Christmas Day Service Order of Worship December 25, :00 am

Transcription

1 Christmas Day Service Order of Worship December 25, :00 am Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) 3014 McKinley St NE, Minneapolis, MN

2 Christmas Day Service And the Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth AS WE GATHER Christmas Day, the Nativity of Jesus, is a time for rejoicing. Today we honor Jesus as the Incarnate Son who is thoroughly human and divine, fulfilling roles as Prophet, Priest, King, and Savior. And yet, since humanity is marred by sin, we also honor Jesus as our personal Sin-bearer! He has taken upon Himself the iniquity of us all. Therefore we rejoice in His birth, and marvel that the Salvation of the world has come. THE MINISTRY OF WORD AND SACRAMENT We are celebrating Holy Communion this morning and joyfully share our conviction that this is The Lord's Table. If you are communing with us today, we ask that you read and confess the following statements of our belief before communing: I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior from all sin, Satan and death. I believe that the Body and Blood of our Risen Christ is truly present in the Sacrament with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sin. I resolve to dedicate my life to the service of my Lord in His Body, the Church, by regular group worship, sacrificial giving & thankful living. Those who share these convictions are welcome to come and celebrate the blessings of God's Table at the Altar. Persons unable to approach the Altar may be communed in the pew, please notify the Pastor or Elder if you wish this service. We like to include children in all aspects of our worship. Yet we do not share the "body and blood" of the Lord with our small children because they do not understand its wonderful significance, unconfirmed children may come with their parents to receive a special blessing from the Pastor. The white wine in the center of the tray is denatured (alcohol removed) wine. 2

3 Christmas Day Service WE ENTER TO WORSHIP AND BE BLESSED PRESERVICE MUSIC Joseph Kleinwolterink on trombone WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP O Come All Ye Faithful LSB 379 HYMN From Heaven Above to Earth I Come LSB 358 v1,3 CONFESSION from Isaiah 59 & 64 and Psalms 96 & 98 ABSOLUTION PRAYER FOR THE DAY THE LORD COMES TO US IN HIS WORD OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 52:7-10 EPISTLE READING Hebrews 1:1-12 ESV GOSPEL SOLO: "Give Me Jesus" Alyna Kleinwolterink GOSPEL READING John 1:1-18 ESV OUR CONFESSION OF FAITH confessed together as the Body of Christ HYMN of the DAY God Is with Us! Alleluia! Ken Bible SERMON The King s Word John 1:14 WE RESPOND TO GOD S WORD OFFERING OF GOD S PEOPLE OFFERING MUSIC Samuel Kleinwolterink on Saxophone OFFERTORY PRAYER THE CHRISTMAS PRAYER THE LORD'S PRAYER Tune: - Away in the Manger LSB 364 THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION THE AGNUS DEI Tune: O Come, O Come Emmanuel LSB 357 DISTRIBUTION - DISTRIBUTION HYMNS There Is A Redeemer LSB 971 Glory Be to God on High!" Tune: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" LSB 380 THANKSGIVING PRAYER BENEDICTION CLOSING HYMN Joy to the World LSB Silent Prayer + ANNOUNCEMENTS POSTLUDE WE DEPART TO SERVE 3

