Personal Prayer upon entering church:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Maker of all things, although we have in no way deserved Your goodness and mercy, You have daily and abundantly provided for all of my needs of body and soul over this past year, about to draw to its close. Give me now, I pray, the continued presence of Your Holy Spirit tonight, as well as in the year about to begin, that I might gratefully acknowledge Your many mercies to me, give thanks to You for all Your blessings, grow in my faith in You, and recommit myself to serving You in willing obedience for all the days of my life. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son my Savior, Who lives and rules with You and the Holy
Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.
A Brief History and Commentary on Tonight’s Closing Hymn: “Now Thank We All Our God”
Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
For modern American churchgoers, the hymn “Now thank we all our God,” likely conjures up an image of a congregation singing in unison, a pipe organ blasting away at a stately tempo, and a church full of people grateful for God’s many blessings of body and soul. But in to truly appreciate how this hymn came about, let’s briefly look at the life of it’s author, Martin Rinkert.
This German Lutheran pastor and his family probably first sang this hymn before a meager meal, thanking God for the scraps of food they had on the table in their modest home in a desolate refugee city that was afflicted with famine and disease and war. The earliest estimated date for this hymn is 1636 and the oldest known date is 1663. Consequently, this hymn was certainly (and most likely) written during or shortly after one of history’s most devastating conflicts, the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648).
Martin Rinckart (1586-1649) was an accomplished musician who studied at the University of Leipzig and then spent most of his career as a musician and archdeacon in the city of Eilenburg during the Thirty Years’ War. The walled city of Eilenburg became the refuge for political and military fugitives, but the result was overcrowding, along with famine and eventually a deadly pestilence/plague. Armies overran the city three times. The Rinkart home was a refuge for the victims, even though he was often hard-pressed to provide for his own family. During the height of a severe plague in 1637, Rinkart was the only surviving pastor in Eilenburg (the others had either died, or fled the city and their flocks). As a result, he conducted as many as 50 funerals in a day. Rinkart performed more than 4500 funerals in that year, including the funeral service for his wife.
His experiences during the Thirty Years’ War had a profound impact on Rinckart’s poetry, just as it did for his hymnwriter contemporaries. Lutheran scholar Carl Schalk observed that unlike the objective hymn texts of the Reformation period (focused more on Biblical doctrine), the “cross and comfort” hymnody written during the Thirty Years’ war reflected the life situations of the people who first sang those hymns, relating theology to every-day life.
The “Nun danket” tune was composed by Johann Crüger (1598-1662). It first appeared in 1647 in Crüger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica: Das ist Ubung der Gottseligkeit in Christlichen und Trostreichen Gesänägen (“Practice of Piety in Song: That is practice of Godliness in Christlike and Comforting Songs”), which in 1661 was reprinted in its tenth edition with 550 chorales. It subsequently became the most reprinted Lutheran (and also Protestant) chorale book in Germany. “Nun Danket alle Gott” was probably also included in the original German edition of Rinckart’s Jesu Hertz-Büchlein (1636). In that hymnal’s second edition, from 1663, the hymn was entitled “Tisch- Gebetlein” (“A little table music”), which suggests that it was intended to be sung as grace before a meal.
Only a few of the 66 hymns in Martin Rinckart’s collection were retained and reprinted into German hymn books over the centuries. The version of “Now thank we all our God” with which we are familiar was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878). Winkworth published almost 400 translations of German hymns into English for hymnals between 1855 and 1869.
It’s worth noting that the text for the first two stanzas is based on the Old Testament Apocryphal book of Sirach 50:22-24: “ Now bless the God of all Who everywhere does great things, Who raises us up from our birth and deals mercifully with us. 23 May He give us gladness in our hearts, and may there be peace in our time, in Israel as in times past.”
The first stanza of our hymn speaks about our bounteous and gracious God, Who has blessed us and provided abundantly for us. The text is propelled forward by the phrases beginning with “who/whom” and ending in descriptors of God’s actions:
Who wondrous things has done,
in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms….
For someone in Rinckart’s dire situation, this expression of abundant gratitude might seem like hyperbole. Since you and I don’t live in constant fear of starvation, the plague, and invading armies, we are already quite a bit more fortunate than Rinckart was; and yet, he expands this description of God into the second stanza by connecting two similar ideas (anadiplosis): “countless gifts” at the end of the first stanza; with a “bounteous God” at the beginning of stanza two.
