Welcome! Welcome to worship! On this New Year s Eve, we celebrate that God has made all things new. In life with Christ, every day is a new beginning. May God s love and forgiveness wash over you as you worship this day, and may this New Year be filling with grace and peace. A Service of New Beginnings We invite you to turn toward God anew and let God s love wash over you and bless you into the new year. Parents, you can find canvas activity bags for your children in the back of the sanctuary. For infants up through age three, the nursery is available. Thank you for joining us today. We welcome you! You are also invited to take an Announcements sheet here at Easter, or visit easter.org for events & activities (Announcement sheets are posted weekly under Events & News). A Service of New Beginnings December 31, 2017 8:30 & 10 a.m. Easter Lutheran Church to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ Prelude: In dulci jubilo - (Old German Carol) Recorder Ensemble Greetings and Announcements Gathering Confession and Forgiveness Pastor: God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Congregation: Amen. (silence for a moment of reflection) P: Most merciful God, As Jesus did, we welcome children of all ages as integral members of the body of Christ, and we welcome the sounds and activity that accompany them! Thank you Parents/Grandparents for bringing your children to worship! C: we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. P: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.
The Sharing of the Peace is a way of demonstrating hospitality and grace with others. Please understand if some people choose not to shake hands while sharing the Peace for health reasons, but simply greet you with a smile. Sharing of the Peace Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Congregation: And also with you. The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week, the day of Christ s resurrection Gathering Hymn: All My Hope on God Is Founded Hymnal #757 Greeting: Leader: Congregation: 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. 2
Kyrie Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. Canticle of Praise: This Is the Feast Hymnal #167 continued on next page 3
Canticle of Praise: This Is the Feast continued Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. 4
Prayer of the Day God of New beginnings - as we turn the page to a New year, remind us that your mercy is new every morning. Help us to live with expectant hearts, ready for your love to wash over us and your grace to surprise us at every turn. We are grateful for the days we are given and we ask that you go before us as we live lives of faithfulness and love. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Children s Message Word God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song Lesson: Isaiah 43: 18-21 (NRSV) Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. L: The word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5: 16-20 (NRSV) From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. L: The word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation: Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. 5
Gospel: John 1: 19-34 (NRSV) This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, I am not the Messiah. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the prophet? He answered, No. Then they said to him, Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? John answered them, I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal. This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me. I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel. And John testified, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God. L: The gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ. Sermon: Pastor Kristen Capel Song: Winter Snow Audrey Assad Annika Coyle, guitar & vocals, Chase Davis, vocals, Eli Brubaker, piano You could ve come like a mighty storm, With all the strength of a hurricane; You could ve come like a like a forest fire, With the power of heaven in Your flame. But You came like a winter snow quiet, and soft, and slow; Falling form the sky in the night to the earth below. You could ve swept in like a tidal wave, Or in an ocean to ravish our hearts; You could ve come through like a roaring flood To wipe away the things we ve scarred. Chorus Your voice wasn t in a bush burning; Your voice wasn t in a rushing wind. It was still, it was small, it was hidden. Chorus Copyright 2009 River Oaks Music Publishing (BMI) (adm. by EMI CMG Publishing) All rights reserved. Used by Permission. CCLI Song No. 5492031 6
Song: Glory (Let There be Peace) Matt Maher Annika Coyle, guitar & vocals, Chase Davis, vocals, Eli Brubaker, piano One star burns in the darkness Shines with a promise, Emmanuel One child born in the stillness Living within us, Emmanuel Chorus We re singing glory, glory Let there be peace, Let there be peace We re singing glory, glory Let there be peace, Let it start in me One voice speaks for the voiceless Hope for the hopeless, Emmanuel One love brings us together Now and forever, Emmanuel Do not be afraid His love is strong Enough to save us Nothing stands in the way His love is strong Enough to lead us Copyright Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing LLC All rights reserved CCLI Song No. #:7071972 Hymn of the Day: This Is a Day of New Beginnings 7
