Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!
PRELUDE “Although I Speak with Angel’s Tongue” E.L. Diemer
CONFESSION AND FORGIVNESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the
sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
our creator,
our protector,
our wellspring of life.
Amen.
Trusting that God receives our words and the meditations of our hearts, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God,
you speak blessing and compassion into the
world.
Forgive us for the ways we act
with judgment, cruelty, or indifference.
We ignore the needs of our neighbors;
we resist your call to oppose injustice;
we give in to scarcity and fear;
we assume the worst about one another.
Cleanse us from our faults
and release us from their grasp.
Show us your lovingkindness.
Restore our hearts and repair your world,
that we may live in Christ’s ways.
Amen.
God proclaims these words of assurance:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name. You are mine.”
In + Christ, you are forgiven.
In the Spirit, you are made free.
Refreshed by the waters of mercy,
live anew as beloved children of God. Amen.
HYMN O God of Light #507
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 “Rise, Shine You People”
v. 1
PRAYER OF THE DAY, Children's
message
First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
1 See, I am
sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek
will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you
delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of
hosts. 2 But who
can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is
like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner
and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine
them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be
pleasing to the Lord, as in
the days of old and as in former years. Word of the Lord. Thanks
be to God
Psalm 84
1 How dear to me | is your dwelling,
O | Lord of hosts!
2 My soul has a desire
and longing for the courts | of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice
in the | living God.
3 Even the sparrow has
found a home, and the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young, by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king | and my God.
4 Happy are they who
dwell | in your house! They will always be | praising you.
5 Happy are the people
whose strength | is in you, whose hearts are set on the | pilgrims’ way.
6 Those who go through
the balsam valley will find it a | place of
springs, for the early
rains have covered it with | pools of water.
7 They will climb
from | height to height, and the God of gods will be | seen in Zion.
8 Lord God of hosts, | hear my prayer;
give ear, O | God of Jacob.
9 Behold our defender, O God; and look upon the
face of | your anointed.
10 For one day in your
courts is better than a | thousand elsewhere. I would
rather stand
at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents | of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is both sun and shield, bestowing | grace and glory; no
good thing will the Lord withhold from those who
walk | with integrity.
12 O | Lord of hosts, happy are
they who put their | trust in you!
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Since,
therefore, the children share flesh and blood, [Jesus] himself
likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all
their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he
did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to
become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become
a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of
the people. 18 Because he
himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being
tested.
Word of the
Lord. Thanks be to God
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke the 2nd
chapter. Glory to you O Lord.
22 When the
time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, [Mary and
Joseph] 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”), 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.” 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. 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. 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God,
saying, 29 “Master, now you are
dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word, 30 for my
eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation
to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And the child’s father
and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 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 35 so that the inner
thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”
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, 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. 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. 39 When they
had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to
Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The 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
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
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
HYMN Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us #789
POST
COMMUNION PROCLAMATION AND PRAYER
BLESSING
HYMN God of Grace and God of Glory #705
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE Hymn to Joy Mary Schwartz
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