ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH 

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNODLITTLETON, COLORADOJanuary 2 and 3, 2021

5 p.m. Saturday, 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORDThe Mystery of Christ

AS WE GATHER

We reflect today on what it means to belong. We may often feel out of place at school, at work, or perhaps even in our congregation. Perhaps the Wise Men felt like they were out of place in Jerusalem. Yet, regardless of feelings, God invites all people from all nations to be heirs of His kingdom. In Christ, we all belong, and we always will.

PREPARATION

Prelude “We Three Kings” Langlois

Pastoral Greeting

Opening Hymn “As with Gladness Men of Old” LSB 397Verses 1-4

Text and tune: Public domain

Invocation Confession of Sins Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.People: 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.

Absolution WORD

Spoken Kyrie (Divine Service, Setting One)Pastor: In peace let us pray to the Lord.People: Lord, have mercy.Pastor: For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.People: Lord, have mercy.Pastor: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God,

and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.People: Lord, have mercy.Pastor: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us

pray to the Lord.People: Lord, have mercy.Pastor: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.People: Amen.Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 3:4-15(Solomon prays to God for the gift of wisdom.) 

The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." Then Solomon awoke--and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.  

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.People: Thanks be to God.Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12(The Wise Men follow the star and come to worship Jesus.) 

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to Mark, the second Chapter.People: Glory to You, O Lord. 

 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to

worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

"‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.People: Praise to You, O Christ.Hymn of the Day "Angels from the Realms of Glory" (Verses 1-3) LSB 367

Sermon “A New Year’s Prayer” Pastor John Larson TEXT: I Kings 3:4-15

Apostles' Creed People: 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 everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Pastor: Lord, in your mercy…People: Hear our prayer.

Offering Offerings will be collected at the back, in the Narthex.

HOLY COMMUNION AT ASCENSION  

The Lord, our Host, invites to his Supper those who are baptized into the Christian faith, confess him as Savior, have been instructed and have examined themselves, truly repent of sins, believe the Risen Lord is present in the sacrament with his true body and blood, and resolve to live faithfully and obediently. For those with an intolerance to alcohol, the center ring of the tray contains grape juice. Gluten free wafers are available to those with wheat allergies. Children who have not been instructed, yet desire a blessing, are invited to come forward with arms crossed. When receiving the bread and wine, the communicant may respond with “Amen!”, a word of affirmation and belief.

SACRAMENT

Preface (Divine Service, Setting One)

Pastor: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Pastor: Lift up your hearts.People: We lift them to the Lord.Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Words of Institution

Lord’s Prayer

People: 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.

DISTRIBUTION MUSIC

"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" LSB 393

Tune and text: Public domain

"March of the Three Kings" (Organ) Gordon Young

General Communion Blessing

Benediction (Divine Service, Setting One)

Pastor: 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 give you peace.

People: Amen.

Closing Hymn “Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning” LSB 400Verses 1-2, 4-5

Tune and text: Public domain

Congregational Concerns

Dismissal

Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.People: Thanks be to God.

Postlude “Toccata on Good King Wenceslas” Gordon Young(and Row by Row Dismissal)

Serving in Worship 

 

OFFICIANT and CELEBRANT Pastor John LarsonDIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES Michael Zehnder