SHEPHERD O

F THE G

LADES LUTHERAN CHURCH

A Lutheran Community of Christian Believers - ELCA

6020 Rattlesnake Ham

mock Road, Naples, FL 34113-2913

Office Phone: (239) 775-0696

Pastor Doug’s Cell Phone: (239) 687-6580

9:30 a.m. WORSHIP9:30 a.m. WORSHIP

December 27, 2015December 27, 2015December 27, 2015

FIRST SUNDAY FIRST SUNDAY FIRST SUNDAY

OF CHRISTMASOF CHRISTMASOF CHRISTMAS

All Are Welcome

All who have come to worship are heartily welcomed. Let us joyfully open our

hearts to God and to one another.

You are encouraged to participate in all that Shepherd of the Glades has to offer and

to make Shepherd of the Glades your spiritual home.

All are invited and welcome to partake of the sacrament of Holy Communion by

kneeling at the altar rail. Children are encouraged to come to receive the Lord’s

Blessing. The Eucharist is celebrated by intinction. Our Altar Guild at all

communion services offers grape juice (the smaller chalice), as well as wine, for

intinction, the dipping of wafer into the wine or juice. The Assistant will hold both

the wine and the juice and move from the center to the outside of the communion rail.

Communion is continuous with kneeling. Note: Gluten free wafers are now offered

in each paten.

If Shepherd of the Glades can be of service to you or if you would like Pastor Doug

to contact you, please so indicate on the pew welcome sheet.

Ministries for Today

Altar Assistant and Lector: Carole Graesser

Altar Guild: Anita Lehr

Ushers: Vicki & Tom Dunlop

and Debbie & Marty Roddy

December 20, 2015 attendance: 186

Two worship services beginning January 3, 2016: 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. in English

Stay for or come early for the “Forums”, starting January 10, 2016.

(See back page.)

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SHEPHERD OF THE GLADES LUTHERAN CHURCH A Lutheran Community of Christian Believers

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS

December 27, 2015, 9:30 A.M. Worship + Indicates Please Stand Bold Indicates Congregation Joins In

PRELUDE “I Saw Three Ships”, “Once in Royal David’s City”, “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming”

Terry Stevens, Trumpet ARR. RICHARD WALTERS

INTRODUCTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

+ ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS ELW 94 All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism as the presiding minister begins:

P Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy

endures forever.

C Amen

P Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no

secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy

Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through

Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen

P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P Gracious God,

C Have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given

ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your

compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and

things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit,

so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our

Savior and Lord. Amen

P God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us

alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of + Jesus

Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the

Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.

C Amen

+ OPENING HYMN “Once in Royal David’s City” ELW 269

+ 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.

HYMN REQUESTS

+ PRAYER OF THE DAY P Let us pray.

C Shine into our hearts the light of your wisdom, O God, and open our minds to

the knowledge of your word, that in all things we may think and act

according to your good will and may live continually in the light of your Son,

Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now

and forever. Amen

FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 18Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19His mother

used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with

her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife,

and say, "May the LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she

made to the LORD"; and then they would return to their home. 26Now the boy Samuel

continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people.

A The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 148 (Spoken responsively) 1Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise God in the heights. 2Praise the LORD, all you angels; sing praise, all you hosts of heaven. 3Praise the LORD, sun and moon; sing praise, all you shining stars. 4Praise the LORD, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. 5Let them praise the name of the LORD, who commanded, and they were created, 6who made them stand fast forever and ever, giving them a law that shall not pass

away. 7Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; 8fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing God's will; 9mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; 10wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds; 11sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; 12young men and maidens, old and young together. 13Let them praise the name of the LORD, whose name only is exalted, whose splendor is

over earth and heaven. 14The LORD has raised up strength for the people and praise for all faithful

servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near the LORD. Hallelujah!

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SECOND READING: Colossians 3:12-17 12As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,

humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint

against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must

forgive. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect

harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in

the one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and

admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns,

and spiritual songs to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the

name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

A The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

+ The Holy Gospel according to: Luke 2:41-52 C Glory to you, O Lord. 41Now every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42And when

he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended

and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not

know it. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then

they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him,

they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple,

sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard

him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him they were

astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your

father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." 49He said to them, "Why were you

searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50But they did not

understand what he said to them.

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51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His

mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in

years, and in divine and human favor.

P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ.

CHILDREN’S TIME

SERMON “Astonished Parents” Rev. Dr. Douglas Wahlberg

Text: Lesson for the day

+ HYMN OF THE DAY “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” ELW 272

+ APOSTLES’ CREED ELW 105

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

And he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen

+ THE PRAYERS ( You may come forward for personal prayer.)

+ SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

P The Peace of the Lord be with you always.

C And also with you.

(Please greet one another as we share Christ’s presence in our midst.)

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WE SHARE OUR GIFTS & TITHES

OFFERTORY MUSIC “No Room at the Inn” UNKNOWN Rod Barikmo, Soloist

+ OFFERTORY

+ OFFERTORY PRAYER ELW 107

A Let us pray.

C Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and

nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in

any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the

bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

+ EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

+ THE LORD’S PRAYER (Spoken) C Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy

will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and

forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen

THE COMMUNION ELW 112

P Taste and see that the Lord is good.

