A Happy New Year from Zion (CC)
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WELCOME TO WORSHIP! (CC)
NEW YEAR'S EVE WORSHIP SERVICE
PASTOR DAVE BOSTEDT - ZION
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA
GOOD EVENING! THIS EVENING WE
HAVE
GATHERED TOGETHER TO USHER OUT
2014
AND TO ENTER IN WITH THE LORD
INTO THE NEW YEAR.
OUR LITURGY IS PRINTED IN YOUR
SERVICE FOLDER.
LET'S NOW JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR
OPENING HYMN.
[PIANIST PLAYS HYMN 478:
"WITH THE LORD BEGIN YOUR
TASK" HYMNS FOUND IN
CHRISTIAN WORSHIP - A LUTHERAN
HYMNAL (WELS)
NORTHWESTERN PUBLISHING HOUSE,
MILWAUKEE, WISCONISN]
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[CONGREGATION BEGINS SINGING
VERSE 1:]
WITH THE LORD BEGIN YOUR TASK;
JESUS WILL
DIRECT IT.
FOR HIS AID AND COUNSEL
ASK; JESUS WILL
PERFECT IT.
EVERY MORN WITH JESUS
RISE, AND WHEN DAY IS
ENDED,
IN HIS NAME THEN CLOSE YOUR
EYES; BE TO HIM
COMMENDED.
VERSE 2: LET EACH DAY BEGIN
WITH PRAYER, PRAISE
AND ADORATION.
ON THE LORD CAST EVERY
CARE; HE IS
YOUR SALVATION.
MORNING, EVENING, AND
AT NIGHT JESUS
WILL BE NEAR YOU.
SAVE YOU FROM THE
TEMPTER'S MIGHT, WITH HIS
PRESENCE CHEER YOU.
VERSE 3: WITH YOUR SAVIOR
AT YOUR SIDE
FOES NEED NOT ALARM
YOU; IN HIS PROMISES
CONFIDE
AND NO ILL CAN
HARM YOU. ALL YOUR
TRUST AND HOPE REPOSE
IN THE MIGHTY MASTER.
WHO IN
WISDOM TRULY KNOWS
HOW TO STEM
DISASTER.
VERSE 4: IF YOUR TASK IS THUS
BEGUN WITH THE SAVIOR'S
BLESSING,
SAFELY THEN YOUR COURSE WILL
RUN, NAUGHT YOUR SOUL
DISTRESSING.
GOOD WILL FOLLOW EVERYWHERE
WHILE YOU HERE MUST
WANDER;
YOU AT LAST THE JOY WILL
SHARE IN THE MANSIONS
YONDER.
MINISTER: IN THE NAME
OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON
AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
CONGREGATION: AMEN.
M: AS WE GATHER
IN THE NAME OF OUR HOLY GOD --
FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT -
WE ARE IMMEDIATELY STRUCK WITH
THE REALITY OF OUR
OWN SINFULNESS. WE STAND ON
THE EVE OF A NEW YEAR. IN THE
PAST TWELVE MONTHS
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED JOY AND
SORROW.
WE HAVE COME TO THE ALTAR TO
RECEIVE THE GIFTS OF GOD'S
BODY AND BLOOD AND WE HAVE
GATHERED AT
WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS, AND
BAPTISMS AND CONFIRMATIONS,
THANKING GOD FOR HIS TEMPORAL
AND ETERNAL PROMISES.
LET US MAKE OUR CONFESSION TO
GOD,
TRUSTING IN THESE VERY SAME
PROMISES.
C: WE CONFESS IN YOUR
PRESENCE,
HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT WE ARE
SINNERS.
WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU IN
MANY WAYS,
SOME OF WHICH WE ARE AWARE,
AND YET THERE ARE MANY SINS WE
DID NOT EVEN
RECOGNIZE. FORGIVE US,
FATHER,
NOT BECAUSE WE ARE WORTHY, BUT
BECAUSE WE TRUST
IN THE PROMISES YOU HAVE MADE
TO US
IN YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST.
AMEN.
M: GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL
IN THE PAST, AND GOD WILL BE
FAITHFUL
IN THE FUTURE, BUT IN
PARTICULAR WE ARE GRATEFUL
THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL NOW --
HEARING OUR CONFESSION
AND GRANTING US FORGIVENESS.
HIS PROMISE
TO US IS THAT, IF WE CONFESS
OUR SINS,
HE HEARS AND FORGIVES SO THAT
WE MAY BE ASSURED
AND COMFORTED IN OUR HEARTS.
THEREFORE, WE RELY ON
THIS PROCLAMATION OF THE
LORD'S FORGIVENESS.
I, AS A CALLED AND ORDAINED
SERVANT OF THE WORD,
ANNOUNCE THE GRACE OF GOD TO
YOU AND IN THE PLACE
AND BY THE COMMAND OF MY LORD
JESUS CHRIST,
I FORGIVE YOU ALL YOUR SINS IN
THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
C: AMEN. M: WE PRAY:
LORD GOD, HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU
WHO
SENT US YOUR ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON
FOR OUR SALVATION
AND GAVE HIM THE NAME JESUS,
GRANT THAT
WE MAY BEGIN THE NEW YEAR
TRUSTING IN HIS
SAVING NAME AND LIVE ALL OUR
DAYS IN HIS SERVICE AND
PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF HIS
HOLY NAME;
WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD, NOW AND FOREVER.
C: AMEN. WE JOIN TOGETHER IN
HYMN 339.
[PIANIST PLAYS HYMN 339:
"TODAY YOUR MERCY CALLS US".
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[CONGREGATION BEGINS SINGING
VERSE 1:] TODAY YOUR MERCY
CALLS US TO WASH AWAY
OUR SIN.
HOWEVER GREAT OUR TRESPASS,
WHATEVER WE
HAVE BEEN.
HOWEVER LONG FROM MERCY
OUR HEARTS HAVE TURNED
AWAY, YOUR PRECIOUS
BLOOD CAN WASH US
AND MAKE US CLEAN
TODAY.
