Emeott Mary Pfund Ferdinand Zeilinger

SPECIAL Paul Begick Herb Mueller (Jonathan’s brother) Wyatt Crouse (Dan Bourdow’s Megan Rose Schimm grandson) Mark Schmidt Ron (Courtney Daniel’s dad) Ann Houghtaling Hedwig Gerold (cancer) Willard (Ken Van Cise’s cousin; cancer) Carl Hafer (Megean Zeilinger’s dad) Al Vogtmann Marian Kernstock (gallbladder) Betty Wieland (Amanda Wills’ mother; Nancy Maxwell cancer)

THIS WEEK’S MEMBERS Jean Begick John, Nannette, Katherine, James, Angela & Scott Buda Christopher, Rebbeca, & Joseph Chad & Kassi Fisher Neumeyer Virginia Hutter Matthew, Kayla, Lukas, Espen, & Norah James LaPlant Schlicker

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL SUNDAY 12/8 8:00 a.m. Worship with Communion 9:15 a.m. Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 a.m. Worship

TUESDAY 12/10 6:00 p.m. Bell Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Church Choir Practice

WEDNESDAY 12/11 Newsletter Articles Due 6:30 p.m. Song Service (5-8th Gr. Sings)

THURSDAY 12/12 6:30 p.m. Church Council

FRIDAY 12/13 6:30 p.m. Parsonage Open House

SATURDAY 12/14 7:00 p.m. Josh Wilson Concert

NEXT SUNDAY 12/15 8:00 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion 1:00 p.m. Voters Meeting 7:00 p.m. Advent by Candlelight

NOTES AND NEWS

ATTENDANCE Thanksgiving Eve & Day - (173, 101), Last Sunday – 250 (135, 115) DAILY BIBLE READINGS Dec. 8 - Rev. 5 Dec. 9 - Rev. 6 Dec. 10 - Rev. 7 Dec. 11 - Ps. 143-145 Dec. 12 - Proverbs 29 Dec. 13 - Rev. 8 Dec. 14 - Rev. 9 PARSONAGE OPEN HOUSE The Matyas family warmly invites the families of St. Paul Church & School to their Parsonage Open House on Friday, December 13, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. There will be food, drinks, music, and laughter. Please use the side door into the mud room. We look forward to seeing you there. UPCOMING CONCERT Saturday, December 14 at 7 p.m. - Join Josh Wilson for his “Noel” Concert in the church sanctuary. $10 tickets are available from Kristen Glasser (989-529-2962), in the office, or at attendstar.com. FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE CHRISTMAS PARTY will be held Thursday, December 19, at 6:00 p.m. in our own St. Paul auditorium! Call or text Lu Britton (989) 798-3156 or Loretta Schlicker (989) 233-9564 of your attendance and number of guests by Saturday, December 14th. ($12 per person.) Bring your $10-15. Secret Pal gift, gifts for spouses and guests, table offering for missions and enjoy a delicious catered meal from the Char House. We will be entertained, and your participation will be most welcome! “Fa-la-la-la la, la-la, la, La!” WELLSPRING CARING TREE This year we are collecting Meijer, Walmart, and VISA gift cards (with a $25.00 value) for the families from Wellspring Lutheran Services. The gift cards will give the families an opportunity to shop for their children and feel a sense of fulfillment in providing their loved ones with Christmas. The gift cards can be returned to church and placed in the Christmas bag underneath the tree by today. Thank you and have a very Blessed Christmas! If you have any questions please call: Angie Buda @ (989)397-4198 or Cheryl Leppek @ (989)460-8383 A ‘note’ FROM MR. SCHIMM, MINISTER OF MUSIC A silly little saying goes: “There’s a low below the low you know, you just didn’t know how far down you could go!” This made me think of the book of Malachi where he describes how far God’s people had stayed away from God’s will for them. But his inspired WORD helped to produce those who remain faithful to God’s word hundreds of years later as we read in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. OUR SONG SERVICE on Wednesday, December 11th will draw from themes reflected in the Old Testament as well as the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke. CHURCH EMAIL BLASTS If you haven't been receiving the Church newsletter or other emails, please let the office know. As of last month, we have been sending the emails via Constant Contact, which sometimes ends up into your spam folder. LADIES AID BASKET HELPERS Ladies Aid will be delivering fruit and goodie baskets to the ladies over 80 in our church next weekend. If you have signed up to deliver any, please pick them up between 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, December 14 at the school. Thank you to all of the helpers. SUNDAY SCHOOL BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS ― DECEMBER 22, 9:15 AM During Sunday School on December 22, we will host the annual Birthday Party for Jesus. More details to come! GREETERS NEEDED The Board of Elders would like to say “Thank You” to all past and current greeters. Your smiling faces, warm hand shake, and courteous welcome are a wonderful way to begin our worship each Sunday. If you would like to become a greeter, please contact the church office at 989-684-4450 or Roger Hendrick at 989-686-0411. Two regular openings (once a month) for the 10:30 a.m. service are available. SUNDAY SCHOOL RECOGNIZES PERFECT ATTENDANCE FOR NOVEMBER Congratulations to the following students who had perfect Sunday School attendance for the month of November: Charles Begick, Ava Garrett, Brooklynn Garrett, Rylie Garrett, Elise Helmreich, Noah Helmreich, Isaac Hendrick, Brynlee Kolberg, Ryker Kolberg, Natalie List, Abigail Matyas, Ethan Matyas, Isaac Matyas, Olivia Matyas, Hayden Schwartz, Ainsley Wiess, Owen Wiess HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS STORE: NEW/GENTLY USED DONATIONS NEEDED PTO is sponsoring a Holly Jolly Christmas Store during the school day on Friday, December 13, 2019, in the gym. Students will be given an opportunity to shop for new and gently used items to give as Christmas gifts for their parents and siblings. Gifts will be sent home that day, wrapped, tagged, and ready to be placed under your family's . PTO is looking for donations of new or gently used items for students to purchase to give as Christmas gifts for their parents and siblings. Some ideas of items might include: coffee mugs, candles, home decor, books, toys, art supplies, sports equipment, fun school supplies, jewelry, nail polish, trading cards, etc. Items will be priced between $1 and $5. Bring your donations to the school's main hallway. We are collecting now through Tuesday, December 10. ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT 2019 The women of St. Paul Lutheran Church & School are warmly invited to Advent By Candlelight 2019. The elegant evening of music, dessert, and fellowship will take place in the school auditorium on Sunday, December 15, at 7 pm. Tickets are $5.00, proceeds will benefit the Ministry Center. Tickets can be purchased in the office or online (stpaulbaycity.org >News & Events> Event Registration) by Wednesday, December 11. Interested in hostessing (providing table decor and place settings for 6-8 ladies)? Contact Valerie Matyas (248.227.3491). Interested in donating a dessert? Contact Megan Kusterer (989.280.3433). 8 hostesses and 12 desserts are needed. Hostesses and dessert contributors will receive a complimentary ticket. NEED GIFT CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS? With over 50 different cards to choose from, the scrip box is bound to have that perfect gift card for the people on your list. Please see the person selling at the back of church or stop in the office, or take an order form home. We do have a lot on hand. If not, it only takes a few business days to get them in. To ensure we have what you need, please place all orders by Dec. 14th. Any questions, please contact Megan Lowe 989-684-4450 or [email protected]. Thank you for supporting our school. JOIN US FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS WORSHIP Song Service: Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Children’s Christmas Program (Preschool-8th Grade): Wednesday, December 18 at 9:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Ice Cream Social at the school following the evening service Freewill offering to support the Ministry Center campaign

Christmas Eve Services: Tuesday, December 24 Celebration & Praise with Communion at 3:15 p.m. Traditional Worship with Communion at 6:30 p.m. Christmas Vespers at 11 p.m.

Christmas Day Service: Wednesday, December 25 at 9 a.m.

New Year’s Eve Services: Tuesday, December 31 New Year’s Eve Worship with Communion at 6:30 p.m.

December 23-January 3: No School - Christmas Break There is no church service on New Year’s Day. VALLEY LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR After four decades, Valley Lutheran High School Executive Director Dr. John Brandt has announced his intent to retire from Valley Lutheran High School following the end of the 2019/20 school year. Dr. Brandt has devoted nearly his entire career in education to improving the lives of students and families from throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. The Valley Lutheran Board of Directors has already begun the process for moving into the future, focusing on finding a leader that will build on Valley Lutheran’s strength and position as a leader in Christian education for future generations. Announcements concerning plans to honor Dr. Brandt’s legacy will be made after the New Year. NO ROOM Luke tells us there was no room for Mary and Joseph in the inn at (Luke 2:7), Jesus was born into a world of people that had no room for Him. And later in life He was hated and rejected. "He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.” In this Advent season, is there room in your heart for the Lord Jesus? So many things can fill our lives and make us busy family, friends, careers, sports, and the general business of life. But do we have room for the Lord Jesus, and for others who need to know His love? STEWARDSHIP - Is a way of life THANK YOU Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their busy lives to pray, offer greetings or join me for my 100th birthday. God has blessed me greatly. Fetz Zeilinger THANK YOU ALL Thank you, members of the congregation, fellow elders and Pastor! I am completing my first term as Elder and could not have done this without your support and acceptance, and most of all without God’s help. I feel that I have grown so much as a person, especially in my faith. My wish is that everyone could experience the joy that is in serving the Lord and the congregation. Yours in Christ. - Ken Van Cise

AREA EVENTS Living Nativity Walk – Immanuel, Frankentrost (8220 Holland Rd. (M-46)) 23rd annual “Living Nativity – A Journey to Bethlehem” Sunday, December 8: 6-8 p.m. Experience the sights and sounds of Bethlehem on that blessed night when Jesus Christ was born. This is a free 30 minute outdoor walk, so dress for the weather. Fellowship and refreshments will follow in the school. Living – St. John’s (WELS), Bay City (706 W. Jane St.) Sunday, December 8: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Come see this live portrayal of events of Jesus’ birth. You may drive through or walk through; route begins on Midland & Alp Streets. Christmas Concerts - St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth [1030 W. Tuscola] Dec. 8 [ 6 pm] – Cloverton Christmas Concert – St. Lorenz Worship Center, 850 W. Genesee, Frankenmuth, for tickets online at Clovertonmusic.com or St. Lorenz Church Office (989-652-6141) Dec. 14 (6:30 pm) and Dec. 15 (3:00 pm) – Christmas Concert

ND 2 SUNDAY IN ADVENT

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 11:1–10 (ESV) 1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

EPISTLE READING Romans 15:4–13 (ESV) 4 Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 3:1–12 (ESV) 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” December 8, 2019