ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN

CHURCH OF STEINBACH INC. MEMBER OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CANADA

465 Henry Street, Steinbach MB R5G 0H1 204-326-3758 Fax 204-326-2548

email: office@stpaulsteinbach.org www.stpaulsteinbach.org

OUR MISSION

God’s purpose for

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is: Accepting all people through God’s grace,

sharing our faith in Christ, and making disciples.

Lead Pastor: Rev. Terry Gudmundson 204-380-3293

Associate Pastor: Rev. Melissa Frankland 204-293-7930

Did You Know? There are some people who

wonder what the point is in

following a church calendar.

They wonder why we bother

talking about the various

seasons and the colors that

represent them. Some folks

even go as far as to dismiss

them as ‘empty rituals.’ There are several advantages to

paying attention to such things. Here are a couple of

them:

Did you know that following a church calendar helps to

keep us centered on Christ? It begins with anticipating

his arrival in Advent, celebrating his birth at Christmas,

marveling at his revealing during Epiphany, humbling

ourselves in repentance as we join his fasting in the

wilderness during Lent, reflecting on his love and sacrifice

during Holy Week, remembering our sin and the weight

of all the world’s evil that he carried on the cross on

Good Friday, embracing the silent emptiness of Holy

Saturday, celebrating the breaking forth of new life

at Easter, rejoicing at the giving of the Spirit and his work

in the Church during Pentecost, and trusting that his

presence is with us still during Ordinary Time. The liturgi-

cal year helps our lives revolve around all aspects of

Christ and his life.

Did you know that following a church calendar helps to

keep us connected to the body of Christ? The bottom

line is: no, we don’t need to have a church calendar.

Following one is not required…..but then again, you

don’t need to have a date night with your spouse…..you

don’t need to have family vacations. But rhythms and

routines are ways of reinforcing a desire. It’s because I

want to nurture my relationship with my spouse that we

have date nights; it’s because I want our family to be

connected that we take vacations together and have

family traditions. In the same way, it’s because I want to

nurture my relationship with Christ and because I want to

be connected to the body of Christ that I embrace the

rhythms and the “family traditions” of the liturgical year.

If you didn’t already know…..now you do!

THE NUMBERS ATTENDANCE: December 2 - 9:25 - 166; 11:05 - 79 Christian Education - 52; Teachers/Guides - 17

OFFERING: December 2 - $11,811.00

Sunday, December 9, 2018Sunday, December 9, 2018Sunday, December 9, 2018Sunday, December 9, 2018

Welcome to Our Traditional Worship ServiceWelcome to Our Traditional Worship ServiceWelcome to Our Traditional Worship ServiceWelcome to Our Traditional Worship Service

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

Monday 5:30 Stephen Ministry meeting 7:00 Young Adults Tuesday 10:00 Moms & Tots 10:30 Communion Service @ Fernwood Place Wednesday 6:30 am Men’s Fellowship Thursday 5:30 Church Community Supper 6:30 Tree Decorating & Bible Study Christmas gathering 7:00 All Youth WOT (Worship on Thursday) Saturday 10:00 Sunday School Christmas Program Rehearsal Sunday 9:15 Confirmation 9:25 Traditional Service with Communion; Sunday School; Adult Study 11:05 Contemporary Service with Communion 7:00 SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Christmas Eve, two services, 5:30 & 7:00 pm • Christmas Day, one service with Communion, 10:00 am. Coffee/cake to follow

HOLY COMMUNION

G od feeds and renews us with the presence of Jesus Christ. In Christ’s body and blood given to

us, God forgives us and nourishes us for mission. In response to the Lord’s invitation I come - confessing my sin, trusting that the Lord is truly present, believing that to receive Him is to receive forgiveness - to partake of the Lord’s Supper. People of all ages and faith commu-nities are welcome.

Holy Communion is served in a continuous format unless announced otherwise. Participants are asked to fill out a registration card, available in the pews or at both entrances, and place them in the baskets at the entrances, or in the offering plates.

Ushers will direct you toward the aisle to come forward to the serving stations. If you desire to commune, extend your hand to the server who will place a wafer in your hand. If you prefer a gluten-free wafer, simply say “gluten-free” to the server. Wine is served from the chalice or individual cups; white grape juice is served from individual cups.

Come and hold in your hand and taste on your lips the love we cannot comprehend.

ST PAUL’S MEN IN MISSION NEW ORLEANS TRIP

March 22-30, 2019

Contact: Ben Nickel 204.371.5104, bnickel@stacoop.com

Sign

up

today!

CROKINOLE

TOURNAMENT &

ETHNIC POTLUCK

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Start-time 3:00

WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS COMING SOON

SAVE

THE

DATE

• Christmas Eve, 5:30 & 7:00 pm

Services of the Nativity

• Christmas Day, 10:00 am

Christmas Day Service with

Communion. Coffee and cake to

celebrate the birth of Christ will

be offered after the service.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Sunday, Dec. 30, one service

only, with Communion, 10:00 am

CHRISTMAS CALENDAR

OF EVENTS

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’

L. The Gospel of the Lord.

C. Praise to you, O Christ.

↓ Message

Hymn of the Day:

“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” - # 249

↑ Apostles’ Creed - p. 105

Prayers of the People

Sharing of the Peace

↓ Offering

Special Music: “Der Friedensfurst”

↑ Offertory - Doxology - # 884

The Great Thanksgiving - p. 206-207

The Lord’s Prayer - p. 208

↓ Communion

Hymns (sung during the distribution):

“What Feast of Love” - # 487 “Thy Holy Wings” - # 613 “On Eagle’s Wings” - # 787 “Christ, Be Our Light” - # 715 “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” - # 697 “Jesus, the Very Thought of You” - # 754

↑ Prayer after Communion

The Benediction - Blessing

Sending Song:

“Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding!” - # 246

HOLY COMMUNION

Holy Communion is offered in the TRADITIONAL FORMAT today. Registration cards are available in the pews and at both entrances. Participants are

asked to fill out a card and place it in the basket provided or in the offering plate. All are welcome at God’s table.