The second stanza of the hymn moves to the future, praying for guidance and a continuation of thanks and praise:
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us in His grace,
and guide us when perplexed;
and free us from all ills,
in this world and the next.
This second stanza also employs a poetic device called “anaphora” by beginning each phrase with “and” in three successive phrases: “and keep us…,” “and guide us…,” “and free us….” The three verbs are arranged in an implied chronological order that leads up to the final phrase “this world and the next.”
The third and final stanza brings the hymn to a close by acting as a German Gloria Patri (Lesser Doxology; “Glory be to the Father”), which offers praise to all three Persons of the Trinity and acknowledges God’s eternal nature in the last line.
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given;
the Son, and Him Who reigns
with Them in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019,
The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission
Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Pre-service music Pre-service prayer
We Offer our Praises to God
The Welcome and Introduction to Worship – Pastor
After which the Congregation will rise
The Invocation
We begin this worship service…..
In the name of the Father,
by Whose word the world was formed
and by whose power all things are sustained.
And of the Son,
by Whose suffering and death we have been redeemed,
and by Whose resurrection we are assured of heaven.
And of the Holy Spirit,
Who – through the Means of Grace has both brought us to faith
and keeps us in the one true faith. Amen.
The Psalm for this Evening Psalm 90
P: Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
C: Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, + from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
P: You turn men back to dust, saying “Return to dust, O sons of men.”
C: For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, + or like a watch in the night.
P: You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
C: All our days pass away under Your wrath; + we finish our years with a moan.
P: The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength;
C: yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, + for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
P: Who knows the power of Your anger? For Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due You.
C: Teach us to number our days aright, + that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
P: Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
C: May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; + establish the work of our hands for us — + yes, establish the work of our hands.
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 69 “Across the Sky the Shades of Night”
1 Across the sky the shades of night
This New Year’s Eve are fleeting.
We deck your altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting,
And, as the year’s last hours go by,
We raise to you our earnest cry,
Once more your love entreating.
2 We gather up in this brief hour
The mem’ry of your mercies.
Your wondrous goodness, love, and pow’r
Our grateful song rehearses,
For you have been our strength and stay
In many a dark and dreary day
Of sorrow and reverses.
3 Before the cross, subdued, we bow,
To you our prayers addressing,
Recounting all your mercies now
And all our sins confessing.
We ask you, Lord, this coming year
To keep us in your faith and fear
And crown us with your blessing.
4 And while we pray, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us,
Safe home with you in Paradise,
Where Jesus will reign o’er us,
And ask of you, when life is past,
To reunite us all at last
With those who’ve gone before us.
5 Then, gracious God, in years to come,
Whatever may betide us,
Right onward through our journey home,
Oh, stay at hand to guide us,
Nor leave us till, at close of life,
Safe from all peril, toil, and strife,
Heav’n shall enfold and hide us.
after which the Congregation will rise as
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor We have come together in the presence of God, our Heavenly Father, who created us to love and serve Him as His dear children. But We have disobeyed Him through our thoughts, words, and actions, and deserve only His wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins. In the words of Jeremiah, we confess:
Congregation Although our sins testify against us, O LORD, do something for the sake of Your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against You.
Pastor In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, we acknowledge how thoroughly sin fills our lives, even our very being:
Congregation From within, out of our hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and make us ‘unclean.’
Pastor Along with the Apostle John, we recognize:
Congregation If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Pastor And in the words of David, before the Lord we plead:
Congregation I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Pastor Jesus says to His people: “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven.” Our Savior’s perfect life and sacrificial death have paid for the guilt and penalty of our sins, and for the sins of the whole world. Do you believe this?
Congregation Yes, I believe this.
Pastor Then be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of everlasting life. And carrying out my office as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
Our Grateful Response for God’s Forgiveness
To the tune of “Come You Thankful People, Come”
Blessed Holy Trinity, Glorious in Your majesty,
Father, Spirit and the Son – Savior-God, the Three-in-One –
From sin’s curse You set me free Heaven’s mine – eternally.