[VERSE 2] TODAY YOUR GATE IS
OPEN,
AND ALL WHO ENTER
IN SHALL FIND
A FATHER'S WELCOME
AND PARDON FOR THEIR
SIN. THE PAST
SHALL BE FORGOTTEN,
A PRESENT JOY BE
GIV'N, A FUTURE
GRACE BE PROMISED:
A GLORIOUS CROWN IN
HEAV'N. [VERSE 3] TODAY OUR
FATHER CALLS US;
HIS HOLY SPIRIT
WAITS. HIS BLESSED
ANGELS GATHER
AROUND THE HEAV'NLY
GATES. NO QUESTION
WILL BE ASKED US
HOW OFTEN WE HAVE COME;
ALTHOUGH WE OFT
HAVE WANDERED, IT IS
OUR FATHER'S HOME.
[VERSE 4] O ALL-EMBRACING
MERCY,
O EVER OPEN DOOR,
WHAT SHOULD WE DO
WITHOUT YOU
WHEN HEART AND EYE RUN
O'ER? WHEN ALL THINGS SEEM
AGAINST US, TO DRIVE US
TO DESPAIR,
WE KNOW ONE GATE IS
OPEN, ONE EAR
WILL HEAR OUR PRAYER.
OUR OLD TESTAMENT
LESSON FOR THIS EVENING IS
RECORDED FOR US BY THE PROPHET
ISAIAH WHERE WE READ THE FIRST
SIX VERSES
OF CHAPTER 51. IT IS HERE
THAT THE LORD REMINDS US THAT
HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US
TO COMFORT US WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE OF KNOWING
THAT OUR SALVATION WITH HIM IS
ETERNAL.
"LISTEN TO ME, YOU WHO PURSUE
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WHO SEEK THE
LORD:
LOOK TO THE ROCK FROM WHICH
YOU WERE CUT AND TO THE
QUARRY FROM WHICH YOU WERE
HEWN; LOOK TO ABRAHAM,
YOUR FATHER, AND TO SARAH, WHO
GAVE YOU BIRTH.
WHEN I CALLED HIM HE WAS ONLY
ONE MAN,
AND I BLESSED HIM AND MADE HIM
MANY.
THE LORD WILL SURELY COMFORT
ZION AND WILL LOOK WITH
COMPASSION ON ALL HER RUINS;
HE WILL MAKE HER DESERTS LIKE
EDEN, HER WASTELANDS
LIKE THE GARDEN OF THE LORD.
JOY AND
GLADNESS WILL BE FOUND IN HER.
THANKSGIVING AND
THE SOUND OF SINGING. LISTEN
TO ME MY PEOPLE;
HEAR ME, MY NATION:
INSTRUCTION
WILL GO OUT FROM ME; MY
JUSTICE WILL BECOME A
LIGHT TO THE NATIONS. MY
RIGHTEOUSNESS DRAWS NEAR
SPEEDILY, MY SALVATION IS ON
THE WAY,
AND MY ARM WILL BRING JUSTICE
TO THE NATIONS.
THE ISLANDS WILL LOOK TO ME
AND WAIT
IN HOPE FOR MY ARM. LIFT UP
YOUR EYES
TO THE HEAVENS, LOOK AT THE
EARTH BENEATH;
THE HEAVENS WILL VANISH LIKE
SMOKE, THE EARTH
WILL WEAR OUT LIKE A GARMENT
AND ITS INHABITANTS
DIE LIKE FLIES. BUT MY
SALVATION
WILL LAST FOREVER, MY
RIGHTEOUSNESS
WILL NEVER FAIL. HERE ENDS
OUR OLD TESTAMENT LESSON.
OUR PSALM FOR THIS EVENING IS
PSALM 90.
WE WILL READ SELECTED VERSES
[PSALM 90:1-4]
AND SING VERSES BASED UPON
THIS PSALM
REMINDING US THAT THE LORD
IS TRULY WITH US ALWAYS:
M: LORD, YOU HAVE BEEN OUR
DWELLING PLACE THROUGHOUT
ALL GENERATIONS. BEFORE THE
MOUNTAINS WERE BORN
OR YOU BROUGHT FORTH THE WHOLE
WORLD, FROM EVERLASTING
TO EVERLASTING YOU ARE GOD.
YOU TURN PEOPLE BACK TO DUST,
SAYING,
"RETURN TO DUST, YOU MORTALS."
A THOUSAND YEARS IN YOUR SIGHT
ARE LIKE A DAY THAT HAS JUST
GONE BY, OR LIKE A WATCH IN
THE NIGHT.
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[SINGING BEGINS] C: O GOD,
OUR HELP IN AGES PAST,
OUR HOPE FOR YEARS TO COME,
OUR SHELTER
FROM THE STORMY BLAST,
AND OUR ETERNAL HOME.
BEFORE
THE HILLS IN ORDER
STOOD OR EARTH RECEIVED
HER FRAME,
FROM EVERLASTING YOU
ARE GOD, TO ENDLESS
YEARS THE SAME.
THY WORD COMMANDS
OUR FLESH TO DUST:
"RETURN, YOU SONS OF
MEN!" ALL NATIONS
ROSE FROM EARTH AT FIRST
AND TURN TO EARTH
AGAIN.
A THOUSAND AGES
IN YOUR SIGHT ARE LIKE
AN EVENING GONE,
SHORT AS THE WATCH THAT
ENDS THE NIGHT BEFORE
THE RISING SUN.
[PSALM 90:5-12] M: YET YOU
SWEEP
PEOPLE AWAY IN THE SLEEP OF
DEATH -- THEY ARE LIKE
THE NEW GRASS OF THE MORNING:
IN THE MORNING
IT SPRINGS UP NEW, BUT BY
EVENING IT IS DRY
AND WITHERED. WE ARE CONSUMED
BY YOUR ANGER
AND TERRIFIED BY YOUR
INDIGNATION.
YOU HAVE SET OUR INIQUITIES
BEFORE YOU, OUR SECRET SINS
IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR PRESENCE.