PRAYER REMINDERS

In your prayers this week, please remember Gerda Schinkel, Chris Funk, Anne Appleby, Bob Angell, Bernie Stahn, John Rempel, Lorenz Borkowsky,

Laura Heckert, Tina Heckert, Wanda Hoehn, Marlene Klassen, Evelyn (Art) Krentz, Emma Kuehn, Gordon Pachal, Helmuth Renz, Duane Schultz, Joan Schultz and Elsie Schilke.

GIFT OF REMEMBRANCE In a tribute of love and remembrance, a Memorial Gift has been received from Ed and Karen Mantie in memory of Dora Krentz, who passed away October 28, 2018. “We always have you close to us, forever in our hearts.” JUST ARRIVED: December issue of Canada Lutheran. Be sure to take home a copy today!

YOUNG ADULTS NIGHT OUT All Young Adults, take note: Come for a night of fun and fellowship with other young adults tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 10, 7:00 pm, right here at church. Want more details? Call or text Jacob, 204-381-8966.

YOU’VE GOT MAIL! Offering Envelopes for 2019 are in the church mail-boxes. Be sure to check the information on the box before taking it home. For omissions or corrections, contact the church office. If you would like to make regular offerings through pre-authorized remittance, please call the church office to make arrangements. Due to a sharp decline in the use of envelopes in Sunday School and Confirmation, no numbered envelopes will be issued in 2019. If families wish to have envelopes for their children, generic ones are available from the church office, Sunday School Superintendent or Confirmation Coordinator. Take note that the DEADLINE DATE TO MAKE CONTRIBU-TIONS FOR THE 2018 TAX YEAR IS DECEMBER 31/18. Contri-butions received after that date will be included in the 2019 tax year.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Part of the ongoing work of the St. Paul’s Relational, Stewardship & Missions Committee is to bring awareness of the various resources available in our community. Just recently we were privileged to hear Irene Kroeker speak about the work of Steinbach Community Outreach. We can make a difference by supporting this organization through monetary donations. Simply mark “Community Outreach” on your offering envelope. Thank you.

GIFTS FROM THE HEART Copies of Gifts from the Heart, the Canadian Lutheran World Relief catalogue, are still available at both entrances. The catalogue contains a variety of opportuni-ties to provide meaningful and tangible gifts that share God’s love with the world. Check it out.

STEVE BELL IN CONCERT Steve Bell will present a Christmas Concert Friday, Dec. 14, 7:00 pm at Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church, 340 Second St. It promises to be an evening of beautiful music and stories of hope. Admission is free with a free-will donation to build Christian schools in Latin America.

WELCOME VISITORS If you are a visitor to our church today, we invite you to sign the guest book located in the narthex. Welcome here. May you be blessed as you worship with us. A time of coffee fellowship takes place in the Education Wing immediately following the 9:25 am service. All welcome!

THANK YOU DEPARTMENT Thank you to Eleanor Wiebe and Family for blessing us with special music at the 9:25 am service; to Bishop Smith for leading both services; and to all who assisted in any way.

Please Note: Small numbers (eg. p. 211) refer to liturgical settings at the beginning of the Lutheran Book of Worship.

Larger bold numbers (eg. # 239) refer to hymn numbers. The up arrow means the congregation is asked to stand, the down arrow, to be seated.

Welcome & Announcements

↓ ADVENT READING/CANDLE LIGHTING: Shawn & April Harder

ADVENT PRAYER: L. Let us pray together All. Lord God, we need your help today. Help us to make room for the miraculous in our lives that the light of Christ might shine through us again. Amen.

Advent Song:

“COME TO THE LIGHT” - (tune of # 676)

Come to the Light, the candle is lit. Let ev’ryone now gather near. Come to the Light and warm in its glow, for Jesus will very soon be here.

This is the time, this is the place, to worship with our joyful praise. Lift up your voice, oh sing and rejoice, open your heart to His saving grace.

Come to the Light, the candle is lit, now put away all doubt and fear. Come to the Light, each burden release, for Jesus will very soon be here.

↑ Confession & Forgiveness - p. 94-96

Gathering Song -

“Hark, the Glad Sound!” - # 239

GREETING: P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C. And also with you.

The Kyrie - p. 203

PRAYER OF THE DAY: L. Let us pray together: All. Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming, give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever more. Amen.

↓ GOD’S WORD: Readers Shawn & April Harder

FIRST READING: Malachi 3:1-4

1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descen-dants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

L. The Word of the Lord. C. Thanks be to God. SECOND READING: Philippians 1:3-11

3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11having produced the harvest of righteous-ness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

L. The Word of the Lord.

C. Thanks be to God. ↑ Gospel Acclamation: “Alleluia” (sung) - p. 205 Alleluia! Lord and Savior, open now your saving word. Let it burn like fire within us; speak until our hearts are stirred. Alleluia! Lord, we sing, for the good news that you bring. HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 3:1-6

Congregational response after the announcement: Glory to you, O Lord.

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zecha-riah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 9, 2018

KEEP IT REAL! BRING IT HOME!