Everything you need for December 31 online worship.
Preparations for Worship:
- Do your best to eliminate distractions like the phone, TV, etc.
- Worship actively! Whether you are by yourself or with others, try reading the parts of the service aloud (responses, lessons, and prayers).
- This service is for children too. Help them participate. Ask those who have that ability to read a prayer or lesson aloud. Take a moment to describe what’s happening. Ask questions. Encourage little ones to draw what they are hearing while you all listen. Unlike our more typical Sunday worship at church, you can pause at any time for questions and discussion.
- Before you begin, load each of the videos below. (You might first have to get past a distracting ad.)
- Pause for a moment of quiet meditation. Then pray:
“Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and speak your praise. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
INVOCATION
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty God, in mercy you sent your one and only Son to take upon himself our human nature. By his gracious coming, deliver us from the corruption of our sin, and transform us into the likeness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
LESSON – 1 KINGS 8:6-13
6The priests brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim, 7for the cherubim were spreading their wings over the place for the ark, so that the cherubim covered the ark and its poles with their wings. 8The poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day.
9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets, which Moses had placed there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt.
10When the priests came out from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the House of the Lord. 11The priests were not able to take their positions to minister in the presence of the cloud, because the Glory of the Lord had filled the House of the Lord.
12Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he dwells in thick darkness. 13I have truly built a majestic house for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”
LESSON – COLOSSIANS 3:12-17
12Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone else. Forgive, just as Christ forgave you. 14And, in addition to all these things, put on love, which ties things together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, to which you were also called, in one body. And be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And everything you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
DEVOTION – LUKE 2:22-40
OFFERING
Offerings may be given on-line at tithe.ly/risensavior, mailed to the church, or dropped off at the church.
Our members have joined together in faith and love to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Eternal Lord God, in the fullness of time, You sent forth Your Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem us and give us the adoption as Your sons and heirs. Hear us, Father, as we call to You in His name.
Give us grace to rejoice in Christ’s blessed incarnation, and grant us a glad new year.
Lead Your Church, Lord, to follow the example of blessed Simeon. Help those who have lost your Spirit that they may know you as Father and Savior.
Let us embrace the Christ Child by Word and faith, and so be ready to depart whenever we are called.
Gracious Lord, receive our prayers for those who suffer from loneliness. Comfort them with the sure and certain knowledge that You will never forsake them.
Give them family and friends within the household of faith with whom they can find loving companionship.
Almighty God, you have used world events to position our missionary in Germany. Pour out your Holy Spirit on him as he hosts discussions with a dozen sister church bodies across Europe. Grant your blessing also to those involved with our mission in London, which has many opportunities to share Jesus with immigrants surging into the city. Then, we commend to your care the instruction of students and the continuing education of experienced pastors through the seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Germany.
By your Spirit’s power through the means of grace, keep them growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
Blessed Lord, help the sick and suffering. Surround them with Your love in Christ and, according to Your gracious will, heal them.
Comfort those who mourn and fill their hearts with the certain hope of the resurrection.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we here remember Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Gather us together 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 as Jesus taught us…
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.
PRAYER
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to this new day. Defend us with your mighty power, and grant that this day we neither fall into sin nor run into any kind of danger. And in all we do, direct us to what is right in your sight; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord T Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.