I Say Uh – Faith-First Sunday after Christmas-LCMS Readings

Description

Isaiah 63:7-9

There is nothing so over as Christmas, especially when the first Sunday after Christmas falls on December 26, the day immediately following Christmas.  People are spent.  They’ve worshipped and celebrated and unwrapped and toys are already broken.  And a weariness sets in.  What does it mean, this good news of great joy that is to all people?  How is the message of Christmas worked out in the routine of our living?  The prophet proclaims that we have been redeemed, and we now begin the process of living as those who know God is not only in our midst, but actually within us.  In the day to day and the moment to moment, we live by faith in the One Who gave Himself for us – and when we do – Christmas never ends.

 

+ WE PREPARE TO WORSHIP +

[Worship Planners: A Worship CD and/or the praise team can play in the background 10-15 minutes before the service.]

 

TIME OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP

I Walk By Faith 

Chris Falson, © 1990,1999 Maranatha! Music

Song of Hope

Robbie Seay, Taylor Johnson, Ryan Owens, Chase Jenkins, Dan Hamilton, Tedd Tjornhom, ©2007 Birdwing Music (ASCAP), Meaux Hits (ASCAP) and Tedasia Music Admin by EMI CMG Publishing (ASCAP)

My Glorious

Martin Smith & Stuart Garrard, © 2000 Curious? Music UK (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

[Tradtional Options]

A Great and Mighty Wonder

LSB 383; LW 51

How Firm a Foundation          

BH 75 383;BH 91 338; CH 408; CHH 618; EH 636,637; ELW 796; HWC 275; HPW 38; HFG 32; HLC 224; HGP 162; HSP 121; LWB 507; LSB 728; LW 411; NCH 407; PH 361; RH 221; STTL 689; WC 612; UMH 529; WAR 411; WHM 342; WIS 1

Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord 

LSB 869; LW 33

 

INVOCATION AND INTRODUCTION OF TODAY’S THEME

           

            Pastor:           “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us—

People:            He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”;
and so He became their Savior.  In His love and mercy he redeemed them;
He lifted them up and carried them.

Pastor:             We celebrate on this side of the manger as we call on the name of our God, Who was, and is, and ever shall be –

People:            Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

OPENING PRAYER: [This prayer is offered as an idea] —    Almighty God, you redeemed Your people by sending Your Son into the world to be our Savior.  He is the Promise fulfilled, and in Him You have restored us to Yourself.  Give us faith, we pray, through the Holy Spirit, that our lives may reflect all we have celebrated.  In the name of Jesus, Who went from the manger to the cross to the empty tomb to the heavenly throne.  Amen.

 

TIME OF GREETING

 

TIME OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

 

            Pastor:           On this side of Christmas, we confess our Kris-messes. For us, it seems over.

 

People:         Forgive us, Lord for the way we celebrate Your birth among us.

We make it an event that we celebrate and we are then eager to return to the routines of our living.

We make it about us – our rituals and celebrations and parties and presents and family gatherings.

We want the spirit of Christmas without the Spirit of Christ.

Give us faith to live new lives in the wonder of Your love.

 

           Pastor:         God said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and soHe became their Savior.  In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted                                               them up and carried them.  Here is the Gospel – even when we have been ‘false’ to Him, He remains true to us, and to Himself.  He lifted us through the                                                    death of Jesus and carries us through the power of the empty tomb.  Our lives are new.  God has kept His Word.  We live by faith.

 

People:          “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us”

 

+ We Hear the Word of God +

[It is suggested that the introductions be read out loud as well as the Scripture itself]

 

FIRST READING:    Isaiah 63:7-14 (NIV) 

God has redeemed His people.  His people remember, and are empowered.                

 

⁷I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. ⁸He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and so he became their Savior.  ⁹In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old. ¹⁰Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy
and he himself fought against them. ¹¹Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them, ¹²who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, ¹³who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; ¹⁴like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.