PLEASE check your church mailbox.

SONS OF THUNDER will NOT be collecting empties this month. We will resume February 28^th.

PRAYERS FOR THE BOLDT FAMILIES…Helene Boldt, 362020daughter-in-law of members, Carol and Burt Boldt, is experiencing a life threating disease and is need of a live kidney donor. For more information on Helene’s condition and how you can help, Carol and Burt ask that you visit her website where you can submit questions and follow her progress:  heleneskidneyquest.life.  Please, spread the word!  Thank you, The Boldt Families.

DAUGHTERS OF FAITH will be Zooming our meetings starting Sunday, January 24th from 2:00 – 3:30pm. We will continue meeting through zoom on the fourth Sunday of each month from 2:00 – 3:30pm. We’re continuing our study of the Fruit of the Spirit. I look forward to seeing each of you face-to-face. And, of course, invite your friends to join us. I will be contacting each young lady before we meet.  Thank you, Judy Byrne.

“MY FAMILY and I would like to thank everyone at church for all the sympathy cards sent to us.  I thank the church for the surprise basket delivered to me with all the goodies which I enjoyed very much.  Bill had too many physical problems which he could not overcome.  I would like to thank Pastor Mongeau and Pastor Yeadon for the great conversations I had with them.  Thank you all very much, Barbara, Scott, Robert Nichols, and Nancy Morley.”

IF YOU gave a donation towards a Christmas flower you may take it home today.  Please leave the plastic dish.  Thank you, Altar Guild.

Confession and Absolution

901 Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty                                                      LSB 901

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C   who made heaven and earth.

P   If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C   But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P   Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C   Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                                    Ps. 40:1–5; antiphon: Ps. 40:10a, b

I have not hidden your deliverance with- | in my heart;*

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your sal- | vation;

I waited patiently | for the Lord;*

he inclined to me and | heard my cry.

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the | miry bog,*

and set my feet upon a rock, making my | steps secure.

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise | to our God.*

Many will see and fear, and put their trust | in the Lord.

Blessèd is the man who makes the | Lord his trust,*

who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray af- | ter a lie!

You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can com- | pare with you!*

I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than | can be told.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 204

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 204

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                               1 Samuel 3:1–10

¹Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

²At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. ³The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

⁴Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” ⁵and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

⁶And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” ⁷Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

⁸And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the young man. ⁹Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

A    This is the Word of the Lord.

C    Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                1 Corinthians 6:12–20

¹²“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. ¹³“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. ¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” ¹⁷But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. ¹⁸Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. ¹⁹Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                                   John 1:43–51

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

⁴³The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

⁵⁰Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed                                                                                      LSB 206

C   I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

412 The People That in Darkness Sat                                                     LSB 412

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Offering – Placed on the altar

Service of the Sacrament

Preface                                                                                              LSB 208

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Lift up your hearts.

C   We lift them to the Lord.

P   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C   It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P   It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus                                                                                               LSB 208

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                                  

P   Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

As the glory of Your presence once filled Your ancient temple, so in the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You manifested the fullness of Your glory in human flesh.

We give You thanks that in His most Holy Supper You reveal Your glory to us.  Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood so that we may one day behold Your glory face to face.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 209

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.

The Words of Our Lord                                                                                  

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 209

P   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C   Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 210

Sit

Distribution

783 Take My Life and Let It Be                                                             LSB 783

644 The Church’s One Foundation                                                LSB 644 sts. 1–5

Stand

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                      LSB 211

Post-Communion Collect                                                                               

A   Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Benedicamus and Benediction

A   Let us bless the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

P   The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C   Amen.

923 Almighty Father, Bless the Word                                                     LSB 923

2021 OFFERING ENVELOPES are on the table in the upper fellowship room. If you did not get envelopes, please leave a note on the secretary’s desk. ALSO: please be sure to use current year offering envelopes!

PRAYERS FOR THE BOLDT FAMILIES…Helene Boldt, kdaughter-in-law of members, Carol and Burt Boldt, is experiencing a life threating disease and is need of a live kidney donor. For more information on Helene’s condition and how you can help, Carol and Burt ask that you visit her website where you can submit questions and follow her progress:  heleneskidneyquest.life.  Please, spread the word!  Thank you, The Boldt Families

PLEASE check your church mailbox.

