January 1st, 2017

The Name of Jesus

Holy Communion

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

ELW 4

J. S. Bach

The old year now hath passed away;

We thank Thee, O our God, today
That Thou hast kept us through the year
When danger and distress were near.

INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY

By Jewish law, every baby boy was circumcised and named on the eighth
day of life, so on the eighth day of Christmas the church celebrates this
event in Jesus' life. From the beginning, by virtue of our baptism, we are
called Christian. We were Christ-ened at the font. Bearing his name, we
share the same Father and are invited to address him intimately: Abba!
Jesus bears our sins in humble obedience to the will of the Father. Today
we pray that the mind of Christ, whose name we bear, would be our own. It
is a good way to begin, again, another year.

Das alte Jahr vergangen ist

(The Old Year has Passed Away)

INTRODUCTION AND INVOCATION

You are invited to stand for the invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
GATHERING SONG: Angels, from the Realms of Glory (ELW 275)
GREETING

CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags

and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed.
An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.
As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate
all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.
We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion
registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so
that we may record your presence with us.
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW
Almighty God, you wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and
yet more wonderfully restored it. In your mercy, let us share the divine life
of the one who came to share our humanity, Jesus Christ, your Son, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.

The grace of our Savior Jesus Christ, Word made flesh, born of Mary, be
with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray.
Eternal Father, you gave your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be a
sign of our salvation. Plant in every heart the love of the Savior of the
world, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please be seated.
CHILDRENS MESSAGE
SONG OF PRAISE Angels We Have Heard on High (ELW 289)

FIRST READING
22

Numbers 6:22-27

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
24The LORD bless you and keep you;
25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
27So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 8

Father! 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also
an heir, through God.

Tone:
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand for the reading of the gospel.

Refrain:

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
All sing the Alleluia. The choir will sing the verse, all repeat the Alleluia

1
O | LORD our Lord,
how majestic is your name in | all the earth!
2you whose glory is chanted above the heavens out of the mouths of
in- | fants and children; you have set up a fortress against your
enemies, to silence the foe | and avenger.
3
When I consider your heavens, the work | of your fingers,
the moon and the stars you have set | in their courses,
4what are mere mortals that you should be mind- | ful of them,
human beings that you should | care for them? R
5Yet you have made them little less | than divine;
with glory and hon- | or you crown them.
6You have made them rule over the works | of your hands;
you have put all things un- | der their feet:
7all | flocks and cattle,
even the wild beasts | of the field,
8the birds of the air, the fish | of the sea,
and whatever passes along the paths | of the sea.
9O | LORD our Lord,
how majestic is your name in | all the earth! R
SECOND READING: Galatians 4:4-7
A reading from Galatians.
Paul proclaims the ultimate significance of the nativity: Jesus was born the
Son of God so that, because of him, we all may be Gods children.
4

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman,
born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so
that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba!

Verse: They made known what had been told them a- | bout this child;
and all who heard it were amazed at what the | shepherds told
them.
(Luke 2:17)
GOSPEL: Luke 2:15-21
The holy gospel according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
15

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to
one another, Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken
place, which the Lord has made known to us. 16So they went with haste
and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When
they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this
child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told
them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her
heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they
had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he
was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in
the womb.

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Each petition ends with:

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Please be seated.
Pastor may offer other prayers.

SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson

Silence for reflection, then we invite you to stand as we sing:
HYMN OF THE DAY: Away in a Manger

(ELW 277)

NICENE CREED
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, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the
virgin Mary and became truly human. 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, who with the Father and the Son is
worshiped and glorified, who 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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Rejoicing in the good news of Christs birth and dwelling in hope, let us
pray for the church, those in need, and all of creation.
We invite you to kneel or sit as you are able.

Hear the prayers of your people, glorious God, for the sake of the one who
took on our nature and form to redeem the whole world, Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord. Amen.
We invite you to stand and greet one another in the peace of Christ.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Please be seated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERTORY

Chorale Meditation on Away in a Manger

Wells

We invite you to please stand.

OFFERTORY HYMN In the Bleak Midwinter (ELW 294)
OFFERING PRAYER
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 a blessing for others. With the trees of the field, with all
earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
DIALOGUE

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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
PREFACE

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Please be seated.

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christs body and
blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as
Gods guest; we are honored by your presence. We recognize the Body of
Christ as the community of the baptized, so if you would like to become
part of the Body of Christ, we encourage you to seek baptism. If you cant
or dont wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over
your chest for a blessing as you come forward.
LAMB OF GOD

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Holy God, Creator of all and Source of life, at the birth of time your word
brought light into the worldThrough him all glory and honor is yours,
Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and
forever.
Amen.

COMMUNION HYMN: The First Noel (ELW 300)

After all have communed, we invite you to stand and sing.
SONG AFTER COMMUNION Now, Lord (ELW 201)

BLESSING
Jesus is the promised Savior, born of Mary. May his birth among us renew
your hope.
Amen.
May Christ, born into time to bring endless peace, guide your days and
years in righteousness from this time forth forevermore.
Amen.
Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.
We invite you to please stand and sing.
SENDING SONG: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (ELW 288)
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE

Offertoire

Dandrieu

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Radiant God, with our eyes we have seen your salvation, and in this meal
we have feasted on your grace. May your Word take flesh in us, that we
may be your holy people, revealing your glory made known to us in Jesus
Christ our Savior.
Amen.

Name of Jesus
Sunday, January 01, 2017
By Jewish law, every baby boy was circumcised and named on the eighth
day of life, so on the eighth day of Christmas the church celebrates this
event in Jesus' life. The keeping of the covenant as well as Jesus' name are
signs of God's salvation given to us through him.
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, renewer of the church, died 1872
Monday, January 02, 2017
A nineteenth-century German Lutheran pastor, Loehe worked to enliven the
church with the eucharist at its center, from which would flow evangelism
and social ministry. He sent pastors to North America, Australia, New
Guinea, Brazil, and the Ukraine.