(Eucharist is celebrated by intinction, the dipping of bread into the wine. All are

welcome to partake of the sacrament.)

COMMUNION MUSIC “Gesu Bambino” ARR. RICHARD WALTERS

Terry Stevens, Trumpet

COMMUNION HYMNS “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” ELW 282

“In the Bleak Midwinter” ELW 294

+ COMMUNION BLESSING

P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his

grace.

C Amen

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+ POST COMMUNION CANTICLE (Sing both)

+ Let us pray. ELW 114

A We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the heal-

ing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift, in

faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus

Christ our Lord.

C Amen

+ THE BLESSING P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.

The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C Amen

+ SENDING HYMN “Go Tell It on the Mountain” ELW 290

+ DISMISSAL

A Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C Thanks be to God!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

The flowers on the Chancel this morning are given by Carole Graesser and family

in memory of “Dutch” Graesser.

CALL FOR ACTION

Every week, Shepherd of the Glades will be collecting and

donating canned and boxed food to help persons in need at St.

Matthew’s House, Grace Place, and Immokalee Friendship

House. Suggested items are canned food of all kinds,

powdered milk, peanut butter, jellies/jams, cereals, soups,

rice, pasta, etc. Items need to be within code date and

unopened. Just bring your donations to the Church and give

to the ushers. All items are being delivered locally. The last

delivery was to St. Matthew’s House.

TWO SERVICES & FORUMS IN JANUARY

Starting Sunday, January 3th, there will be two worship service times: 8:30 and

10:30 a.m. Adult Forums in Hanson Hall at 9:30 a.m. will begin on January 10,

2016. The first Forum topic is “Teen Challenge International-Southwest Florida.”

PASTOR DOUG’S BIBLE STUDY BEGINS JANUARY 7, 2016

This year’s Thursday Winter Bible Study will be in the Books of Daniel and

Revelation. Come join in at either 2:00 or 7:00 p.m. in the Choir Room.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

The Women’s Bible Study will be meeting on Friday, January 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

They will be using the study in “GATHER MAGAZINE”. Copies of the study will

be available in the Narthex the Sunday before.

NEW MEMBER SUNDAY ON JANUARY 31, 2016

The next New Member Sunday is scheduled for January 31, 2016. You are invited

to make this church your spiritual home. Please contact Pastor Doug at 239-687-

6580.

THANK YOU!

The entire staff of SOTG, Tom, Megan, Lynn #2, and Pastor Doug, thanks you

very much for your generous gifts again this year. It is so very appreciated!

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DECEMBER IS “DEFEAT THE DEFICIT” MONTH

As you do your end of year budgeting and tax planning, think of your church. We

are predicting about a $38,000 shortfall, which although covered by our

investment account, is OUR responsibility. Responsibility. Response-ability.

NOW is the time to give sacrificially in thankfulness and joy for all we have been

given by our heavenly Father and in response to our Savior’s call. “Each of you

must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for

God loves a cheerful giver.” II Corinthians 9:7

UPCOMING FORUMS

The Forums are set for the winter season at SOTG! Forums take place on Sunday

mornings between services at approximately 9:35 a.m. or so until the start of the

second service at 10:30 a.m. These gatherings are beginning (as does our two

service schedule) on January 10th and will run through Transfiguration Sunday,

when we have our Annual Mardi Gras Strawberry Festival, partying before Lent

begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10th. Make plans now to stay after our 8:30

service and/or come early before our 10:30 a.m. service. See the last page for

details of the first Forum.

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This week at Shepherd of the Glades: Office hours this week are: Monday –Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.;

Thursday-9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The office will be unavailable on Friday in

celebration of New Year’s Day.

Sunday, December 27, 2015, First Sunday of Christmas, 9:30 a.m. Sunday

Worship; 10:30 a.m. Sunday School

Tuesday, December 29, 2015, No Sew-Sews or Landscaping Group

Wednesday, December 30, 2015, - No choir rehearsal

Sunday, January 3, 2016, Epiphany Sunday , 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship;

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

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SHEPHERD OF THE GLADES CHURCH

A Lutheran Congregation of Christian Believers 6020 Rattlesnake Hammock Road

Naples, Florida 34113-2913 Telephone: 239.775.0696 Fax: 239.793.2465

Email: sotg1@embarqmail.com Web Page: http://www.sotgweb.org

Our Mission is “To transform lives through the Living Word of God.”

Pastor Rev. Dr. Douglas Wahlberg Director of Music Megan Cianflone Congregational President Martin Roddy Administrative Assistant to the Pastor Lynn Dickerman Pastor Emeritus H. Peter Lyberg

ADULT FORUMS

Sunday, January 10, 2016

“Teen Challenge International”

Teen Challenge is a nationwide Christ centered drug rehabilitation center. The Fort Myers Men’s and Women’s Evangelism Team will be

here at both worship services to give their testimonies, as well as sharing at the adult Forum time in the Sanctuary. They will also join us for the “Welcome Back Luncheon” in Hanson Hall after the second service. This is their third visit to SOTG. The Holy Spirit’s power to change lives is powerful. Teen Challenge writes, “We are excited about what God is doing throughout the ministry of Teen Challenge, and we look forward to sharing these things with your congregation.” Teen Challenge - “Where Life Transformation Happens”.