Welcome to ICYMI Worship! ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It; our ICYMI series gives a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.
At Cross of Christ, our basic worship order is based on worship patterns from Hebrew traditions and biblical accounts of the earliest Christians:
We GATHER with songs and prayer,
We HEAR God’s word,
We SHARE a meal of bread and wine,
We are SENT into the world to love and serve.
Let us know how this format works for you.
Today is The First Sunday of Christmas!
A LITANY FOR A NEW YEAR
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will be glad and rejoice in it.
This is the year that the Lord has begun.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Because of the Lord’s great love, we begin this new year with confidence, for God’s compassions never fail—they are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord.
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him.
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord.
Our Gathering song is Great Is Thy Faithfulness (ELW 733)
Prayer of the Day
Loving God maker of heaven and earth,
We join together this New Year’s Eve to praise you.
We enter your gates with thanksgiving,
And your courts with praise.
We praise you in this New Year,
We praise you that whatever the future holds,
We know that it is held in your hands.
We look back at this past year.
We see that you have been with us,
That you have provided for us and lead us in your ways.
We look forwards this New Year,
Unable to see beyond the next bend or over the horizon,
Yet we put our trust in your, for all our times are in your hands.
Grant us faith this coming year,
To live as your people,
To delight in your will,
And to walk in your ways.
This we pray in the name of your Son,
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Ringing in the New Year
As it was the final Sunday of the calendar year, we as a congregation had the chance to ring in the New Year with handbells, under the direction of our Carillon handbell choir director Colin Walker. After warming up with a simple version of Joy to the World, we launched into a slightly-edited version of Away in a Manger, originally arranged by Larry Sue, a composer who specializes in music for pairs and small groups. The whole congregation ringing sounded amazing, but perhaps not as beautifully played as it was in this video by Larry and his wife, Carla. If you rang with us this morning, thank you for being part of our experience, and if you missed it, please try to catch us next year–we’d love to have you!
This week’s readings are from Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 148, and Galatians 4:4-7
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
10 I 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.
11 For 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.
62 For 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.
2 The 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.
3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.[a]
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He 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!
Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our[a] hearts, crying, “Abba![b] Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
This week’s Gospel text is from Luke 2:22-40
22 When 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”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then 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 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There 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, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At 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.
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Pastor Dave’s Sermon Snapshot: “Ringing in the New Year”
Coming soon
The Hymn of the Day is Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (ELW 288)
Prayers of the People – 12/31/17
Coming soon!
The Communion song is What Child Is This? (ELW 296)
On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
All are welcome to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.
And because there’s always something going on, the Announcements!
OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK AND NEXT – The church office is closed Monday January 1) for New Year’s Day. Normal office hours resume on Tuesday, January 2. Thank you.
PLEASE CHECK LOST AND FOUND AND WILL CALL – It’s that time of year again when we prepare to donate unclaimed items. Please take a look through the Lost and Found and Will Call drawers in the Information Desk in the Narthex for items belonging to you. At the end of the year, all unclaimed items will be donated or discarded. Thank you.
WINTER SHELTER MEALS – To provide a meal for one of the local emergency shelters for women or families please sign up at: http://signup.com/go/tMaKqVQ. If you have questions about signing up, visit the Sophia Way website or contact Dorinda Otto at md.otto@hotmail.com
THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND SERVING – to all who are supporting the many outreach and service projects this time of year, including the Hopelink Giving Tree, Ark Early Learning Center basket sales that supports their scholarship fund, shelter meals and other support, and others. Giving Tree project coordinator Bob Shelley reports an overwhelming response this year (as in years past). A total of 216 individual gifts were donated, along with $1,540 for 61 gift cards, one single contribution being of $1,000. That was even more generous than last year’s strong effort resulting in 136 gifts and $1,100 for 44 gift cards. Together, Cross of Christ has brightened Christmas for over 450 disadvantaged children in the past two years! Bob and his team thank all who helped make this happen. Thanks to Art Hill for putting up the tree, Doug Lieberg for the special Scandinavian decorations, and members of the Community Outreach Committee for helping with the tags and for moving the gifts to temporary storage. Special thanks to Kay and Jay Marsh for helping move the gifts to Hopelink. I would also like to thank Pastor Dave for his ideas and unwavering support, Office Administrator Judy Giseburt for helping with supplies and with the CrossCurrents and bulletin articles. It was truly a team effort! And on behalf of the Church Council, thanks to all who have and will give special financial gifts and offerings this time of year to support the many ministries of Cross of Christ. God bless your generosity.
GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE AND COLUMBARIUM – Construction of additional columbarium wall spaces in the Garden of Remembrance is nearing completion. Forty-eight new niches were installed – 24 in each of the two new walls on each side of the original wall. Final details, inspection by the City of Bellevue, and cleanup of the nearby garden landscaping are now being completed. Sales of niches support the Garden upkeep, growth, and perpetual care and maintenance. Thanks to the Garden of Remembrance Committee – Sandra Volkman, Fred Corwin, Gorman Colling and Lee Thompson. Speak to any of them to learn more.
Benediction
Depart now in peace, for our eyes have seen the salvation
which God has prepared for all people.
Grow this New Year in strength and wisdom
and bring forth a harvest of righteousness and praise.
May God smile upon you this year, making you faithful and wise;
May the peace of Christ Jesus be yours each day;
And may the Holy Spirit be your constant companion and guide.
We go into the New Year in peace, to love and serve the Lord. Amen.
Our sending song is Lord Dismiss Us With Your Blessing (ELW 545)
By God’s grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to
Worship God
Grow in Faith
Share the Gospel
Serve others, and
Welcome all.
Thanks be to God!
