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Sunday Morning Worship -- First Sunday of Christmas
Pedro Suárez
Pedro Suárez
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Notes
Playlist

Liturgy

First Sunday of Christmas
Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Sunday, December 27, 2020 10:30 A.M.


Prelude       A Babe is Born in Bethlehem     J. S. Bach

Confession and Forgiveness
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily
magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Most merciful God,
We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.  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.  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.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in the church of Christ, and by his authority, I
therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Entrance       Good Christian Friends, Rejoice     ELW 288


Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.

Kyrie       Kyrie ELW 152

Prayer of the Day

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray. Almighty God, you wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and yet more wonderfully restored it. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of the one who came to share our humanity, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.


WORD


First Reading      Isaiah 61:10-11;c
    Chapter 61
 10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
 my whole being 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 with a garland,
 and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
 and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
 so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
 to spring up before all the nations.

    Chapter 62
1For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
 and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
 until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
 and her salvation like a burning torch.
 2The nations shall see your vindication,
 and all the kings your glory;
 and you shall be called by a new name
 that the mouth of the LORD will give.
 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
 and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm     Psalm 148

 1Praise the LORD!
 Praise the LORD from the heavens;
 praise him in the heights!
 2Praise him, all his angels;
 praise him, all his host!
 3Praise him, sun and moon;
 praise him, all you shining stars!
 4Praise him, you highest heavens,
 and you waters above the heavens!
 5Let them praise the name of the LORD,
 for he commanded and they were created.
 6He established them forever and ever;
 he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
 7Praise the LORD from the earth,
 you sea monsters and all deeps,
 8fire and hail, snow and frost,
 stormy wind fulfilling his command!
 9Mountains and all hills,
 fruit trees and all cedars!
 10Wild animals and all cattle,
 creeping things and flying birds!
 11Kings of the earth and all peoples,
 princes and all rulers of the earth!
 12Young men and women alike,
 old and young together!
 13Let them praise the name of the LORD,
 for his name alone is exalted;
 his glory is above earth and heaven.
 14He has raised up a horn for his people,
 praise for all his faithful,
 for the people of Israel who are close to him.
 Praise the LORD!

Second Reading     Galatians 4:4-7

4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Please stand.

Response   Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Holy Gospel      Saint Luke 2:22-40

The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, the second chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
 29"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
 according to your word;
 30for my eyes have seen your salvation,
 31which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
 and for glory to your people Israel."
33And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
36There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty- four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.

Homily     The Rev. Pedro M. Suarez, Bishop

Hymn of the Day      What Child Is This Hymn     ELW 296

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.


Prayers of Intercession
Drawn near to God as children and heirs of Christ's promise, we pray for all people of God, for our nation and our world, and for those in need.

A brief silence.

For the faith communities of our cities and towns and for faith communities throughout the world. Help us to see ourselves in our neighbors, especially those who differ from us, and draw us together in common service to those who are hungry, poor, and oppressed. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

For the well-being of the earth as we begin another year entrusted with its care. Give us lively imaginations to see ways to conserve its limited resources, harness its renewable energies, and conform ourselves to its
natural goodness. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

For peace among nations, for peace in our homes, and for peace in our hearts. Urge us to cry out at injustice and inequality among your people until vindication comes and righteousness prevails. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

For those who wait in the shadow of death, for those who are ill, for those who struggle to see the future, and for all who lack even their basic needs. Transform our love toward them with the vision of eyes that have seen the salvation of God. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

For those who cannot see, for those who cannot hear, for those who have varied use of their limbs, and for those able to exercise all the senses. Help us to appreciate the fullness of God's gift of life in our varied abilities, and to celebrate the diversity that reveals a more complete image of the one who
makes us all family. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We give thanks for those who have gone before us in this year and now rest in you. Let us live in your praise until the day we depart in your peace. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Into your outstretched arms, O God, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Jesus Christ, the light and life of the world. Amen.

Greeting of Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

The Offering: Special Music will play for one minute as we invite them to send their offerings to their ongregations.

Offertory Prayer
Let us pray. Good and loving God, we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace. As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be blessing for others. With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray 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.


SENDING

Benediction
Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us now and forever.

Sending Hymn       It Came upon the Midnight Clear    ELW 282

Dismissal

Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God! Alleluia, alleluia!

Postlude    Noel