Greetings and welcome! As our church year begins anew, we celebrate the season of Advent to prepare for the coming (advent) of our Lord. We prepare not only to celebrate Christmas, when our Lord first came down from heaven, but also His expected coming again in glory. May God bless your preparation for His return!

Romans 13:11-14: “Ready-Set-Come!” Who are God’s watchful and wise stewards? They are God’s people who want to be busy, faithfully doing those things that they would want to be doing when our Lord returns in glory, namely, living out their faith active in love. (LCMS)

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Edited to remove personal phone numbers, email addresses and other personal information not for online use)

Midweek Advent Service: The first of our Midweek Advent Services will be this Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

Important Dates to remember for Sunday School:
Sunday, December 16^th – Sunday School Sings at 10:45 Service
Sunday, December 23^rd – Movie: The Toy that Saved Christmas

(No Lessons)
Sunday, December 30^th and January 6^th – No Sunday School
Sunday School Resumes, Sunday, January 13^th

Other news: From now until December 23^rd, Sunday School is collecting non-perishable food for the St. John’s food pantry. The class that brings in the most food items will win a special treat!

Poinsettias: It is time for us to start asking for donations for the poinsettias. We do appreciate all your help in the past and pray that you will be so generous again this year. The cost per poinsettia is $12.00 this year. You can give your donation to the Church Office, Marilyn Boardman, Mary Jo Uebele, or Sherrill Lee. Please let us know at that time if you will be picking up your poinsettia. The poinsettias will be taken down after the 2nd service on the Sunday, December 30. If you are going to take your poinsettia, please be there to pick it up at that time. If not for yourself, maybe you know someone who would really appreciate a flower and a visit from you. Thank you again for your donations.

His Word, Our Joy: His Word, Our Joy will meet next Sunday, December 9, in the music room at 6:30 PM. Everyone is invited to join this time of study, singing and fellowship.

From the Board of Parish Fellowship: You will find a wonderful array of homemade Christmas Cookies at Fellowship Coffee Sunday, December 9, 2007 in the school cafeteria. Come, enjoy the fellowship and Bible study.

January 13, 2008 features a “Surprise” at Fellowship Coffee. You must attend to find out what the secret ingredient is in every treat.

The “Every Member Sunday” potluck is Sunday, January 27, 2008. A new feature is planned — a hymn fest, singing the music of Paul Gerhardt, at approximately 1:30 p.m. in the Chapel. Plan on worship at 10:45 a.m., attend the potluck dinner in the gym and the hymn fest in the Chapel.

Your ticket to get in is bring a hot or cold dish of generous proportions to share. Bring table service for your family. Beverages will be provided. As usual, you may bring your dishes to the school kitchen before the worship service. Do not bring any serving utensils. Please pick up your dishes from the serving tables as you leave. Other Missouri Synod Churches will be invited to attend the festivities.

From Shadetree Mechanics: In December, the Shadetree Mechanics will begin meeting on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Anyone in the congregation who enjoys the challenge of fixing things is welcome to attend. For more details, call Luke Vandercar or Jim Peters. If you have a project for them, please call Luke or Jim.

Are You Interested in a New Bible Study? A new, informal, opportunity for Bible Studying/Worshiping/Singing, is in the works for Thursday evenings. If you have any questions, or to sign up, contact Pastor Young or Susan Rosselli. If enough people are interested, it will begin soon!

Help local children give gifts to their families this Christmas: Did you clean out your closet to make room for the winter coats and now you don't know what to do with everything that was in there? Each December the children at the Gloria Dei tutoring program practice math and "buy" things for their families for Christmas in a "store" that is full of donated items. Each child makes a list of her family members, and gets a gift for each one, then wraps it. If you would like to contribute to this fun project, bring your items to Heritage Lutheran Church, Valparaiso (308 N Washington) on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 PM during our regular tutoring time. All types of items are welcome: toys, clothing (for men and women), decorations, jewelry, books, food (canned, please). The "store" is December 18th, so please donate by the 13th.

