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Pastor Wesley Menke
Accompanist: Tatiana Thibodeaux
Director: Chris Geach
[ * Denotes Standing as you are able]
Prelude:
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the Holy Trinity+, the God of goodness and loving kindness, whose Son was sent to save us and whose Spirit is poured out on us and renews us.
Amen.
As people called out of darkness, let us confess our sins and seek mercy from the God of justice and righteousness.
(Silence for reflection and examination)
God of steadfastness and love,
We confess that we are tempted by the love of works more than the power of your grace. We have sought to satisfy our deepest longings through material things rather than through you, our Creator. We are quick to judge others, yet we fail to see our own failings. We ignore the cries of the poor and grow weary of working for justice. Restore us, O God; let your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Amen.
Hear the glad tidings of God! The Word was made flesh and lived among us. Clothed in our humanity, Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters through our baptism. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and restored to wholeness; in him we are free to serve God and our neighbor without fear.
Amen.
Gathering Hymn
Greeting
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.
Glory in the Highest ~ Gloria en las alturas
Prayer of the Day*
Almighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word. By your grace empower us to reflect your light in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Children Sermon
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-14
7Thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
“Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.”
8See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
9With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
10Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.”
11For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
12They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
13Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
14I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 147:12-20
12Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion,
13who has strengthened the bars of your gates
and has blessed your children within you.
14God has established peace on your borders
and satisfies you with the finest wheat.
15God sends out a command to the earth,
a word that runs very swiftly. R
16God gives snow like wool,
scattering frost like ashes.
17God scatters hail like bread crumbs.
Who can stand against God’s cold?
18The Lord sends forth the word and melts them;
the wind blows, and the waters flow.
19God declares the word to Jacob,
statutes and judgments to Israel.
20The Lord has not done so to any other nation;
they do not know God’s judgments. Hallelujah! R
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation*
Gospel: John 1:[1-9] 10-18
[1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.]
10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Oh Christ.
Sermon – Pastor Wesley Menke
Hymn of the Day
Apostles’ Creed
With the whole church, let us confess our faith.
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*
Mercifull God
Recieve our prayer.
Passing of the Peace* Pastor
The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.
**You may make your offering or donation through our website HERE.
Offering Hymn
Offering Prayer* Pastor
Gracious God,
your Word-made-flesh brings harmony to the earth. As we offer ourselves and these your gifts,
prepare us to receive the grace and truth you offer at this table and renew in us the song of your salvation, in Jesus Christ our Savior.
Great Thanksgiving*
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory, full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. AMEN
Sanctus
Holy Holy Holy Lord!
God of hosts, by all adored!
Heaven and Earth cannot contain
All the Glory of your Name!
Hail, hosanna, God most high!
Blest is He who now draws nigh:
In the name of God the King!
Hallelujahs glad we sing:
Hail, hosanna Praises due!
Be forever, Lord to you.
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.
Invitation to Communion*
Prayer*
Blessing*
The God of hope
fill us with all joy and peace in believing,
so that we may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
through Christ Jesus, the Word made flesh.
Amen
Announcements
Sending Hymn
Dismissal
Go in peace. Rejoice in Christ our Savior.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude:
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