ALL OUR DAYS PASS AWAY UNDER
YOUR WRATH; WE FINISH
OUR YEARS WITH A MOAN. OUR
DAYS MAY
COME TO SEVENTY YEARS, OR
EIGHTY, IF OUR STRENGTH
ENDURES; YET THE BEST OF THEM
ARE BUT
TROUBLE AND SORROW, FOR THEY
QUICKLY PASS,
AND WE FLY AWAY. IF ONLY WE
KNEW THE POWER
OF YOUR ANGER! YOUR WRATH IS
AS GREAT
AS THE FEAR THAT IS YOUR DUE.
TEACH US
TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, THAT WE
MAY GAIN
A HEART OF WISDOM.
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C: [SINGING] TIME, LIKE AN
EVER-ROLLING STREAM,
SOON BEARS US ALL AWAY;
WE FLY, FORGOTTEN,
AS A DREAM
DIES AT THE OP'NING DAY.
LIKE FLOW'RY
FIELDS THE NATIONS STAND,
PLEASED WITH THE MORNING
LIGHT;
THE FLOW'RS BENEATH THE MOWERS
HAND LIE WITH'RING ERE 'TIS
NIGHT.
O GOD, OUR HELP
IN AGES PAST, OUR HOPE
FOR YEARS TO COME,
STILL BE OUR GUARD
WHILE TROUBLES LAST
AND OUR ETERNAL
HOME!
[PSALM 90:13-17] M: RELENT,
LORD! HOW LONG WILL IT BE?
HAVE COMPASSION ON YOUR
SERVANTS.
SATISFY US IN THE MORNING WITH
YOUR UNFAILING LOVE,
THAT WE MAY SING FOR JOY AND
BE GLAD ALL
OUR DAYS. MAKE US GLAD FOR AS
MANY DAYS
AS YOU HAVE AFFLICTED US,
FOR AS MANY YEARS AS WE HAVE
SEEN TROUBLE.
MAY YOUR DEEDS BE SHOWN TO
YOUR SERVANTS,
YOUR SPLENDOR TO THEIR
CHILDREN. MAY THE FAVOR
OF THE LORD OUR GOD REST ON
US; ESTABLISH
THE WORK OF OUR HANDS FOR US -
YES,
ESTABLISH THE WORK OF OUR
HANDS.
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[CONGREGATION SINGING]
UNDER THE SHADOW OF YOUR
THRONE YOUR SAINTS, HAVE DWELT
SECURE;
SUFFICIENT IS YOUR ARM
ALONE, AND OUR
DEFENSE IS SURE.
ALL GLORY TO THE
FATHER BE, ALL GLORY
TO THE SON,
AND WITH THEM REIGNS
ETERNALLY
THE SPIRIT, THREE-
IN-ONE.
M: ALLELUIA. YOUR WORD IS A
LAMP FOR MY FEET
AND A LIGHT ON MY PATH.
ALLELUIA. [PSALM 119:105]
LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF
THIS EVENING'S
GOSPEL LESSON RECORDED FOR US
IN LUKE'S GOSPEL
WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 13,
BEGINNING WITH VERSE 6. IT IS
HERE
THAT JESUS REMINDS US IN THE
FORM OF A PARABLE
THAT WE, AS HIS CHILDREN, ARE
TO BEAR FRUIT --
THE FRUIT WHICH HE IS LOOKING
FOR.
[LUKE 13:6-9] THEN HE TOLD
THIS PARABLE: A MAN HAD A FIG
TREE GROWING IN HIS VINEYARD,
AND HE WENT
TO LOOK FOR FRUIT ON IT BUT HE
DID NOT FIND ANY.
SO HE SAID TO THE MAN WHO TOOK
CARE OF THE VINEYARD,
'FOR THREE YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN
COMING TO LOOK FOR FRUIT
ON THIS FIG TREE AND HAVEN'T
FOUND ANY.
CUT IT DOWN! WHY SHOULD IT
USE UP THE SOIL?'
" 'SIR,' THE MAN REPLIED,
'LEAVE IT
ALONE FOR ONE MORE YEAR, AND
I'LL DIG AROUND IT
AND FERTILIZE IT. IF IT BEARS
FRUIT
NEXT YEAR, FINE! IF NOT, THEN
CUT IT DOWN.' "
HERE ENDS OUR GOSPEL LESSON.
THE CONGREGATION MAY BE SEATED
FOR OUR HYMN-OF-THE-DAY:
HYMN 71.
[PIANIST PLAYS INTRO TO "THE
OLD YEAR NOW HAS PASSED AWAY".
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[CONGREGATION BEGINS SINGING
HYMN 71, VERSE 1] THE OLD
YEAR NOW HAS PASSED
AWAY; WE THANK
YOU, O OUR GOD,
TODAY THAT YOU
HAVE KEPT US
THROUGH THE YEAR
WHEN DANGER AND
DISTRESS WERE NEAR.
[VERSE 2] WE PRAY
YOU, O ETERNAL
SON, WHO WITH
THE FATHER
REIGNS AS ONE,
TO GUARD AND RULE
YOUR CHRISTENDOM THROUGH
ALL THE AGES
YET TO COME.
[VERSE 3] TAKE NOT
YOUR SAVING WORD
AWAY, WHICH LIGHTS
AND CHEERS OUR SOULS EACH
DAY.
ABIDE WITH US
AND KEEP US FREE
FROM ERROR AND
HYPOCRISY.
[VERSE 4] OH,
HELP US TO
FORSAKE ALL SIN,
A NEW AND HOLIER
LIFE BEGIN!
FORGIVE THE OLD
YEAR'S SINS, AND BLESS
THE NEW YEAR WITH
TRUE HAPPINESS.
[VERSE 5] WHEREIN
AS CHRISTIANS
WE MAY LIVE
OR DIE IN PEACE
THAT YOU CAN GIVE,
TO RISE AGAIN
WHEN YOU WILL COME
AND ENTER
YOUR ETERNAL HOME.
[VERSE 6] THERE
SHALL WE THANK
YOU AND ADORE
WITH ALL THE
ANGELS EVERMORE.
LORD JESUS
CHRIST, INCREASE OUR FAITH
TO PRAISE
YOUR NAME THROUGH
LIFE AND DEATH.
LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF
THIS EVENING'S SERMON TEXT
RECORDED FOR US BY THE APOSTLE
PAUL IN HIS LETTER TO THE
ROMANS, WHERE WE READ FROM
CHAPTER 8, BEGINNING WITH
VERSE 31:
WHAT, THEN, SHALL WE SAY
IN RESPONSE TO THESE THINGS?
IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE
AGAINST US?
HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN
SON,
BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL --
HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO,
ALONG WITH HIM, GRACIOUSLY
GIVE US ALL THINGS? WHO WILL
BRING
ANY CHARGE AGAINST THOSE WHOM
GOD HAS CHOSEN?
IT IS GOD WHO JUSTIFIES. WHO
THEN
IS THE ONE WHO CONDEMNS? NO
ONE.
CHRIST JESUS WHO DIED -- MORE
THAN THAT,
WHO WAS RAISED TO LIFE -- IS
AT THE RIGHT HAND
OF GOD AND IS ALSO INTERCEDING
FOR US.
WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE
LOVE OF CHRIST?
SHALL TROUBLE OR HARDSHIP OR
PERSECUTION
OR FAMINE OR NAKEDNESS OR
DANGER
OR SWORD? AS IT IS WRITTEN:
"FOR YOUR SAKE WE FACE DEATH
ALL DAY LONG;
WE ARE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO
BE SLAUGHTERED."
NO, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE
MORE THAN
CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO
LOVED US.
FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT
NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE,
NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS,
NEITHER THE PRESENT
NOR THE FUTURE, NOR ANY
POWERS,
NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR
ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION,
WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US
FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS
IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY:
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD,
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND
THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR
HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR
SIGHT,
OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND
COMFORT.
AMEN.
[SCRIPTURE VERSES TAKEN FROM
THE HOLY BIBLE,
NEEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION,
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011,
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR
JESUS CHRIST: IT ALWAYS
INTERESTS ME
IN THIS LAST WEEK OF DECEMBER
HOW THE NEWS STATIONS START
PUTTING
TOGETHER THOSE YEAR IN REVIEW
THINGS.
REMINDING US OF ALL THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED
IN THIS PAST YEAR. THOSE
THINGS FALLING UPON
THOSE CHRISTMAS LETTERS WE
GET
WHERE FAMILIES HAVE PUT THEIR
YEAR IN REVIEW TOGETHER FOR
ALL OF US TO GET CAUGHT UP
ON THEIR ACTIVITIES. RATHER
INTERESTING TO ME
THAT THOSE CHRISTMAS LETTERS
THAT WE GET,
FOR THE MOST PART, SEEM TO BE
RATHER POSITIVE.
ONE OF THE BIG COMPLAINTS IS:
THAT THEY'RE TOO POSITIVE!
NOBODY'S LIFE COULD BE THAT
GOOD.
AND, OF COURSE, WE ALL REALIZE
THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT A
POSITIVE SPIN ON THE YEAR
THAT WE HAD. I MEAN IF WE
REALLY SAT DOWN
AND WROTE A CHRISTMAS LETTER
ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFICULTIES
AND HARDSHIPS AND HORRIBLE
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED
TO US OVER THE YEAR: IS THAT
WHAT WE WANT TO PUT
OUT THERE? OF COURSE NOT!
BUT YET WHEN WE COME TO THOSE
YEARS
IN REVIEW, IN THE NEWS ...
THERE'RE VERY FEW THINGS THAT
ARE POSITIVE
THERE. THE MOMENTOUS DEATHS
OF THE YEAR. THOSE THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED
KIND OF STRUCK ME ODD
THIS YEAR THAT I HAD TOTALLY
FORGOTTEN, CALLED
"THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE".
I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THAT THING
TO END. I WAS SICK
AND I WAS TIRED OF IT AND IN
JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT,
AND IT COMPLETELY PUT IT OUT
OF MY HEAD.
LIKE IT NEVER EVEN HAPPENED.
AND THEN SOMETIMES WE'RE
REMINDED OF PEOPLE
THAT WE TRULY LIKED.
APPRECIATED THEIR WORK.
SOMEBODY LIKE, MAYBE ROBIN
WILLIAMS.
AND WE'RE REMINDED HOW
TRAGICALLY
HIS LIFE ENDED THIS PAST YEAR.
BUT THEN WE STOP AND THINK OF
ALL OF THOSE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO DIED THIS PAST YEAR.
LIKE SPOUSES
WHO HAD CHILDREN
WHO HAD FAMILIES WHO HAD
FRIENDS
WHO MISS THEM TERRIBLY.
AND YET WE DON'T THINK ABOUT
THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE NO
CONNECTION WITH THEM. OR
CONNECTIONS TO THEM. YET HOW
PERSONAL
IT IS FOR US IN OUR OWN YEAR
IN REVIEW
THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED TO US.
THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO US.
THE THINGS THAT CHANGED OUR
LIVES.
THE EVENTS THAT HAVE TRULY
SHAPED US
IN THIS YEAR. IT CAN BE
INTERESTING FOR US TO START
THINKING BACK, AND EVEN
A LITTLE SAD. A LITTLE
MELANCHOLY. MAYBE EVEN A
LITTLE
APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AND WHAT IT HOLDS.
BUT WHAT DOES THE APOSTLE PAUL
SAY TO US THIS EVENING?
WHAT DO WE SAY IN RESPONSE
TO ALL THESE THINGS?
AND THE APOSTLE PAUL, IN HIS
LETTER TO THE ROMANS,
HAS FILLED THEM WITH CHAPTERS
OF THINGS.
LOGICAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE
GOODNESS OF GOD, THE GRACE OF
GOD; HOW GOD HAD SAVED THEM.
HOW GOD HAD
REACHED OUT TO HIS OLD
TESTAMENT PEOPLE. HOW GOD
IN HIS LOVE HAD REACHED OUT TO
THE GENTILES.
THAT IT WAS GOD WHO HAD DONE
ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL
AND MARVELOUS THINGS WITH HIS
PEOPLE ... CONSTANTLY
THROUGH THE AGES. GUARDING
THEM, GUIDING THEM,
PROTECTING THEM. CARING FOR
THEM.
