FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH LORAIN, OHIO

Transcription

1 Welcome to First Lutheran! We re glad you re here. FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH LORAIN, OHIO FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS December 30, :30am A Stephen Ministry Congregation

2 2 A special welcome to guests and visitors! A nursery is available down the hall. Children s bulletins are available for older children. Hearing assist devices are available (ask an usher). May our time together be a blessing to you. GATHERING P RELUDE Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (arr. Lee Dengler) W ELCOME C ONFESSION AND F ORGIVENESS Words in italics are spoken by the leader. Words in bold are spoken by all. Hymn # s are the large numbers in the main part of the hymnal, located under your seat. Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who shines in glory, clothes us in compassion, and bears gifts of mercy for all. Amen. Let us confess our sins with confidence in God s promise of forgiveness. God, wonderful counselor, we confess that we have turned from your gifts and chosen our own way. We have not made room for you in our hearts or in our world. We have lived in fear; we have not welcomed the stranger; we desire gifts that will not endure. Forgive us our sins, known and unknown, and open us to receive the peace of Jesus dwelling in and among us. Amen. God s loving-kindness has appeared to us in Christ our Savior. We are saved, not by anything we have done, but by God s mercy poured out on us richly. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Through the Spirit living in you, God give you faith to trust Jesus, who is Love born for you, now and always. Amen. G ATHERING H YMN Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (Hymn #288) G REETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

3 3 PRAYER OF THE DAY Amen. The assembly is seated. WORD Having dedicated her son Samuel to God s service, Hannah visits him every year when she and her husband, Elkanah, come to the Lord s house to offer sacrifices. FIRST READING 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 (Page 214) 18Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, May the LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the LORD ; and then they would return to their home. 26Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people. PSALM Psalm 148 The Psalm is sung responsively, the cantor singing the parts in regular type and the assembly singing the parts in bold. 1Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise God in the heights. 2Praise the LORD, all you angels; sing praise, all you hosts of heaven. 3Praise the LORD, sun and moon; sing praise, all you shining stars. 4Praise the LORD, heav- en of heavens, and you waters a- bove the heavens. 5Let them praise the name of the LORD, who commanded, and they were created, 6who made them stand fast forev- er and ever, giving them a law that shall not pass away.

4 4 7Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; 8fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, do- ing God s will; 9mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; 10wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds; 11sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; 12young men and maidens, old and young together. 13Let them praise the name of the LORD, whose name only is exalted, whose splendor is over earth and heaven. 14The LORD has raised up strength for the people and praise for all faithful servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near the LORD. Hallelujah! Just as newly baptized Christians in the early church were clothed with white robes upon arising from the baptismal waters, so all who have received God s gift of life in Jesus Christ are covered with the character of Christ. SECOND READING Colossians 3:12-17 (Page 958) 12As God s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

5 5 CHILDREN S SERMON GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The assembly stands to welcome the gospel. GOSPEL Luke 2:41-52 (Page 833) Jesus grew up in a family that went to the Passover festival each year. It was in this environment of faithful adherence to the law that Jesus grew into spiritual maturity and an understanding of his identity and mission. The holy gospel according to Luke, the 2 nd chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. 41Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety. 49He said to them, Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father s house? 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

6 6 The assembly is seated. SERMON Silence for reflection follows the sermon. HYMN OF THE DAY The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song. Go Tell It on the Mountain (Hymn #290) NICENE CREED Inside front cover of hymnal PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Word made flesh, hear our prayer. PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The people may greet one another with a sign of Christ s peace, and may say Peace be with you. or similar words. Then the assembly is seated. OFFERING MEAL OFFERING MUSIC Were You There on That Christmas Night? (Natalie Sleeth) Were you there, were you there on that Christmas night, when the world was filled with a holy light? Were you there to behold, when the wonder foretold came to earth? Did you see, did you see how they hailed him king, with the gifts so rare that they chose to bring? did you see how they bowed, as they praised him aloud at his birth? Did you hear how the choirs of angels sang, at the glory of the sight? Did you hear how the bells of heaven rang, all through the night? Did you know, did you know it was God s own Son,

7 7 the salvation of the world begun? Did you know it was love, that was sent from above to the earth? After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands. RESPONSE Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful (Hymn #184) OFFERING PRAYER Amen. GREAT THANKSGIVING DIALOG PREFACE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD With the whole creation, we join the angels song (see Isaiah 6:3).

8 8 THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. We look with hope for his coming. Come, Lord Jesus. Bring the gift of peace on earth. Come, Holy Spirit. one God, now and forever. Amen. LORD S PRAYER Inside front cover of hymnal The assembly is seated. COMMUNION All are invited to commune with us. Please come to the altar as directed by the ushers. Receive a piece of bread, and either dip the bread into the first chalice or drink from the second chalice. The bread is gluten-free; the wine has alcohol. If you do not take communion but would like a blessing, please cross your arms across your chest as you come forward. If you need communion brought to you, please alert an usher who will let the servers know. We echo John the Baptist s exclamation: Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) COMMUNION SONG Lamb of God

9 9 Love Has Come (Hymn #292) Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Hymn #276) After all have returned to their places, the assembly stands. POST-COMMUNION BLESSING Amen. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Amen. ANNOUNCEMENTS BLESSING Amen. SENDING SENDING HYMN Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise (Hymn #207) DISMISSAL Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE Go Tell It on the Mountain (arr. John Carter) Service music is reproduced under Augsburg Fortress license #SB

10 Are you interested in serving during worship? Look for sign-up sheets on the bulletin board or contact the church office for training information. 10 Serving Today Assisting Minister... Mel Kapalin Communion Assistants... Laurene Cyran, Sharon Kopronica Doris Garber, Bill Dillon Greeters... Ellen Lash, Peggy Chamberlain Musicians... Aaron Fraley, Lynn Krucinski Reader... Penelope White Ushers... Woody Chamberlain Flowers this week are given to the glory of God by Larry Apolzon to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Attendance Last Sunday: 103 Ministry Operations $6,313 Amount needed weekly to sustain the current budget YTD Average: 114

11 If you have an announcement to share with the congregation, please write it out and it to the church office. 11 ANNOUNCEMENTS VISITING OR FORGOT YOUR ENVELOPE? No worries! Now located in the front of each hymnal is an extra sleeve which contains a giving envelope. Prayerfully consider your gift today! IGLESIA DE DIOS VIVO congregation now has a Go Fund Me page set up. You can take the address info. off the sheet on the bulletin board. If you d like to write their congregation a check, please make it out to Pastor Noemi Colon and place it in their mailbox located in the workroom. ANNUAL MEETING is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, Immediately following service we will have our meeting followed by a pancake breakfast being provided by our youth. Donations would be appreciated. SAVE THE DATE, January 27, The youth are sponsoring square dancing! Time: 12pm-2pm. Come join us for fun and fellowship! No experience necessary. COMMUNITY IMPACT for November: Pantry and Front Door served 552 meals; 201 families shopped for food; and 80 guests received emergency assistance. Your contributions help to meet a growing need. The church office will be open 9am-12pm on December 31st and closed on January 1st

12 Sunday, December 30 9:30am Worship 12:30pm Iglesia de Dios Vivo Monday, December 31 10:00am Front Door This Week at First Lutheran Friday, January 4 6:30pm Iglesia de Dios Vivo Sunday, January 6 9:30am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 12:30pm Iglesia de Dios Vivo