2015-2016 - December Commencement Service

Commencement Service December 17, 2015

MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE, New Ulm, Minnesota

Pictures may be taken during the processional, the distribution of diplomas, and the recessional.

Please remain seated for the processional.

Processional Hymn—Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates Lift up your heads, you mighty gates! Behold, the King of glory waits.

The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here.

Life and salvation he will bring; Therefore rejoice and gladly sing.

To God the Father raise Your joyful songs of praise.

The King is born in poverty, His chariot is humility, His kingly crown is holiness, His scepter, pity in distress.

The end of all our woe he brings; Therefore the earth is glad and sings.

To Christ the Savior raise Your grateful hymns of praise.

How blest the land, the city blest, Where Christ the ruler is confessed!

O peaceful hearts and happy homes To whom this King in triumph comes!

The cloudless sun of joy is he Who comes to set his people free.

To God the Spirit raise Your happy shouts of praise.

Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple set apart From earthly use for heav’n’s employ, Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

So shall your Sov’reign enter in And new and nobler life begin.

To God alone be praise For word and deed and grace!

Redeemer come! I open wide My heart to you; here, Lord abide!

Oh, enter with your saving grace; Show me your kind and friendly face.

Your Holy Spirit guide us on Until our glorious goal is won.

Eternal praise and fame We offer to your name.

M:

O Lord, open my lips.

M:

Hasten to save me, O God.

M:

Behold the King comes: let us worship him.

Be seated

Lesson — Romans 12:1-8 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Choral Response Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Arranged by Howard Helvey

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have sung.

It came, a blossom bright, amid the cold of winter, when half-spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.

To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior when half-spent was the night.

O Flower, who fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, Dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere; True man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us, and share our every load.

Stand

Gospel — John 3:25-30 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

Be seated

Hymn—Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers (CW 7) Rejoice, rejoice, believers, And let your lights appear; The evening is advancing, And darker night is near.

The Bridegroom is arising And soon is drawing nigh.

Up, pray and watch and wrestle; At midnight comes the cry.

The saints, who here in patience Your cross and sufferings bore, Shall live and reign forever When sorrow is no more.

Around the throne of glory The Lamb you shall behold; In triumph lay before him Your shining crowns of gold.

Arise, Desire of nations; O Jesus, now appear, The Hope and Expectation Of ev’ry Christian here.

With hearts and hands uplifted We plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth's redemption That sets your people free!

Sermon — Isaiah 40:31 Strength From the Savior Sustains You! But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Choral Response Do Not Be Afraid

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.

When you walk through the waters, I’ll be with you; you will never sink beneath the waves.

When the fire is burning all around you, you will never be consumed by the flames.

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.

When the fear of loneliness is looming, then remember I am at your side.

When you dwell in the exile of a stranger, remember you are precious in my eyes.

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.

You are mine, O my child, I am your Father, and I love you with a perfect love.

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.

Text from Isaiah 43 Music by Philip Stopford MorningStar MSM-50-9818

Conferring of Degrees Please reserve applause for the Presentation of the Class.

Stand

Responsive Prayer Minister:

Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for giving your Church men and women who are qualified to serve in the public ministry.

All:

Bless every servant of your Word who proclaims Christ crucified for sinners as the wisdom and power of God.

Minister:

We pray especially for our graduates, who have successfully completed their course of study at this college of ministry.

Graduates:

Lord, from your hand we are willing to accept the joys and the sorrows of life.

Keep us from sin, comfort us with your Word, and bless our service to you.

All others:

You have promised to be with them. Watch over their lives, both now and forevermore. Keep them faithful to your Word, that they may continue to grow in wisdom, righteousness, and holiness.

Minister:

Gracious Lord, continue to bless Martin Luther College with instructors who recognize Jesus Christ as wisdom’s highest and noblest treasure, and with students who are committed to preparing themselves for the public ministry of your Church.

Faculty & Students:

Help us use our talents and energies in joyful service to you.

Minister:

Lord God, watch over the lives of all your people. Dispel our fears, strengthen us in our weakness, and finally bring us all to everlasting glory through the merits of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

All:

In his name we pray. Amen.

Choral Response Nunc Dimittis

Music by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Blessing Minister: All:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Amen.

Hymn—God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage God's Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor.

Through life it guides our way; In death it is our stay.

Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure Throughout all generations.

Be seated

Presentation of the Graduates, December 2015

Recessional Following the recessional, please usher yourselves out of the sanctuary.

Service Participants Preacher

Conferring of Degrees

Rev. Mark Zarling President, MLC Dr. Jeff Wiechman Vice President for Academics, MLC

Organist

Dr. Wayne Wagner Professor of Music, MLC

Martin Luther College Choir Conductor

Dr. Kermit Moldenhauer Professor of Music, MLC

Graduation Marshal

Michelle Gartner Event Coordinator, MLC

Bachelor of Science in Education Major: Early Childhood Education

Tarah J. Steinbrenner Boise, ID

Bachelor of Science in Education Major: Elementary Education

Carrie L. Hengeveld Lomira, WI

Nicholas R. Kressin Greenfield, WI

Morgan R. Kumbier Watertown, WI

Jeremy M. Maas New Ulm, MN

Rachel E. Miller Rewey, WI

Ruth L. Nottling Fox Lake, WI

Ju Yeon Moon Seoul, South Korea

Taylor R. Swanson Vancouver, WA

Bachelor of Science in Education Major: Secondary Education

Samuel S. Johnson Saint Peter, MN Mathematics

Bachelor of Science in Education Majors: K-12 Music K-12 Spanish

Joseph A. Schmudlach New Ulm, MN Spanish

Arianna J. Siegler Okabena, MN Instrumental Music

Bachelor of Science in Education Majors: Elementary Education Early Childhood Education

Katelyn L. Malley Two Rivers, WI

Bachelor of Science in Education Majors: Elementary Education Secondary Education

Benjamin T. Hansen Watertown, SD Physical Education

Thomas W. Stob Star Prairie, WI Physical Education

Bachelor of Science Major: Staff Ministry

Daniel T. Kock Mequon, WI

Bachelor of Science Major: Educational Studies

Caleb A. Birsching Tacoma, WA

Shane R. Bunde Westland, MI

Jennifer J. Milewski Freeland, MI

Eric B. Mielke Muskego, WI

Michael D. Schlottman New Ulm, MN

Staff Ministry Certification

Gerald A. Evansen Appleton, WI in Absentia

Michael R. Schuessler Milwaukee, WI in Absentia

Completing Certificate Program Chaplain Philip J. Henselin Rockford, IL

Gerald W. Worden Kronenwetter, WI