Service outline for Sunday, January 3, 2020

 Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!

 

PRELUDE                 He Is Born!                    Arr. Larson           

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

 All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. 

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,

who was in the beginning,

who makes a dwelling among us,

who covers us with justice and mercy.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

 

Silence is kept for reflection.

 

God of goodness and lovingkindness,

we confess that we have sinned against you

and our neighbors.

We have turned away from your invitation to new life.

We have turned away from the lowly and downtrodden.

In your abundant mercy, forgive us our sins,

those we know and those known only to you,

for the sake of the one who came to live among us,

Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

 

Hear the good news of peace and salvation!

God forgives us all our sins,

not through our own work,

but through ☩ Jesus Christ, made known to all people.

With all who come to the manger,

rejoice in this amazing gift of grace.

Amen.

 

HYMN               O Come All Ye Faithful                  #283

GREETING

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

kyrie

 

Hymn of Praise     Once in Royal David’s City         #269

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Children's message

FIRST READING: Isaiah 60:1-6

¹Arise, shine; for your light has come,

            and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

²For darkness shall cover the earth,

            and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you,

            and his glory will appear over you.

³Nations shall come to your light,

            and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

⁴Lift up your eyes and look around;

            they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from far away,

            and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.

⁵Then you shall see and be radiant;

            your heart shall thrill and rejoice,

because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,

            the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

⁶A multitude of camels shall cover you,

            the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

            all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

            and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

 

PSALM: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

¹Give the king your jus- ^| tice, O God,

            and your righteousness to ^| the king's son;

²that he may rule your ^| people righteously

            and the ^| poor with justice;

³that the mountains may bring prosperity ^| to the people,

            and the ^| hills, in righteousness.

⁴Let him defend the needy a- ^| mong the people,

            rescue the poor, and crush ^| the oppressor. 

⁵May he live as long as the sun and ^| moon endure,

            from one generation ^| to another.

⁶Let him come down like rain upon ^| the mown field,

            like showers that wa- ^| ter the earth.

⁷In his time may the ^| righteous flourish;

            and let there be an abundance of peace

till the moon shall ^| be no more.

¹⁰May the kings of Tarshish and of the ^| isles pay tribute,

            and the kings of Sheba and Seba ^| offer gifts. 

¹¹May all kings bow ^| down before him,

            and all the nations ^| do him service.

¹²For the king delivers the poor who cry out ^| in distress,

            the oppressed, and those who ^| have no helper.

¹³He has compassion on the low- ^| ly and poor,

            and preserves the lives ^| of the needy.

¹⁴From oppression and violence he re- ^| deems their lives,

            and precious is their blood ^| in his sight.

 

SECOND READING: Ephesians 3:1-12

¹This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—²for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, ³and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, ⁴a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.

            ⁵In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: ⁶that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

            ⁷Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. ⁸Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; ¹⁰so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

 

GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12

¹In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."

            ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

            ⁶'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

                        are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

            for from you shall come a ruler

                        who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

            ⁷Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." ⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

 

SERMON

HYMN           Bright and Glorius is the Sky            #301     

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 THE PEOPLE

 

PEACE

 

OFFERING

 

COMMUNION PRAYER

 

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 OF COMMUNION

 

BLESSING

 

HYMN       As with Gladness Men of Old           #302

DISMISSAL

 

POSTLUDE         Let Our Gladness Have No End                       Beck

 

 

 

 

 

Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659 

 

 

 

 

 

Service Outline for Sunday, December 27, 2020.

Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!

1st Sunday of Christmas

December, 27, 2020

 

PRELUDE    From Heaven Above to Earth I Come    Langlois           

     

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS 

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,

who was in the beginning,

who makes a dwelling among us,

who covers us with justice and mercy.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

 

Silence is kept for reflection.

 

God of goodness and lovingkindness,

we confess that we have sinned against you

and our neighbors.

We have turned away from your invitation to new life.

We have turned away from the lowly and downtrodden.

In your abundant mercy, forgive us our sins,

those we know and those known only to you,

for the sake of the one who came to live among us,

Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

 

Hear the good news of peace and salvation!

God forgives us all our sins,

not through our own work,

but through ☩ Jesus Christ, made known to all people.

With all who come to the manger,

rejoice in this amazing gift of grace.

Amen.

  

HYMN              Good Christian Friends, Rejoice                         #288

GREETING

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

kyrie

Hymn of Praise         Angel We Have Heard on High                           #289

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Children's message

FIRST READING: Isaiah 61:10—62:3

¹⁰I 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.

¹¹For 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.

^62:1For 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.

²The 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.

³You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,

      and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

 

PSALM: Psalm 148

¹Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God ^| in the heights.

²Praise the LORD, ^| all you angels; sing praise, all you ^| hosts of heaven.

³Praise the LORD, ^| sun and moon; sing praise, all you ^| shining stars.

⁴Praise the LORD, heav- ^| en of heavens, and you waters a- ^| bove the heavens.

⁵Let them praise the name ^| of the LORD, who commanded, and they ^| were created,

⁶who made them stand fast forev- ^| er and ever, giving them a law that shall not ^| pass away. 

