THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
G E L C T , A D 22, 2024
Welcome to Grace!
Our mission at Grace is to teach the inspired and inerrant Word of God, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the crucified and risen Savior of the world, and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service.
Check out the GRACE WEBSITE at GraceLutheranSAZ.org
We are very pleased that you have joined us for worship today! We pray that this time will be a blessing for you as God comes to you with his Word and promises and as you offer him your thanks and praise.
The order of worship we will follow is printed in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people. LARGE PRINT worship folders are available at the entrances for those who desire them.
Today we are using elements from the Christian Worship (2021) hymnal. You will find these blue worship books in the hymnal racks in each pew. You will be asked to open the hymnal to participate in parts of the service today. A vocalist will aid in our singing and will be recorded for our audio disks and video live-streaming.
There is no cost to park in our parking lot during Sunday morning worship services. If you receive a citation by mistake, please let our office staff know so it can be cleared.
OUR WORSHIP SERIES A REAL CHRISTMAS
A parent says, “I want to give my kids a real Christmas.” What do you think that parent means? Perhaps they are thinking of trimming a freshly cut tree or finding the perfect presents or spending the holidays with extended family. Perhaps they are thinking about all those things. “Then it will be a real Christmas!” Certainly, all those are wonderful things. However, none of them are what makes Christmas real. The sad truth is Christmas is the most beloved holiday of so many, yet so few know what Christmas is really about.
If you want a real Christmas, then you need to observe Advent. Advent is Latin for “coming.” In the season of Advent, Christians observe the connection between the first time the Son of God came into our world as the Savior and the second time he will come as the Judge. Advent prepares our minds and hearts, so that we might soon celebrate a real Christmas. Our worship in this season of Advent has been following this path:
December 1 A Real Christmas Requires Remembering Why Christ Came
December 8 A Real Christmas Is Rooted in Repentance
December 15 A Real Christmas Results in Great Joy
December 22 A Real Christmas Will Lift Up the Lowly
OUR THEME FOR TODAY A REAL CHRISTMAS WILL LIFT UP THE LOWLY
By this time of the holiday season, people are often weighed down. They feel guilty about presents that are not perfect, parties that did not go as planned, or year-end projects that did not get completed. To top it all off, now is when it dawns on people how little attention they have given to the spiritual preparation Advent invites.
If that is how we feel, perhaps the frenzy of December has done us a favor. We have been stretched to our limits. We have been made painfully aware of our shortcomings. We have been humbled. Perfect! For being made aware of our weakness does not disqualify us from God’s care. It does the opposite. IT is what prepares us for the work he does best. He is a God who lifts up the lowly.
+ ORDER OF WORSHIP +
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN O Little Town of Bethlehem Christian Worship 333
PRESERVICE MUSIC:
Let the Earth Now
Praise the Lord
Matthew Machemer
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Jennifer Eklund
HANDBELLS (10:00) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Barbara B.Kinyon
Please stand
O Come, O Come
Emmanuel
Dale A. Witte
INVOCATION
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
CONFESSION
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Dear friends, the season of Advent is a time of preparation as we await Christ’s second coming on the Last Day. We prepare our hearts to meet him as we humbly seek his forgiveness.
Holy God, gracious Father, I am sinful by nature and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved others as I should. I deserve your punishment both now and forever. But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins with his innocent suffering and death. Trusting in him, I pray: God have mercy on me, a sinner.
Silence for meditation and reflection
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore, you are feared.
As our service begins, the minister speaks the words spoken at our baptisms and makes the sign of the cross, marking us anew as redeemed children of God.
James 4:6, 10
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16
Psalm 130:3-4
This hymn uses the words of Mary as recorded in Luke 1:46-55, which serves as our Gospel today.
ABSOLUTION
God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants was fulfilled in the coming of his Son. Jesus Christ humbled himself by submitting to God’s law. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross. God promises to lift up the humble and fill the hungry with good things because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:9
Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, so that we through his poverty might become rich.
Even as we await Christ’s second coming, he comes to us here and now in the words he gives his messengers to speak: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
HYMN RESPONSE My Soul Will Magnify the Lord Christian Worship 975
Christ gave the authority to forgive the sins of penitent sinners to his church: “Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.”
John 20:23
Text and tune: Stuart Townend Kristyn Getty, Keith Getty © 2005 Thankyou Music, admin. CapitolCMGPublishing,com. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.
