The Name of Jesus A Reconciling in Christ Congregation January 1, 2017 9:30 a.m. All Are Welcome Here! Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church proclaims that the Gospel is God s gift to all people, to be shared unconditionally. We rejoice in the manner in which diversity has enriched, nurtured and challenged the life and ministry we share in Christ. We know that the world is often an unloving place and that the experience of alienation is all too common. Because Christ reconciles us, we welcome people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, physical and mental abilities, educational levels, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We strive to be an evermore welcoming community. Following the example of Christ, we extend a most heartfelt welcome to all. Our Congregation s Vision Statement God in Christ loves us; therefore, through the Holy Spirit we will: Do justice We hope for our community and all of God s creation We feed the poor and comfort the afflicted We welcome and respect our neighbor and the stranger Love kindness We love and care for our congregation and our community We practice forgiveness locally and globally We strive for compassion and acceptance Walk humbly with our God We find joy in creation We desire to grow in spirituality We delight in liturgical worship and creative expression We are all children of God. Jesus calls us by name. With the Holy Spirit, we seek to live out God s grace. Welcome to Gustavus Adolphus! GA is a diverse community of faith. We celebrate that diversity in our worship, using a variety of traditional, contemporary, and multicultural styles. Part of the diversity we celebrate is welcoming people of all ages in worship. Activity bags for children are available from the ushers. We hope you continue to have a blessed Christmas season! Please power off all cell phones as they sometimes cause interference with our sound system.
+ Please stand as you are able. Gathering PRELUDE What Child Is This Setting by Richard Purvis + GATHERING CAROL ELW Hymn 269 Once in Royal David s City + GREETING P Christ is born! C Alleluia! P Jesus is among us! C Alleluia! P Shout with joy, give thanks, and sing! C Christ is born! P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C And also with you. Worship Notes Numbers marked with the word page are found in the front portion of ELW (the red hardcover hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship) at the bottom left and right corners of the page. Numbers marked with the word Hymn are found in the back portion of ELW in the upper left and right corners of the page. + PRAYER OF THE DAY P Let us pray. Eternal Father, you gave your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be a sign of our salvation. Plant in every heart the love of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen. Word FIRST READING Numbers 6:22 27 22The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, 24The LORD bless you and keep you; 25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. 27So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them. 2
SECOND READING Philippians 2:5 11 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Introduction to the Day From the beginning, by virtue of our baptism, we are called Christian. We were Christ-ened at the font. Bearing his name, we share the same Father and are invited to address him intimately: Abba! Jesus bears our sins in humble obedience to the will of the Father. Today we pray that the mind of Christ, whose name we bear, would be our own. It is a good way to begin, again, another year. + GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ELW HYMN 268, Stanzas 1 & 3 From heav n above to earth I come to bear good news to ev ry home! Glad tidings of great joy I bring to all the world, and gladly sing: This is the Christ, God s Son most high, who hears your sad and bitter cry, who will himself your Savior be and from all sin will set you free. + GOSPEL Luke 2:15 21 P The Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 2 nd chapter. C Glory to you, O Lord. 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 3
P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ. CHILDREN S SERMON Continuing Prayer Concerns Sundra Arvidson; Maxine Ahrens; Sharon & Paul Banitt; Charline Burns; Kris Campbell; Jean Clausen; Shirley Cropper; Vi Dorumsgaard; Lisa Doyen; Katie Falang; Ed Femrite; Joann Femrite; Ted Femrite; Renae Frasee; Kara Fraser; Kimberly Garner; Alison Gulbrandson; Dawn Jackson; Eileen Kopp; Matthew Kroschel; Jim Lind; Warren Maki; Irene Mattson; Lloyd Marengo; Ann Martin; Jeff McQuarrie; June Mondeng; Jesse Moody & family; James Ott; Karl Pope; Evie Ramin; Marlene Schimmel; Imogene & Walt Schopf; Arden & Joyce Swanson; Vi Tefft; Ardyce Titus; Stephanie Vavrichek; Marion White; Andrew; Sveah; Gretchen; those who are homebound or in nursing homes or care centers. Our continual prayers are offered for peace. We pray for the all of the world s governments, leaders, and peoples, especially for those who work toward peace. To have someone s name added to or removed from this list, contact Phil Holzman. I NOTICE, I WONDER SERMON + HYMN OF THE DAY ELW HYMN 284 Twas in the Moon of Wintertime + PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION A Rejoicing in the good news of Christ s birth and dwelling in hope, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of creation. Petitions follow. Each petition ends A Lord, in your mercy, C hear our prayer. After the final petition P Hear the prayers of your people, glorious God, for the sake of the one who took on our nature and form to redeem the whole world, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C Amen. + PEACE P The peace of Christ be with you always. C And also with you. OFFERING ORGAN OFFERTORY Meal Setting by Wilbur Held Cold December Flies Away + OFFERTORY CAROL ELW Hymn 296 What Child Is This 4 + OFFERING PRAYER P God with us: You came as a baby to a manger. You slept on straw and greeted shepherds. You come again in bread and wine.
