the epiphany of our lord january 5 and 6, 2013 the savior’s message web jan... · 2013-01-05 ·...
TRANSCRIPT
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
JANUARY 5 AND 6, 2013
The Savior’s Message: The word epiphany means “a showing, or revealing.” During the season of Epiphany we
see Jesus revealed as the Christ, the Son of God, who came to be our Savior. The Light of
the World has called us to be lights in this world as we share the light of the gospel with
all people!
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PERSONAL PRAYER UPON ENTERING GOD’S HOUSE
Give me a caring heart, O lord, to love and seek the lost. Overcome my fear,
and grant me courage to share my hope of salvation with those who have no
hope. Make me faithful in my daily life so that all I say and do may glorify you.
Amen
SERVING AT WORSHIP
PRESIDING PASTOR Pastor Keith Free
Our guest preacher today is Pastor Keith Free. He serves as the Administrator
for the WELS Board for Home Missions. His son Joshua serves as pastor at
Abiding Peace in Elgin. We thank Pastor Free for sharing God’s Word with us
today. Pastor Rutschow is attending the Conference of Presidents winter
meetings in Flordia. Pastor Schwartz is conducting a wedding in Wisconsin this
weekend.
ORGANIST Joan Richmond
OPENING HYMN 80 Angels from the Realms of Glory
ORDER OF WORSHIP Service of the Word and Sacrament on Page 26
STAND
M: The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.
CONFESSION OF SINS
M: God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with
humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our
sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.
C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature
sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words,
and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is
good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in
eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my
Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a
sinner.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given
his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as
a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all
your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the
Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
LORD, HAVE MERCY
M: For all that we need in life and for the wisdom to use all your
gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.
M: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from
your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of
Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ.
M: For the well-being of your holy Church in all the world and for
those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer,
O Lord.
M: Merciful God, maker and preserver of life, uphold us by your
power and keep us in your tender care:
M: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; his name is worthy
of praise.
O LORD, OUR LORD
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Let us pray.
BE SEATED
THE WORD
FIRST LESSON Isaiah 60:1-6
The glory of the Lord is revealed in Jesus, the Light of the World.
PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 72, p. 93
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 3:2-12
As lights in this world, may we continue to share the Light of Jesus with all
people!
VERSE OF THE DAY
P: Alleluia. We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.
Alleluia.
STAND
GOSPEL Matthew 2:1-12
The wise men visit the Light of the World and bring him the finest of offerings.
After the Gospel, the congregation sings:
BE SEATED
HYMN OF THE DAY 84 Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
SERMON “A Mission Heart Has Christ-like Compassion” - Matthew 9:35-38
I. Christ shows us what compassion is
II. Christ shows us who needs compassion
STAND
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 fully 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 in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and
glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian 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. BE SEATED
OFFERING
STAND
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
LORD’S PRAYER
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 SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
This congregation practices close Communion.
We ask that only members and those who have registered with our pastors before the service partake
of the Sacrament.
M: The Lord be with you.
M: Lift up your hearts.
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
M: Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love he has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
M: In the past he spoke to us through the prophets, but in these last days he
has spoken to us by his Son, who is the radiance of his glory.
M: Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ. To him who sits on the throne and to the
Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and
when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in
remembrance of me.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink
from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured
out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in
remembrance of me.”
M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD
BE SEATED
PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION
Lord, I am not worthy to be a guest at your holy table. But you are the
friend of sinners, and you will not cast me out. This bread is your body,
which bore my sins upon the tree. This wine is your blood, which purifies
me from all guilt. At your invitation, I come rejoicing. Receive me, my
Savior. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS (SUNDAY)
313 Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior
560 I Hear the Savior Calling
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for nourishing me in this sacrament with
your body and blood. You have given me forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Let me always remain in you as a branch remains in the vine. Send me
out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.
Amen.
THANKSGIVING
STAND
THANK THE LORD
M: Hear the prayer of your people, O Lord, that the lips which have
praised you here may glorify you in the world, that the eyes
which have seen the coming of your Son may long for his
coming again, and that all who have received in his true body and
blood the pledge of your forgiveness may be restored to live a
new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one
another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
BE SEATED
CLOSING HYMN (SATURDAY) 560, VSS. 1, 5
PERSONAL PRAYER AS THE CANDLES ARE EXTINGUISED
Hymn 79, v. 1
How lovely shines the Morning Star! The nations see and hail afar
The light in Judah shining. O David’s Son of Jacob’s race,
My Bridegroom and my King of grace, For you my heart is pining.
Lowly, Holy, Great and Glorious, O victorious Prince of graces, Filling all the
heav’n’ly places. Amen.
Ever found yourself wondering:
Why am I here? Where am I going? What is the meaning of life?
Who is responsible for all the bad things going on in this world?
Why can’t I “decide” to believe in Jesus as my Savior?
What is “Close Communion” and why do we practice it?
What’s the difference between all the churches around us today?
What’s going to happen to me when I die?
If you’re not quite sure about the answers to these questions, then we have just the class for you!
Join us as we “go back to the basics” as to what we believe
and teach as WELS Lutherans. It’s a great review for those
who are already members here at Good Shepherd. For those
who wish to join us in membership and become part of the
Good Shepherd family, this would be the class by which you
would be able to do so.
Our next round of Bible Information Classes will begin on Sunday mornings, starting January 13th, from
9:30–10:20 AM.
Classes will continue to meet at the same time each week until the 14 lesson course is completed. We will meet in the school computer room.
All you need to do is bring yourself and your desire to grow in the knowledge of God and His Word! We’ll provide everything else that you’ll need for the course. Any questions? Talk to Pastor Schwartz!
Invite a Friend!
Although work had ceased, dust continued to rise, stirred by the evening breeze. The dust caked a workman’s sweaty brow. As he surveyed the destruction of the walls and the amount of work left to complete them, tears welled in his eyes and rolled down his dusty cheeks, creating glistening streams of sorrow. He faced the setting sun imagining that Jerusalem would never be rebuilt, wondering whether this was the sunset for his people or the darkness before the dawn. Around the dark hilltop of Jerusalem walked Nehemiah, a Judean who had risen to authority in the Persian Empire. His energy, sincerity and leadership were literally a Godsend to the Judeans trying to recover and restore their once great capital, Jerusalem. Nehemiah illustrates the need for godly leadership and how the Lord constantly hears and answers the cries of His people. Nehemiah’s story will inspire you to pray, organize, and overcome.
Nehemiah was a person of exalted rank at the court of the Persian king Artaxerxes. Though highly honored and enjoying the confidence of the great ruler, Nehemiah was seized with a desire to return to Jerusalem, the city of his fathers, because he was deeply moved by reports of the conditions existing there. His humble request, laid before Artaxerxes at a favorable moment, was willingly granted. Clothed with high authority, he proceeded to Jerusalem and soon succeeded in stopping the intrigues of the Samaritans. But the most important result of his labors was the complete restoration of the appointed worship, in which he was supported by Ezra.
(Excepts above taken from “The People’s Bible” and “The Lutheran Study Bible”)
As a continuation of our Fall Study of the Book of Daniel, we hope you can join us for our Winter / Spring Study of the Book of Nehemiah.
Winter Session: Wednesday, January 9th – Wednesday, February 6th
Lenten and Easter Break: Ash Wednesday, February 13th – Wednesday, April 3rd
Spring Session: Wednesday, April 10th – Wednesday, May 8th
We’ll begin at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall at church. Please consider joining us for this opportunity to grow in the knowledge of God and His Word!