1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
OF SUN CITY
January 10, 2015
January 11, 2015
4:00 p.m.
8:30 and 10:30 a.m.
Baptism of Our Lord
Welcome Visitors! If this is your first time here at American Lutheran Church of Sun City,
we invite you to sign our Guest Book located in the Narthex. Also, please fill out the
Welcome Pad in your pew.
Welcome to the house of God today! We greet you with the hands of fellowship and the
assurance of acceptance in our midst.
GATHERING MUSIC
(Saturday)
“Special Selection”
Jim Hendricks, Christian Concert Pianist
WELCOME and MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
(Saturday)
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Marliss Danielsen and Ardith Fuglie, Piano Duet
(Sunday)
“White as Snow”
Celebration Choir
English Carol
arr. Joel Raney
arr. Tom Fettke
 OPENING HYMN
( Indicates to stand)
“Hail To the Lord’s Anointed”
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#87 LBW (311 ELW)
APOSTOLIC GREETING
P:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
C:
And also with you.
P:
Trusting in the word of life given in baptism, we gather this day of the Baptism of
our Lord with faith and joy to worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
C:
Amen.
OPENING INVOCATION
P:
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
C:
the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
P:
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
C:
the glory of the LORD rises upon us.
P:
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over all the peoples,
C:
but the LORD rises upon us and his glory appears over us.
P:
Nations will come to God’s light,
C:
and kings to the brightness of God’s dawn.
P:
for the Lord will be our light,
C:
and our God will be our glory. Amen.
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HYMN OF PRAISE
#90 LBW (310 ELW)
“Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”
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ORDER OF CONFESSION
P:
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C:
Amen.
P:
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But we
know that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us then open ourselves to the Lord
and each other and confess our sins in penitence, faith, and hope. O most merciful
God,
C:
we confess that we have fallen back on our human nature and continue to sin.
Without your loving grace there is nothing we can do ourselves to free us from
this bondage. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what
we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with
our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake
of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead
us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of
your holy name. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
P:
Hear the good news! In raising Jesus from the grave, God shatters the power of sin
and death. You are no longer captives, but are set free. As a called and ordained
minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the
entire forgiveness of all of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. God has made you alive together with Christ by nailing your
trespasses to the cross. By grace you have been saved. Go in the knowledge of this
salvation to serve God and one another.
C:
Thanks be to God! Amen.
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THE KYRIE
SALUTATION and PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Holy God, creator of light and giver of goodness, your voice moves
over the waters. Immerse us in your grace, and transform us by your Spirit, that we
may follow after your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
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ANTHEM
(Saturday)
“Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella”
Marliss Danielsen and Ardith Fuglie, Piano Duet
French Carol
arr. Joel Raney
DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
(Sunday)
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
Christo Bells
Corde natus ex parentis
Ante mundi exordiu
A et O cognominatus,
Ipse fons et clausula.
Omnium quæ sunt, fuerunt,
Quæque post futura sunt.
Sæculorum sæculis.
arr. Kevin McChesney
Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be
He is Alpha and Omega
He is the source, the ending he.
Of the Things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
FIRST LESSON
Genesis 1:1-5
Out of chaos, God brings order. Out of the primeval darkness, God brings light. This
familiar story was good news for the Israelites, who experienced much chaos in their
history. It remains good news for any person living in the chaos and darkness of
despair. God created and continues to create new life.
L: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God!
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THE PSALM
(Saturday)
“Special Selection”
Jim Hendricks, Piano
(Sunday)
Psalm 29
1
2
3
4
10
11
Ascribe to the  LORD, you gods,*
ascribe to the LORD
glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD
the glory  due his name;*
worship the LORD
in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the LORD
is upon the waters;
the God of  glory thunders;*
the LORD is upon the  mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD
is a powerful voice;*
the voice of the LORD
is a  voice of splendor.
The LORD sits enthroned
above the flood;*
the LORD sits enthroned
as  king forevermore.
The LORD shall give strength
 to his people;*
the LORD shall give his people
the blessing of peace.
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SECOND LESSON
Acts 19:1-7
In Ephesus, Paul encounters people who had received John’s baptism of repentance
but had never heard of the Holy Spirit or of baptism in the name of Jesus. After Paul
baptized them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and empowered them with gifts of the
Spirit. .
L: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God!
 ALLELUIA
 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL
THE GOSPEL
Mark 1:4-11
Mark’s gospel reports the story of Jesus’ baptism with some irony: the one on whom
the Spirit descends is himself the one who will baptize others with the Holy Spirit.
 RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL
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 CONFESSION OF FAITH
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
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PULPIT HYMN
“Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized”
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(ELW 304)
SERMON
“Are you Liked AND Accepted?”