The lighting of candles in anticipation of Christ’s coming has a long tradition in the Christian Church. On each of the Sundays of Advent, a new candle is lit, dispelling the darkness as the church moves forward to welcoming him who is the true Light of the world. Each year the privilege of lighting the Advent candles is given to the youth of our congregation.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
We light four Advent candles remembering Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary. He came to share our humanity.
We remember Jesus, whose name means Savior. He came to save his people from their sins.
We hear his call to give him a place in our hearts. We light four Advent candles as a sign of our joy and hope.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed.
Four Advent candles are lit.
HYMN RESPONSE My Soul Will Magnify the Lord Christian Worship 975
+ THE WORD +
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the burden of our sins, and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated
FIRST READING
Micah 5:2-5
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel. His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.
3 Therefore the L will give them up, until the time when the woman who is in labor bears a child. Then the remaining survivors from his brothers will return to the people of Israel.
4 He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the L , in the majesty of the name of the L his God. They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.
5 This one will be their peace.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The lowly little town of Bethlehem would be lifted up. There a special son would be born who would bring spiritual peace to the ends of the earth.
We could not possibly raise ourselves up to God. So, the Son of God obeyed the law for us and by his sacrifice has made us holy. Christ has lifted up the lowly.
Psalm 40:6-8
5Therefore when he entered the world, Christ said: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but you prepared a body for me.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Here I am. I have come to do your will, God. In the scroll of the book it is written about me.”
8First he said:
A paraphrase of Psalm 40:6
Psalm 40:7
Sacrifices and offerings that were offered according to the law, both burnt offerings and sin offerings, you did not desire, and you were not pleased with them.
9Then he said: Here I am. I have come to do your will.
He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10By this will, we have been sanctified once and for all, through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
We stand out of respect for the words of Christ, our King.
Please stand
The Gospel Acclamation points toward the words of the Gospel.
Vocalist: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.
GOSPEL
Luke 1:39-55
39In those days Mary got up and hurried to the hill country, to a town of Judah.
40She entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41Just as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44In fact, just now, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45Blessed is she who believed, because the promises spoken to her from the Lord will be fulfilled!”
46Then Mary said,
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked with favor on the humble state of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you, O Christ.
Please be seated
HYMN OF THE DAY—Holy Is Your Name Christian Worship 956
The vocalist will sing stanza 1. Please join in singing the remainder of the hymn.
SERMON
In Spirit-wrought humility, Mary knew she needed a Savior. God lifts her up, making her the mother of that Savior.
This hymn is a version of the Magnificat (or Song of Mary) as recorded in Luke 1:46-55.
Luke 1:39-55
Let Humble Mary Show You How to Celebrate Christmas
Please stand
The Apostles’ Creed developed in the Early Christian Church as a personal confession of faith. It is so named because it confesses the faith taught by the Apostles of Jesus.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed
Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.
Please be seated
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Eternal Father, throughout the centuries you repeated and affirmed your promise to send the offspring of the woman to crush the serpent’s head. Through your prophets of old, you continually directed the eyes of your people to the advent of their Savior.
We praise you, O Lord, for keeping your promise and sending your Son to destroy the works of the devil.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our King, use your mighty Word to shatter our pride and to rouse us from spiritual slumber and apathy.
Move us to take to heart the words of John: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
You sent your Son to redeem us from sin. Let this good news be our joy and strength. Use it to cheer the lonely, encourage the fearful, and give hope to the despairing. In these days before Christmas, spare us from the stress of deadlines and the frenzy of commercialism.
Fill our lives with the message of your peace and the music of your grace.
Direct our eyes not only to the manger but also to the skies, where we will see your Son coming again, not as a lowly child but as the Lord of lords.
Lift up our hearts in joyful anticipation of that day.
Hold in your care, Lord, those who are experiencing physical and emotional pain and all who are afflicted by disease or facing death. Pour out your compassion on the grieving and comfort the mourners who miss someone they loved.
Move us to pray for these brothers and sisters and to help when we can.
Hear us, Lord, as we pray in silence.
Silent prayer
Come quickly, Lord Jesus, in your grace, in your power, and in your glory.
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
OFFERING
Members of Grace respond to their Savior’s love with offerings that are given joyfully, generously, regularly, and in a way that is proportionate to how the Lord has blessed them. Their cheerful gifts support the mission and ministry of our congregation. If you are a guest today, please know that we do not expect you to contribute to our congregation’s work. However, if you would like to give an offering to the Lord in response to his love to you, we are happy to receive it and put it to work in God’s kingdom. If you prefer, use your smart phone to give online by scanning this QR code:
Please fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of the row and pass it along. Thank you!
