December 29, 2024 11 A.M.
Welcome!
Introduction
On the first Sunday of Christmas, we find the boy Samuel and the boy Jesus, both in the temple, both growing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and humankind. We too have returned to the house of God “to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God,” who has gifted us with a savior. As the festival continues, “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” It is Christmas, still.
(please stand for our opening song)
We Sing: “We Three Kings”
| We three kings of Orient are: Bearing gifts we traverse afar – Field and fountain, moor and mountain – Following yonder star. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. | Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain: Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. |
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting.
C: Amen.
P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: God-with-us,
C: we confess that we have turned away those seeking shelter, claiming there is no room when we have plenty. We have made power and wealth our idols, while you show us true glory: a baby in a manger. We have overlooked the shepherds, expecting good news in prettier packaging. Too often, we have valued violence instead of your peace. Turn us from our ways to your ways. Grant us the grace to begin again. Free us from all that keeps us bound, and forgive our sin, through Jesus Christ, who gives himself for us. Amen.
P: Hear the good news and rejoice! You are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, ☩ forgiven in Christ, and freed to respond in joy.
C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
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.
(Please be seated for the readings)
First Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 5:2-5a
R: 18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord”; and then they would return to their home.
26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.
…This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Psalmody: Psalm 148
1 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights.
2 Praise the Lord, all you angels; sing praise, all you hosts of heaven.
3 Praise the Lord, | sun and moon; sing praise, all you shining stars.
4 Praise the Lord, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, who commanded, and they were created,
6 who made them stand fast forever and ever, giving them a law that shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps;
8 fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing God’s will;
9 mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars;
10 wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds;
11 sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world;
12 young men and maidens, old and young together.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, whose name only is exalted, whose splendor is over earth and heaven.
14 The 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: Colossians 3:12-17
R: 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
…This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
C: <sung>
🎵 Sing: Alleluia 🎶
D: 41 Now every year [Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
…This is the Gospel of the Lord
C: Praise to you, oh Christ
Wee Worship
We Sing: “What Child Is This”
| What child is this, who laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, The babe, the son of Mary! | So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come peasant, king, to own him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise the song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby; Joy, joy, for Christ is born, The babe, the son of Mary! |
Sermon(Pastor Jerry leFeber)
(please stand for the Apostles’ Creed)
Apostles’ Creed
C: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. On the third day, he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
(please be seated)
Prayers of Intercession
Filled with good news of great joy, let us offer our prayers for the church, the earth, and all people.
A brief silence.
For those who teach and those who learn, we pray. Bless the education ministries of your church. Guide Sunday school teachers, college and seminary professors, and Bible study leaders in our ongoing faith formation and curiosity. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
For the thriving of creation, we pray. Protect the habitats of pangolins and porcupines, penguins and parrots, and all wild animals and creeping things. Increase our knowledge of the natural world and the care of its inhabitants. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
For the nations of the world, we pray. Raise up rulers who lead with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Let your peace rule in their hearts and in all lands. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
For the well-being of your people, we pray. Keep watch over all who travel this holiday season. Accompany those who are alone or ill (especially). Console parents and children whose relationships are strained or severed. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
For the ministry of this place, St. John’s, we pray. Let the word of Christ dwell among us. In times of conflict, clothe us in love and move us to forgiveness. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
For your holy, beloved, and chosen ones of every time and place, we give thanks. Draw us all into everlasting praise and joy. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
We commend these prayers to you, O God, trusting your grace made known to all, through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
(stand)
The Sharing of the Peace:
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
P: We Greet one another with the Peace of Christ
We Sing: “I Wonder as I Wander”
I wonder as I wander,
out under the sky,
how Jesus the Savior did come
for to die for poor ord’n’ry people like
you and like I.
I wonder as I wander,
out under the sky.
Communion
P: Good and loving God, we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace. As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be blessing for others. With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Rejoice before your Lord.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh
you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory,
that, beholding the God made visible, we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of Power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
P: Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:
Blessed are you for the birth of creation.
Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you for your promise to your people.
Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dreams.
Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.
Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh.
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
P: Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
P: For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
C: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.
P: With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection. We look with hope for his coming.
C: Come, Lord Jesus.
P: Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth.
C: Come, Holy Spirit.
P: All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
P: We pray as Jesus taught us:
C: 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
P: A child has been born for us, a Son given to us. Come, receive the gift of Jesus.
(sit)
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Prayer after Communion
Merciful God, we thank you for Jesus, who is our heavenly food. Strengthened by this goodness, send us forth to announce your peace, comfort the afflicted, and share the good news of great joy.
Amen.
Blessing
The God of love, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, lavish you with grace, illumine your path, and increase your joy, today and always.
Amen.
Announcements
Birthdays
December 28 – Michael McCauley
30 – Joseph Schultz
Anniversary
January 2 – Charlene and Hans Sendlakowski
Weekly Calendar
Wednesday – Happy New Year
We Sing: “Go Tell It On The Mountain”
| Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and ev’rywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! | Down in a lonely manger the humble Christ was born; and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. | Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and ev’rywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! |
Dismissal
P: Go in peace. The Word of God dwells in you richly.
C: Thanks be to God.