St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
Kieth Bernard Kuschel, pastor
Pastor’s cell phone 262-765-2328
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
First Sunday in Advent - Theme: Watch
Prayer Before Worship Lord, there are so many distractions. Everything around me is grabbing my attention. Use my worship today to focus on watching for You. Use it to strengthen me so I don’t get distracted from You.
Hymn 1
Service of Word, front of hymnal, page 38
Prayer: Hymn 22
OT Lesson: Gen 19:15-17,23-29
God comes to judge. We need to watch for His coming.
15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” 23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. 29 So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.
Verse: Alleluia! He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev 22:20) Alleluia!
(Sing) “Alleluia…………., front of hymnal, page 40
Gospel: Luke 21:25-36
The end of the world will be preceded by these signs which already began appearing at Jesus’ time. They remind us that the coming of the Lord is near. We need to watch & pray that we don’t fall away.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Hymn 2
Sermon Text: Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
St Paul prays that the Lord keep us in faith until we enter eternity.
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Sermon Theme: What are you watching for?
1. Ways to come into people’s lives
2. Ways to prop up faith
Prayer: “Please use me to supply what is lacking in their faith. Use me to help their love increase for each other and for others?
3. Ways to be blameless and holy
Prayer: LORD JESUS, please help me to be watching for ways to come into people’s lives, to prop up their faith and to be holy and blameless.
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. Offerings may be deposited in the basket on the way out of the sanctuary.
Prayer Hymn 31
Special Prayers
Lord’s Prayer, page 43
Hymn 29
Continue page 43, front of hymnal
Hymn 8
All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again. Kindly sign our friendship register. Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family.