HYMN The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came Christian Worship 328
OFFERTORY: (7:45) HANDBELLS: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Barbara B.Kinyon (10:00) Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Mark Hayes
Please stand
Matthew 6 and Luke 11 record how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. We use his example prayer as part of our public worship, trusting that he will hear and answer our prayers.
CLOSING PRAYER
Blessed Lord, you have given us your Holy Scriptures for our learning. May we so hear them, read, learn, and take them to heart that, being strengthened and comforted by your holy Word, we may cling to the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,500 years. The L said, “In this way they will put my name on [them], and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27
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.
BLESSING
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. Amen.
POSTLUDE MUSIC:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Mark Hayes
Please be seated
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Altar Flowers
The flowers beautifying our altar this morning were given by Paul and Kay Kassulke out of thankfulness for their many blessings at Christmastime.
If you would like to provide flowers for the altar, please call (520-623-6633) or email (office@gracelutheransaz.org) the Grace Central Office to reserve a Sunday. Upcoming available dates are January 12, 19, & 26. The cost for the 2 bouquets is $32.50. After the 10:00 AM service you may take the flowers home or leave them to be dropped off to one of our homebound members if a visit is being made.
Fellowship
Following the 10:00 AM service this morning, you are invited to join us in the courtyard and Fellowship Hall for drinks and snacks. Thank you to Jenn & DJ Miller and family for hosting this morning. Upcoming available dates are NEXT Sunday, December 29, and all the Sundays in January. Please sign up on the sheet in the Fellowship Hall.
Sunday Morning Bible Study
Join us for our Sunday morning Bible Study! “Timely Topics” give us a chance to discuss the church and politics, intelligent design, global warming, and more from a biblical perspective. Today we will continue discussing whether Santa should be part of a Christian’s Christmas celebration. If you have not made Sunday morning Bible study a part of your routine, this would be a great time to start! We meet at 9:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.
Vicar in Mission Setting
Grace is once again requesting a Vicar in Missions to serve under Pastor Heiman at our Sahuarita location. The congregational cost is $25,000 for the 2025-2026 school year ($15,000 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2026). We are looking to cover this cost with special offerings. You will find envelopes for this purpose at each of the church doors and in the Fellowship Hall.
Those Assisting in Worship This Morning
Preacher
Pastor Ron Koehler
Worship Leader..........................................................................Pastor Nathan Kassulke (10:00 AM)
Accompanist Teri Guenther
Vocalist and Piano....................................................................................................Naomi Kassulke
Handbell Choir Director and Clarinet Beth Kassulke
Acolyte........................................................Melanie Wiechmann (7:45 AM), David Pham (10:00 AM)
Greeters Eric & Erika Hanson (10:00 AM)
Ushers..........................................................................................Rusty King, Vic Thornton (7:45 AM) Dylan Guenther, Justin Harris, Ferdie Kramm, Rick Street (10:00 AM) Sound and Recording Techs .................................Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler, Sam Kassulke
Acknowledgements:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Grace Central Office
During the weeks of Christmas and New Years, the hours in the Grace Central Office will vary. If you need to come to the office, please call ahead to be sure someone will be there. Phone messages and email will continue to be checked regularly. Our regular office hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM will resume again on Monday, January 6, 2025.
New Year’s Eve Worship, Dinner, & Fellowship: December 31
Grace’s New Year’s Eve Service will be held at our Tucson location. This all-site service will take place at 5:30 PM and will include a remembrance of departed members and the celebration of Holy Communion. Following worship, join us in the Fellowship Hall and courtyard for dinner and fellowship.
Men of His Word Conference
The 4th annual Men of His Word conference is scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2025 at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The conference theme is “Forge Ahead in Faith.” This year’s conference will reignite your faith, filling you with the courage and conviction to forge ahead, even in the face of adversity or persecution. The keynote speaker will be Pastor Jon Buchholz. His presentation is titled Where Do We Go From Here? He’ll talk honestly about real challenges we face today, always in the light of the confidence we have in Jesus and his promises to bless his church. There will be eight different breakout sessions of which you may choose three. Details on each session are on the website. This year’s registration fee includes a Men of His Word themed T-shirt. To register, go to menofhisword.org/phoenix---registration.html. Discounted registration is available through December 31.
Please join us this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! There are invitation postcards at both church doors and in the Fellowship Hall to use for inviting your friends and family to join you in worship.