⁷Praise the LORD ^| from the earth, you sea monsters ^| and all deeps;

⁸fire and hail, ^| snow and fog, tempestuous wind, do- ^| ing God's will;

⁹mountains ^| and all hills, fruit trees ^| and all cedars;

¹⁰wild beasts ^| and all cattle, creeping things and ^| flying birds;

¹¹sovereigns of the earth ^| and all peoples, princes and all rulers ^| of the world;

¹²young ^| men and maidens, old and ^| young together. 

¹³Let them praise the name ^| of the LORD, whose name only is exalted, whose splendor is over ^| earth and heaven.

¹⁴The 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: Galatians 4:4-7

⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. ⁶And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

 

GOSPEL: Luke 2:22-40

²²When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, [Joseph and Mary] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), ²⁴and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

²⁵Now 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. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. ²⁷Guided 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, ²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

      ²⁹"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,

      according to your word;

      ³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation,

      ³¹which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

      ³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles

      and for glory to your people Israel."

³³And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴Then 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 ³⁵so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too." 

³⁶There 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, ³⁷then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸At 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. 

³⁹When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. 

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

 

SERMON

HYMN         O Little Town of Bethlehem                                    #279     

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 THE PEOPLE

PEACE

OFFERING

COMMUNION PRAYER

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 OF COMMUNION

BLESSING

HYMN                     The First Noel                    #300

DISMISSAL

POSTLUDE             Rejoice, the Lord Is Come         Russell

Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659 

 

 

 

 

 

Service outline for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020

Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!

The Nativity of Our Lord

December 24, 2020

PRELUDE                      Sinfonia                                        Handel              

proclamation of the birth of Jesus christ

HYMN         “O Come, All Ye Faithful”                                       #283

GREETING

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Call to worship

     P:  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

     C: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not

          overcome it.

     P:  Those who dwell in the land of deep darkness, on them light has    

          shined.

     C: We have beheld Christ’s glory, glory as the only Son from

          the Father.

     P:  To us a child is born, to us a Son is given.

     C: In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.

     P:  Jesus is the light of the world.

     C: Jesus is the light of our lives.

     P:  Sing to God a new song.

     C: A song of hope, joy, and peace around the world.

 

Hymn         "Angels We Have Heard on High"         #289

PRAYER OF THE night

Children's message

FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:2-7

²The people who walked in darkness

          have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

          on them light has shined.

³You have multiplied the nation,

          you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

          as with joy at the harvest,

          as people exult when dividing plunder.

⁴For the yoke of their burden,

          and the bar across their shoulders,

          the rod of their oppressor,

          you have broken as on the day of Midian.

⁵For all the boots of the tramping warriors

          and all the garments rolled in blood

          shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

⁶For a child has been born for us,

          a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

          and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

          Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷His authority shall grow continually,

          and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

          He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

          from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

 

CHOIR          “In The Bleak Mid-Winter” (pre-recorded)

  

PSALM 96

¹Sing to the LORD a new song;

          sing to the LORD, all the earth.

²Sing to the LORD, bless the name of the LORD;

          proclaim God's salvation from day to day.

³Declare God's glory among the nations

          and God's wonders among all peoples.

⁴For great is the LORD and greatly  to be praised,

          more to be feared than all gods. 

⁵As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols;

          but you, O LORD, have made the heavens.

⁶Majesty and magnificence are in your presence;

          power and splendor are in your sanctuary.

⁷Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples,

          ascribe to the LORD honor and power.

⁸Ascribe to the LORD the honor due the holy name;

          bring offerings and enter the courts of the LORD. 

⁹Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness;

          tremble before the LORD, all the earth.

¹⁰Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is king!

          The one who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved

will judge the peoples with equity."

¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;

          let the sea thunder and all that is in it;

let the field be joyful and all that is therein.

¹²Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your coming, O LORD,

          for you come to judge the earth.

¹³You will judge the world with righteousness

          and the peoples with your truth. 

 

SECOND READING: Titus 2:11-14

¹¹The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, ¹²training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, ¹³while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

          ¹⁴He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

hymn                “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”                  #276

GOSPEL: Luke 1:26-38

¹In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

          ⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

          ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

          and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

          [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." ¹⁶So 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; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.]

 The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

HYMN    “Angels, From The Realms of Glory”       #275

SERMON

HYMN      “ Hark!  The Herald Angles Sing”           #270

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 THE PEOPLE

PEACE

OFFERING

CHOIR                               “Gloria” (pre-recorded)

HYMN            “What Child is This”                               #296

COMMUNION PRAYER

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 OF COMMUNION

 

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

(As you pass the light to your neighbor,

please do not tip the lighted candle.)

 

           O Holy Night                             Gina Falconer (Solo)                                                 

 HYMN        "Silent Night, Holy Night"                                #281

BLESSING                                       

HYMN                 "Go Tell It On The Mountain"                #290

DISMISSAL

POSTLUDE                               Gloria                                     Vivaldi

 

Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659