SERVICE OF LIGHT (Dec. 19, 2018)
“Star of Bethlehem”
(Please Rise)
Pastor: The Spirit and the Church cry out
People: Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22:17, 20)
Pastor: All those who await His appearance pray:
People: Come, Lord Jesus. (2 Timothy 4:8)
Pastor: The whole creation pleads:
People: Come, Lord Jesus. (Romans 8:22)
Pastor: Blessed are You…
People: Amen.
Pastor: Let us pray. (Silence for individual prayer)
People: Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before You, O Lord, and let Your loving-kindness descend on us that we may, with purified minds, sing Your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host and may glorify You forever. Amen. (Psalm 141)
RESPONSIVE READING
Isaiah 60 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
and I will beautify my beautiful house.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, will now and will be forever. Amen.
Isaiah 60 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
(Please be seated)
HYMN ~
READING
Matthew 2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Pastor: O Lord, have mercy on us.
All: Thank be to God.
RESPONSORY (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Pastor: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.
People: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
Pastor: He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
People: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
Pastor: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
People: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
CATECHISM
The Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
HYMN ~
SERMON
OFFERING ~
(Please Rise)
PRAYER
Each petition ends with “In peace let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.”
Pastor: Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ, our Lord.
People: To You, O Lord
PRAYER FOR PEACE
All: O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION
Pastor: Let us bless the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Pastor: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.
People: Amen