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Tuesday, December 24
2:00 PM Benson Christmas Worship
4:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita
Children’s Christmas Service
5:30 PM Grace-Tucson
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
6:00 PM Grace-Vail
Christmas Candlelight Worship
7:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
Christmas Day Worship Wednesday, December 25
10:00 AM Grace-Sahuarita
10:00 AM Grace-Tucson
Tuesday, December 31
All-Site New Year’s Eve Worship 5:30 PM Grace-Tucson
Followed by dinner & fellowship
TUCSON
Today
Worship Services
This schedule is subject to change. Please watch your email for the most up-to-date information or call the Grace Central Office at (520)623-6633 if you have questions.
This Week at Grace December 22 - December 29
SAHUARITA
7:45a & 10:00a
Children’s Bible Hour 8:45a
Lifeliners (High School) Bible Study: Big Questions 9:00a Adult Bible Study............................................................9:00a
Fellowship following worship
Office hours will vary this week. Please call ahead before stopping in. Tuesday
Day Worship 10:00a Sunday, December 29
Worship Services 7:45a & 10:00a Children’s Bible Hour 8:45a Adult Bible Study 9:00a
Lifeliners (High School) Bible Study: Big Questions 9:00a Fellowship following worship...................................................
VAIL Today
Adult Bible Study: Timely Topics 9:00a Worship Service 10:00a Fellowship following worship................................................... Tuesday Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6:00p
Sunday, December 29
Adult Bible Study: Timely Topics 9:00a Worship Service 10:00a Fellowship following worship
ONLINE
Adult Bible Study (Tucson).............................................9:00a Worship Services (Sahuarita & Tucson) 10:00a
Children’s Christmas Service (live only, not recorded) 4:00p
Eve Candlelight Worship (Tucson) ...............5:30p Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship (Sahuarita) 7:00p
Adult Bible Study: Large Catechism 9:00a Children’s Sunday School 9:00a Worship Service 10:00a Fellowship following worship.................................................... Choir Rehearsal following worship
The Child Learning Center is closed this week. It will reopen on Thursday, January 2.
December 29 Adult Bible Study: Large Catechism 9:00a
Sunday School 9:00a Worship Service 10:00a Fellowship following worship....................................................
BENSON
Worship Service 7:30a Adult Bible Study: Hebrews ............................................
Day Worship (Sahuarita & Tucson).............10:00a Sunday, December 29
Adult Bible Study (Tucson) 9:00a Worship Services (Sahuarita & Tucson) 10:00a
One Church. Four Locations.
Proclaiming the love of Jesus in Southern Arizona since 1911.
Grace-Tucson and Central Office
830 N. 1st Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719 (520)623-6633 office@gracelutheransaz.org
Pastor Ronald G. Koehler III revrgk3@gracelutheransaz.org
Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke revnpk@gracelutheransaz.org
Administrative Assistant—Debbie Koehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org
Worship Coordinator—Beth Kassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org
Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail
Benson 451 W. Duane St., Benson, AZ 85602
Vail
Worshipping at Esmond Station Elementary 9400 S. Atterbury Wash Way, Tucson, AZ 85747
Pastor Seth A. Scheuerlein revsas@gracelutheransaz.org
Office at Civano 10501 E. Seven Generations Way, Tucson, AZ 85747 (520)848-4631
Prayer Group Laura Hodgson prayergroup@gracelutheransaz.org
Grace-Sahuarita
75 W. Sahuarita Rd, Sahuarita, AZ 85629 (520)578-3538
Pastor Ryan A. Heiman revrah@gracelutheransaz.org
Vicar Noah Nordlie vicnpn@gracelutheransaz.org
Child Learning Center (520)848-4630 receptionist@gracelutheransaz.org GraceLutheranSahuaritaCLC.com
Director Laura Heiman director@gracelutheransaz.org
Assistant Director—Jen Rickling jrickling@gracelutheransaz.org
Child Learning Center Mission Teachers
Maddie Nordlie, Toddlers mnordlie@gracelutheransaz.org
Vicki Smith, 3-Year Olds vsmith@gracelutheransaz.org
Theresa Pratt, Preschool tpratt@gracelutheransaz.org
Chris Leathers, Toddler/After School Care cleathers@gracelutheransaz.org
Bible-Based Counselor—Cinda Drescher Office Assistant—Cora Stuhr cinda@gracelutheransaz.org office@gracelutheransaz.org (520)581-4714
Grace Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a group of nearly 400,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1,300 congregations across the United States and Canada united by a common faith in Christ's saving love. We are committed to a common calling encouraging each other in our faith and sharing God's gift of a Savior with the rest of the world. wels.net