The Third Sunday in Advent
December 14, 2025
Divine Service Setting III – LSB 184
Hymn: Hark the Glad Sound LSB 349
Stand
Confession and Absolution
Exhortation (p.184)
Corporate Confession (p.184)
Service of the Word
Introit (responsively) Psalm 71:14–18; antiphon: Philippians 4:4
P Rejoice in the Lord | always;*
again I will say, | Rejoice.
C I will hope con- | tinually*
and will praise you yet | more and more.
P My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of
salvation | all the day,*
for their number is past my | knowledge.
C With the mighty deeds of the Lord God | I will come;*
I will remind them of your righteousness, | yours alone.
P O God, from my youth you have | taught me,*
and I still proclaim your | wondrous deeds.
C So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not for- | sake me,*
until I proclaim your might to another generation, your
power to all | those to come.
C Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
P Rejoice in the Lord | always;*
again I will say, | Rejoice.
Nine-Fold Kyrie II (p.944)
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison. Christe eleison. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Text: Traditional; Tune: Russian Orthodox; Text and tune: Public domain
(The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted during Advent.)
Salutation and Collect of the Day
P The Lord be with you.
C And with thy spirit.
P Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 35:1–10
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
3Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
9No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Gradual Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:26, alt.
C Rejoice greatly, O daughter of | Zion.*
Shout aloud, O daughter of Je- | rusalem.
Behold, your king is com- | ing to you;*
righteous and having sal- | vation.
Blessèd is he who comes in the name | of the Lord.*
From the house of the Lord we | bless you.
Epistle Reading: James 5:7–11
7Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Alleluia (p.190)
Holy Gospel: Matthew 11:2–15
2When John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
L This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
Nicene Creed (p.191)
Sit
Hymn: Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding LSB 345
Sermon
Stand
Offertory (p.192)
Offering
Prayer of the Church
Service of the Sacrament
Preface (p.194)
Sanctus (p.195)
The Lord’s Prayer (chanted as written p. 196)
The Words of Institution (p.197)
Pax Domini
Agnus Dei (p.198)
Sit
Distribution of the Sacrament
Distribution Hymns
Once He Came in Blessing LSB 333
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending LSB 336
Stand
Nunc Dimittis (p.199)
Thanksgiving (p.200)
Post Communion Collect (p.201)
Benedicamus & Benediction
Sit
Announcements
Hymn: Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring LSB 353
Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.
Prayers – For the home-bound: Doris Vilhauer, Betty Zundel, Charlotte Scepaniak, Ken & Dorothy Maas, Betty Meints, Verdena Dabbert, Lloyd Jerde, Phyllis Lassanske, Maralyn Hoops, Muriel Pigors, Larry & Sandra Grieben, and Leroy Neuhardt.
For those sick, injured, or recovering: Nathaniel Wendt, Michael Wendt, Phyllis Yeske, Kevin Fehn, Daryl Swanhorst, Tom Hanson, Dorothy Maas, Annikki Marttila, Roger Zastrow, Keith Underberg, Doris Larson, Dwight Buntrock, Carol Krumm, Butch Podoll, Russ Brandt, Kathie Lassanske, and Betty Meints.
For comfort for the family of Patty Wiedmeier.
For the children we sponsor through Mission Haiti: Michelet Voltaire, Michel Djoury, and Orgea Djouna.
For expectant mothers: Sara (Scepaniak) Wieman
For Pastor Andreasen & family, and all our LCMS missionaries.
St. John’s
Ushers: Josh & Desa Larson
Next Week: Mike & Molly Ringgenberg
Last Week: Attendance – 18; Offering $1,275
Our Savior
Elders: Douglas Klipfel & Glen Rausch
Altar Guild: Tricia Rausch & Family
Acolytes: Maci Johnson & Cassie McKown
Last Week: Attendance – 94, Sunday School – 26; Wednesday - 75
Offering – General Fund $24,054.07; Sunday School $10;
Missions $125; Scholarship Fund $500; Total $24,689.07
Schedule for the Week
Sunday St. John’s Divine Service – 8:00 am
Our Savior Sunday School – 9:00 am
Our Savior Voters Meeting – 9:30 am
Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
Children’s Choir Sings
Monday Mat Ladies – 1:00 pm
Tuesday Coffee & Confessions – 6:30 am
Wednesday Catechism Class – 5:00 pm
Advent Service at Our Savior – 6:30 pm
Saturday Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal – 9:00-11:00 am
Board of Education Candy Sacking – 9:00 am
Next Sunday St. John’s Service of the Word – 8:00 am
St. John’s Bible Study – 9:15 am
Our Savior Sunday School – 9:00 am
Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
Our Savior Christmas Pageant – 4:00 pm with a Potluck afterward
Announcements
Poinsettias – Please turn in your poinsettia orders today, or at least by Wednesday, as they will be delivered on Friday December 19
th. Thank you!
