St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

Pastor Dennis J. Himm - 810-252-5821

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

December 10, 2023 Advent 2

Listen to the forerunners of Christ to make proper preparation for his coming.

May Christ, who came to save, bless your worship.

WELCOME

HYMN 16 – please stand for last stanza

SERVICE OF THE WORD - page 38

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

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. (Sing) Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 40:1-11

The message of God’s messengers has not changed. It is a message that prepares us for his coming both at Christmas and on the Last Day.

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.

See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

PSALM 85, page 97

I will hear what the LORD proclaims: peace to his people.

SECOND LESSON: 2 Peter 3:8-14

Don’t lose heart in the midst of all the distractions that the world offers to make us forget our chief business of being and getting ready for his coming.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple. Alleluia. (Sing) Alleluia.....page 40

GOSPEL: Mark 1:1-8

Heed their call to repentance and trust in the Word and work of the coming Savior, no matter what His messenger looks like.

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a]the Son of God, 2as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’’4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

HYMN 11

SERMON: Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort & Cry Out!

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN 702

Liturgy continues on pages 43,44

HYMN 1 (1,2,5,6)

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.

Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway.

➢ CHRISTMAS EVE – December 24

– no morning service

– 6 pm Christmas Eve Service

➢ NEW YEAR’S EVE – December 31

– normal morning schedule

DID YOU KNOW?

Those who don’t attend church, but asked to attend a

Christmas service are likely to accept the invitation and attend with you.

Who can you invite?

Who WILL you invite?

SERVING YOU TODAY:

• Organist: Kay Himm

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.