AND THEN PAUL COMES TO THE
CHURCH AT
ROME AND SAYS:
WHAT IS GOING TO SEPARATE US
FROM THE LOVE OF
GOD?
OF COURSE HE WANTS US ALL
TO STAND UP AND SAY: NOTHING!
NOTHING IS GOING TO
SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF
GOD.
AND I THINK WE WANT TO AS
WELL.
WE WANT TO GET BEHIND THAT
STATEMENT. WE REALLY DO.
BUT WHAT HOLDS US BACK?
WHAT KEEPS US
FROM SCREAMING IN AFFIRMATION
SO THAT THE LORD IS WITH US;
THAT HIS LOVE IS WITH US.
NOTHING IS GONNA SEPARATE US
FROM HIM.
WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
THROUGH HIM
WHO HAS LOVED US. WHO DID NOT
SPARE
HIS ONE AND ONLY SON FOR US.
BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL.
BUT WE KNOW HOW THOSE ENEMIES
OF OUR FAITH COME AT US.
HOW THE WORLD WEARS US DOWN.
HOW WE GET TIRED OF
COMBATING ALL OF THEIR ATTACKS
ON OUR FAITH
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY TO US.
AND SOMETIMES WE JUST KINDA
SIT BACK AND WE GIVE UP.
NOTHING'S GONNA SEPARATE US
FROM THAT LOVE OF GOD THAT'S
IN CHRIST JESUS THE LORD?
CHRIST JESUS THE LORD.
EXCEPT WHEN WE GET TIRED.
WELL SOMETIMES GOD SENDS
SOMETHING INTO OUR LIFE
THAT IS NOT PLEASANT.
MAYBE IT'S A SICKNESS. MAYBE
IT'S A TRIAL. OR MAYBE IT'S A
TEMPTATION. AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN
WE ARE AT ODDS WITH GOD.
WE WANT TO FIGHT WITH GOD. WE
WANT TO ARGUE WITH GOD.
WE WANT TO COME TO HIM AND
TALK HIM OUT OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING, WHAT HE'S ALLOWING
IN OUR LIFE TO SAY:
LORD, YOU DON'T LOVE ME UNLESS
YOU CHANGE THIS AROUND.
I CAN'T HANDLE THIS. YOU HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND
THAT. YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME
INTO CONSIDERATION.
NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US
FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS
IN CHRIST JESUS THE LORD?
EXCEPT OUR VERY
OWN MINDS AND OUR VERY OWN
SELFISHNESS.
AND HOW OFTEN
DON'T WE LET SOMEONE ELSE
AFFECT OUR FAITH-LIFE?
OR THAT LITTLE SEED THAT GETS
INTO OUR TOOTH?
THAT POPCORN HULL THAT WE
CAN'T GET OUT?
AND THEY JUST ANNOY US AND
ANNOY US AND
ANNOY US AND IT FILLS OUR MIND
AND WE THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE
TIME. ABOUT THE HORRIBLE THING
THAT THEY DID TO ME. THAT
TERRIBLE THING THAT THEY DID
TO ME. I DON'T WANNA SEE THEM
ANYMORE. I DON'T WANNA TALK TO
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM
AND I'M NOT GOING TO CHURCH IF
THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE
THE BIGGEST HYPOCRITE ON THE
FACE OF THE EARTH!
NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US FROM
THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN
CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD?
EVERY DAY
WE FIGHT THAT STRUGGLE.
AGAINST THE SIN THAT IS IN
THE WORLD. AGAINST THE SIN
THAT IS
IN US. AGAINST SATAN WHO IS
OUT TO
DESTROY US AND TAKE US AS HIS
OWN.
TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT AND STRIVE
TO BE ALIVE IN CHRIST. GOD IS
NOT GOING TO LEAVE US.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO FORSAKE
US.
WE WERE CERTAINLY REMINDED OF
THAT THROUGH OUR
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON. GOD
SAID HE IS GOING TO COME
AND COMFORT ZION. HE IS GOING
TO COMFORT HIS PEOPLE.
HE IS GOING TO COME BACK TO
THOSE RUINS OF JERUSALEM
AND BUILD THEM UP.
PEOPLE DIE LEFT AND RIGHT IN
THIS WORLD.
BUT GOD'S SALVATION IS
ETERNAL.
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS LASTS
FOREVER.
OUR PSALM THIS EVENING CLEARLY
POINTS US ... OUT TO US ...
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING TO
NUMBER OUR DAYS.
EIGHTY YEARS.
WHEN YOU'RE FIFTEEN YEARS OLD
THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME
AWAY. WHEN YOU'RE FIFTY ...
NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE.
AND WHEN YOU'RE SEVENTY-NINE,
OR EIGHTY-FIVE?
IT'S A WHOLE OTHER
PERSPECTIVE.
HOW QUICKLY TIME PASSES.
AND I KNOW ... I'M IN THAT
UPPER-AGE BRACKET NOW AND I
FIND MYSELF
THINKING: BOY, LAST YEAR WENT
BY
REALLY FAST!
IT DOES!
AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.
WE'RE ALL GONNA PASS AWAY
FROM THIS WORLD.
GOD SAYS: UNDERSTAND YOUR
TIME.
UNDERSTAND YOUR DAYS ... HOW
PRECIOUS THEY ARE.
HOW WONDERFUL THEY ARE ... TO
BE LIVED
IN HIS LOVE AND LIVED IN HIS
GRACE
BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO IS
ALWAYS WITH US.
HE ALWAYS SUPPORTS US. HE HAS
GIVEN
HIS OWN SON TO BE OUR SAVIOR.
HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO
GRACIOUSLY
GIVE US ALL THE THINGS THAT WE
NEED?
OF COURSE HE IS.
BUT AS HIS CHILDREN,
WE NEED TO LEARN TO TRUST HIM.
TO TRUST THAT PROMISE.
TO HOLD ONTO THAT PROMISE
TO KNOW THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO
SUPPLIES US WITH ALL
OF OUR NEEDS, BOTH SPIRITUAL
AND PHYSICAL
EVERY DAY OF OUR LIFE.