Advent Service – There is one more midweek Advent service, on December 17
th at 6:30 pm at Our Savior. Let Eric Johnson know if you need a ride in the van. 605-216-6701
Christmas Caroling – Next Sunday, December 21
st, after the service at Our Savior we will form a group to go out and do some caroling. Everyone is welcome to join in! Afterward we will return to the church for some pizza and drinks. Then the youth will make bows.
Christmas Pageant – Sunday School will begin at 9:00 am through December 21
st to allow time for practicing the Christmas program. Dress rehearsal is on Saturday December 20
th from 9:00-11:00, and the pageant will be at 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 21
st with a potluck to follow. All are welcome!
Christmas Services –
Christmas Pageant – 4:00 pm on December 21
st at Our Savior, with a potluck afterward
Christmas Eve Candlelight
– 5:00 pm at St. John’s, 7:00 pm at Our Savior
Christmas Day Divine Service
– 9:00 am at Our Savior
Epiphany Divine Service – January 7
th at 6:30 pm at Our Savior
Christmas Break – There will be no Sunday School on December 28 or January 4
th. There will be no Wednesday evening activities on December 31
st.
Calendars – The youth group is selling 2026 God’s Creation calendars for $10 each. The calendars should arrive before Christmas, and you can pay when you pick them up. The youth will have a table in the narthex at Our Savior after the service where you can sign up, or you can call or email the office.
Bible Bowl – Youth 6
th grade and up will begin practicing for the Bible Bowl on January 4
th after the service at Our Savior. This year they’ll be studying 1 Samuel 16 – 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 2, Psalm 51, and from the Catechism – Confession. There will be a sign-up sheet on the kitchen counter if anyone would like to provide them with a lunch on one of the Sundays they’ll be practicing.
LCMS Stewardship Ministry – Third Sunday in Advent
Isaiah 35:4 – “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’” The return of our Lord at the Last Day is a cause of joy and anticipation for us believers. We know our Lord and His love, and we look forward to His Second Advent. Indeed, how we live our lives here and now flows from our certain hope of resurrection and eternal life.
Building Healthy Families:
“Children are a gift from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 For over 124 years, Lutheran Family Service has connected children to parents through adoption and still serves families through this and a multitude of other ways, all consistent with the teachings of the LCMS church and without the interference of being tied to government funding. In thanksgiving to God for an important child or grandchild He has put in your life, celebrate the blessing of family with us this Christmas by making a gift in their honor or memory. Your gift in their honor will help a child, teen, or family in need of support this year. It’s easy and you can do it right now from your smart phone by VENMO to @LutheranFamilyService, make your gift online at the “donate” tab on our website, or send your gift by mail to LFS/Admin Office, 409 Kenyon Road, Suite C, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. On behalf of those we serve, we thank God for your partnership and generosity!
Lutheran Family Service www.LutheranFamilyService.org
Email:
info@lutheranfamilyservice.org or call 605-271-1081
Main Street Living – 10:00 AM- This Is the Life –
“Christmas Is” – The shepherd in a Christmas play learns the importance of Christmas.
10:30 AM- Rev. David Warner, pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Custer, SD, presents the message
“A Different Kind of Greatness” based on Matthew 11:2-15. Watch Main Street Living on Sunday mornings on KDLT NBC TV. Past shows are archived at
www.mainstreetliving.com.
The Lutheran Hour – Patience can be practiced, tested, strained, and lost. Christians are called to return the patience God in His mercy has shown us, in Christ. Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler delivers the message
“Pictures of Patience” based on James 5:7-8. Listen to The Lutheran Hour on Sunday mornings at 9:00 on KAWZ 88.1 FM, or on Sirius-XM Family Talk 131 at 9:00. Sermons are also archived on the website
www.lutheranhour.org.
ANSWERING ARGUMENTS AGAINST CHRISTIANITY… The Christian God is Misogynistic, The Meaning of Life Is Found in Using Technology, We Don’t Need the Christian God to Be Good.
Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. You can listen to responses to common objections to Christianity at
issuesetc.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s Statement on Close Communion:
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, Our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but
His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust in His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth His death until He comes.
Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or
who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, are asked to first speak with the Pastor.
(CTCR,
Admission to the Lord’s Supper, Nov 1999)