DAUGHTERS OF FAITH will be Zooming our meetings starting Sunday, January 24th from 2:00 – 3:30pm. We will continue meeting through zoom on the fourth Sunday of each month from 2:00 – 3:30pm. We’re continuing our study of the Fruit of the Spirit. I look forward to seeing each of you face-to-face. And, of course, invite your friends to join us. I will be contacting each young lady before we meet,  Judy Byrne

SONS OF THUNDER will NOT be collecting empties this month. We will resume February 28^th.  

Confession and Absolution

370 What Child Is This                                                                          LSB 370

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

P  In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P  Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C  who made heaven and earth.

P  If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C  But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P  Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C  Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P  Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Introit                                                                      Ps. 45:6–8a; antiphon: Ps. 45:17

I will cause your name to be remembered in all gener- | ations;*

therefore nations will praise you forever and | ever.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of up- | rightness;*

you have loved righteousness and hated | wickedness.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your com- | panions;*

your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and | cassia.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 204

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 204

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Let us pray.

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                  Isaiah 60:1–6

¹Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

²For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen upon you.

³And nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising.

⁴Lift up your eyes all around, and see;

they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from afar,

and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.

⁵Then you shall see and be radiant;

your heart shall thrill and exult,

because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

⁶A multitude of camels shall cover you,

the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                     Ephesians 3:1–12

¹For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ²assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                                Matthew 2:1–12

P  The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the second chapter.

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁶“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸And 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.” ⁹After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹²And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C  Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed                                                                                    LSB 207

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.

     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 T everlasting. Amen.

Sit

340 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates                                               LSB 340

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 209

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.

Offering – Placed on the altar.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A  Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, You instituted the office of the public ministry and instructed Your Church to call ministers of Your Word. Having prayed for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, we have called a pastor, the Rev. Bryan Stecker, to proclaim Your saving Gospel among us. Assist him to recognize the needs of this congregation and the welfare of Your kingdom and, if it be Your will, grant that he accept the call to serve among us. Hear us for Your own sake, as You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Benedicamus and Benediction

A  Let us bless the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

P  The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C  Amen.

394 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise                                                    LSB 394

2021 OFFERING ENVELOPES are on the table in the upper fellowship room. If you did not get envelopes, please leave a note on the secretary’s desk. ALSO: please be sure to use current year offering envelopes!

PRAYERS FOR THE BOLDT FAMILIES…Helene Boldt, daughter-in-law of members, Carol and Burt Boldt, is experiencing a life threating disease and is need of a live kidney donor. For more information on Helene’s condition and how you can help, Carol and Burt ask that you visit her website where you can submit questions and follow her progress:  heleneskidneyquest.life.  Please, spread the word!  Thank you, The Boldt Families

PASTOR MONGEAU will be taking time off December 27^th through January 7^th, 2021. Please contact our head Elder, Bob Brown or Congregational President Joe Eversole if you have an emergency at church or call the church office.  Pastor Yeadon will covering for any pastoral emergency: cell 860-307-0809, home 860-738-7400.

A SPECIAL COUNCIL meeting was held December 14^th and Council has decided to bring the Call Committee recommendation before the Congregation.  The format for this will be a Special Voter’s meeting Sunday, January 3^rd, 2021 at 2:00pm.  Due to the current restrictions on gathering, this meeting will be done via Zoom.  Please refer to the Voter’s Assembly email that was sent out concerning the method for attending the Zoom meeting, the agenda, other instructions and additional information regarding Calling a Candidate. 

In his service,

Joseph D Eversole

PLEASE check your church mailbox. 

Confession and Absolution

981 To Your Temple, Lord, I Come                                                        LSB 981

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C   who made heaven and earth.

P   If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C   But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P   Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Kneel/Stand

C   Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

Stand

Service of the Word

Introit                                                             Ps. 147:1, 5, 11–12; antiphon: John 1:14

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his | glory,*

glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of | grace and truth.

