Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 10:00 am Worship Service January 1, 2017 First Sunday of Christmas ELW Setting 3 As we celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, our gospel today confronts us with the death of innocent children at the hands of Herod. The birth of Christ does not remove the power of evil from our world, but its light gives us hope as we walk with all the holy innocents of past generations and today who have suffered unjustly. In our gathering around word and meal, God continues to redeem us, lift us up, and carry us as in days of old.
Welcome members and guests to our worship service today. If you are visiting, we encourage you to sign the guest register located in the narthex. Please include your home address, email address and phone number. Each pew contains cards that you may fill out if you wish to consult with the pastor or provide additional information about yourself. Parents are invited to bring children for Holy Communion to receive a blessing. If children become restless or noisy during worship, parents are encouraged to take them in to and out of the sanctuary as necessary. Trinity offers an induction loop for the benefit of hearing impaired worshippers. To use, please switch your hearing aid to T. If you are unsure if your hearing aid is compatible, please contact your audiologist. The Reverend Tina Melusky, Pastor Rob Keene, Organist and Director of Music Congregation of Trinity Lutheran, Ministers of the Word 6812 River Road, Newport News, VA 23607 Church office: (757) 245-7861 Pastor's cell: (734) 239-4013 www.trinitylutheran-nn.com Trinity Lutheran is a partner church with Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center. Cover image by JoAnne Rawls.
Prelude Quiet preparation is encouraged at this time. Confession and Forgiveness Gathering The assembly stands. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Blessed be the Holy One of Israel, the Word made flesh, the Power of the Most High, + one God, now and forever. Amen. Gathered in the name of Jesus, let us confess our sin against God and our neighbor. Gracious God, in Christ Jesus you come among us as light shining in darkness. We confess our failure to welcome this light. Forgive us and renew our hope, so that we may live in the light of your grace, and welcome the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen. Silence is kept for refl ection. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: To you is born a Savior, Christ the Lord. Your sins are forgiven in + Jesus name. Amen. The assembly turns and faces the processional cross. Gathering Hymn Good Christian Friends, Rejoice ELW 288 The Greeting Kyrie The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Hymn of Praise Angels We Have Heard on High ELW 289 Prayer of the Day O Lord God, you know that we cannot place our trust in our own powers. As you protected the infant Jesus, so defend us and all the needy from harm and adversity, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The assembly is seated. Word First Reading: Isaiah 63:7-9 Pew Bible Old Testament Page 653 Let us rejoice at the unfolding of salvation. Thanks be to God. Psalm 148 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights. Praise the Lord, all you angels; sing praise, all you hosts of heaven. Praise the Lord, sun and moon; sing praise, all you shining stars. Praise the Lord, heav- en of heavens, and you waters a- bove the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, who commanded, and they were created, who made them stand fast forev- er and ever, giving them a law that shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, do- ing God s will;
mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds; sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; young men and maidens, old and young together. Let them praise the name of the Lord, whose name only is exalted, whose splendor is over earth and heaven. The Lord has raised up strength for the people and praise for all faithful servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near the Lord. Hallelujah! Second Reading: Hebrews 2:10-18 Pew Bible New Testament Page 193 Let us rejoice at the unfolding of salvation. Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation The assembly stands. Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:13-23 The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 2nd chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. Matthew relates the slaughter of babies in Bethlehem as one example of evil in the world. Jesus has been born into this world to manifest God s presence and save his people from their sins. N ow after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, Out of Egypt I have called my son. When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more. When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child s life are dead. Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being
warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He will be called a Nazorean. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Time with the Children Sermon The assembly is seated. Silence is kept for refl ection after the sermon. The assembly stands. Pastor Tina Hymn of the Day O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! ELW 308 The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Prayers of Intercession Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Sharing of the Peace The peace, which enables people to live in unity and in the spirit of mutual forgiveness, comes from Christ whose word has been proclaimed. The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Announcements Receiving of Tithes and Offerings Offertory The assembly is seated. Offertory Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old (stanza 3) ELW 302 Offertory Prayer 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. Amen. The Great Thanksgiving Meal Proper Preface It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Sanctus "Holy, Holy, Holy" echoes the heavenly chorus in Isaiah 6:3 and the crowds of Mark 11:9 as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. This reminds us that we are in the presence of a God identifi ed both by holiness and humility.
Thanksgiving at the Table Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: Blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets hopes and dreams. Blessed are you for Mary s openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection. We look with hope for his coming. Come, Lord Jesus. Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth. Come, Holy Spirit. All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever. Amen. 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.
Agnus Dei The assembly is seated. This canticle echoes John the Baptist's pronouncement in John 1:29 that Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God's people and the Savior of the world. Communion As you receive the bread in your hand, you may commune by intinction using the silver chalice, or you may consume the bread and then drink from the pewter chalice. Music During the Distribution Of the Father's Love Begotten ELW 295 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly ELW 276 Table Blessing The assembly stands. Sending The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. Post Communion Canticle Love Has Come (stanza 1) ELW 292 Post Communion Prayer 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. Amen. Blessing May Christ, who by his incarnation has filled us with grace and truth, give you peace this Christmas and always. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. Sending Hymn The First Noel ELW 300 Dismissal Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God s people on earth! Go in peace. Share the gift of Jesus. Thanks be to God. Postlude
Lector Usher Captain Usher Building Lockup Serving Today Loyd Rawls Dick Davis Laura Davis Dick Davis
Prelude Today s Music Christe, Redemptor omnium Gerald Near (b. 1942) Offertory Partita Variation I Variation II Variation III Variation IV A solis ortus cardine Postlude O sola magnarum urbium Notes on the Music Gerald Near Gerald Near Each of these chant melodies is included in the Divine Office, the series of daily prayer services observed by monastic communities for centuries. Christe, Redemptor omnium is from the evening service, Vespers, for the Christmas season. A solis ortus cardine is from Christmas Lauds, a morning service. O sola magnarum urbium is from Epiphany Lauds; Epiphany occurs later this week, on January 6th. Both continental and English (Sarum) musical traditions are represented in these works.