4 OUR WEEKLY CALENDAR 12/25 Tues 10:00 am Christmas Day Service w/hc 12/26 Wed 10:00 am Bible Study 6:30 pm TLWCC Bible Class 12/28 Fri 5:00 pm TLWCC Music Practice 8:00 pm AA/AlAnon 12/29 Sat 10:00 am TLWCC Worship 6:00 pm TLWCC Worship & Fellowship 12/30 Sun First Sunday after Christmas 8:45 am Education Hour 10:00 am Worship 6:00 pm NA SERVING TODAY Elder: Karmon Christopherson Ushers: Tom and Patty Lyrenmann Counters: Al, Pam and Aaron Morelli Altar Care: Tom and Patty Lyrenmann Attendance: 12/24/2018: 21 Please note, Attendance and Offerings will be reported on Sunday, December 30 PRE CALL AND TRANSITION COMMITTEE Last Sunday, 12/09, we had our first Pre-Call meeting with our District President Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford and Dr. Phillip Johnson, Assistant to the President for Mission Formation. Our next step is to form a Pre-Call and Transition Team who will begin the process of evaluating GDLC with the use of what is called a SWOT Analysis. This is NOT the same as a CALL Committee, that comes later. A SWOT Analysis is a useful technique for understanding our Strengths and Weaknesses, and for identifying both the Opportunities open to us and the Threats we face. This Congregational Self-Study provides a snapshot of our present values and ministries as well as begin to formulate the expectations of a new pastor in whatever form this may lead GDLC in praying about how we can use GDLC as a mission station in His Church. If you are interested in being on this team a signup sheet is on the front Entry bulletin board. 4

5 NEXT WEEK ON THE LUTHERAN HOUR December 30 A Long Good-Bye" (Luke 2:27-32) Guest Speaker: Dr. Dean Nadasdy As the year come to a close, we likely have regrets and guilt. We can beat ourselves up over work left undone, but Jesus Christ has assured us that He is your hope. His grace is more than sufficient to take us into another year and give us peace. On Sunday mornings, listen on 830 AM WCCO AM at 6:05 am, or 1110 AM, Omaha, at 6:30 am, or XM 170 Satellite Radio on Sundays at noon or listen anytime at STEWARDSHIP: Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. In the beginning we were made in God s image. Adam and Eve sinned, and the image was tarnished. In some ways, it was even lost. But Christ has come to restore us, to make us God s children again, to restore the image of God within us. The Christian life is a life of growing into that image, struggling against sin, and striving to imitate our Lord in His mercy, generosity, love, faithfulness, and kindness. LUTHERANS FOR LIFE: December 23 Christmas celebrates more than just Jesus birthday. This historical event testifies to unchangeable truth about humankind and our Almighty Maker. It bestows upon us the honor of a special connection to the Lord God that makes us more precious than any other creature. It forms the foundation for all peace and love and joy and hope by revealing His salvation and testifying to how we participate in His everlasting life. Christmas profoundly proves the Gospel to be our history, identity, and destiny, and it proclaims a distinctly lifeaffirming reality. Rev. Michael W. Salemink, executive director of Lutherans For Life A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life 5

6 BIRTHDAYS: 24 th Danielle Ohnstad, 25 th Lori Sharbono, 27 th Rudy Holzinger ANNIVERSARIES: None ETERNAL CANDLE: Shirley & Rudy Holzinger Rudy s Birthday (December 27) FLOWERS: Christmas Poinsettias PRAYER CONCERNS KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS Jean Brede, Granice Cloutier, Millie Demcho, Millie Eckhardt, Deb Forsberg, Angela Huizel, Robert & Delores Kluwe, Lorriane Niemela, Nanc Rixe, Ada Samson, Bev Svac, Bill Woll IN OUR EXTENDED PRAYERS Lewis & Vera Gade (Pastor s parents) COPD/dementia Lily Gilbert (Daughter of John/Sandra Gilbert) - Emotional Issues Dick Gillund (Patty & Meridel s brother) medical issues John Gillund (P & M s brother) waiting for kidney transplant Elaine Gillund (P & M s sister n-law) hip surgery recovery Roxie Johnson (Morelli s niece) heart issues Steve Kaiser (friend of Patty Lyrenmann s brother) COPD Mary Phillips and Dan Crocker Chronic Illness Doris Rixe (Nanc s mother) heart valve issues Jimmy Royal & Dave (friends of Dick Gillund) NOTE: Those listed under Keep in your prayers are removed from the list after 8 weeks. If there is someone you would like to keep on the list for another 8 weeks, please contact the church office. THOSE BATTLING CANCER Lynn & Edith Engel (friends of Sandy & Bob Bauer) Radiation Amy Price (Morelli s niece) treatments for stage 4 cancer Marvin & Norma Thor poor health/stomach cancer Nancy Tousant (Krystal Kruse s co-worker) Cancer THOSE SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN DANGEROUS AREAS Brian Morelli now serving in Kuwait IN OUR PRAYERS AND REQUESTED PRAYERS If you have family members or friends who require our prayers, please use the prayer request cards found in the pews or at the Ushers counter and give to the office. They will be added to the Prayer list. Any updates to the current list? 6

