Sunday, Dec. 4 Gospel

Matthew 3:1-12  (NRSV)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”^{[a] 3} This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.’”

⁴ Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
¹¹ “I baptize you with^[b] water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 3:2 Or is at hand
2. Matthew 3:11 Or in
3. Matthew 3:11 Or in

Sunday, Dec. 4 Readings

First Reading
Isaiah 11:1-10 (NRSV)

The Peaceful Kingdom

11 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
² The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the spirit of counsel and might,
    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
³ His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide by what his ears hear;
⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

⁶ The wolf shall live with the lamb,
    the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
    and a little child shall lead them.
⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze,
    their young shall lie down together;
    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
⁸ The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
    and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
⁹ They will not hurt or destroy
    on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

Return of the Remnant of Israel and Judah

¹⁰ On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.




2nd Reading

 Romans 15:4-13(NRSV)

⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel for Jews and Gentiles Alike

⁷ Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will confess^[a] you among the Gentiles,
    and sing praises to your name”;

¹⁰ and again he says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;

¹¹ and again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples praise him”;

¹² and again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse shall come,
    the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 15:9 Or thank

Nov. 27, 2016 Bulletin

Genesee Lutheran Parish
648 W. Ash Avenue
208-285-1719
Geneseelutheranparish.blogspot.com
Interim Pastor Dean Stewart   (208) 596-8517
First Sunday of Advent                              Nov. 27, 2016

WE GATHER
Prelude
Welcome    
Confessions and Forgiveness (in with the hymnals)
Hymn   Come Now, O Prince of Peace      #247
Kyrie           pp 98
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection save us from the threatening danger of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever     AMEN

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
First Reading   Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm   (tone 7, pg. 337)                  122
Second Reading          Romans 13:11-14
Children’s Time
Gospel Acclamation p. 102
Gospel         Matthew 24:36-44
Sermon           “Who’s there at the door, Hon?”

WE RESPOND TO THE WORD
Hymn   Soon and Very Soon #439
Apostles Creed          p. 105
Prayers of the Church
*Each petition ends with      Let us pray…
                                                Have Mercy, O God
Sharing the Peace
Offering

WE ARE FED
Great Thanksgiving/Dialog p. 107
Holy, Holy, Holy p. 108
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer p. 112
Lamb of God p. 112
Distribution      
Blessing

WE ARE SENT TO MISSION
Benediction  
Announcements
Hymn:                   Wait for the Lord            #262          
Call to Mission
P: Go in peace…C: Thanks be to God!

ANNOUNCMENTS
Women’s Wed Bible Study and Conversation
There will be bible study on Wed. Nov. 30th. Exploring Genesis 2:15-3:25, with Pastor Stewart.
Each Sunday Morning 9am-9:45 Pastor Stewart is leading a conversation on “Un-puzzling the Liturgy” in the fellowship hall. Come Join Us. The more the merrier.  
Thursday, Dec 1 Inspire Project Thursday, 7 pm join us  making ornaments from old Christmas cards Bring an old treasured card or one you just really like, we will provide the rest.
Sunday Dec. 4th Following Church Communion Class for all ages
Saturday, Dec. 10th Inspire Workshop 9-12 we will decoupage blocks making words for the season.  Workshops are $20 per person and we provide all the materials
Sunday Dec. 11th Congregational Meeting Following church in the Fellowship Hall.  
• Pastor Dean Stewart Interim Agreement
• Financial review
• Parsonage
• Call Committee
• Church Office
Verna would like to meet with the women of the church following this meeting
Saturday Dec. 24th 7 pm Christmas Eve Services at St. John’s
**************************************
Total offering for Sunday, Nov 13 offering      $747.20
Financial summary for Jan through end of Oct. 2016
Monthly average expenses:                             $7,172
Monthly average income:                                 $6781
Surplus for the period Jan.1 through Oct. 31:  $3913
**************************************
Presiding and Preaching:            Pastor Stewart
Organist:                                     Louise Marone
Worship Assistant:            Jennifer Parkins
Greeters:            Jennifer Parkins
Reader:             Verna Studer
Communion Assistants:            Verna Studer

                                                    Rosanna Cartwright

Sunday, Nov. 27 Readings

First Reading
Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV)

The Future House of God

2 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

² In days to come
    the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
    and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
³     Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
⁴ He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war any more.

Judgment Pronounced on Arrogance

⁵ O house of Jacob,
    come, let us walk
    in the light of the Lord!

Second Reading

Romans 13:11-14 (NRSV)

An Urgent Appeal

¹¹ Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; ¹² the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; ¹³ let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Exciting Things Happening

The call committee had their first meeting today, Sat. Nov. 19th. Here is a draft of what was done during that meeting.

GENESEE LUTHERAN PARISH

Calling Committee

Meeting

November 19, 2016

MEMBERS ATTENDING	Patrick Adams, Rosanna Cartwright, Linda Chilson, Verna Studer, and Mark Stutzman
MEMBERS ABSENT	Jennifer Parkins
CALL TO ORDER	The meeting was called to order Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 2 p.m..
OLD BUSINESS	None.
NEW BUSINESS
Membership:	Confirmation of members on Call Committee:  R. Cartwright, Chair; P. Adams; L. Chilson; J. Parkins; V. Studer; and M. Stutzman.
Distribution of Documents:	Distributed were the “Guidelines for the Call Process, Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod, approved by Synod Council 10-9-98” and “A Theology of Call”
Plan for Next Meeting:	The Call Committee will compile the results of the survey from church members.  Linda will forward by email a link to the Call Committee tutorial, and Patrick will forward the results of the congregational survey before Monday.
Bulletin Board:	The bulletin board telling the congregation where the Parish is in the process of selection of the next pastor was updated.
Adjournment:	The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.  The next meeting will be Monday, November 21, 2016, at 7 p.m.