GLORY OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod The First Sunday After Christmas December 27, 2015 Church Office: 763-478-6031 www.gloryofchrist.org Welcome all in the name of Jesus, especially those who are worshiping for the first time with us. Please sign our guest book (make sure to indicate if you would like the Pastor to visit) and accept our invitation to worship with us again. Who should commune at the Altar of Glory of Christ Lutheran Church? According to the Scriptures and the Confessional statements of the church only those should commune who have been examined and absolved by the pastor. If you wish to commune at Glory of Christ for the first time, please talk to the Pastor before doing so. Holy Communion is the most intimate expression of Christian fellowship and it is important to the members of Glory of Christ Lutheran Church that all who commune have a common understanding and commitment to the Gospel teachings of the Bible. Altar Flower Chart: The cost of the Altar flowers is $40 per Sunday and you will be able to take your flowers home with you after the service in a box located on the kitchen counter. In order to have your payment for flowers applied correctly, please use one of the Designated Offering envelopes found in your box of envelopes or label the outside of one of your regular envelopes with the words Altar flowers. Janice Hartness is our flower coordinator. If you have any special requests please contact her at 763-355-5427 by the Wednesday prior. If you take the black liners home, please be sure to bring them back to church by the following Wednesday. Thank You!
Saturday Evening Divine Service: 5:00 PM. Sunday Schedule: Divine Service 9:00 AM; followed by Bible Class and Sunday school at 10:30. 2016 Flower Chart is now posted. The 2016 Flower Chart is now posted in the Narthex. Please be sure to sign up for your special day(s)! 2015 Tithing Report and Time & Talent Sheets will be available by Mid-January. Northwest Suburban Circuit Congregation Prayers Each week we will be praying for a congregation in the circuit and for others who have or have had a connection with them. This week, we are asking for prayers for Grace Lutheran Church and their vacancy pastor, Vance Milbrath. Voters Meeting: The Elders have met, sifted through the names of potential pastors to Call and have created a list of names. A voters meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 10 th after Bible Study, to call a Pastor. We will follow our constitutional process (how to vote from the provided list of names, how to add to the list of nominee s etc.). There will be a light lunch provided before the meeting begins. Bios of the candidates will be emailed out soon. Questions? Talk to Head Elder, Garry McCreary or Pastor Johnson. Monthly Game Night! Join us in the fellowship hall every 2nd Friday of the month for cards, board games, and fun. The first two nights have been so much fun! The next one is scheduled for Friday, January 8 th. Whether you have a favorite game you never leave the house without, want to learn a new game, or don't own any games at all, come on out! The night starts at 6:30. Card and game lovers of all ages are welcome. After the Final Exam - College can raise a lot of questions. It's a good thing to be challenged, and no doubt the college experience has done just that. You've been stretching your wings, and learning how to live under your own roof rather than your parents'. You've encountered new ideas and new perspectives in your classes and from your friends. As your pastor, I'd like to hear about your experience. So here's what I'm proposing. On Sunday, January 3rd, 6pm, we'll meet at church. I'll feed you guys, and you'll come and share about your college experience thus far. For some of you, it's still pretty new, and some of you are old pros at this. But I'd like to talk with all of you. No agenda; just free food and talking with Pastor. ***Parents: I wasn't able to get all our college students' emails, so if you're the parent of a college student, and they haven't heard about this get-together, please pass along the word to them. Thank You! Pastor Johnson. Joint Council/Elders Meeting: The joint Council/Elders Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Council will meet at 6:30 and the Elders are to join them at 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. 2016 Offering Envelopes are on the tables in the Alcove outside of the office. Pick yours up today! If you do not see a box of envelopes for yourself, please let Brenda know. Thank You. Results of new Elders, Council Members and President from Voters Meeting: At the 12-6-15 voters meeting the congregation voted in: 2016 President - David Teske, New Elders are: Andy Madson, Mark Swenson, Ben Rolf and Garry McCreary and new Council Members are: Kim Bonine, Bill Anderson, Patton Hoffarth and Jonathan Schultz. Please welcome and congratulate them all! Remember in our Prayers: Camryn Handberg (niece of Becky Johnson-Lane), Idena Hagen, Sean Breininger, Kathy Chadwick (friend of Janet Preus), Kelly Cargill (friend of Becky Johnson-Lane), Hazel Schweiger (mother of Becky Johnson-Lane), Evalynn Cerdenola, Donna Preus (mother of Christian Preus), Tim Beach, Ann Olson, Emily Esget, Lisa Brackmann, Sam Miller (friend of Mari and Chris Houck), Don Barclay (Uncle of Mari Houck), Kathleen Adam (daughter of Bertha Oehlke), Josh Miller (son of Mike and Sarah Miller), Jim Fahnhorst, Marcia Bell (daughter of Ann Olson), Anna Connealy (daughter-in-law of Lea & Mike Connealy), Arta Walter, Myron Lundberg, Ed Brunken, Rev Walter Fehrmann (Father of Pastor John Fehrmann), Rev. Bob Yount, Sarah Miller, Larry Strandquist (Friend of Mark & Rina Nygren), Shirley Lavanger, Teddy Olson (Grandson of Bret & Kim Bonine), Paul Johnson, David Nordquist (brother of Kim Fahnhorst), Jan Diemand, Tara Jahnke (Friend of Kaylene Stieg), Drew Johnson, the Lutheran Synod of Mexico, Linda Lohmeyer (Friend of Carla Claussen), Hal Braun, Rev. Perry Copus (friend of Maddie and Ryan Marshall), Carol Funk (Ryan Marshall s Grandmother), Mark Trevis (Uncle of Michelle Nelson), Debbie Diehl (Daughter-inlaw of Fred and Lois Parduhn), Viola Johnson, Harriet Martini (Relative of Dorothy Johnson), Marvin Pfaffe (Cousin of Carla Claussen), Thomas Long (Nephew of Maddie Marshall) and Ken & Rosemary Brackmann (parents of Lisa Brackmann).