7 Catechesis Note for the Week Why I Celebrate Christmas? I am not going to go into the historic origin of the word Christmas. Even most non-believers acknowledge that it is a holiday that was originally created to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, one thing is certain. The Bible does give us a pretty good account of the events leading up to an including the birth of Christ. From the prophecies in the Old Testament to the actual birth, it is no secret that many people anticipate and looked forward to the day that the Messiah would be born (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-12; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18-23). It is ironic to think then that because of how the celebration of Jesus birth has been perverted to what it has become today that rejecting the very notion of having anything to do with it is worshipping the devil. So, the question is not if celebrating Christmas is wrong. The question is Does our celebration glorify God in a way that is right? Sadly, it is because of a hyper legalistic attitude that some hold against any celebration of Christmas that many non-believers develop hardened hearts when it comes to anything to do with Christ. This is because like those who criticized Christ for eating with sinners and publicans, many who refuse to even fellowship with others during this time communicate to them that they are also rejecting others as individuals that need a Savior. What is even sadder is that neglecting to even fellowship with others during this time ignores the opportunity to go out into the world to share the gospel with people they do not even know (Matthew 1:19-20). How can we celebrate Christmas in a way that is right? Each of us have the freedom to celebrate Christmas in our own way. We should make an effort to bring to mind what the Scriptures say about the birth, life, and most importantly, the death of Jesus and His future return. Jesus, who because of His sinlessness did not have to pay the wages of sin which is death (Romans 6:23) yet doing His Father s will He left heaven to born a human. Because of what He did, we can celebrate the fact that He was born to provide a way for us to celebrate being in His presence for an eternity (1 John 4:10-19). If we keep in mind the reason for Christmas, it will provide the guidance we need to make it a real blessing to others and honor God. Why do I celebrate Christmas? Because God has blessed me with the opportunity to share the light of God to a world in darkness. 7

8 Today s Scripture Readings Isaiah 52:7-10 This text imagines a city waiting for news of the battle--will it be good news or bad? How are things going? In the distance a runner appears, and the sentinels on the city walls see him coming. They hear the good news that God has proven victorious. They see God's return and all break forth in shouts of thanksgiving. Everything is beautiful, even the feet of the runners, because of this happy news. Hebrews 1:1-12 These opening lines of this chapter recognizes that people know God because God has chosen to communicate with them. Israel's prophets revealed God's will through their words and actions, and this same God communicates in a new way through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. In the verses that follow, the author quotes many passages from the various parts of the Old Testament canon (the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms) to show the glory of the Son of God. By His suffering and death, Jesus made purification for human sin, and He has now been exalted to a position of majesty at God's right hand. This grand opening calls readers to place their trust in the living Son of God. John 1:1-18 John's Gospel opens, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). This prologue is describing Jesus Christ as "the Word," which has existed before the creation of the world. As God's Word in human flesh, Christ reveals God's glory. This reference to the Word recalls the opening chapter of the book of Genesis, where God creates the world by the power of speech. The Word, or logos in Greek, is God's power to create and order life. To say that the Word became flesh means that the creative Word of God was embodied by Jesus of Nazareth, who was truly human. As the Word of God, Jesus carries out the creative and life-giving work of God. By His speech, actions, death, and resurrection, Jesus reveals the glory of God. Glory refers to God's power and presence. Jesus reveals glory by miraculous actions, such as turning water into wine and raising Lazarus from the dead. He also reveals divine glory by laying down His life in love and by triumphing over death through His resurrection. Next Week s Readings First Sunday of Christmas Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15; Psalm 111; Col. 3:12-17; Luke 2: