December 29th: The First Sunday of Christmas

First Lutheran Church

Our mission is to know Jesus and to make Jesus known. -John 17

PRELUDE

HYMN: "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful" Red 283, vss. 1, 2 & 4

GREETING: Beloved in Christ, we are gathered together this Christmas to prepare our hearts for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ; to meditate upon the mystery of that Incarnation by which our nature is redeemed, and to receive with joy the message of our salvation.

PRAYER: Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him. Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I. MARY

HYMN: "What Child is This" Red 296, vss. 1 & 2

LUKE 1:26-35: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words, and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

PRAYER: Almighty God, in choosing the virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son, you made known your gracious regard for the poor and lowly. Grant us grace to receive your Word in humility, and so to be made one with your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

II. JOSEPH

HYMN: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" Red 279, vss. 1 & 4

MATTHEW 1:18-21: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

PRAYER: O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your Son and the spouse of his mother: Give us grace to imitate his life and his obedience to your commands. Amen.

III. THE STAR

HYMN: "The First Noel" Red 300, vss. 1, 3 & 4

MATTHEW 2:1-2, 7-10: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born the king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly, and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way, and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, til it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

MATTHEW 6:21: Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"
The Gospel of the Lord, Praise to you, O Christ!

5 T'S OF STEWARDSHIP: TREASURE/WISE MEN by Norm Osero

OFFERING

PRAYER: O God, by the leading of  a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IV: ANGELS

HYMN: "Angels We Have Heard on High" Red 289, vss. 1 & 3

LUKE 2:8-14: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

PRAYER: Almighty God, you have made yourself known in your Son, Jesus, redeemer of the world. We pray that his birth as a child will set us free from the old slavery of our sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

V: THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

HYMN: "Joy to the World" Red 267, vss. 1, 3 & 4

LUKE 2:1-7: In those days a decree went out from the Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph 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. He went to be registered with Mary, to whome he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And 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.

PRAYER: Loving God, like Mary and Joseph, who trusted in your grace despite their fear, their poverty, their lack of certainty, we offer ourselves and our figts to you. Bless our offering and hallow our every thought and action, that Christ may be born in us and through us be revealed to those who yet walk in darkness.

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.

SONG OF SIMEON: Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to lighten the nations and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Luke 2:29-32