THOSE MINISTERING AMONG US Guest Rev. Raymond Maher THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD CHRISTMAS DAY The Birthday of a King December 5, 017 10:30 am AS WE GATHER. Glory to the newborn King! The refrain of the familiar Christmas song invites us to proclaim that Christ is born in Bethlehem. Today we celebrate God coming into the history of our earth in person in the person of a baby born in Bethlehem. This is My beloved Son! God proclaimed this years later when Jesus arrived at the Jordan River at the time of His Baptism. But already at the time of His birth, Jesus special nature was established as God in the flesh in our human flesh! We express our thankfulness and our joy at that blessed coming! PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN A well-equipped Nursery is available for your use should your little one need to leave during the service. There are quiet toys, a washroom, and comfortable chairs for Mom or Dad. A good sound system and large windows mean you won't have to miss the service. HOLY COMMUNION Holy Communion is celebrated today. Lutherans believe and teach that in this precious meal we receive not only the bread and wine, but also Christ's true Body and Blood given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. Proper spiritual preparation is necessary to rightly receive this sacrament. Please read the Communion policy card in the bookrack of your pew. Speak to an usher if you have any questions. Please complete the Communion card and pass it to the usher as you go up for Communion. For Communicants with medical difficulties, individual cups of grape juice are available in the center section of the serving trays. Help yourself, or ask the Communion Server. Our church is faithful to the Biblical practice of using wine for the Lord s Supper, but makes exceptions for medical reasons.
PROCESSIONAL Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev rywhere; Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born! 1 While shepherds kept their watching O er silent flocks by night, Behold, throughout the heavens There shone a holy light. Refrain. Go Tell It on the Mountain [LSB 388] The shepherds feared and trembled When lo, above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior s birth. Refrain. 3 Down in a lonely manger The humble Christ was born; And God sent us salvation That blessèd Christmas morn. Refrain. Text (sts. ref, 1 3) and Music: Public domain + PREPARATION + ENTRANCE HYMN 1 Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Refrain Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [LSB 380; vv 1-3] Christ, by highest heav n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! 3 Hail, the heav n-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Text (sts. 1, ref, 3) and Music: Public domain
INVOCATION In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. OPENING SENTENCES Isaiah 9:; Psalm 98:4, 6 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION Let us go to our loving Father, confident of His forgiveness for Jesus sake. Silence for reflection on God s Word and for self-examination Heavenly Father, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have failed to walk always in the paths of righteousness in our thinking, speaking, and acting; we have not loved You completely or our neighbors as ourselves. We have failed to live as sisters and brothers of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this day. In Your great mercy, forgive and renew us that we may be servants of our eternal King to the glory of Your holy name. 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 Son and of the Holy Spirit. SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. HYMN OF PRAISE 1 O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him Born the king of angels. Refrain O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal, Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes; Son of the Father Now in flesh appearing! Refrain O Come, All Ye Faithful [LSB 379; vv 1-4] 3 Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God In the highest: Refrain 4 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be glory giv n! Word of the Father Now in flesh appearing! Refrain Text (sts. 1, ref, 4) and Music: Public domain OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 5:7 10 (God s salvation is made known to all.) Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY - Psalm Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 1 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. All: 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. EPISTLE Hebrews 1:1 6 (Buried and raised with Christ, we walk in newness of life.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. HOLY GOSPEL John 1:1 14 (The Word becomes flesh on earth.) This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. NICENE CREED I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life + of the world to come. Amen HYMN OF THE DAY
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let ev ry heart prepare Him room And heav n and nature sing, And heav n and nature sing, And heav n, and heav n and nature sing. Joy to the World [LSB 387; vv 1-4] Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 3 No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. 4 He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love. Text (sts. 1 4) and Music: Public domain OFFERING / OFFERTORY PRAYER SERMON SPECIAL MUSICAL PRESENTATION Trinity Korean Congregation PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for God s people around the world and all who call out to Him in their various needs. With thankful hearts, Lord, we bring to You our prayers this day. We recall Your acts of kindness to Your people through all ages. We bless You for the grace shown to all people through the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May His abiding presence bless our hearts and our homes in this holy season. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. We pray for our world and for all people on this planet. Enable us to be witnesses to the kingship of Jesus, the Savior. Cause the truth of the Gospel to be known around the world. Bless the labors of the missionaries and pastors of the Church as they bring that message everywhere. Be with those whose work keeps them from their families this day and support them with Your measureless love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. We pray for this congregation and all who worship here. Bless its leaders and all of the people with a full measure of joy that we may echo the songs of the angels in our communities and bring glory to our newborn King. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. We pray for those with special needs, including the sick and the shut-in, those who grieve, those who feel alone in this season, and all others known to each of us who at this time are in need of our petitions, [including...]. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Blessed Lord, we thank You for the faithful witness of those no longer with us on earth who now rejoice in Your light eternal. Lead us to find inspiration and strength in their faithful witness and seek to serve You constantly all of our days. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. + SACRAMENT + PREFACE
The Lord be with you. Timothy 4: And also with you. Lift up your hearts. [Colossians 3:1] We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. [Psalm 136] It is right to give Him thanks and praise. PROPER PREFACE 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 praying: LORD'S PRAYER 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 temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Blessed are You, Sovereign Lord, for in Your great mercy You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus, into our flesh to be our Savior. We thank You that He has been born as a King and yet as one who comes to serve and bring salvation. We bless You for calling us to repentance and inviting us to receive the gifts that He alone can bestow. Grant that with true thankfulness we may approach His Table of grace, where we receive His body and blood and through them the priceless gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. We ask this in His saving name.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 6:6-8; Mark 14:-4; Luke :19-0; 1 Corinthians 11:3-5 PEACE OF THE LORD 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 + body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me." 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 + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." The peace + of the Lord be with you always. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS Holy Holy Holy [LSB 08] Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored; Heav n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name. Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord; Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord! O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. 1 Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. AGNUS DEI Lamb of God [LSB 198] Silent Night, Holy Night [LSB 363] Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav nly hosts sing, Alleluia! Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!
3 Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth 1 Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the_angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [LSB 380; vv 1-3] Refrain Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Christ, by highest heav n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the_incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! 3 Hail, the heav n-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Text (sts. 1, ref, 3) and Music: Public domain POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING
Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (LSB) BENEDICTION 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 give you peace Numbers 6:4 6 CLOSING HYMN 1 Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains. Angels We Have Heard on High [LSB 368] Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav nly song? Refrain: 3 Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain: Text (sts. 1, ref, 3) and Music: Public domain
THOSE MINISTERING AMONG US Worship Leader: Jakob Valsson FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS The Nations Shall See December 31, 017 10:30 am AS WE GATHER Not only has the Lord come to a manger in Bethlehem, but now He has also come to His own temple in Jerusalem. The building that itself was to be a sign of God s presence among His people now becomes the very place where Jesus is presented to the Lord. Promised for centuries, salvation has come, and all nations shall see the glory of the Lord. As Simeon beholds this glory in the face of Jesus Christ, he embraces redemption in his arms. Through the Word you will hear today, you, too, will embrace Christ and His saving work. Sing of His glory! God has come to you! PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN A well-equipped Nursery is available for your use should your little one need to leave during the service. There are quiet toys, a washroom, and comfortable chairs for Mom or Dad. A good sound system and large windows mean you won't have to miss the service! PROCESSIONAL Go Tell It on the Mountain [LSB 388] LSB DIVINE SERVICE, SETTING FOUR WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO TODAY S SERVICE PREPARATION CALL TO WORSHIP INVOCATION Now Sing We, Now Rejoice [LSB 386] CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION p03
KYRIE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS p04 p04 SALUTATION and COLLECT OF THE DAY p05 + WORD + OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 61:10 6:3 (The nations shall see the Lord s righteousness.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 111 EPISTLE Galatians 4:4 7 (God sent forth His Son to redeem us.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God ALLELUIA and VERSE p05 The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. HOLY GOSPEL Luke : 40 (Jesus is presented to the Lord at the temple.) This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. APOSTLES CREED
HYMN OF THE DAY Let All Together Praise Our God [LSB 389; vv 1-3,7] OFFERING / OFFERTORY PRAYER SERMON PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Each petition ends with: let us pray to the Lord, and we respond with.. Father, show us Your glory in the face of Your Son. LORD'S PRAYER BENEDICAMUS p09 p1 BENEDICTION ANNOUNCEMENTS CLOSING HYMN Joy to the World [LSB 387; 1-,4]