2nd Sunday in AdventDecember 8, 2019

SERVICE THEME:Repent, Because the Kingdom of

Heaven Is Near

WELCOME — We are so glad that you have joined us for worship today! If you are a guest with us, please sign our guest register, which is located in the center entryway of the church. We welcome and encourage children to join our worship services! Enclosed “cry rooms” are available in the back of the church near the restrooms, if your child becomes restless. Pictorial children’s Bibles are available for children to use, on the table in the back of church. Please let us know if there is any other way we can be of service to you. Again, welcome! OUR MISSION — The mission of St. Andrew Lutheran Church is to guide people to know Jesus as their Savior, to grow in their faith, and to show Jesus to others. OUR BELIEF — We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the only source of all Christian doctrine and teaching. We believe that the only true God is the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that we are saved not by anything we do, but only through faith in Jesus Christ, who gave his life for our sins. We will be happy to tell you more about what we believe! OUR HISTORY — St. Andrew Lutheran Church was established in 1888 and is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a confessional Lutheran church body with over 1,200 congregations in North America and with more than 30 sister church bodies worldwide.

Church Office: 3650 S. Honore St., Chicago, IL 60609 (next door to church)Website: www.standrewchicago.org Office Phone: 773-376-5370Office Email: churchsecretary@standrewchicago.orgFacebook Page: www.facebook.com/standrewchicago/ Pastor: Adam Gawel, pastor@standrewchicago.org, cell: 773-383-2395

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Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near! The Forerunner (John the Baptist) prepares for the coming Christ by preaching repentance that  brings renewal of life. The Root of Jesse (Jesus) will come in swift judgment on the unrepentant but in mercy and grace for God’s people. His coming will end the wickedness of the world and usher in a new age restored to the perfection with which God made it.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO TODAY’S SERVICE

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS – At this time, anyone may share special prayer requests with the pastor, which he will then pray about later in the worship service, during the Prayer of the Church.  If you prefer to submit a written prayer request, you may do so before the service or hand it to an usher during the offering.  As a family of believers, we want to know each other’s joys and struggles, so that we can pray for each other.

OPENING DIALOGUE AND PRAYER

M: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light:C: On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)M: John the Baptist called out in the wilderness:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”C: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for

him.” (Matthew 3:2,3)M: Christ himself has given us the power for repentance. By his holy life

and innocent death, he has conquered Satan and sin and is able to help us when we are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

C: He reigns in our lives with his grace and bring us to eternal life. (Romans 5:21)

M: Let us pray.Almighty God, your holy Word has called us to repent of sin and walk in your path of righteousness. For the sake of Jesus Christ, you have not quickly judged the world for sin, but have given all a time of grace, and a call to turn from evil ways. By the power of your Spirit, turn our hearts to you. Make us grow in our obedience to your Word. In Jesus, you have revealed to us your holy love. Move

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us to love one another as he has loved us, and to serve one another as if we were serving you; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen.

Two Advent candles are lit during the OPENING HYMN.

OPENING HYMN – 13 – There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Crying

INVOCATION, CONFESSION OF SINS, and ABSOLUTION – CW p. 38

HYMN OF PRAISE – 276 – Praise Be to the Lord (Benedictus – Song of Zechariah)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

M: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming, give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST LESSON – Daniel 4:19-37 (EHV)

19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was horrified for a moment, and his thoughts troubled him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream and its meaning trouble you.”

Belteshazzar answered, “My Lord, if only the dream were about your enemies and its meaning about your foes!”

20The tree which you saw grew and became strong. Its height reached to heaven, and it was visible to the whole earth.21Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit was abundant. On it there was food for all. The wild animals lived under it, and the birds of the air lived in its branches.

22You are the tree, Your Majesty. For you have grown, and you have become great. Your greatness has increased and reached to

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heaven. Your dominion reaches to the ends of the earth.23And you, Your Majesty, saw a watcher, who was a holy one, coming down from heaven, and he said, “Chop down the tree and destroy it. However, leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with an iron and bronze band around it. Let it be with the grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the sky. Its place will be with the wild animals, until seven times pass over it.”

24This is the interpretation, Your Majesty:It is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord, the

king. 25You will be driven away from humans, and your dwelling will be with the wild animals. You will have to eat plants as bulls do, and you will be wet with the dew from the sky. Seven times will pass over you until you know that the Most High rules the kingdoms of men, and he gives them to whomever he wishes. 26Because they said to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will remain yours when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

27Therefore, Your Majesty, let my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins with righteousness and from your guilty deeds by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be extended.

28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29At the end of twelve months he was walking on top of the palace of his kingdom in Babylon. 30The king said, “Isn’t this the great Babylon that I built for a royal residence by my mighty power and my majestic glory?”31While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice came down

from heaven. It said, “It is announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar: The kingdom has been taken away from you. 32You will be driven away from humans, and your dwelling will be with the wild animals. Grass will be fed to you as grass is fed to bulls, and seven times will pass over you until you know that the Most High rules the kingdoms of men, and he gives them to whomever he wishes.”

33Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven away from humans. So he ate grass as bulls do, and his body was wet with the dew from the sky until his hair grew long like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

34At the end of the set time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me. So I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever, because his dominion is an eternal dominion, and his kingdom lasts forever and ever. 35All of the inhabitants of the earth are considered to be

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nothing, and he does as he wishes with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. So there is no one who can hold back the hand of the Most High and say to him, “What have you done?” 36At that time my reason returned to me, and my splendor and glory returned to me for the honor of my kingdom. So my advisors and nobles looked for me. I was reinstated over my kingdom, and I became even more majestic than I was before. 37Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of Heaven, because all his works are true, and his ways are just. All those who walk in arrogance he is able to humble.

PSALM OF THE DAY – Psalm 130 – CW p. 114

SECOND LESSON – Acts 3:19-26 (EHV)

19Therefore repent and return to have your sins wiped out, 20so that refreshing times may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you. 21He must receive heaven until the times when everything will be restored, as God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22“Moses said to the fathers:The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet from your brothers who is like me. Listen to everything he tells you. 23And this is what will happen: Every person who does not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from the people.

24“Also, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have talked about these days. 25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with our fathers when he said to Abraham:

In your Descendant all the families of the earth will be blessed.

26“God raised up his Servant and sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you away from your wicked ways.”

VERSE OF THE DAY

M: Alleluia. Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. All mankind will see God’s salvation. Alleluia. (Luke 3:4, 6)

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GOSPEL – Matthew 3:1-12 (EHV)

In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, 2“Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!” 3Yes, this is he of whom this was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness,“Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths

straight.”4John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him. 6They were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Therefore produce fruit in keeping with repentance! 9Do not think of saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10Already the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11I baptize you with water for repentance. But the one who comes after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

After the reading of the Gospel, the congregation sings: 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY – 16 – On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry

SERMON – Matthew 3:1-12 – Repent, Because the Kingdom of Heaven Is Near

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APOSTLES’ CREED (CW p. 41)

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.

OFFERING

Members of St. Andrew Lutheran Church use this time to respond to God’s goodness with gifts of thanks and love.  Our giving is guided by this Word of God: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, NIV).  If you are a guest with us today, please do not feel obligated to participate.  Online giving is also available to use; please see the announcement on page 13 of this service folder for more information.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH – for Advent – CW p. 123 – including the following special prayer:

for mission work in Bluffton, South Carolina:O Holy Spirit, thank you for the many resources that you have

provided in recent years to fund new missions in North America. Continue to encourage Pastor Eric Janke as he works with Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Pooler, Georgia, to reach out in nearby Bluffton, South Carolina. Give our brothers and sisters wisdom in their planning and optimism as they share their faith. Open hearts to welcome the gospel message that Jesus is the risen Savior who has conquered the enemies of sin, death, and hell. Amen.

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LORD’S PRAYER

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.

PRAYER and BLESSING (CW p. 43-44)

M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

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.

CLOSING HYMN – 11 – Comfort, Comfort All My People

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THIS WEEK AT ST. ANDREWDecember 8-15, 2019

Today 9:30 AM Worship Service10:45 AM Sunday School & Bible Study

Tuesday 6:30-8:30 PM Youth Confirmation Class

Wednesday 6:00 PM 中文圣经学习 (Chinese BibleStudy)

Friday 10:30 AM Adult Bible Study

Sunday 9:30 AM Worship Service w. Communion10:45 AM Sunday School & Bible Study

The paraments are blue for the season of Advent. Our Christian faith rests on the hope that Christ, who came in history taking on human flesh, will also return on the last day of time from that same blue sky into which he ascended long ago.

WELCOME, GUESTS! – We are happy to have you with us today! Please sign the guest register in the church entryway so that we have a record of your visit. Our pastor, Adam Gawel, would be happy to meet with you if you would like. Please join us for worship or Bible study again!

MEMORIAL — In loving memory of Lee Essig, who went to his Lord on 12/6/2013, with love, by Barb Essig. THANK OFFERING — A thank offering to the Lord for all his blessings on our family and for continued good health, by Frank & Sandy Thompson.