Remind us how good you are at blessing ordinary things. And then, through these gifts, help us to bless the lives of others in the strength of your holy name. C Amen. + GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you. C And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. C We lift them to the Lord. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give our thanks and praise. P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy... join their unending hymn Please join us for The Lord s Supper All are invited to join us in the Lord s Supper. We believe that Christ is present in the bread and wine and that we receive God s grace and forgiveness through this meal. Those adults and children not communing with us are invited to come forward to receive a blessing. + WORDS OF INSTITUTION There are gluten-free wafers available for those who need them. Simply indicate this to the communion server. + LORD S PRAYER C 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. INVITATION AND DISTRIBUTION We serve communion by intinction. Receive a wafer and dip it into the larger chalice containing wine or into the smaller chalice containing grape juice. 5
CAROLS DURING DISTRIBUTION Angels, from the Realms of Glory ELW Hymn 275 Go Tell It on the Mountain ELW Hymn 290 + PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION A On this day, O God, you gave us Christ the Son to save us. As you sent the one foretold, send us now with good news for all people. Let the gladness of this feast have no end as we share with others the joy that fills us; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C Amen. Sending + BLESSING + SENDING CAROL ELW Hymn 299 Cold December Flies Away + DISMISSAL P Go in peace. Christ is with you. C Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE Setting by Timothy Albrecht Angels We Have Heard on High You are always invited to remain and share in the postlude. The composer/arranger of today s piece, Timothy Albrecht, was Phil Holzman s organ professor in college in Pennsylvania. He artfully blends a familiar theme from Handel s Messiah with the familiar carol, Angels We Have Heard on High. Liturgical Materials from Sundaysand Seasons.com. Copyright 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Liturgies reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23346. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 6
Our Core Values at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church love joy hope compassion spirituality forgiveness acceptance respect Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church 1509 27th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418 Website: www.gachurchmpls.org Email: info@gachurchmpls.org Church Phone: 612-789-7256 Church Staff The Rev. Jo Bauman Johnson, Pastor (Ext. 10) pastorjo@gachurchmpls.org Phil Holzman, Associate in Ministry (Ext. 11) Worship & Music, Parish Administration philh@gachurchmpls.org Allan Dahl, Faith Community Nurse nurse@gachurchmpls.org Paul Frank, Finance Manager (Ext.14) paulf@gachurchmpls.org Joel Lurvey, Contemporary Choir Director joel.lurvey@gmail.com Every monetary donation given to GA truly makes a difference in our church, in our community of NE Minneapolis, and in the world. Please consider donating any amount to support this good work. Please also consider including GA in your will. Use the code below to access our online giving option. God s Mission for Gustavus Adolphus Church To build community where God is at the center. Serving Today Ministers The Baptized people of GA Church Presiding Minister & Preacher Pastor Jo Bauman Johnson Assisting Minister Gary Anderson Minister of Worship & Music Phil Holzman, Associate in Ministry Lector Joan Mitchell Sacristan Andrea Carter Transportation Ron Anderson