First Sunday of Christmas
10:00 AM Service December 26, 2021
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Ringing of the Bell
(Please Stand)
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who sends the word with angels, who is made flesh among all peoples, and who breathes peace on all the earth.
C: Amen.
In Christ, we are bold to name our sin and cry out for peace.
(Silence is kept for reflection)
P: Holy God,
C: we confess our sin before you. We replace compassion with competition. We seek what is mighty while ignoring the meek. We are quick to anger but slow to forgive. We have not put on love in harmony with you. Wrap us in the grace of your powerful Word. Clothe our hearts with your peace, that all we do, in word or deed, may reflect your love born among us. Amen.
P: I bring you good news of great joy for all people: God has come among us in the child born of Mary, Christ the Lord. + In Christ your sins are forgiven and you are clothed in peace.
C: Amen.
Hymn # 289 “Angels We Have Heard on High” st. 1, 3
1. Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plans and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo; Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
3. Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing,
come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king. (Refrain)
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
L: Let us pray:
All: Shine into our hearts the light of your wisdom, O God, and open our minds to the knowledge of your word, that in all things we may think and act according to your good will and may live continually in the light of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
WORD
First Reading: 1 Samuel 2: 18—20, 26 Pg. 421
R: Word of God, Word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm Psalm 148 Pg. 982
PS 148:1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the
heights above.
PS 148:2 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
PS 148:3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
PS 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all
ocean depths,
PS 148:8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
PS 148:9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
PS 148:10 wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
PS 148:12 young men and maidens, old men and children.
PS 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 12—17 Pg. 1834
R: Word of God, Word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Hymn # 288 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” sts. 1—2
1. Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today; ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
2. Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this! He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore. Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Luke 2: 21—35 Pg. 1591
Hymn # 272 “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” sts. 1, 4
1. Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming as seers of old have sung, it came, a flow’r so bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.
4. O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woe; O Savior, king of glory, who dost our weakness know; bring us at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven and into endless day.
Luke 2: 36—40 Pg. 1592
Hymn # 417 “In His Temple Now Behold Him” sts. 1—3
1. In his temple now behold him, see the long expected Lord; ancient prophets had foretold him, God has sent the promised Word. Now to praise him, his redeemed shall break forth with one accord.
2. In the arms of her who bore him, virgin pure, behold him lie, while his aged saints adore him, ere in perfect faith they die. Alleluia! Alleluia! Lo, the incarnate God Most High!
3. Jesus, by your presentation, when they blessed you, wea and poor, make us see your great salvation, seal us with your promised sure; and present us, in your glory, to your Father, cleansed and pure.
Luke 2: 41—52 Pg. 1592
Sermon
(Please Stand)
Hymn # 292 “Love Has Come” sts. 1—3
1. Love has come a light in the darkness! Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies. See, all heaven has come to proclaim it; hear how their song of joy arises: Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on high
2. Love is born! Come, share in the wonder. Love is God now asleep in the hay. See the glow of his mother, what is heart is saying? Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers; Love! Love! Jesus, Immanuel.
3. Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free. Love is Jesus within and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking. Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas. Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!
L: With the whole church, let us confess our faith:
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen
The Prayers
L: . . .Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
Offering
L: O Mighty One,
C: You have done great things for us, and holy is your name. Bless all we offer you—ourselves, our time, and our possessions—that through us your grace and favor may be made known to all the world; for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us:
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
SENDING
Blessing
Hymn #290 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” sts. 1, 3
Refrain: Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
1. While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (Refrain)
3. Down in a lonely manger the humble Christ was born; and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. (Refrain)
L: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude