Readings and Announcements 11.29.2020

First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020
We know this story well: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. However, the “colt of a donkey” is something commonly overlooked. In Old Testament times, royal figures rode on stronger mules, not donkeys, much less a young or wild one! What is the significance of this?
IN OUR PRAYERS
Shirley Abbott, Sarah Ardoin, Bill Barron, Sara Bartleson, Pastor Bereuter, Elijah and Katie Bretscher, Cheryl Cassidy, JoAnne Harrison, Dorothy Levihn, Tee Lipsey, Christine Mueller, Ron Peters, Patti Russell, Pastor Scheiwe, Chris Scott, Joe Sisk, Paula Stiles, and Tom Weaver. For all who mourn especially the family of Carol and Drexel Hull. For our active military, including Corey Cook, Jr., Dominick Greci, Katelyn Harvey, Lucas Peck, Dylan Pliska-Lyndoe and Rex Rafferty.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES- Begin December 2 at 4:30 & 6:30. Be sure to arrive early for the weekly hymn sing, a favorite Advent tradition! Advent meals have been cancelled.
ADVENT DEVOTIONS—are at the Communications Center. "Prepare Ye" adult devotions with Psalms and carols focus our hearts in anticipation of Christ's return. "Prince of Peace" family devotion booklets and table tents help children hear and see Jesus’ story this Advent season.
ANGEL TREE—is an incredible way to give a Christmas gift to a child in need in our church, school, or community. Please prayerfully consider taking one or more angels from the tree to share Christ’s love with others. Each angel lists an appropriate gift to purchase, instructions for wrapping, and a return date. If you have questions, contact Rosemary Thomas at 317-241-7963.
POINSETTIA ORDERS—The Altar Guild is ordering poinsettias to decorate both traditional and contemporary worship spaces. Order forms and envelopes are by the Luther Room. Poinsettias are $12 each and payment may be placed in the offering plate. December 13 is the deadline for ordering. Thank you for helping to beautify our worship spaces!
Mark your calendars—Church Christmas decorating is scheduled indoor for Friday, December 4 at 6pm and Saturday, December 5 at 10am for outdoor lighting placement. Many hands make the job easier and fun. Light refreshments will be provided. Men, women, and children of all ages are welcome. We especially need helpers ready to move supplies from storage and climb on ladders.
HANDBELLS AND CHOIR-Handbells have resumed at Our Shepherd! We currently have 11 ringers-just enough to use our complete three-octave set of bells. With more ringers, we could have both a beginner and advanced bell choir. Choir is also resuming, but with some COVID precautions and temporary changes in place. If you are interested in playing handbells or singing in the choir, please contact the Director of Sanctuary Music, Steve Hohnstadt at .
OSLS-ALL SAINTS’ FEST--A huge THANK YOU to all who contributed. We hit our $15,000 goal!
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 64:1-9
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear,no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. 5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. 8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.
EPISTLE READING 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOSPEL READING Mark 11:1-10
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”