St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
November 27, 2022 - Advent 1 – Watch
Prayer Before Worship - Lord Jesus, as I watch all the decorations put up all around me, & as I watch the commotion grow, help me also to watch out that I don’t lose sight of You. Help me to watch for Your return too.
Hymn 1
Service of the Word, front of hymnal page 38
Prayer: Stir up Your power, O Lord, & come. Protect us by Your strength/ & save us from the threatening dangers of our sins; for You live & reign with the Father & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 2:1-5
Isaiah describes the peace the Lord will send through the Messiah. This peace will extend to all nations through the Gospel. It will find its ultimate consummation at the return of Jesus.
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Psalm 18, front of hymnal, pg 69
God provides security while we watch. No enemy can win.
Epistle: Romans 13: 11-14
Jesus’ return at the end of time calls us to patient watching as we live our faith in the daylight of godliness.
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Verse: Alleluia! He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Alleluia! (Sing) Alleluia .....pg 40
Gospel: Matthew 24: 37-44
We are to be ready for Jesus’ return at all times. Ordinariness & regularity should not lull us into complacency. The Lord will come.
37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Hymn 25
Sermon Text: Psalm 18 (verses in CW: 2,16a,17a,19,28,27,35
{2}The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. {16}“The Lord reached down from on high and took hold of me; {17}He rescued me from my powerful enemy.” {19} “The Lord brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” {27}“Lord, you save the humble, but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.” {28}You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning. My God turns my darkness into light. {35} You give me your child of victory, and your right hand sustains me
Theme: The LORD gives light so we can watch
1. I can see Him
2. I can see enemies
3 I can see how to walk
Prayer: Lord Jesus, continue to lead us into Your Word/ so that Your Light makes us able to see You,/ see our enemies,/ and see how we ought to walk. Then we will be able to keep on watching.
Apostles’ Creed, front of hymnal, page 41
Thankoffering. The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. However, we do ask that everyone introduce yourself to our church family.
Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 42
Special Prayers
Lord’s Prayer, page 43
Hymn 15
Continue page 43, front of hymnal
Hymn 22