HYMN OF THE DAY
Pastor Gary E. Benson
#305 ELW
“When Jesus Came to Jordan”
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OFFERTORY
(Saturday)
“Special Selection”
Jim Hendricks, Piano
PLAINSONG, 13th Century
(Sunday)
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
 OFFERTORY RESPONSE
“Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God”
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arr. John Leavitt
 PRAYERS
P: Called to know, love, and follow you, O God, we pray for the church, the world,
and all in need…
(Following each petition)
P: Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Trusting your love and healing, O God, we commend you will hear and answer,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray…
 LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
 BLESSING & RESPONSE
“Threefold Amen”
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All Sing
 CLOSING HYMN
“Baptized in Water”
#456 ELW
 DISMISSAL
P: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
(Saturday)
“Special Selection”
Jim Hendricks, Piano
WIE SCHON LEUCHTET
(Sunday)
“O Morning Star”
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arr. Franklin Ritter
Following our worship, you are invited to the Chapel for prayer and Communion.
Please don’t miss the prompting of the Holy Spirit for prayer and the Sacrament.
LAY READERS:
4:00 p.m. Gena Marks
8:30 a.m. Jane Brambilla
10:30 a.m. Sharon Seeds
Today's Altar Flowers are given by:
Ed & Audrey Gordhammer ~ In celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary
Kay Hawks ~ In memory of brother, Neil Jorgenson
Flowers are delivered to Shut-Ins by: Cyndi Bailly
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALC PHOTO DIRECTORY – This is perhaps the final week of our photo directory
sessions. If you have not signed up, sign up from the available dates today. Please sign up
in the courtyard, or go online at www.alcsuncity.org to register for your photography
session.
PASTOR’S BIBLE STUDY resumes January 13, at 10:00 a.m., in the Fellowship Hall.
Join us as we discuss: The Importance of Character from Judges 9.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION – We continue our winter New Member Orientation
with Pastor Chuck Paulson on January 17, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. in Education A/B.
GREETER BREAKFAST – All greeters are welcome to sign up for our annual breakfast,
held this coming Saturday, January 17, at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
RETIRED PASTORS/SPOUSES - our next meeting we will be RETURNING to the
previous schedule and location! We will meet at 5:30 p.m. at Coco's on Bell Road in our
usual room. Disregard previous announcements about change of hour and location,
please. For information call (623) 584-6535.
MISSION 2015 KICKOFF – For those of you who missed last Wednesday’s talk, the
2015 Report Booklet is available in the Narthex, and on our website homepage in PDF
format. We are also readying the video version to post by Monday, January 12, to view.
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(NOT SO YOUTHFUL) YOUTH GROUP - Sign up in the courtyard for the following:
 January 19, 2015: 9-Hole Golf Best Ball at Peoria Pines. No experience
necessary! Cost is $32 per person and includes lunch at the conclusion.
 February 13, 2015: AZ Broadway Theatre production, “The King and I”. Cost is
$70 per person for dinner and the show.
FROM THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - As we say goodbye to Pam Lenhart, our
Parish Nurse, we are reviewing the outcome of the Mission 2015 teams and reviewing all
job descriptions. Until finalized, the Personnel Committee is posting an interim part-time
position for a Parish Nurse. We are accepting applications immediately with anticipated
closure of applications at close of business on January 5, 2015. We will consider both RN
and LPN applications for the interim position. The interim position would be available on
January 15, 2015.
 The Personnel Committee anticipates a posting for the Parish Nurse at the end of
January with closure of applications at close of business on February 13, 2015. The
job description will be available for applicants at posting. The position would be
available on March 2, 2015.
 Please send resumes for the interim position to Linda Schmidt, Business
Administrator, American Lutheran Church of Sun City, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd,
Sun City, AZ, 85373, or email to [email protected].
RALLY IN THE VALLEY 2015 is coming again to the Grand Canyon Synod. It will be
held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3641 N 56th Street, Phoenix. AZ. PRELUDE...TO
LIVE FAITHFULLY & VOCATIONALLY IN THE 3RD CHAPTER OF LIFE is the
theme of 2015 Rally. It is a premier Lutheran Seniors Event where we explore the
vocational calling as the people of God in the 3rd Chapter of our lives. The major
presentations, interest sessions, and our smaller group Bible Studies will explore these
wonderful days of our “senior” lives. Come and be prepared to engage in conversation,
prayer, worship, and discernment. www.ralleyinthevalleyaz.org. Contact Otto for more
information at: (623) 584-6535.
DAVID JUDISCH – once again we are honored to welcome to our worship next
weekend two long-time friends of our congregation, singers Dr. David Judisch and his
nephew, Robert Westendorf. They will sing individually as well as with our Celebration
Choir.
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WELCA – All ladies of American Lutheran Church of Sun City are invited to our very
first WECLA Bible Study of 2015! If you have never been, we encourage you to join us,
and if you are a regular, we encourage you to bring a friend. The date is January 14, at 9:30
a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
ALC FRIENDS are sponsoring a trip to the Barleen “Arizona Opry” Dinner Theatre. The
date is Friday, February 6. Fee is $57, includes dinner, performance, bus and driver
gratuity. 17 seats remain. Deadline for reservations is January 22. Sign up in the courtyard
or call Verna Larson at the church office.