HIS LOVE FOR US IS ABUNDANT.
AND WE
KNOW THAT AND WE SEE THAT AND
PAUL COMES BACK
WITH WORDS TO REMIND US HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS
TO TREASURE THOSE WORDS.
TO UNDERSTAND THAT LOVE OF
GOD.
TO REALIZE THAT IN THIS LIFE
WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S LOVE
WHEN HE CALLS US OUT OF THIS
WORLD
TO BE WITH HIM
FOR ALL ETERNITY.
WHERE HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
WITH US.
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS TO US:
WHAT
IS GOING TO SEPARATE US FROM
THE LOVE OF GOD?
IS HARDSHIP GOING TO DO THAT?
WOULD YOU REALLY ALLOW
THAT TO HAPPEN? IF GOD TESTED
YOUR FAITH
AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT IN
2015 FOR YOU TO LIVE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO
SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE
OF CHRIST? IS DANGER
GOING TO SEPARATE YOU FROM
THAT LOVE OF CHRIST?
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? BECAUSE
THINGS IN OUR LIFE BECOME
DIFFICULT?
OR DANGEROUS? SOME CRAZY
PERSON WITH A GUN
COMES INTO THE PLACE WHERE YOU
WORK?
OR YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE JUST
BLOWS UP!
OR YOU'RE JUST
ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME
WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENS. IS
THAT GOING TO
SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF
CHRIST?
WE GO THROUGH THOSE THINGS
AND WE SEE THAT GOD IS NOT
GOING TO
LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US.
BUT WE WANT TO TURN TO HIM
WITH HEARTS THAT ARE
TRUSTING. HEARTS THAT RELY ON
HIS PROMISES
WITH A FAITH THAT IS SURE,
WITH A
FAITH THAT IS STRONG, WITH A
FAITH THAT IS
ACTIVE IN CARRYING OUT GOD'S
WILL.
BEING THAT FIG TREE OF OUR
GOSPEL LESSON
THAT TRULY IS BEARING FRUIT.
BUT NOT WAITING FOR NEXT YEAR
TO DO SOMETHING.
OR WAITING UNTIL I FEEL LIKE
IT'S MY TURN TO DO SOMETHING.
THAT MAN IN THE VINEYARD CAME
TO THAT FIG TREE FOR THREE
YEARS
AND IT HADN'T DONE A THING.
AND HE SAID: CUT IT DOWN. GET
RID OF IT.
WHY SHOULD IT BE USING UP THE
SOIL?
AND HOW OFTEN DON'T WE JUST
SIT BACK AND THINK
WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DO
WHAT GOD WANTS.
I'M GONNA DO WHAT I WANT.
I'M GONNA TAKE CARE OF ME.
GOD TELLS US:
LIVE YOUR LIFE OF FAITH.
PUT THAT FAITH AND TRUST IN
CHRIST
INTO PRACTICE. BE FRUITFUL!
SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR CHRIST.
SHOW IT TO OTHERS.
SHOW THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO
SUFFER
AS A CHILD OF GOD AND DO SO
KNOWING AND RELYING AND
TRUSTING IN YOUR LORD.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE EXTRA ...
CLOTHES! SHARE WITH THOSE
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE
OTHERS ... THAT DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH CLOTHING.
REALIZE THE ABUNDANCE OF OUR
LIFE.
THAT GOD IS GOING TO BLESS US
AND TAKE CARE OF US. REALIZE
WE DON'T PUT OUR TRUST
IN THE PRINCIPALITIES OF THIS
WORLD, OR THE GOVERNMENTS
THAT RISE UP FROM THE EARTH
THAT ARE GONNA GO BACK
INTO THE EARTH. BUT WE TRUST
IN THE ONE WHO IS
LORD OF ALL AND KING OF KINGS.
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT HE IS
ALWAYS WITH US. HE IS
FAITHFUL ...
AND JUST. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE
US
OR FORSAKE US. AND WE LOOK AT
THAT
EACH AND EVERY DAY OF OUR
LIFE ...
AND REMIND OURSELVES TO TRUST
HIM,
TO LOVE HIM,
TO WORK IN HIS SPIRIT. TO STAY
AT HIS SIDE.
TO LIVE WITH HIM. TO INVITE
HIM INTO OUR
LIVES TO BE THE LORD; TO BE
THE ONE
WHO GOVERNS OUR THOUGHTS,
GOVERNS OUR ACTIONS.
WHO GUIDES OUR LIFE
WHO WALKS WITH US
THROUGH THIS EARTHLY LIFE SO
SO THAT WE
MAY LIVE WITH HIM
IN ALL ETERNITY.
SO WHAT IS GONNA SEPARATE US
FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS
IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! OUR LORD
IS WITH US
ALWAYS; HIS LOVE IS ETERNAL.
LET US TRUST AND TURN TO
HIM EVERY DAY.
AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH
GOES BEYOND
ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING KEEP
YOUR HEARTS AND
YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR
LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH
UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.
WE JOIN TOGETHER IN THE
CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH
USING THE WORDS OF THE NICENE
CREED.
C: WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, THE
FATHER, THE ALMIGHTY,
MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, OF
ALL
THAT IS, SEEN AND UNSEEN.
WE BELIEVE IN ONE LORD, JESUS
CHRIST, THE ONLY SON
OF GOD, ETERNALLY BEGOTTEN OF
THE FATHER,
GOD FROM GOD, LIGHT FROM
LIGHT,
TRUE GOD FROM TRUE GOD,
BEGOTTEN,
NOT MADE, OF ONE BEING WITH
THE FATHER.
THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS WERE
MADE.
FOR US AND FOR OUR SALVATION,
HE CAME DOWN
FROM HEAVEN, WAS INCARNATE OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND THE VIRGIN MARY, AND
BECAME
FULLY HUMAN. FOR OUR SAKE HE
WAS CRUCIFIED
UNDER PONTIUS PILATE. HE
SUFFERED DEATH
AND WAS BURIED. ON THE THIRD
DAY
HE ROSE AGAIN IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE SCRIPTURES.
HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS
SEATED
AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE
FATHER. HE WILL COME AGAIN
IN GLORY TO JUDGE THE LIVING
AND THE DEAD,
AND HIS KINGDOM WILL HAVE NO
END.
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE LORD, THE GIVER OF LIFE,
WHO PROCEEDS FROM
THE FATHER AND THE SON, WHO IN
UNITY WITH THE FATHER AND
THE SON IS WORSHIPED AND
GLORIFIED,
WHO HAS SPOKEN THROUGH THE
PROPHETS. WE BELIEVE
IN ONE HOLY CHRISTIAN AND
APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE ONE BAPTISM FOR
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. WE
LOOK FOR THE RESURRECTION
OF THE DEAD AND THE LIFE OF
THE WORLD TO COME.
AMEN. THE CONGREGATION MAY BE
SEATED FOR THIS
EVENING'S OFFERING. [OFFERING
PRAYER] M: GRACIOUS GOD, YOU
YOU ARE THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD
THINGS. C: AS WE BRING THESE
GIFTS TO YOU, WE GIVE THANKS
FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE
GIVEN US DURING THE PAST YEAR.
M: BLESS
THESE GIFTS, THAT THEY MAY
BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME AND
MAY BUILD YOUR KINGDOM. C:
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST,
OUR LORD. AMEN. M: GOD IS
OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH
IN ALL GENERATIONS. STANDING
ON THE DOORSTEP
OF ANOTHER YEAR OF HIS GRACE,
LET US THANK AND
PRAISE HIM FOR ALL OF HIS
BENEFITS TO US:
FATHER, FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS
IN ALL THE DAYS PAST,
C: WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU!
M: LORD, FOR YOUR STRENGTH
FOR OUR DAILY LIVES AND
FOR YOUR GUIDING HAND IN THE
DAYS TO COME,
C: WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU!
M: FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, FOR
FOOD AND DRINK, FOR HOUSE AND
HOME,
FOR ALL THAT WE NEED TO
SUPPORT THIS BODY AND LIFE,
C: WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU!
M: FOR YOUR HEALING HAND,
LORD JESUS, UPON ALL THE SICK,
LONELY AND DEPRESSED
WE THANK YOU, AND WE ASK FOR
THE STRENGTH AND
ENCOURAGEMENT ONLY YOU CAN
GIVE.
C: LORD, IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR
OUR PRAYER.
M: FOR THE BEAUTY OF YOUR
CREATION; FOR THE GIFTS OF ART
AND MUSIC TO ENRICH OUR
WORSHIP, FOR THE FREEDOMS WE
ENJOY TO WORSHIP AND SERVE
YOU,
C: WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU!
M: HOLY SPIRIT, WE THANK YOU
FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH GIVEN TO
US, AND AS THE ONE
WHO CREATES AND SUSTAINS ALL
FAITH
WE ASK YOU TO TOUCH THE HEARTS
OF UNBELIEVERS
THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED. C:
TO THIS END,
REVEAL TO US HOW WE MAY BE
USED IN THE
FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL.
M: FOR THE BLESSINGS
OF FORGIVENESS, LIFE AND
SALVATION; FOR HAVING CALLED
US TO FAITH AND RESTORED US
TO YOUR FAMILY,
C: WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU!
M: LORD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING
UPON THIS NEW YEAR, THAT YOUR
CHURCH
MAY BE ENABLED TO PROCLAIM
YOUR LOVE IN CHRIST WITH
GREAT BOLDNESS. C: BLESS THE
PASTORS AND TEACHERS
AND ALL WORKERS OF THE CHURCH
THAT THROUGH THEM OUR HEARTS
MAY BE STRENGTHENED. M: FOR
THE BLESSINGS
OF HEALTH AND CONTENTMENT IN
THE YEAR TO COME;
FOR THE STRENGTH OF FAITH TO
TRUST IN ALL OF YOUR PROMISES,
LOVE, AND CARE FOR US,
C: WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU!
M: INTO YOUR HANDS, O LORD,
WE COMMEND ALL FOR WHOM WE
PRAY,
C: TRUSTING IN YOUR MERCY;
THROUGH YOUR SON, JESUS
CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN.
[SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR]
M: THE LORD BE WITH YOU.
C: AND ALSO WITH YOU.
M: LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS.
C: WE LIFT THEM UP TO THE
LORD. M: LET US GIVE THANKS
UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD. C: IT
IS RIGHT TO GIVE HIM
THANKS AND PRAISE. M: IT IS
TRULY GOOD AND RIGHT
FOR YOUR PEOPLE GATHERED IN
YOUR NAME, O LORD,
TO PROCLAIM YOUR PRAISES TO
THE WORLD AND TO SEEK YOUR
BLESSINGS ON A NEW YEAR. WE
ESPECIALLY BLESS YOU FOR THE
LOVE YOU HAVE SHOWN US IN YOUR
SON,
OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO
THIS DAY WITH
SIMPLE BREAD AND WINE GIVES TO
US
GIVES TO US HIS BODY AND
BLOOD. GRANT THAT
EACH OF US WHO RECEIVES THIS
GIFT MAY KNOW
WITH CERTAINTY THE FORGIVENESS
OF SINS.
WE LIFT OUR VOICES WITH THOSE
OF THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN AND
THE SAINTS WHO HAVE GONE
BEFORE, SINGING:
[MUSIC]
[HOLY, HOLY, HOLY]
TO GOD THE HOLY THREE-IN-ONE
OUR PRAISES BRING,
OUR THANKS BE SUNG:
O HOLY, HOLY,
HOLY LORD --- BY HEAV'N AND
EARTH
IN ONE ACCORD.
O BLEST IS HE
WHO IN GOD'S NAME
FOR OUR SALVATION,
LIFE ONCE CAME. HOSANNA,
PRAISE TO HIM BE GIV'N
ON EARTH AND IN THE
HIGHEST HEAV'N.
[THE LORD'S PRAYER]
WE JOIN TOGETHER IN THE PRAYER
OUR SAVIOR TAUGHT US:
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED
BE YOUR NAME,
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL
BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
FORGIVE
US OUR SINS, AS WE FORGIVE
THOSE WHO SIN
AGAINST US. LEAD US NOT INTO
TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THE KINGDOM, THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS
NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN.
[WORDS OF INSTITUTION]
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ON THE
SAME NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED
TOOK BREAD AND WHEN HE HAD
GIVEN THANKS HE BROKE IT AND
GAVE IT TO HIS DISCIPLES
SAYING: TAKE AND EAT. THIS IS
MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR
YOU. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE
OF ME. IN THE SAME WAY ALSO
HE TOOK THE CUP AFTER SUPPER
AND AFTER HE HAD BLESSED IT,
HE GAVE IT TO THEM SAYING:
DRINK FROM IT ALL OF YOU.
THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT
OF MY BLOOD WHICH IS SHED FOR
YOU FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF
SINS. DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU
DRINK IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.
THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH
YOU ALWAYS.
[LAMB OF GOD]
[MUSIC]
O CHRIST, THE LAMB OF GOD
WE PRAY
TO TAKE OUR SIN AND GUILT
AWAY. YOU DIED, YOU ROSE
THAT WE MIGHT LIVE ---
O LAMB OF GOD, OUR SIN
FORGIVE.
O CHRIST, THE LAMB OF GOD,
WE PRAY TO TAKE OUR SIN AND
GUILT AWAY.
YOUR LIFE, YOUR PEACE, TO US
NOW GIVE THAT WE WITH YOU
IN JOY MIGHT LIVE.
[DISTRIBUTION]
THE CONGREGATION MAY BE SEATED
FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
LORD'S SUPPER.
...FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL
OF YOUR SINS.
TAKE AND DRINK. THIS IS THE
TRUE
BLOOD OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR
JESUS CHRIST
SHED FOR YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
SINS.
NOW MAY THE TRUE BODY AND TRUE
BLOOD
SANCTIFY AND KEEP YOU IN THE
ONE TRUE FAITH
UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. GO IN
THE JOY AND KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL
OF YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN
FORGIVEN. DEPART IN PEACE.
AMEN.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
WE JOIN TOGETHER
IN THE SONG OF SIMEON PRINTED
IN YOUR SERVICE FOLDERS.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
IN PEACE, LORD,
LET YOUR SERVANT GO,
YOUR PROMISED WORD FULFILLED,
AGLOW, FOR I HAVE
SEEN YOUR LOVE AND GRACE
AND GLORY FLOW
TO ALL OUR RACE.
O CHRIST,
OUR SAVIOR AND OUR LIGHT,
TO SHAME FOREVER
IN SIN'S NIGHT.
TO YOU OUR THANKS AND PRAISE
BE SUNG, O FATHER,
SON, AND SPIRIT ONE.
[POST-COMMUNION PRAYER]
M: WE THANK YOU
HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE GIFT
OF FORGIVENESS
AND FOR THE LIFE WHICH YOU
HAVE GRANTED TO US IN THE
BODY AND BLOOD OF YOUR SON,
JESUS. AS THE YEAR
DRAWS TO A CLOSE WE HAVE THE
ASSURANCE OF
YOUR CONTINUED BLESSINGS IN
THIS LIFE, FOR YOU HAVE
GRANTED TO US ETERNAL LIFE.
STRENGTHEN US
IN OUR FAITH THAT WE MAY TRUST
YOUR GUIDING HAND
IN THE DAYS TO COME, EVEN AS
YOU HAVE SHOWN YOUR
FAITHFULNESS AND LOVE TO US IN
THE DAYS PAST.
WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU IN AND
THROUGH YOUR SON,
JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD.
C: AMEN.
[BENEDICTION]
RECEIVE THE BLESSING
AND BENEDICTION OF OUR LORD.
M: THE LORD BLESS YOU
AND KEEP YOU. THE LORD MAKE
HIS FACE TO SHINE ON YOU AND
BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. THE LORD
LOOK ON YOU WITH HIS FAVOR
AND GIVE YOU PEACE.
C: AMEN.
WE JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR
CLOSING HYMN.
[HYMN 70
"HELP US, O LORD, FOR NOW WE
ENTER"]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
HELP US, O LORD,
FOR NOW WE ENTER
UPON ANOTHER YEAR
TODAY.
IN YOU OUR HOPES AND THOUGHTS
NOW CENTER;
RENEW OUR COURAGE
FOR THE WAY. NEW LIFE,
NEW STRENGTH, NEW HAPPINESS
WE ASK OF YOU --
O HEAR AND BLESS.
MAY EV'RY PLAN AND
UNDERTAKING
BEGIN THIS YEAR, O LORD,
WITH YOU;
WHEN I AM SLEEPING OR
AM WAKING, HELP ME,
DEAR LORD, YOUR WILL TO DO.
IN YOU ALONE,
MY GOD, I LIVE;
YOU ONLY CAN
MY SINS FORGIVE.
AND MAY THIS
YEAR TO ME BE HOLY;
YOUR GRACE SO FILL
MY EV'RY THOUGHT
THAT ALL MY LIFE
BE PURE AND LOWLY
AND TRUTHFUL,
AS A CHRISTIAN OUGHT.
SO MAKE ME WHILE I'M
LIVING HERE
YOUR FAITHFUL SERVANT THROUGH
THE YEAR.
JESUS, BE WITH ME AND
DIRECT ME;
JESUS, MY PLANS AND HOPES
INSPIRE; JESUS,
FROM TEMPTING THOUGHTS PROTECT
ME; JESUS, BE ALL
MY HEART'S DESIRE;
JESUS, BE IN MY
THOUGHTS ALL DAY
AND NEVER LET ME FALL
AWAY.
AND GRANT, LORD, WHEN
THE YEAR IS OVER,
THAT IT FOR ME IN PEACE
MAY CLOSE.
IN ALL THINGS CARE FOR ME AND
COVER MY HEAD
IN TIME OF FEAR AND
WOES. SO MAY I,
WHEN MY LIFE IS DONE,
APPEAR WITH JOY
BEFORE YOUR THRONE.
AMEN.