Father is a specific and accessible image of God that Jesus gave us. Jesus did not limit God to this image. References to God as Creator, Parent, Mother, Counselor can be equally as helpful and valid. Another translation of catholic church is church universal Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Prayers of Intercession Each prayer petition will conclude: Pastor: Lord, in your mercy, Congregation: Hear our prayer. The offering is an act of worship. We give ourselves, our time and resources as a symbol of our love and appreciation for God s grace, and our investment in God s work through this church. NEW! Text-to-Give Simply send a text message to 651-419-3775 with the amount you would like to contribute (example: 25). Within a few minutes, you ll be sent a text with a link to register. We hope you enjoy this new way to share your generosity, and thank you for supporting the ministries of Easter Lutheran Church. Offering of Gifts Meal Offering Hymn: Candlelight Carol - Rutter Recorder Ensemble Presentation: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymnal #885 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heav nly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Offering Prayer Great and giving God, come and see how we spend our lives. Be with us as we share our money, the minutes that make our days, and our unique strengths. Abide with us and call us to love the world more fully. Come and see how we spend your love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. 8
The Great Thanksgiving All are invited to receive these gifts of God. Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory, that beholding the God made visible, we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Children are welcome to come forward for a blessing. Children who have received instruction are welcome to commune. Communion today is by intinction - the dipping of the wafer in the wine. Please come to one of the stations, as directed. Gluten-free wafers are at the back of the sanctuary near the sound booth. Holy, Holy, Holy Holy Communion, Setting Three 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923. Words of Institution 9
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. Distribution Lamb of God Augsburg Fortress, 1978, 2006: Richard W. Hillert Selections from The Christmas Story - J.S. Bach Recorder Ensemble Prayer after Communion Blessing Sending Dismissal Postlude: All are invited to enjoy the Recorder Ensemble playing carols in the narthex following worship. 10
Come and See Worship Series Our next worship series, Come and See, will take us on a journey through the Gospel of John. Come and see that the baby whose birth we celebrate on Christmas is the One who turns water to wine, gives sight to the blind, heals broken hearts, and invites you into a life-changing relationship leading to what Jesus calls abundant life. January 6/7...Jesus says Come and See January 13/14...Jesus turns water into wine January 20/21...Jesus has a holy tantrum January 27/28...How can a person be born again? February is Outreach Month February 3/4...The woman at the well (Guatemala focus) February 10/11...The man born blind (Homelessness focus) February 17/18...Jesus Raises Lazarus (TreeHouse) February 24/25...Jesus washes feet March 3/4...Peter denies Jesus March 10/11...Jesus and Pilate March 17/18...Jesus is condemned March 24/25...Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday) March 29...Maundy Thursday March 30...Good Friday March 31/April 1...Easter Sunday - All Things New April 7/8...Thomas 11
Download the Easter Lutheran Church App now! The App features: A weekly podcast by the Easter pastors, based on the upcoming weekend theme The weekend sermons from both sites, along with Grow Guides Resources that point to other podcasts and websites recommended by Easter s pastors and staff Questions? Contact Cindy Wilson at cwilson@easter.org or 651-452-3680 Did you pick up your Announcements? The Announcements tell you what s going on at Easter in the coming weeks. They can be found at the doors to the sanctuary. Check it out! Visit easter.org for details Serving Today 8:30 10:00 Ushers: Dale & Geni Perry Steve Bunde Fred Tatting Wayne Johnson Tony & Vickie Foster Readers: Sylvia Hammer Kendra Held Communion set-up: Lynn Carlson Melinda Backman Communion: Dale & Terolle Turnham Al & Sue Peterson Nursery: Annika Coyle Annika Coyle Grace Juntunen Sound: Stephen Hammer Andy Maas Live Streaming: n/a Mike Wahowske Easter Lutheran Church Ministers: All the members of Easter Pastors: Kristen Capel, Brandon Newton, Rolf Jacobson, Steve Thomason 4200 Pilot Knob Road (Hill) Phone: 651-452-3680 4545 Pilot Knob Road (Lake) easter.org to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