At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the approaching light of Christ. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more hurt or destruction. From the Lord’s table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near.

SERVING in Worship Today:

• Assisting Minister: Paul Stithem

• Lector: Ruth Ann Ditto

• Communion ministers: Jack Tyrrell, Debra White, Suzy Parker, Kate Janzen

• Ushers: Howard Waltz, Roger Anderson, Gerry and Mary Van Roekel

• Wine walkers: Georgia Hudak and Janet Atkins

• Prayer station: Terry Neary

READING: Isaiah 11:1-4

1 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 for the poor and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth…

GOSPEL: Matthew 3:11-12

The holy gospel according to Matthew. 

[John the Baptist proclaimed,] 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with 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.”