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises | to our God;*

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is | fitting.

Great is our Lord, and abun- | dant in power;*

his understanding is beyond | measure.

But the Lord takes pleasure in those who | fear him,*

in those who hope in his | steadfast love.

Praise the Lord, O Je- | rusalem!*

Praise your God, O | Zion!

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 204

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 204

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the trueLight of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                 1 Kings 3:4–15

⁴ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” ⁶And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. ⁷And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. ⁹Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

¹⁰It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹²behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. ¹³I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. ¹⁴And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

¹⁵And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                     Ephesians 1:3–14

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

¹¹In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹²so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. ¹³In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                                   Luke 2:40–52

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ⁴³And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed                                                                                      LSB 206

C   I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Sit

410 Within the Father’s House                                                              LSB 410

Sermon – “Lessons from Luke for 2021”     Luke 2:40-52

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Offering –  Placed on the altar.

Service of the Sacrament

Stand

Preface                                                                                              LSB 208

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Lift up your hearts.

C   We lift them to the Lord.

P   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C   It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P   It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                                  

P   Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

In the beginning You created all things by Your Word; and in the fullness of time Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.

Let Your Word made flesh dwell richly among us that, faithfully eating His body and drinking His blood, we may receive the fullness of Your grace and truth in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 209

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.

The Words of Our Lord                                                                                  

P   Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

P   In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 209

P   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C   Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 210

Sit

Distribution

383 A Great and Mighty Wonder

Public domain

686 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing                                               LSB 686

Stand

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                      LSB 211

Post-Communion Collect                                                                               

A   Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Benedicamus and Benediction

A   Let us bless the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

P   The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C   Amen.

850 God of Grace and God of Glory                                                       LSB 850

TODAY is the LAST DAY to submit your “Christmas Flowers” dedication!

2021 OFFERING ENVELOPES are on the table in the upper fellowship room. If you did not get envelopes, please leave a note on the secretary’s desk.

DAUGHTERS OF FAITH: Emily, Sadie, Mia, and Cheyenne…..Christmas Gift Boxes and Bible Study material will be left for you on the snack table in the church kitchen today.    

SONS OF THUNDER UPDATE: the boys are thankful for the church family’s participation in the monthly bottle drive event.  Just a few reminders…there will be NO collection in January, we will restart in February, glass bottles will NO longer be accepted due to the difficulty of redeeming them, and we ask that you rinse your plastic bottles and cans before you drop them off at St. Paul’s.  Thank you, Sons of Thunder Team.

    CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULE:

• 2:00pm: limited singing.
• 5:00pm: recorded music, masks required, no singing.
• 7:00pm: candlelight service, limited singing.

Reservations are required for all Christmas Eve Services. Please refer to the church email sent out on Wednesday, December 9th.

     CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE SCHEDULE:

• 9:00am: with Holy Communion.

PRAYERS FOR THE BOLDT FAMILIES…Helene Boldt, daughter-in-law of members, Carol and Burt Boldt, is experiencing a life threating disease and is need of a live kidney donor. For more information on Helene’s condition and how you can help, Carol and Burt ask that you visit her website where you can submit questions and follow her progress:  heleneskidneyquest.life.  Please, spread the word!  Thank you, The Boldt Families

PLEASE CHECK your mailbox! 

PASTOR MONGEAU will be taking time off from December 27^th through January 7^th, 2021. Please contact our head Elder, Bob Brown or Congregational President Joe Eversole if you have an emergency at church or call the church office.  Pastor Yeadon will covering for any pastoral emergency. Cell 860-307-0809, Home 860-738-7400.

Confession and Absolution

367 Angels from the Realms of Glory                                                     LSB 367

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P  In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C  But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P  Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C  Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P  Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Introit                                                               Ps. 19:1, 4c, 5–6; antiphon: Is. 45:8a, b

Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down | righteousness;*

let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may | bear fruit.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his | handiwork.*

In them he has set a tent | for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his | chamber,*

and, like a strong man, runs its | course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the | end of them,*

and there is nothing hidden | from its heat.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 152

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Let us pray.