JANUARY 14
SCHEDULE
4:30 p.m. Education Hour
Education A/B Room – David Reesor - Botswana: A Peaceful Nation
Film Series Room – TBD
Sanctuary – Crown of the Continent: British Columbia w/ Doug and Susan Boker
5:15 p.m. Catered Dinner
Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans, Pickled Beets, Apple Pie
6:00 p.m. Evening Gathering
StreetLight: A Light In the Darkness - Jayne Baker talks about StreetLight’s unique
program that specializes in caring for victims of sex trafficking exploitation. StreetLight is
a safe haven focusing on American girls age 11-17, enabling them to start a new life. You
don’t want to miss this!
Reserve your dinner tickets in the courtyard or by phoning the church office before
noon on Mondays. All reservations are responsible for paying the $6 dinner fee,
whether in attendance or not.
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WEDNESDAY, 14th:
9:30 WELCA Bible Study – 5
10:30 Small Group Bible Study – 6
1:30 Staff Meeting – 10
4:00 Outreach Team – 4
4:30 WNA Education – 1/9/12
5:15 WNA Catered Dinner – 5
6:00 WNA Evening Gathering – 1
THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES
BAPTISM OF OUR LORD SUNDAY, 11th:
8:30/10:30 Worship – 1
9:30 Mission 2015 Presentation – 1
9:30 Coffee Hour – 5
MONDAY, 12th:
8:00 Cursillo – 4/9
8:00 Sewing/Crafts/Prayer Shawl - 5
8:30 Library – 6
8:30 Ball Exercise – 5
10:30 Grief/Loss Group – 4
10:30 ALC Good Book Group – 10
1:30 WNA Events Committee – 10
3:00 Intercessors – 4
5:00 Ultreya Dinner – 5
THURSDAY, 15th:
8:00 Men’s Bible Study – 9
8:30 Utah State – 5
8:30 Ball Exercise – 5
8:30 Quail Run @ Brother’s Restaurant
8:30 SM Training – 9
10:30 Royal Oaks Communion
11:00 Friendly Fitness – 6
1:00 Parkinson Exercise – 6
1:30 Cursillo – 10
2:30 Celebration Choir – 12
2:30 Executive Committee – 15
3:00 Finance Committee – 15
TUESDAY, 13th:
8:00 Cursillo – 10
10:00 Pastor’s Bible Study – 5
10:30 Bell Ringing Class – 1
11:00 Intercessors - 4
11:00 Friendly Fitness – 6
12:00 Cactus Conference Pastors – 10
1:30 Trusts – 10
2:15 Genesis Bells- 1
3:30 Christo Bells - 1
6:30 Al-Anon Meeting - 6
6:30 AA Group Meeting – 9
6:30 Prison Family Support – 4
FRIDAY, 16th:
8:00 Bulletin Crew – 6
10:00 SM Leadership Team – 10
SATURDAY, 17th:
8:00 5C/5F Grand West/ Memos
8:00 2C Early Birds/ JiMichael’s
8:30 3D Good Eggs/ Links/Vistas
8:30 4A/4B Westbrook/Links
9:00 2D Well Diggers @ Eckland’s
9:00 5A Westers @ Cocos on Bell
9:00 Greeters Breakfast - 5
9:30 3A Wanderers
9:30 New Members – 9
10:30 2E Saints/Sinners @ Carrow’s on Bell
4:00 Worship – 1
LOCATION LEGEND:
1 – Sanctuary
2 – Chapel
3 – Narthex
4 – Lounge
5 – Fellowship Hall
6 – Library
7 – Education A
8 – Education B
9 – Education A & B
10 – Education C
11 – Parish Nurse Office
12 – Choir Room
13 – Choir Robe Room
14 – Admin. Workroom
15 – Senior Pastor
16 – Pastor of Care
17 – Pastor of Outreach
18 – Business Administrator
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2nd SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY, 18th:
8:30/10:30 Worship – 1
9:30 Coffee Hour – 5
9:30 Blood Pressure Screening – 9
12:00 Concordia Alumni Luncheon – 5
3:00 Lorraine Miller Organist – 1
AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SUN CITY
17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85373
Church Office (623) 974-2512  Fax: (623) 974-2515
EMAIL: [email protected]
www.alcsuncity.org  facebook.com/American Lutheran Church of Sun City
Rev. Gary E. Benson ......................................................................................................... Senior Pastor
Rev. Ellis E. Eskritt .................................................................................. Lead Pastor of Care Ministry
Rev. Lane L. Knouse ........................................................................ Associate Pastor of Care Ministry
Rev. Charles T. Paulson ............................................................................. Pastor of Outreach Ministry
Rev. Ervin P. Langholz ................................................................................................ Visitation Pastor
Rev. Gary R. Ulrich ..................................................................................................... Visitation Pastor
Ann Skidmore. ................................................................................ Congregation & Council President
Linda Schmidt ................................................................................................... Business Administrator
Tom Ohnesorge ........................................................................................... Director of Music/Organist
Complete staff listings can be found on our website and in your monthly newsletter
Communion: First Saturday and Sunday of the month
Other Saturdays and Sundays in Chapel after services
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Office closed from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. for lunch
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Liturgy, hymns and praise songs are reprinted with permission from Augsburg Fortress
License #9786000167707 and CCLI License #51