First Sunday of Christmas Worship Bulletin | 12-31-23
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
College and Career Student Sunday
12-31-2023 10:00AM Hybrid Worship
+ Gathering +
OPENING SONG: “ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY” Green #50
THE OPENING RITE AND PRAYER OF THE DAY:
L A girl-to-be mother was pregnant before her wedding.
C A soon-to-be stepfather was willing but confused.
L A birth occurred outside the inn in a too busy world.
C Angels hovered, shepherds hastened, a star sparkled, and wise men searched.
L The baby was named Jesus on his eighth day of life.
C The angel had announced this name before he was conceived.
L He was presented to God in the Temple on his fortieth day.
C Old Simeon and old Anna saw salvation in that newly born child.
L A paranoid king murdered the innocent children to destroy him.
C An escape to Egypt saved the one child.
L He grew up in Nazareth.
C He was lost when he was twelve.
L He was found back in Jerusalem learning and teaching.
C He returned to Nazareth growing in size and spirit.
L It was one birth, one child, one life.
C It was like no other birth and an extraordinary life.
L The facts are limited, the details missing.
C The effect is amazing, the joy unlimited.
L Scripture says, when the time was right, God sent the Son.
C He came among us.
He was one of us.
L A word took shape, a child was born.
C He lived to die,
and he died to deliver us from grave and hell!
L Please let us pray with grateful and willing hearts…
C Saving God, you sent your child Jesus to live among us and to embrace us with a love that will never be defeated. Be as real to us as you were to our biblical ancestors; grant us eyes to see your salvation and hearts to gladly receive it. Help us to grow in his love, to increase in his wisdom, and to live according to his word. Always, Amen.
+ Holy Word +
FIRST READING: Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3
[Rejoicing in the promise of restoration as a people. The future is bright!]
61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
61:11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.
62:2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.
62:3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
SECOND READING: Galatians 4:4-7
[Rejoicing in the redemption from sin’s slavery. We are adopted as heirs!]
4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
4:5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
4:6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
BRIEF WORDS FROM OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER STUDENTS
[We hope to hear from some of our St. Peter’s students who are continuing their educational journey beyond high school. The list our Scholarship Committee has – with apologies for omissions – includes: Riana Mathis, Matthew Johnson, Tyler McCann, Robbie Pollock Jr., Jayla Tillison, Jaimee Tillison, Kyle Washington Williams, Devin Washington, Ryleigh Mathis. Kaela Johnson, Juanita Williams, Andrea Wood, Sean Drayton, Mariah Morris, Jaila…….. There are many others who are connected to this congregation as non-member children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews… you, too, are “beloved family”. Students, these “post –COVID pandemic” years continue to be a challenging time! We pray for your good health and safety through these days, for peace and sleep, for sanity and wisdom, for continued opportunities and the inspiration to stay on the path. And we encourage and challenge you to continue to connect your unfolding life with God’s creative and redeeming love!]
INTRODUCTION OF OUR GUEST PREACHER
SONG BEFORE THE GOSPEL: “SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT!” Green #65
GOSPEL: Luke 2:22-40
[Rejoicing in the birth of Jesus. God’s salvation is among us here and now!]
2:22 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
2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”),
2:24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
2:27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,
2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
2:29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
2:31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
2:33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed
2:35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed–and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
2:36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
2:37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day.
2:38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
2:39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
2:40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
THE SERMON: Minister Tiese Giles, St. Mark’s Lutheran, 14 years old
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
“PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN IN THE YEAR AHEAD” written by Marian Wright Edelman, Children’s Defense Fund.
+ Holy Meal +
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We have been blessed by GRACE to be a blessing of GRATEFUL GENEROSITY!
OFFERING SONG: “What Child IS This?” Green #40
OFFERING PRAYER (together):
Good news! Great Joy! Loving God, if light has dawned on us, we want to share it. And if there is joy to tell, we can’t help but proclaim it. O how we thank you for the gift of your amazing grace in Jesus Christ! As we celebrate his birth, guide us to be bearers of light, makers of peace, and heralds of good news to all the world. Always, Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L Christ is born among us! The Lord be with you. C AND ALSO WITH YOU!
L Hope and promise are alive! Lift up your hearts! C WE LIFT THEM UP IN LOVE FOR GOD!
L Jesus is our Redeemer! Let us give thanks to our God! C IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE GOD THANKS AND PRAISE!
L Gracious God, we gather together in celebration of all the signs of your love in our lives, too many to count. But especially we thank you this Christmas Season for speaking your Word, Jesus Christ, to us. You could have shown no greater love than by sharing what you treasured most, your only Son, your Word of love, your peace on earth, the light that comforts us, the hope to which we cling. He was born to give us new life, and he died to deliver us from grave and from hell. With joy and thanksgiving we join heaven and earth in
singing our praises…
C (sing) JESUS… JESUS… OH, WHAT A WONDERFUIL CHILD!
JESUS… JESUS… SO HOLY, MEEK, AND MILD!
NEW LIFE, NEW HOPE, TO ALL HE BRINGS;
LISTEN TO THE ANGELS SING,
“GLORY, GLORY, GLO-RY TO THE NEW BORN KING!”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous distribution” with wafers and either wine or grape juice. CHRIST COMES TO US IN BREAD AND WINE AND BLESSING, BRINGING US PEACE, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND HOPE!
COMMUNION SONGS: Green #41 Green #67
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
O Lord, with our own eyes we have seen the joy of your salvation, and with our own lips we have tasted of your Kingdom. We celebrate the birth of your Son among us! Shine out through us to a hurting world that knows the night and needs the light. Amen.
+ Sending +
THE BENEDICTION… We go forth in the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT to testify, baptize, and serve!
CLOSING SONG: “BLESSED ASSURANCE” Brown #118
- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long! [repeat]
- Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
- Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.