Everything you need for January 9 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.”
CONFESSION OF SINS
The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. And also with you.
We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.
God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O almighty God, you have always given your Church faithful shepherds to feed and nourish your flock. Grant that all pastors may rightly preach your Word and administer your sacraments that your people may be guided in the way that leads to eternal life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
LESSON – TITUS 1:1-9
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect people and the knowledge of the truth that conforms to godliness, 2based on the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. 3At the proper time he revealed this in his word, in the preaching that was entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, 4To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 5The reason I left you in Crete was so that you would set in order the things that were left unfinished and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you. 6Such a man is to be blameless, the husband of only one wife, and to have believing children who are not open to a charge of wild living or disobedience. 7Indeed an overseer, since he is God’s steward, must be blameless, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not eager for dishonest gain. 8Instead, he must be hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, upright, devout, and disciplined. 9He must cling to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he will be able both to encourage people by the sound teaching and also to correct those who oppose him.
GOSPEL – LUKE 10:1-9
After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go your way. Look, I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4Do not carry a money bag or traveler’s bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the way. 5Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6And if a peaceful person is there, your peace will rest on him, but if not, it will return to you. 7Remain in that same house, eating and drinking what they give you, because the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not keep moving from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and they welcome you, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are in the town and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’
DEVOTION – ACTS 20:28-35
CONFESSION OF FAITH
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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.
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
Heavenly Father, You have fulfilled all righteousness in the Baptism of Your beloved Son.
As we have received this righteousness by our Baptism into Him, make us bold in faith and fervent in love, that we may live out heavenly lives even in this world.
Preserve all pastors and teachers, that they hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught so that they, like St. Titus, may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it! Give us ears to hear their preaching in repentance and faith. Preserve them from falsehood, greed and unholy living.
We commend them to You and the Word of Your grace, that when the chief Shepherd appears, He may declare, Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your master.
Turn husband and wife toward one another in love, equip fathers and mothers for their holy duty as teachers of the faith, and preserve all children in the saving faith and certain promises of their Baptism unto life everlasting.
Preserve the family, O God, especially all Christian homes.
Heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus, is the true Christ and the true king of this world. Grant great humility to the rulers of the nations.
Cause them to submit to the preaching of your Holy Word for the sake of their own souls and for the good of Your holy people.
O Lord, You sent Your Son to serve Your people and deliver them from sin and death.
Because we long for Your salvation, bring us out of our afflictions and uphold all those bruised in spirit.
Lord, your Church’s work of sharing Christ’s good news is enhanced through use of the printed word, as Martin Luther realized. For that reason, we give thanks for Northwestern Publishing House and all the resources it has produced for our synod over its 130-year history. Please guide NPH as they search for a new president.
Grant wisdom and dedication to all the employees as they fulfill their duties in your name.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You manifested Yourself with the Holy Spirit in the fullness of grace at the Baptism of Your dear Son. Keep us, we implore You, in the true faith. Since we have been baptized, strengthen our faith by Your Holy Spirit and lead us to everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray…
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 LORD’S BLESSING
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. Amen.