The Biblical Practice of Close Communion Through the apostle Paul, God speaks of his desire for all of us to reach perfect unity (Ephesians 4:12,13). We members of St. John Congregation certainly share his desire. We seek to express that unity with our current members, with those who desire membership, and also with Christians around the world. New Year s Eve Worship Scripture speaks of two different types of unity. First, Christ has reconciled every single one of us to God through his perfect life and death on our behalf. Even now, God considers us saints and heirs of heaven, clothed with Christ s righteousness. You might think of this as a vertical unity purely between the individual and his or her God. Through Christ, peace with God has been restored. Then, there s also an outward and public unity a horizontal unity as fellow saints worship sideby-side. The celebration of Holy Communion is guided by both types. For communion to be celebrated in a beneficial way, those attending will come united with their God and also with their fellow-communicants. The former is established by repentance a sorrow over sin and a trust in God s forgiveness that he himself produces. It s a matter of the heart. The latter is established by the outward confession of what each of us believes. It s a matter of the mouth. We do not presume to look into the heart, for only God is able to do that. We do, however, seek to establish outward unity by studying God s Word together so that we share a common confession. Our congregation offers a Bible study course that s designed for just that purpose. And so, out of love for God and his Word, we kindly ask that all visitors speak with the pastor about how we can establish that outward unity prior to your attending Holy Communion here at St. John. We desire to make that goal a priority, so that you may receive the Sacrament as soon as possible. May God bless your hearing of the Word today as he reminds you of his full and free forgiveness in Christ! [12] December 31, 2018 6:30 pm
Invocation & Sung Opening Sentences Song of Simeon Blessing The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son [], and the Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Closing Hymn Father, Let Me Dedicate (CW 75) [2] [11]
Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) John 1:29 Hymn Now Greet the Swiftly Changing Year (CWS 708) Distribution Gospel Canticle [10] [3]
Confession of Sins and Absolution Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Let us confess our sins in the presence of God and of one another. silence for self-examination Almighty God, our heavenly Father, We have sinned against you in our thoughts, in our words, in our deeds, and in all that we have not done. Forgive us in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Deliver and restore us, that we may rest in peace. By the mercy of God we are redeemed by Jesus Christ, and in him we are forgiven. Let us rest in his peace until the rising of the sun when we shall serve him in newness of life. Prayer of the Day Eternal Father, before whom all generations rise and fall, tech us to think earnestly on the brevity of our lives and on the immensity of your goodness. Help us to enter the new year trusting in the name of your Son and walking in the way of his peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen First Lesson [4] Isaiah 51:1-6 (EHV) 1 Listen to me, you people who pursue righteousness, you people who seek the LORD! Look confidently to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were cut. 2 Look confidently to Abraham your father, and to Sarah, who gave birth to you. Yes, when I called him, Abraham was only one person, but I blessed him and multiplied him. 3 The LORD is certain to comfort Zion. He will comfort all her ruins. Certainly he will make her wilderness like Eden and her wasteland like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of music. 4 Pay attention to me, O my people. My nation, listen to me! For the law will go out from me, and I will establish my justice as a light to the peoples. 5 My righteousness is near. My salvation goes forth, and my arms will bring justice to the peoples. The seacoasts will wait for me. They will have confidence in my arm. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens. Look closely at the earth beneath, because the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die like gnats. But my salvation will remain forever, and my righteousness will never be abolished. Hymn Response O Lord, Our Father, Thanks and Praise (CW 72:1,2) Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is good and right so to do. It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and we praise you this day for the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and by whose testimony you have fixed our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song: Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus) Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9 1. O holy, holy, holy 2. Hosanna in the highest! Lord God of pow r and might, How truly blest is he Your glory, earth and heaven Who in God s name is coming In countless ways recite. To set his people free! Hosanna! Come and save us, He comes to bring salvation Lord God of hosts on high, And with his blood outpoured, And in your grace and mercy Deliver us from bondage Receive our fervent cry. Hosanna, mighty Lord! Prayer of Thanksgiving Blessed are you, Lord God, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Your Word brought all things into being, and your Word will call all things to an end. We thank you, heavenly Father, that in mercy you sent your Son to redeem us. By his incarnation, he became one with us. By his perfect life, he fulfilled your holy will. By his innocent death, he overcame hell. By his rising from the grave, he opened heaven. We remember, O Lord, with thanksgiving the saving work of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Renew us that we may joyfully serve you in your kingdom of grace now and in your kingdom of glory forever. Words of Institution Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:24,25 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my [] body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; this is my [] blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. The peace of the Lord be with you always. [9]
The Lord s Prayer Second Lesson 1 Peter 1:22-25 (EHV) 22 Since you have purified your souls by obeying the truth, resulting in sincere brotherly love, love one another constantly from a pure heart. 23 For you have been born again, not from perishable seed but from imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For: All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like a flower of the field. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was preached to you. Hymn Response O Lord, Our Father, Thanks and Praise (CW 72:3,4) Gospel Lesson Luke 13:6-9 (EHV) 6 He told them this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it, but he did not find any. 7 So he said to the gardener, Look, for three years now I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Cut it down. Why even let it use up the soil? 8 But the gardener replied to him, Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. 9 If it produces fruit next year, fine. But if not, then cut it down. Hymn of the Day O God, Our Help in Ages Past (CW 441) Sermon 1 Peter 1:22-25 Go Forward with the Word that Was Preached to You. Thank-Offering Response The Sacrament: Preface The Lord be with you. And also with you. [8] [5]
Prayer Introduction Prayer of the Church I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name. It is fitting, O Lord, in the final hours of this year, to express our gratitude for the countless gifts of grace we have received from you. You have been faithful to your promises and loving toward all you have made. You clothe your creation with beauty; you feed even the birds and tell us that we are much more valuable than they. You know what we need, and you give us all good things. Clothing and food, safety and health, possessions and money, even life itself all these come to us from your generous hand. We thank you for these blessings, and we ask that you continue to grant them to us. We thank you especially for your Word and Holy Supper, which strengthen our faith, shield us from temptation, and equip us for service. Increase our commitments to these precious gifts, so that we may continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions silent prayer Almighty and eternal God, you have been gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love. As you led your people Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so lead us by the light of your Word that we may live our lives to your glory and be prepared to die in your peace. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. In his name we began this year; in his name we bring it to a close. [6] [7]