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Transcription

1 THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS December 30, A+D. 2018

2 TO OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS Welcome!! We are glad to have you with us to worship the Triune God. May you be blessed by hearing God s Word today! Thank you for joining us for worship! Please come back soon! Ushers are here to assist you. If you need help or have a question, please ask them. Before you leave please sign our Guest Book as it is our permanent record and reminder of our guests. Our Order of Worship is shown on the monitors on either side of the chancel and follows a traditional pattern of Christian Worship. It is printed out in this bulletin with large print bulletins available upon request. The service is also found, along with the chant melodies, in the front of the hymnal, with pages of hymns in the back. We celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday and on most festival days of the liturgical calendar. All communicant members of our sister congregations are invited to attend the Sacrament with us. Please fill out a registration card and hand it to the Usher. All others are urged to speak to Pastor before communing. **Important Message** For those whose medical conditions limit the consumption of alcohol, we are offering cups of non-alcoholic wine. These cups are located in the center of the individual communion cup trays. A cry room is available for parents with young children. There are speakers and a window so you can continue to see and hear the worship service. The cry room is located behind the sanctuary on the left side.

3 1 St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 508 N. Chicago Road Thornton, IL Voice & Fax: (708) Rev. Harold Wahl, Pastor (708) splcms.org DIVINE SERVICE Setting 1 Page 151 Lutheran Service Book The Firstborn Son of God Is Our Redemption from Sin and Death When the Lord destroyed the firstborn sons of Egypt, He spared the sons of Israel by providing a lamb in their stead. Hence, all the firstborn sons belong to Him. Every firstborn male animal was sacrificed, and every firstborn son of man was redeemed (Ex. 13:12 13). Therefore, the parents of Jesus brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (Luke 2:22). However, He is not redeemed from priestly service but is consecrated for the redemption of Jerusalem and the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25, 38). For God the Father did not spare His onlybegotten Son, but offered Him up as the true Passover Lamb, in order to redeem His people from bondage. His Cross has caused many to stumble and fall, but His blood atoned for the sins of the world and delivers us from death. We now depart in the peace of Christ because we are also raised with Him. As we receive His body and blood, we join Simeon and Anna in giving thanks to God the Father through Him, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, including the Nunc Dimittis, with thankfulness in our hearts (Luke 2:28 32, 38; Col. 3:15 17). Pre-Service Music Ringing of the Bells Welcome Hymn of Invocation LSB 378, "Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light".

4 2 Confession and Absolution Invocation The sign of the cross T may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism. P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. C 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. P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.. C Amen. Service of the Word The Introit Ps. 98:1 4; antiphon: Is. 52:10 (ESV) P The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, C and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. P Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! C His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. P The LORD has made known his salvation; C he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

5 3 P He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. C All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. P Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; C break forth into joyous song and sing praises! C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. P The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, C and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Hymn of Praise LSB 386 Now Sing We, Now Rejoice Salutation and Collect of the Day P The Lord be with you. P Let us pray. P O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Old Testament Reading Exodus 13:1 3a, (ESV) A: The Old Testament Reading for The First Sunday after Christmas is from the 13 th chapter of Exodus, The Second Book of Moses. 1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine. 3 Then Moses said to the people, Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 11 When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he

6 4 swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14 And when in time to come your son asks you, What does this mean? you shall say to him, By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. A This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Epistle Reading: Colossians 3:12 17 (ESV) A The Epistle Reading is from the 3 rd chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians. 12 Put on then, as God s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on 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 one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts 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. A This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Alleluia Verse

7 5 The Holy Gospel: Luke 2:22 40 (ESV) P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 2 nd chapter. 22 When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with

8 6 fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. P This is the Gospel of the Lord. Hymn of the Day LSB 380, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Sermon Text: Luke 2:22 40 Sermon Theme: Our Eyes Have Seen the Lord s Salvation The Apostles Creed C 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. Gathering of Tithes & Offerings and Record of Fellowship Musical Offering Offertory 955, Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful

9 7 Prayer of the Church P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. P Father in heaven, You made Your Son the firstborn among many brothers. Open our eyes to see Your salvation for all the world. Stir our hearts by Your Holy Spirit to support the mission of Your Church. As we share Your love and truth, encourage sons and daughters to consider Your call to serve as called servants in Your Church and to give sacrificially to provide for the work of proclaiming Christ to the nations. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer. P Eternal God, our lives are in Your hands. Preserve the lives of little children protecting them in the womb, at birth and as they grow. Guide their parents to provide for them in all things, but especially in bringing them to Baptism and nurturing them in faith. Bind us to You in every stage of earthly life, and as You kept Simeon and Anna in faith, give to all Your people true faith until this life s end when You take us to be with You. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer. P Lord God, as Your baptized children, holy and beloved, clothe us in Christ s righteousness, putting on His compassion, kindness, humility,

10 meekness, patience, forgiveness and, above all, love, that His peace might rule in our hearts with thanksgiving. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer. 8 P God, our King, You rule the nations of the world, giving government to oppose injustice and oppression. Give wisdom and truth to all who rule this land, that they may serve faithfully to promote all that is good and right and prevent and punish evil. Wherever our courts or laws are unjust and contrary to Your will, reform them for Your mercy s sake. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer. P O Holy Spirit, give faith to all who will receive Christ s body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar, trusting His promises and assured of forgiveness. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer. Special Intercessory Prayers - from orange colored insert... P Lord, in your mercy, C hear our prayer. P Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen. Hymn LSB 896, Now Greet the Swiftly Changing Year Preface P The Lord be with you. Service of the Sacrament

11 9 P Lift up your hearts. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. P 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; for in the mystery of the Word made flesh You have given us a new revelation of Your glory that, seeing You in the person of Your Son, we may know and love those things which are not seen. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying: Sanctus Prayer of Thanksgiving P Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.

12 10 Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen. The Words of Our Lord P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. P In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. Proclamation of Christ P As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord s death until He comes. C Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. P O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray: The Lord s Prayer C 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

13 11 temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen Pax Domini P The peace of the Lord be with you always. Agnus Dei Distribution of Christ s Body and Blood In the Sacrament of the Altar, we receive the real, genuine body and blood of Jesus Christ, which hung on the cross and flowed from his veins. Participation in The Sacrament limited to those who are active members in good standing in a congregation of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod or who have spoken personally to the pastor. Members of other Christian denominations who are present may come forward to receive a blessing from the Pastor during the distribution. It is requested that you cross your arms over your chest to indicate that you desire this blessing. Music during Distribution LSB 373, "See amid the Winter's Snow" LSB 624, The Infant Priest Was Holy Born LSB 366, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear LSB 374, Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

14 12 The Communion Dismissal P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart T in peace. C Amen. Post-Communion Canticle Nunc Dimittis Post-Communion Collect P Let us pray. P Gracious God, our heavenly Father, You have given us a foretaste of the feast to come in the Holy Supper of Your Son s body and blood. Keep us firm in the true faith throughout our days of pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

15 13 Benediction P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace. Hymn of Benediction LSB 733, "O God. Our Help in Ages Past Silent Prayer Announcements Post Service Music Acknowledgments Divine Service, Setting One from Lutheran Service Book 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Reprinted with permission. Offertory, Text and Setting: 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Prayer of the church is adapted from Let us Pray an service of the Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.

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17 December 30, 2018 REMEMBER IN PRAYER ST. PAUL S FAMILY Beverly Oaks Jessica Odah Chester Orendorff, Family Ashley Micci & Brian Orth, Family Taylor, Payton, Brianne, Genevieve Adeline Ovalle, Family Blake BIRTHDAYS Chris Baker, 12/30 Shawn Conway, 12/31 Tracy Middleton, ½ Janice Schultz, 1/2 Steven Nowicki, 1/3 Carrie Pearson, 1/4 BAPTISM ANNIVERSARIES Jayden Wisely, 12/30 Barb Leone, 1/1 WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Bob & Debi Brandy, 12/31 SPECIAL CONCERNS Pray for, Violet Andersen, Jay Carey, Nick Plecas, Dick Niemann, Lois Struven, Pam Michael, Barb Leone, Janice Schultz, Chester Orendorf, Dorothy Graves, Janice Abel, Ed Hoeksema, Helen Hoeksema, Kathleen (Kitchy) Gallegos, Violet Rich,. Ermida Sella, Mark Headley, Irene Gall, Russ Budde, Hospitalized this past week Dorothy Van Mynen at The Villa, South Holland, IL. Released from the hospital this past week Serving in the Military Nicholas Durkin, Donald JaBaay, Robert Wisely, David Capodagli, and Andrew Hoover.

18 NEWS UPDATE There is a discussion group on Facebook about LHM s "The Coming King" Advent Devotions. Each day s devotion will be posted to the group. You can make a comment or a thought for discussion on one of the posts. To search on Facebook the group is called Let's Discuss the Devotions. The address is Take a card and bring the item next Sunday to help restock the food pantry. Cards are located on the pantry door in the southwest corner of the parish hall. Food baskets are always getting delivered so please keep taking the cards. A meal only lasts for a few hours then you are hungry again. That is why the pantry is always running low. Gift cards and cash donations are welcome and are used to purchase perishable items, i.e. a $15 gift card from Aldi s can buy milk, eggs, bread and ground beef. Those who are in need are always very grateful. This is done on your behalf and in the name of our dear Lord, Jesus Christ! To help with distribution we could use grocery sized paper bags. The Southwest Lutheran Chorus would like to invite you to their Epiphany/Christmas Concert on January 6, 2019 at 3:00PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church located at 4660 W. 94th St., Oak Lawn, IL. The chorus is directed by Ruth Sievers and accompanied by Dianne Johannes. There will be refreshments served after the concert. This week on KFUO.org we wish our listeners a blessed New Year! Continuing this week, celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas on KFUO Radio with exceptional Christmas and Epiphany music selections, readings and prayers for the season, stories from our missionaries, and a special look at the Christmas hymnody of the church. Regular programming resumes January 7, Listen to Worldwide KFUO.org, your radio station for news, talk, and sacred music with a cross-focused, Christ-centered Lutheran worldview. All programs are archived at KFUO.org for 24/7 on-demand listening. Have a question or comment? Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A mobile Lutheran Bible Study Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. This week s topics include: The

19 Birth of John the Baptist, The Book of Obadiah, Thy Kingdom Come, The Apostle Thomas, Ahab Steals Naboth s Vineyard and more. You can listen at your convenience live or on demand to all the Issues, Etc. Programs you want at anytime, anywhere by going to These programs are in podcast format. With more than 7,500 hours of archived programming, you will find many topics of interest. You can also get the free Lutheran Public Radio mobile app at the app store for your mobile device Music that is Christ-Centered and Cross-Focused Music that is Christian looks to Jesus Christ and proclaims His love and mercy. You can listen to the very best of Christian music anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, at You can access this station on your computer, Iphone, Ipod, Ipad, or other internet capable device. Listen to the music for your enjoyment while you work or engage in any activity. Do you have an Alexa device? If so, just say, Alexa, play Lutheran Public Radio. Christian music does not get any finer than this. God s time is not our time. He sees the whole, but also more than the whole, as each whole life is a part of a larger picture beyond our sight lines. To accomplish His purposes, God takes His time, not ours. James M. Kushiner, The Fellowship of St. James A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life BEEN THUMPED LATELY? When a potter bakes a pot, he checks its solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it sings, it s ready. If it thuds, it s placed back in the oven. The character of a person is also checked by thumping. Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt meals, Flat tires. You ve got to be kidding deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are those irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat footed. They aren t big enough to be crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out! Traffic jams. Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the floor Thump. Thump. Thump. How do I respond? Do I sing? Or do I thud? Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (Luke 6:54). There s nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart. The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics, but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living. Been thumped lately? Max Lucado in On the Anvil

20 GOD S PEOPLE IN ACTION ATTENDANCE AND OFFERINGS December 23 rd Attendance 64, 38 Communed, 0 Web Basket $ Weekly Missions $80.00 Envelopes 1, Luth. Church Charity 5.00 Organist Social Ministry General Fund Church Maint Advent Furnace Budgeted Total $2, Non-budgeted Total $ Today Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE 9:00 am 9:45 am 9:00 am 9:45 am Sunday School Worship Service Sunday School Worship Service SERVANT SCHEDULE Sun, Dec 30, 9:45 AM Sun, Jan 6, 9:45 AM Altar Guild Sandy Bodza Diana Carr Acolyte Cross Bearer Elder Usher Tracy Gribbin Bill Sommer Louis Sella Norma Allen Lay Reader Tracy Middleton Sandy Budde Counting Comm. Jerry Wiltjer Judy Wilmington Janice Reichert Jean Wiltjer Church Cleaning