Ron Quittem (Father of Jill Larson), Meta Nelson (Sister of Lisa Paradis), Harlan Hemingway (Father of Pauline Hemingway), Josh Wren (friend of Dan & Barbie Gruenhagen), Bill Johnson (father of Michelle Nelson), DaniJo Johnson (niece of Roger and Jana Hargreaves), Lee Hart, Paul Paulson (grandfather of Jesse Huber) and Charles Beck (Grandfather of Liz Huber). Serving This Sunday: (December 27, 2015) Coffee Servers: Brenda Richards Acolyte: Jack Teske Elders: Garry McCreary & Dennis Neumann Ushers: Ryan Koosman & Paul Koosman Altar Guild: Jan Diemand & Julie Anderson Offering Counters: Jeremy & Jill Eickhoff Bread Baker: Kelly Dorweiler Bread Deliverer: Charlotte Smith Serving next week: (January 3, 2016) Coffee Servers: Ann Milbrath & Linda Corey Acolyte:? Elders:? Ushers: Jeremy Eickhoff & Marcus Olson Altar Guild: David & Gayle Barnaby Offering Counters: David & Naomi Teske Bread Baker: Charlotte Smith Bread Deliverer: Craig Smith Last Week s Attendance Saturday: 8 Sunday: 169 Total: 250 Bible Class: Wed/Sun 30/45 Sunday School: 15
At Glory of Christ the pastor typically makes announcements after the service. So the service just starts at the appropriate time without a specific welcome. (The welcome actually occurs in the service itself when the pastor says The Lord be with you and the congregation responds.) To follow the service you should turn to the page indicated at the top of your bulletin insert. This week the page is 151. Usually we simply work through the service interrupting the process for the singing of hymns, certain prayers and the scripture readings. The prayers are usually printed in the service folder as are the Scripture readings. Hymns are found in the latter half of the Service book. If you are having trouble following the service you can ask someone nearby and they will help you. You can also comfort yourself with the knowledge that almost everyone has a little trouble following the service the first time through. It gets easier. Worship Notes The First Sunday After Christmas Christ speaks both in us and for us when, in one of the psalms, he says to the Father: I shall be satisfied when your glory is revealed. For he and the Father are one, and whoever sees him sees the Father also...he will transform us and show us his face, and we shall be saved; all our longing will be fulfilled, all our desires will be satisfied. But this has not yet been accomplished...so while all this remains in the future and we still walk by faith, absent from the Lord, while we still hunger and thirst for justice and with inexpressible longing yearn for God's beauty, let us reverently celebrate the day he was born into our own servile condition. Since we can as yet form no conception of his generation by the Father before the day star, let us keep the festival of his birth of a virgin in the hours of the night. Since it is still beyond our understanding that his name endures forever and existed before the sun, let us at least recognize his dwelling that he has placed beneath the sun. We cannot yet behold him as the only Son, abiding forever in his Father, so let us recall his coming forth like a bridegroom from his chamber. We are not yet ready for the banquet of our Father, so let us contemplate the manger of Jesus Christ our Lord. Augustine The First Sunday After Christmas Divine Service, Setting One (page 151) December 27, 2015 OPENING HYMN #389 Let All Together Praise Our God CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION INVOCATION page 151 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION page 151
SERVICE OF THE WORD INTROIT Ps. 98:1 4; antiphon: Is. 52:10 The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations,* and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!* His right hand and his holy arm have worked salva- tion for him. The LORD has made known his sal- vation;* he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.* All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;* break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Glory be to the Father and to the Son* and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the be- ginning,* is now, and will be forever. Amen. The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations,* and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. KYRIE page 152 HYMN OF PRAISE Gloria in Excelsis page 154 SALUTATION page 156 COLLECT 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. C Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READING Exodus 13:1 3a, 11 15 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 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 C This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. EPISTLE Colossians 3:12 17 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 C This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. ALLELUIA and VERSE page 156 HOLY GOSPEL Luke 2:22 40 P C The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. 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 eightyfour. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with 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. C Praise to You, O Christ. SERMON HYMN #386 Now Sing, We Now Rejoice SERMON CREED Nicene Creed page 158 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH OFFERING OFFERTORY page 159 SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT PREFACE - page 160 SANCTUS page 161 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING page 161 LORD S PRAYER page 162
WORDS OF INSTITUTION page 162 PAX DOMINI page 163 AGNUS DEI page 163 The Distribution Hymn: Hymn #624 The Infant Priest Was Holy Born Hymn #390 Let Us All with Gladsome Voice Hymn #381 Let Our Gladness Have No End Individual Prayer for after Communion: (It is suggested that you pray this in your pew after returning from the altar.) 1 For Your consoling supper, Lord, Be praised throughout all ages! Preserve it, for in ev ry place The world against it rages. Grant that this sacrament may be A blessèd comfort unto me When living and when dying. POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE page 165 Nunc Dimittis POST-COMMUNION COLLECT page 166 BENEDICTION page 166 CLOSING HYMN #382 We Praise You Jesus, at Your Birth Vs. 1 Choir Vs. 2, 3 Congregation Vs. 4 Choir Vs. 5 Congregation Vs. 6 - Choir