Living together in God’s amazing grace,

we invite all people to know Christ,

grow in Christ, and make Christ known.

December 8, 2019

WELCOME

The flowers at the altar are given to remind us of the Advent journey:

Hope becomes peace. Peace becomes joy. Joy becomes love. Love

becomes Christ.

Hospitalized this Week: Heather Francis

Our Deepest Sympathy to Dwayne Mueller and his family as they

mourn the death of his wife, Kathy; and to Rod and Diane Hamer and

family as they grieve the death of Rod's father, Marvin.

Baptized today at the 10:45 Service:

Ivy May Mulder, daughter of Tyler and Kara Mulder

The Nazareth 2020 Vision Team invites all Nazareth community

members to join us at a 2020 Vision Team Cottage Meeting, which will

give us the opportunity to describe how the Congregational

Assessment Tool (CAT) results fit into the larger 2020 Vision process,

to share an overview of the CAT results and to seek additional input

from Nazareth community members. These meetings will be held

TODAY at 10:05 a.m. and at 11:50 a.m. in Bethel Hall. Meetings will be

one hour in length.

Are you a “Snowbird" leaving the Cedar Valley for the winter

months? Please contact Lori Fegley at 319.266.7589 or

lori.fegley@naz.org to provide your updated address.

Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church 7401 University Avenue Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 319.266.7589

Sunday Worship Services 9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.

Pastor Brian King Senior Pastor brian.king@naz.org

Pastor Denny Hanson Associate Pastor dennis.hanson@naz.org

Pastor Bob Ericson Visitation/Teaching Pastor bob.ericson@naz.org

TODAY AT NAZARETH

Who is Nazareth? Our Mission Statement Living together in God's amazing grace, we invite all people to know Christ, grow in Christ, and make Christ known.

Our Vision Getting our hands dirty for the cause of Christ.

Our Values Holy Discontent - Righting What's Wrong

Responsiveness - Action, Not Apathy

Relationships - We Are Better Together

Leading Beyond Our Walls - Around the Corner, Around the World

Our Congregational Intention To prepare every person to become a fully committed follower of Christ.

To make the love of God real for people.

To excel in our stewardship of God’s gifts and resources.

Office Hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to Noon Friday

Prayer Chain Call the church office to have your concern placed on the Prayer Chain.

Connect with Nazareth! www.naz.org facebook.com/MyNazareth twitter.com/mynazchurch instagram.com/mynazchurch Be Invitational! Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to worship with us at Nazareth.

Thank you for being here today! Whether you’re joining us from

across town, from out of state or beyond...we are so glad you are

here! There are no perfect people here. We are a people and place

of grace. Whether you’re single, married, divorced, with or without

children, a student or retiree – no matter where you’ve been or what

you’ve done – we invite you to experience the transforming power,

presence, and peace of God here.

New to Naz? We want to connect with you! Please fill out the YELLOW

CONNECTION CARD found in the pew and drop it into the offering

plate or bring it to the Welcome Desk - where you can pick up a

visitor’s packet and a special gift. It is a blessing to have you here!

December 8, 2019

Coming Home with Love

Zechariah and Elizabeth

WORSHIP SERMON NOTES SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Coming Home With Love...Zechariah and Elizabeth

Isaiah 11:1-10 & Luke 1:5-25

Explore the texts for this week and reflect on/discuss these questions:

What is it about coming home that either thrills you or chills

you? What factors influence whether we long for home and feel drawn

back or fill us with anxiety and lead us to flee from it or avoid coming

back to it?

Our reading from Isaiah pictures life rising from death and destruction,

a “shoot rising from the stump of Jesse…” What are the losses and

setbacks in your own life out of which God might bring new life, new

hope and new possibilities?

Our Gospel reading from Luke shares the story of God “coming home

with love” as the aging priest, Zechariah, is promised that his wife will

bear a son who will “make ready for the Lord a people a people

prepared” for the grand homecoming of God among his

people. Zechariah greets this news with disbelief and is punished for it.

How can we be a people are prepared to meet the new life and

possibilities of God with faith and trust instead of skepticism and

disbelief?

READ IT: We encourage you to begin or continue with the daily

devotions in our Nazareth Advent Devotional titled: “Coming Home For

Christmas.” In addition, consider reading Pastor Rick Warren’s small

book, The Purpose of Christmas” as a means of better understanding

what it means for God to come home into your own heart and life.

WATCH IT: Watch Pastor Max Lucado’s Advent series entitled, God

Came Near, or any number of Advent video series and resources

available through RightNow Media. Don’t have a RightNow Media

account yet? Stop by the Naz Next Steps Area in Fellowship Hall to

get free access to this great Christian video resource.

LIVE IT: With the hectic pace of life this time of year and always,

there is often need for less, not more. Carve out intentional time in

your day/schedule for quiet and reflection. This may be in the form of a

daily devotional time that includes silent prayer and meditation and/or

it may be practicing the art of gracefully saying “No” to time

commitments and holiday celebrations and activities that drain rather

than sustain and inspire. What might you NOT do this year that will

better prepare you to welcome Christ into your heart, mind and life?

Sermon - Coming Home With Love...Zechariah and Elizabeth

- Pastor Brian King

Today’s Texts - Isaiah 11:1-10 & Luke 1:5-25

9:00 a.m.

Prelude - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 (J. S. Bach)

Gathering Hymn - On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry - #249 (red)

Special Music - The Thrill of Hope (Wesley/Nockels)

Children’s Song - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly - #276 (red)

Offering - Holy Child within the Manger

Sending Hymn - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Postlude - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (arr. Young)

10:45 a.m.

Opening Worship - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

- Adore

Offering - The Thrill of Hope (Wesley/Nockels)

Closing Worship - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Prayer of the Day

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Nathaniel Parrish, Director of Music and Worship Arts

Steven Heerts, Worship and Technology Coordinator

Linda Kloberdanz, Reader (9:00)

Emma Cryer, Reader (10:45)

Thank you to all Nazareth volunteers for your faithful service!

December 8, 2019

Advent Devotionals are available for purchase TODAY at the Welcome Desk! Cost is $5 per devotional. Our heartfelt gratitude to all who provided submissions for this year’s devotional!

Coming Home With Love...Zechariah and Elizabeth

Isaiah 11:1-10 & Luke 1:5-25