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                           2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16

¹Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, ²the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” ³And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, ⁵“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? ⁶I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. ⁷In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ ⁸Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. ⁹And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

¹⁶And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                     Romans 16:25–27

²⁵Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— ²⁷to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                                   Luke 1:26–38

P  The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the first chapter.

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³²He 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 father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵And the angel answered 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 called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C  Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed                                                                                               

C  I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

 And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

370 What Child Is This                                                                          LSB 370

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Offering – Placed on altar.

You may be seated as the altar is prepared.

Service of the Sacrament

Preface                                                                                              LSB 160

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Lift up your hearts.

C  We lift them to the Lord.

P  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C  It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P  It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory.  Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus                                                                                               LSB 161

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                         LSB 161

P  Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross. 

Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament.  Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end.  Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 162

P  Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

The Words of Our Lord                                                                         LSB 162

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 163

P  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C  Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 163

Sit

Distribution

393 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly                                                                LSB 393

388 Go Tell It on the Mountain                                                             LSB 388

Stand

Post-Communion Canticle

Thank the Lord                                                                                    LSB 164

Post-Communion Collect                                                                               

A  Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 166

365 Away in a Manger                                                                          LSB 365

SONS OF THUNDER UPDATE: the boys are thankful for the church family’s participation in the monthly bottle drive event.  Just a few reminders…there will be NO collection in January, we will restart in February, glass bottles will NO longer be accepted due to the difficulty of redeeming them, and we ask that you clean your plastic bottles and cans before you drop them off at St. Paul’s.  Thank you, Sons of Thunder Team.

    CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULE:

• 2:00pm: limited singing.
• 5:00pm: recorded music, masks required, no singing.
• 7:00pm: candlelight service, limited singing.

Reservations are required for all Christmas Eve Services. Please refer to the church email sent out on Wednesday, December 9th.

     CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE SCHEDULE:

• 9:00am: with Holy Communion.

PRAYERS FOR THE BOLDT FAMILIES…Helene Boldt, daughter-in-law of members, Carol and Burt Boldt, is experiencing a life threating disease and is need of a live kidney donor. For more information on Helene’s condition and how you can help, Carol and Burt ask that you visit her website where you can submit questions and follow her progress:  heleneskidneyquest.life.  Please, spread the word!  Thank you, The Boldt Families

PLEASE CHECK your mailbox! 

DAUGHTERS OF FAITH: Emily, Sadie, Mia, and Cheyenne…..Christmas Gift Boxes and Bible Study material will be left for you on the snack table in the church kitchen on December 20^th.  Questions, please contact Judy Byrne. 

Confession and Absolution

515 Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers                                                            LSB 515

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                                 Ps. 85:8–9, 12–13; antiphon: Ps. 85:7

Show us your steadfast love, | O Lord,*

and grant us your sal- | vation.

Let me hear what God the | Lord will speak,*

for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to | folly.

Surely his salvation is near to those who | fear him,*

that glory may dwell | in our land.

Yes, the Lord will give | what is good,*

and our land will yield its | increase.

Righteousness will go be- | fore him*

and make his foot- | steps a way.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 152

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                           Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11

¹The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

³to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins;

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

⁸For I the Lord love justice;

I hate robbery and wrong;

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹Their offspring shall be known among the nations,

and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge them,

that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

¹¹For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to sprout up before all the nations.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                              1 Thessalonians 5:16–24

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies, ²¹but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.

²³Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                             John 1:6–8, 19–28

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

¹⁹And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²²So they said to him, “Who are you?

We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

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.

     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 T everlasting. Amen.

376 Once in Royal David’s City                                                              LSB 376

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 162

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.

Offering – Placed on altar.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A   Let us pray.

Almighty and merciful God, we have again worshiped in Your presence and received both forgiveness for our many sins and the assurance of Your love in Jesus Christ. We thank You for this undeserved grace and ask You to keep us in faith until we inherit eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C   Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 166

P   The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you

     and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C   Amen.

386 Now Sing We, Now Rejoice                                                            LSB 386