SUNDAY SCHOOL AND ADULT BIBLE STUDY TOPICS TODAYIn today’s Sunday school lesson from the series I Spy Salvation’s Story, students investigate “The Case of the Dried Palms: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.” Jesus is the one true King of heaven and earth, worthy of praise and worship. Parents could ask their child at home: “How did the people celebrate the arrival of Jesus? How can you celebrate Jesus your Savior today?” In adult Bible study, we continue a

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series entitled Sing to the Lord: A Study of Lutheran Hymnody. This Bible study covers many of the great hymns that express the truths of Scripture with beautiful lyrics set to timeless melodies, which make great tools for Christians to confess their faith and sing praises to God. Adults meet for Bible study in the back of the church sanctuary, and children meet for Sunday school in the ministry center next door to church. All are welcome!

FUNERAL FOR CHARLENE WACYRA – Mon., Dec. 9, 10:00 a.m.The funeral service for our sister in Christ, Charlene Wacyra, will be held at St. Andrew on Monday, December 9, at 10:00 a.m., with visitation before the service. A graveside committal ceremony will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery (7600 W. Cermak Rd., Forest Park, IL 60130). Please pray for God’s comfort for Charlene’s family and friends.

ADVENT, CHRISTMAS, AND NEW YEAR’S WORSHIP SCHEDULEThe St. Andrew Ministry Council has decided not to hold Wednesday-evening worship services during Advent this year. Our Advent meditation will continue during the Sundays in Advent (Dec. 15 and 22) at 9:30 a.m. On Christmas Eve (Tues., Dec. 24), we will have a candlelight worship service, with Sunday school children and youth participating, at 7:00 p.m. On Christmas Day (Wed., Dec. 25), we will have a festival worship service at 9:30 a.m. On New Year’s Eve (Tue., Dec. 31), we will have a worship service at 7:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars and invite your friends to join us for these worship services!

ADVENT DEVOTION BOOKLETS AVAILABLEIf you haven’t received one yet, please pick up a copy of the Advent devotion booklet entitled “Christ Is the World’s Light,” provided to us by Martin Luther College (the ministry training college of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod). There are daily devotions for each day in Advent, through Christmas Day, to assist in your Advent meditation.

BE PART OF “C19” (“Christmas 2019” outreach)One million souls. That is the goal. To share the gospel with one million souls prior to and on Christmas Eve. That goal is part of WELS Congregational Services’ “C19” program (“Christmas 2019” outreach). The only way to achieve that goal is for all WELS members, young and old, to embrace the privilege and responsibility of sharing Christ with unchurched friends, relatives, and neighbors. A simple way to do that:

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invite them to come with you to our Christmas Eve worship service (Dec. 24, 7:00pm). A recent survey found that 80% of unchurched adults  would seriously consider accepting an invitation, extended by a friend, to attend a Christmas Eve service!  C19 seeks to encourage every member of our WELS family to do just that. Please fill out the “My Personal Mission Field” form (extra copies available in the entryways) for your personal use; pray for the people whose names you write down; and then take some time to invite them to come with you to our Christmas Eve worship service (Dec. 24, 7:00pm).

CHRISTMAS INVITATION “BUSINESS CARDS”This year we purchased 500 business-card-size Christmas worship invitation cards. We do still have large postcards from previous years available, but the advantage of a business card is that it easily fits in your pocket, wallet, or purse, so you can have some always on hand for either planned or unplanned opportunities to invite someone to join us for worship on Christmas Eve (see the note above). Two of these cards are included in this service folder today. Many more are available in the church entryways and next door in the church office. Please take as many as you’d like to share! All are welcome – at Christmas, or any other time!

GIFT CARDS (SCRIP) ORDER FORMS – Deadline today – Dec. 8The St. Andrew Mission Society has gift card (scrip) order forms available in the center entryway. We will receive a small percentage of each purchase, which will be used to support mission work affiliated with our church body. The deadline to order is today, December 8; the cards will be available to pick up by Sunday, Dec. 22. You may turn in your order to an usher or to our church secretary, Margie Hendricks. Please contact Debbie Halderman with any questions.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE BAKE-SALE BAKING SIGN-UP SHEET, BASKETSSt. Andrew Mission Society will hold its annual Christmas cookie bake sale on Sunday, Dec. 22, after the worship service. Proceeds will be used to support mission work affiliated with our church body. To make this a success, we are asking for donations of homemade cookies during the week of Dec. 16-21. Cookie baskets will be packed on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10:00 a.m. Cookies may be dropped off at the ministry center (the house next door to church) on Dec. 16-20 from 9:00 to 3:00, or at church on Dec. 21 by 10:00 a.m. If you are willing to bake cookies

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and/or help pack them, please sign up on the sign-up sheet in the center entryway so that we can plan accordingly. If you have baskets from previous years’ cookie sales and are willing to bring them to be used again, please bring them in to church or the office at your earliest convenience. Thank you!