12/1 4:30 PM Worship First Sunday in Advent

7:00 PM Worship

12/2 8:00 AM Worship/Communion

10:45 AM Worship

12/5 7:00 PM Worship Advent Midweek

12/8 7:00 PM Worship/Communion

12/9 8:00 AM Worship 2nd Sunday in Advent

10:45 AM Worship/Communion

12/12 7:00 PM Worship Advent Midweek

12/15 7:00 PM Worship 3rd Sunday in Advent

12/16 8:00 AM Worship/Communion

10:45 AM Worship Sunday School Program

12/19 6:30 PM Day School Program Advent Midweek

12/22 7:00 PM Worship/Communion

12/23 8:00 AM Worship 4th Sunday in Advent

10:45 AM Worship/Communion

12/24 4:00 PM Worship (Family Service) Christmas Eve

10:30 PM Worship (Candlelight Service)

12/25 10:00 AM Worship/Communion Christmas Day

12/29 7:00 PM Worship

12/30 8:00 AM Worship 1st Sunday after Christmas

10:45 AM Worship

12/31 7:00 PM Worship/Communion New Year’s Eve

Donations: Marge Chmielowiec and Barb Elliott made a donation to the Church Door Fund in loving memory of their mother, Helen Kroening, whose death date was November 28. Marge made a donation in loving memory of her husband, Ted, whose death date was November 29

Chuck and Louise Yozman made a donation to the Computer Fund in appreciation of the Shadetree Mechanics.

Ken and Millie Homann made a donation to the Computer Fund in honor of their 67th Wedding Anniversary on November 30.

John and Alyce Compton and Family made a donation to the Stained Glass Window Repair Fund in loving memory of her parents, Bill and Dorothy Schultz, whose Anniversary was on December 1.

David and Janice Levenhagen made a donation to the Computer Fund in loving memory of his parents, Pete and Ruth Levenhagen.

The PTL would also like to thank Allen and Marilyn Hill, Carl Etzcorn, David and Beth Hoeppner, Circle 6, William Lange, Jr., Edith Lange, Louise Mellenthin, Martin and Becky Conner, Leann VanSchoyck, Roger and Pauletta Schuster, and Ann Schuster for donations to the Computer Fund.

Weekly Schedule

Pastor: Rev. David M. Young

Pastor: Rev. Ronald A. Brauer

Organist:  Susan Rosselli

Altar Guild: Lois Diedrich, Sherrill Lee

Elders on Duty: 6:00 PM Terry Scherer

8:00 AM John Schulz, Jim Woodruff

10:45 AM John Schulz

The Altar flowers this week were sponsored by the family of Martin and Lois Schroeder in honor of their 60th Wedding Anniversary on November 29.

Wed. 10:00 AM: 7   Thanksgiving Eve: 93

Sat. 4:30 PM: 36    Sat. 6:00 PM: 78

Sun. 8:00 AM: 115    Sun. 10:45AM: 97

Total: 426

ST. JOHN’S COMMUNION STATEMENT: As a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we believe Scripture teaches that the Lord's Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused, St. John’s communes only those instructed in the teachings of the LCMS and our church who have confessed their faith in these teachings. Prompted by the love for God’s Word, love for God’s people, and love for the Bible’s deep concern for doctrinal truth (Romans 16:17), guests who desire to commune are asked to speak with the pastor before service.

Opening Hymn: LSB 334 “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” (Verses 1-4)

Service of Prayer and Preaching (page 260)

Readings (Please rise for the Gospel reading)

Sermon Hymn: LSB 345 “Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding”

Sermon: “Guess Who’s Coming to Town?”

Text: Romans 13:11-14

New Testament Canticle: LSB 334

“O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” (Verses 5-6)

Closing Hymn: LSB 549 “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”

Opening Hymn: LSB 334 “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” (Verses 1-3)

Introit (See insert), Gloria Patri, Kyrie, Gloria In Excelsis

Gospel Reading (Please rise for the Gospel reading)

Hymn Of The Day: LSB 345 “Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding”

Sermon: “Guess Who’s Coming to Town?”

Text: Romans 13:11-14