January 5, 2025

January 5, 2025    11 A.M.

Welcome!

Introduction

Within the gospel reading’s profound words lies the simple message that God is revealed in a human person. Though we may try to understand how the Word existed with God from the beginning of time, the wonder we celebrate at Christmas is that the Word continues to dwell among us. Christ comes among us in the gathered assembly, the scriptures, the waters of new birth, and the bread and the wine. Through these ordinary gifts we receive the fullness of God’s grace and truth.

(please stand for our opening song)

We Sing: “Angels From the Realms of Glory”

Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Once you sang creation’s story; Now proclaim Messiah’s birth: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn king.

Shepherds in the fields abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn king.

All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising To th’eternal Three in One. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ the newborn king.

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

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.

(Please be seated for the readings)

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-14

R: ⁷ Thus 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.” ⁸ See, 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.
 ⁹ With 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.
 ¹⁰ Hear 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.” ¹¹ For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. ¹² They 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.
 

¹³ Then 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. ¹⁴ I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord.

…This is the Word of the Lord

C: Thanks be to God

Psalmody: Psalm 147:12-20

 ¹² Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,
 ¹³ who has strengthened the bars of your gates and has blessed your children

      within you.
 ¹⁴ God has established peace on your borders and satisfies you with the finest wheat.
 ¹⁵ God sends out a command to the earth, a word that runs very swiftly. 
 ¹⁶ God gives snow like wool, scattering frost like ashes.
 ¹⁷ God scatters hail like bread crumbs. Who can stand against God’s cold?
 ¹⁸ The Lord sends forth the word and melts them; the wind blows, and the waters flow.
 ¹⁹ God declares the word to Jacob, statutes and judgments to Israel.
 ²⁰ The Lord has not done so to any other nation; they do not know God’s judgments.

      Hallelujah!

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

R:  ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. ⁵ He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight ⁹ he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ¹¹ In 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, ¹² so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. ¹³ In 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; ¹⁴ this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

…This is the Word of the Lord

C: Thanks be to God

Gospel: John 1:[1-9]10-18

C:     <sung>                                      

🎵  Sing:   Alleluia  🎶

D:  [¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
  ⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸ He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.]
  ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹² But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
  ¹⁴ And 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.’ ”) ¹⁶ From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

…This is the Gospel of the Lord

C: Praise to you, oh Christ

Wee Worship

We Sing: “The First Noel” 

The first Noel the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.	They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
Then entered in those Wise Men three, Full rev’rently upon their knee, And offer’d there in His presence, Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

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.

O God, you reveal yourself in this assembly. In water, wine, and bread, show us again and again your grace upon grace, that your church boldly testifies to your love. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

You reveal yourself in creation. In seedlings and planets, microorganisms and galaxies, awaken us to the cry of the earth. As you nourish your people like a watered garden, empower us to nourish our creaturely companions. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

You reveal yourself in every land and in the farthest parts of the earth. Deliver peoples who suffer under oppressive regimes. Thwart the foolish plans of unjust leaders. Give wisdom to our elected officials. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

You reveal yourself in every human being. Help us recognize your image in our siblings in Christ who are in the strong grip of addiction, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, or other illness (especially). Grant us compassion in our care for your people. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

You reveal yourself anew every day. In this new year, renew this congregation and its ministries in our witness to the good news of the incarnation. Transform the way we have always done things into your new future for us. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

You reveal yourself in the lives of your holy ones. We give you thanks for those who set their hope on you, trusting the inheritance we receive in you. 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: “What Feast of Love”  #701 WOV

What feast of love is offered here,

what banquet come from heaven?

What food of everlasting life,

what gracious gift is given?

This, this is Christ the king,

the bread come down from heaven.

Oh, taste and see and sing!

How sweet the manna given!

Communion

P:  God of heaven and earth,

from the beginning, you have called forth life,

in which you take delight.

The trees, the fields, and the seas sing for joy.

Bless now these gifts, received from your bounty,

that we may join the chorus of creation

to tell of your salvation from day to day.

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)

PowerPoint Video & Distribution

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

January 5 – Isaac Clayson

             6 – Julie Glover, Nicole Handmore, Curtis McCoy, Randy Wetherby, Marc Wolf

January 11 – Marsha Hartnett

Weekly Calendar

Wednesday – 10 am – Stitching

                    10am – Bible Study at Immanuel

                    6 pm – Prayer Group

Thursday –    9 am – Quilting

We Sing:  “As With Gladness Men of Old” 

As with gladness men of old, did the guiding star behold; As with joy they hailed its light,  leading onward, beaming bright: So, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led by thee.

In the heav’nly country bright need they no created light; thou its light, its joy, its crown,  thou its sun which goes not down; there forever may we sing alleluias to our King.

Dismissal

P: Go in peace. The Word of God dwells in you richly.

C: Thanks be to God.