Description
Luke 2:22-40
Luke, in his Gospel, writes that Mary and Joseph followed the Law of Moses, by traveling to Jerusalem and presenting Jesus to the Lord and offering a sacrifice. There they meet Simeon and Anna who have been waiting for them. Simeon worships God and blesses them- and prophecies a difficult word for Mary to hear. Anna praises God and speaks of the child. Mary treasures all of this in her heart.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
Newborn King
Graham Kendrick & Paul Baloche © Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music [DC Cook])) Leadworship Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music [DC Cook])) Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
King of My Heart
John Mark McMillan & Sarah McMillan, © Meaux Jeaux Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Raucous Ruckus Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) McMillan, Sarah (Admin. by Moniker Music Group)
The First Noel
Traditional Carol, ©Public Domain
Available on www.PraiseCharts.com, www.LifewayWorship.com, www.MusicNotes.com
[Traditional Options]
Joy To The World
BH 75 88; BH 91 87; CH 270; CHH 143; EH 100; ELW 267; HWC 125; HPW 22; HFG 171; HLC 120; HGP 80; HSP 331; LBW 39; LSB 387; LW 53; NCH 132; PH 40; RH 118; RS 524; STTL 173; WC 146; UMH 246; WAR 179; WHM 135; WIS 172
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
BH 75 86; BH 91 93; CH 251; CHH 153; EH 89; ELW 282; HWC 128; HFG 197; HLC 104; HGP 65; HSP 340; LBW 54; LSB 366; LW 62; NCH 131; PH 38; RH 140; RS 498; STTL 168; WC 170; UMH 218; WAR 191; WHM 134; WIS 182
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
BH 75 79; BH 91 77; CH 244; CHH 125; EH 66; ELW 254; HWC 124; HFG 168; HLC 102; LBW 30; LSB 338; LW 22; NCH 122; PH 1,2; RH 115; RS 496; STTL 157; WC 135; UMH 196; WAR 153; WHM 121; WIS 181
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Worshipers
Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy. May the praise of God be in their mouths.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre.
Worshipers
And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, the people close to his heart.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Worshipers
How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, you invite me to trust you, even when, by human standards, something seems incomprehensible to me, when I do not understand the meaning. You invite me to trust you, the voice of the Holy Spirit. As trusted by all we meet today in the gospel. They respected the law and at the same time followed the Holy Spirit who surprises. Thus, in their daily lives, a moment of grace was revealed to them, which they could recognize in their faith. And at the same time, they just waited a long time, they didn’t understand. But they believed. You invite me to such faith. Lord, let me, like Simeon, and Anna, allow you to meet and embrace with you, and in your grace believe in your call. Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Worshipers
Our God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and full of unfailing love.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds—they haunt me day and night.
Worshipers
God will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
Worshipers
God has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Our God is merciful and gracious.
Worshipers
For the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant; those who obey his commandments. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Isaiah prophecies of the year of the Lord’s favor. Isaiah compares this to a wedding- a bridegroom and bride adorning themselves. Righteousness will spring up! Jerusalem will be vindicated- all the nations will see. Jerusalem will be a crown of splendor!
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. 2 The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. 3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