“VOICES OF PEACE” CONCERT – ZION, CRETE – Fri., Dec. 20, 7:00pmVoices of Peace, a ministry partner of Zion Lutheran Church in Crete, will present a Christmas concert entitled, ‘O Magnum Mysterium: A Mass for Christmas.’ The story of Christ’s Nativity is told through both carols and the familiar texts of the liturgy. You are invited to celebrate the great mystery that is Christmas, at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Crete, IL on Friday, December 20, at 7pm.

MEMBER INFORMATION UPDATE FORMIf you have not done so yet, please fill out a member information update form for yourself, your spouse, and your children under 18 / other dependents, so that we can update our records and be able to contact you when needed. Forms and pens are available in the church entryways, and completed forms can be returned to an usher or church secretary Margie Hendricks. Thank you!

NEW MEDITATIONS DEVOTION BOOKLETS AVAILABLENew Meditations daily devotion booklets are available in the information rack in the center entryway. Feel free to take one for use in your personal devotions.

ONLINE GIVING AVAILABLESt. Andrew Lutheran Church is set up to receive online donations. There are a number of ways to do that. Step-by-step instructions with screen-shots are available in the center church entryway, for both the mobile app “Give+” (from Vanco) and the giving page through our church website (go to standrewchicago.org and click on the “Giving” tab). Or, scan this QR code with your smartphone. Please contact St. Andrew’s elder for stewardship, Sam DeLaurentis delaurentis.sam@gmail.com, with any questions.

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“EVERY MEMBER VISITS” WITH PASTOR GAWELThis year Pastor Gawel would like to meet individually with all the adult members of St. Andrew (or with married couples together), so that he can get to know everyone better and to see if there is any way that he or the church can serve you better spiritually. Pastor Gawel is willing to meet with you at your home, at a coffee shop or other venue near your home or workplace, or at our ministry center (next door to church). Please speak with Pastor Gawel, or call or text him at 773-383-2395, to schedule a time for a visit.

SERMONS AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING, DOWNLOAD, AND PODCASTINGIf you miss the Sunday sermon, would like to listen to it again, or would like to share it with a friend, audio recordings of the sermons are archived on our church website, posted weekly to our church Facebook page, and are available for podcasting (quick links and instructions available on our website). Go to http://standrewchicago.org/sermons/ to listen! Service folders are also available for download on our church website: http://standrewchicago.org/bulletins

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHINESE GROUP BIBLE STUDYOn Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm in the ministry center (the house next door to church), there is a Chinese group Bible study. New friends are always welcome to join! Please invite any Chinese friends or neighbors. You may share with them the following invitation: 每周三晚上 7:00，圣安得烈基督教路德宗教会之福音事工中心（教堂隔壁的房子）有成人中文圣经学习。欢迎您参加！事工中心楼上设有活动间供儿童使用；欢迎小孩跟家长一起来！地址是 3650 S. Honore St.（在麦金利公园区）。高乐仁牧师的电话号码是 773-383-2395.

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASSIn Bible Information Class, we study the main teachings of the Christian faith. Adults and teens who would like to become members of St. Andrew are encouraged to attend this class to learn what St. Andrew teaches according to God’s Word. This class is also open to anyone who is interested in learning more about what the Bible teaches and what Christians believe, with no requirement to join the church after the course is finished. Pastor Gawel is able to teach the class in English and Chinese, and course materials are also available in Spanish and other languages, as an aid for those whose first language is not English or

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Chinese. If you or someone you know are interested in starting this class, please contact Pastor Gawel to set up a time.

Equipping Christian WitnessesEquipping Christian Witnesses, the new campaign from Martin Luther College, focuses on recruitment, financial aid, and facilities. By enrolling more future ministry workers, helping them fund their Christian education, and enhancing their learning environments across the campus, WELS strengthens the foundation for its future. Learn more at mlc-wels.edu/mlc-campaign.

Worship attendance last Sunday: 38(adults: 32; children: 6)

Adult Bible study attendance last week: 23(Sunday: 6; Tuesday: 2; Wednesday: 5, 10)

Sunday School: 6 Youth Confirmation Class: 3Prayer Group: 3

Income needed each month Offerings received in November$11,840.00 $8,508.84

Offerings received last week: $4,055.85(needed each week: $2,732.31)

December head usher: Dale TaylorAssistant ushers: Tom Pindelski & George LawsonMusic and liturgy printed under OneLicense # A-714339Scripture readings are from the Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2018 by the Wartburg Project, www.wartburgproject.org

PLEASE GREET THOSE AROUND YOUIf you are able, please stay for a time of fellowship after the worship service concludes; greet those around you and introduce yourself to people you don’t know.

Please take this service folder with you! Continue to meditate on the Bible readings throughout the week, and pray for God’s blessing on the mission and ministry of the church!

God bless your week, as you live and witness for him!

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