AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Wednesday December 13, 2023

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Service Time: 2:00 p.m.
Service Time: 7:00 p.m.
Both services are the same, however the 7:00 p.m. service will feature an organist and hymns.
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

From today’s Advent bulletin
PEACE TO ALL, NEAR AND FAR
As we pause to contemplate His Word during this second week of Advent, Jesus comes to us where we are and says, “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). This peace does not come through our attempts to remove ourselves from reality or rearrange the broken pieces of our past. No, it is only by the grace of God that we now receive His peace, His forgiveness, and His restoration through faith in His promises. Gathering us from far and near, no matter who we are or where we have been, our Advent King gives us His peace by means of His death and resurrection. When we trust in Him, we will not simply feel better with a short-term stillness; we will stand fully forgiven by Jesus and at permanent peace with our God.

First Reading – Ephesians 2:12–18
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Second Reading – John 14:25–31
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on Me, but I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.