THE DIVINE SERVICE January 1, 2017 The First Sunday after Christmas In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, this church opens wide her doors and offers welcome to all who sin and need a Savior; to all who are spiritually weak and seek rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who struggle and desire victory; to all who are strangers and want fellowship; to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and to whosoever will come. Jesus taught us that if our brother has something against us, we ought to go and be reconciled to him before we do anything else in gathered worship. Please do that without delay if necessary. Hearing enhancement devices available please ask an usher. WiFi: RedeemerPrivate, wireless@office In Preparation PRELUDE Joonho Park Fugue in D Major, BWV 532/2 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) WORDS OF PREPARATION Psalm 98 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. COLLECT OF THE DAY Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. O God, our Maker and Redeemer, who 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. Amen. SILENT PRAYER Following the prelude, please observe silence in final preparation for gathered worship. PASTOR S WELCOME
The Service of Entrance CHORAL INTROIT Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light, and usher in the morning; Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright, but hear the angel s warning. This child, now weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be, The power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making. (J. S. Bach) v HYMN OF INVOCATION Unto us a child is born and unto us a Son is given. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us pray. PRAYER OF ADORATION world without end. Amen. v Congregation stands as able 2
CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship him, let us with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy. Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God Almighty and most merciful Father; we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. Having confessed together our great need for God s mercy, let us now silently and humbly confess to God our personal and particular sins. DECLARATION OF ABSOLUTION Hear the Word of the Gospel: Christ has died for our sins and been raised for our justification. All you who repent of your sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, rejoice and be glad and give glory to the Lord who has taken away all of your sins in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. v Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. O Lord, open our lips, and our mouth will declare your praise. v Congregation stands as able 3
v THE GLORIA The Service of the Word v THE PSALTER Psalm 98 v Congregation stands as able 4
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 62:10-12 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! CAROL FOR CONGREGATION v Congregation stands as able 5
THE EPISTLE LESSON Titus 3:4-7 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! CAROL FOR CONGREGATION v Congregation stands as able 6
WELCOME At this time, please sign and pass the attendance pads down the row. INTERLUDE PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION AND THANKSGIVING Ruling Elder Dan Allen Unison: 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. THE FIRST GOSPEL LESSON Luke 2:8-13 This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ. CAROL FOR CHOIR Ding Dong! Merrily on High arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015) Ding dong! Merrily on high In heaven the bells are ringing: Ding dong! Verily the sky Is riven with angel singing. Gloria, hosanna in excelsis! E en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And io, io, io, By priest and people sungen. Gloria, hosanna in excelsis! Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime Your evetime song, ye singers. Gloria, hosanna in excelsis! (G. R. Woodward) v Congregation stands as able 7
THE SECOND GOSPEL LESSON Luke 2:14-20 This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ. v CAROL FOR CONGREGATION v PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION MORNING SERMON Rev. Eric Landry The Spectacular and the Mundane Luke 2:8-20 v Congregation stands as able 8
The Biblical significance of eating in God s presence can be noted from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the Garden-City in Revelation. The Lord Jesus instituted the New Covenant at a meal the meal as he broke bread and shared the cup with his disciples. The Church has always repeated this meal as Christ and his Apostles command, the culmination of worship in God s presence and a bold proclamation of Christ s death until he comes. We invite all baptized Christians to come to this table, his table, and to rejoice with us in God s grace given to us in Christ. If you recognize yourself as a repentant and believing sinner, trusting in Christ s shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins, then come. Baptized children are admitted to the Table upon an age-appropriate profession of faith in Christ. Let us draw near, then, with thankful and reverent hearts and receive by faith the body and blood of Christ, a true nourishment for our souls. If you have any question about whether or not you should receive communion, please ask one of our elders. Communicants who for medical reasons must consume gluten free bread can receive this during the passing of the peace. An elder or deacon serves in front, near the reading lectern. Children are served only when accompanied by a parent. The center cup and inner circle contain grape juice and the outer circles contain wine. Our elders strongly encourage everyone to take the wine. The juice is available for those who cannot drink the wine in faith (Romans 14:23). Please hold each element until all have been served so that we may partake together. The Service of the Table v CORPORATE CONFESSION OF FAITH The Apostles Creed Unison: 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE v The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you! Let us offer one another a sign of peace. Members of the congregation greet one another with a sign of friendship such as the ancient words that the church has used over the centuries, The peace of Christ be with you, and the response, And also with you. v Congregation stands as able 9
TITHES AND OFFERINGS The earth is the Lord s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. HYMN OF GRATITUDE TO GOD v Congregation stands as able 10
v Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendor, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. v PRAYER OF DEDICATION Our Gracious and Eternal God, in love you have given to us your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has appeared among us in great humility, born of a woman, placed in a manger, and offering his life for the world you love. Before him shepherds bowed and magi presented their gifts; with them we also bow and present these tithes and offerings to you with grateful love, growing faith, and awesome wonder. Be pleased our God to receive these gifts and by them let the name above all names be sounded abroad until all the world sends back the song which now the angels sing, and all in the mighty name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. v THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you! And also with you! Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to our Lord God! It is good and right to do so! It is very good and right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, 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 be drawn to the love of those things which are not seen. Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we praise and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and singing: v Congregation stands as able 11
WORDS OF INSTITUTION PRAYER OF CONSECRATION COMMUNION HYMN (as the bread is served) v Congregation stands as able 12
AGNUS DEI Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Amen! COMMUNION HYMN (as the cup is served) v Congregation stands as able 13
v BENEDICTION v DEPARTING HYMN v Congregation stands as able 14
LESSONS Psalm 98 1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Isaiah 62:10-12 10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples. 11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 12 And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken. Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Sermon Lesson Luke 2:8-20 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. v Congregation stands as able 15