https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DkwxV6_rTU

The Third Sunday in Advent, December 14, 2025

ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH – LCMS

700 Main St.  P.O. Box 220   Clyman, WI  53016  

Rev. Daniel L. Bohn & Church 1(920) 341-2025  – shepherdatzion@gmail.com

Worship Times: Sundays – 8:30am & Wednesdays – 7:00pm

To View Past Services & Other Information: Website – zionclyman.org or Facebook – zionclyman

Watch Live on Sunday @ 8:30am: YouTube – zionclyman

Music – Dee Dee Wille       Elder – Dan Chaveriat

Bulletin Announcements: Email: zionclyman@gmail.com

Congregation Information: Neal Kohlhoff Email: neal.kohlhoff50@gmail.com

Altar Guild for December: Nancy Basol            Thank you.

Guests.  Welcome to Zion.  We are happy to have you worship with us.  Please sign our guestbook located in the Narthex.  About Holy Communion:  We welcome to the Lord’s Table all who have repented of their sins and seek to amend their sinful life; all who believe that Jesus is truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine; and all who believe that through the words “given and shed for you” forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given.  If this is your confession and you are a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, then come with a thankful heart and join us.   If you are a visitor and would like to commune, please talk with Pastor Dan before the service.  To help in preparing to receive Holy Communion open the front cover of the Burgundy hymnal or turn to pages 329 & 330.  Gluten free wafers are available, please talk with an Elder or Pastor before the service if you would appreciate them.

As We Gather  John sent his disciples to ask a question of Jesus.  Jesus tells them who He is and challenges them to believe and rejoice in what is right in front of them, Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!   The Messiah who brings healing and salvation to all who believe in  Him.  The miracles He was doing are still happening all around us.  Those wounded by affliction and despair find healing in Christ.  The dead in sin and unbelief are raised up to a new life.  The weak are made strong, the poor are made rich, and those on their way to an eternity in hell, are given an eternal future in heaven.  The challenge for us is to look away from the world where we see only sin death and fear, looking to Jesus, finding peace that surpasses all understanding and joy without end.

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

The Lighting of the Third Advent Candle

Hymn “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”     LSB 398

Invocation – In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.      Amen.

Opening Sentences Psalm 146:1-2 – Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Confession If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. –   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  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.  We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.  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

Absolution – Upon this your confession, I as a called and ordained servant of the Word, Jesus Christ, announce His grace unto you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 146 – Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.  Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.  The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.  The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise the Lord!  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  Amen

Kyrie      LSB 168 – In peace let us pray to the Lord.    Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above and for our salvation.  For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all.  For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.  Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.   Amen.

Salutation – The Lord be with you.      And also with you.

Prayer of the Day – 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.  Amen

Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 35:1-10 – The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it 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.  Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  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.”  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then 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; the 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.  And 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.  No 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.  And 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.

Epistle or New Testament Reading –  James 5:7-11 – Be 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.  You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  Behold, 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.

Verse – Alleluia. Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You. Alleluia

Holy Gospel – Matthew 11:2-15 – The Holy Gospel according St. Matthew, the eleventh chapter.  Glory to You, O Lord.       When John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”  And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the 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.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”  As 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?  What then did you go out to see?  A man dressed in soft clothing?  Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.  What then did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’  Truly, 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.  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”    This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed – I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn  “Hark the Glad Sound”        LSB 349

Sermon

Prayers of the Church

The 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.

We Gather our Tithes and Offerings

* Service of the Sacrament *

Preface and Proper Preface – The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  It is right to give Him thanks and praise.  It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

 Sanctus     LSB 178

Prayer of Thanksgiving – Before the dawn of the ages, You sent forth from Your love all that is and declared it good.  When, in the rebellion against Your goodness, we chose the path of sin and rebellion, You did not stop loving us but promised the day when that love would come in flesh and blood, Your own Son, born of a virgin, for the sake of the whole world. Having come in obedience to Your saving will and having offered Himself in our place upon the cross, You have set Your Table among us and called us to feast upon the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation.    Amen.

The Words of Our Lord – Consecration of the Elements

Pax Domini         LSB 180 – The peace of the Lord be with you always.  Amen

Agnus Dei LSB 180

Distribution Hymns:

“Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers”                                         LSB 515

“The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns”           LSB 348

“Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come”                     LSB 350

Thank the Lord  LSB 181

Post-Communion Thanksgiving – Almighty God, You gave Your servant John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in both his preaching of repentance and his innocent death. Grant that we, who have died and risen with Christ in Holy Baptism, may daily repent of our sins, patiently suffer for the sake of the truth, and fearlessly bear witness to His victory over death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.     Amen.

Benedicimus – Let us bless the Lord.    Thanks be to God.

Benediction   Numbers 6:24–26 – The Lord, who calls Your name, bless you and keep you.  The Lord, who has bought you at a price, make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  The Lord, who has worked faith in you and continues to nourish and strengthen that faith, look upon you with favor and X give you peace.   Amen.  Speak, O Lord, for Your servant Listens.

Hymn  “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”  LSB 338

ANNOUNCEMENTS

YES IN CHRIST        Saying Yes With Our Treasures

 Weekly Budget Needed: $3279

Attendance/Communed:     12/7/2025 = 36 / 35       12/10/2025 = 25 / 22

Giving:         12/7/2025: Envelopes = $2660               Plate = $5                          

Memorial:    General:   $40 for Lyle Elske from Kris & Neal Kohlhoff

$25 for Lyle Elske from Dick & Nancy Basol         $25 for Richard Reynolds from Dick & Nancy Basol

Current Trustee Project:    $100 for Eli Dornfeld from Tim Dornfeld

The Current Trustee Project is fixing the steeple.

Handbell Choir Practice on Sunday following the worship service.  All are welcome to attend.

Quilters meet on Thursdays from 11am to 2pm. Please check with Caroline Jeffers as they do not meet every week. Donations of fabric, sheets (flat or fitted), and yarn are always appreciated. You do not have to know how to sew as there are many non-sewing tasks to be completed. All are welcome to join us for the quilting fun!

Happy Birthday to these members 

Kevin Schultz 12/14                   Jadelyn Angove 12/15                 Warren Jeffers 12/17

Ron Lehmann 12/17                  Malachi Dornfeld 12/20             Karen Huber 12/25

Riley Matson 12/26                    Doug Schlender 12/28               Carl Foege 12/30

Happy Anniversary to these Members

Jim & Erica Goehl Jr 12/23    Felix & Janet Ortega 12/29    Kevin & Sandra Schultz 12/29

Please keep the following in your Special Prayers:

Prayers for Ralph Kohlhoff as he heals from cataract surgery.

Prayers for Pastor Bohn’s mother Lois recovering from a slight stroke and getting used to a new place of living.

We keep in our prayers all in our congregation who recently had surgery, waiting for test results, and are in need of healing and comfort.

DID YOU KNOW… The Christian meaning of a candy cane symbolizes Jesus Christ through its shape, color, and stripes.

Shape: The cane can be a “J” for Jesus or a shepherd’s staff, representing Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” who guides his followers.

White: The white color symbolizes Jesus’ purity and the virgin birth. It can also represent God’s forgiveness that makes one’s soul white.

Red Stripes: The red stripes represent the blood Jesus shed on the cross, which saves humanity from sin.

Small Stripes: Three small red stripes can represent the stripes Jesus received during his scourging before his crucifixion.

Hardness: The hard candy can symbolize Jesus as the solid rock and foundation of the church, as well as the firmness of God’s promises.

How many books are in the NEW TESTAMENT?

NEW = 3 letters    TESTAMENT = 9 letters  (3X9=27) / 27 Books in the New Testament

Matthew                           Mark                               Luke               John

Acts                                   Romans                          1 Corinthians   2 Corinthians

Galatians                          Ephesians                      Philippians    Colossians

1 Thessalonians              2 Thessalonians            1 Timothy      2 Timothy

Titus                                  Philemon                        Hebrews        James

1 Peter                               2 Peter                            1 John           2 John

3 John                               Jude                                Revelation