All I am, to You I owe, Source from Whom all blessings flow. Amen.
after which the Congregation may be seated
We Hear God’s Word
What follows are selected portions of Scripture which have something to say to us as we close the Old Year and the begin the New Year. Some readings speak about certain Spiritual characteristics that every Christian will want to possess. Others talk about some of the blessings which God has graciously given us in the past, as well as the benefits He promises us for the future.
Confessing Daily our sinfulness
Psalm 130:1-4
Out of the depths I have called to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice.
L et Your ears be attentive to the sound of my cry for mercy. If You, Lord, kept a record of guilt, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is pardon, so You are feared.
Psalm 139: 23,24
Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my troubled thoughts. See if there is any way in me that causes pain, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Search Me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, Know My Thoughts I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.
Continuing To Rely on the Compassion of our God
Psalm 5:11,12
Do not cast me from Your presence. Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.
Sustain me with a willing spirit.
Lamentations 3:22-24
By the mercies of the Lord we are not consumed, for his compassions do not fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. My soul says, “The Lord is my portion. Therefore, I will hope in Him.”
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not — Thy compassions, they fail not:
As Thou has been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided —
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Confident in God as our Provider, Protector, and Helper
Luke 12:22-24
Jesus said to His disciples, “For that reason I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. Certainly life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!
Romans 8:24-28
Indeed, it was for this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for something we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patient endurance.
In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we should pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that are not expressed in words. And He Who searches our hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints, according to God’s will. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose
Psalm 46: 1-3,7
God is our Refuge and Strength, a Helper Who can always be found in times of trouble. That is why we will not fear when the earth dissolves and when the mountains tumble into the heart of the sea. Its waters roar and foam. The mountains quake when it rises. ….The Lord of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is a Fortress for us.
A Mighty Fortress is our God, A trusty Shield and Weapon
He helps us free from ev’ry need That hath us now o’ertaken.
The old, evil Foe Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal
With might of ours can naught be done
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One Whom God, Himself, elected.
Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is,
Of Sabaoth Lord, And there’s none other God
He holds the field forever.
Committing ourselves to Consecrated Christian Living
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
This is the conclusion of the matter. Everything has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments. For mankind, this is everything. Yes, God will bring everything that is done into judgment, including everything that is hidden, whether good or evil..
Joshua 24:14-18
Joshua said, “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly and faithfully. Remove the gods that your fathers served in the region across the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if you see no benefit in serving the Lord, then choose for yourselves today whomever you will serve—whether the gods that your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household—we will serve the Lord!” The people responded by saying, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord in order to serve other gods! For the Lord our God, He is the One Who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, where we were slaves. He is the One Who performed these great signs right before our eyes and protected us on the whole journey that we made and among all the peoples through whom we passed. The Lord drove out of our presence all the peoples and the Amorites who were living in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because He is our God!”
Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all, for Thee.
Relying Each Day upon the Counsel of God
Psalm 73:23-26
Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand. With Your guidance You lead me, and afterward, You will take me to glory. Who else is there for me in heaven? And besides You, I desire no one else on earth. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the Rock of my heart and my Portion forever.
Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the Lord says. Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask about the ancient paths. Ask where the good road is. Walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
O Word of God Incarnate O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth, unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky —
We praise Thee for the radiance That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.
Confessing Christ Before Others
Luke 12:8-9
“I tell you, whoever confesses Me before other people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. But whoever denies Me in the presence of other people will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
Matthew 9:36-38
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into His harvest.”
Hark! The voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work today?”
Fields are white and harvest waiting
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calleth Rich reward He offers Thee,
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I! Send Me! Send Me!”
Living and Serving As a Community in Christ
Galatians 3:23-29
But before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed . So the law was our chaperone until Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a chaperone. In fact, you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Indeed, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is not Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one and the same in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to the promise.
O Lord, let this Thy little flock, Thy name alone confessing,
Continue in Thy loving care, True unity possessing,
Thy Sacraments, O Lord, And Thy saving Word
To us e’er pure retain. Grant that they may remain
Our only strength and comfort.
And for Thy Gospel let us dare To sacrifice all treasure;
Teach us to bear Thy blessed cross, To find in Thee all pleasure,
Oh, grant us steadfastness In joy and distress
That we Thee ne’er forsake. Let us by grace partake
Of endless joy and glory.
Living In Such A Way That We
Are Continually Ready For Christ’s Return
Luke 12:35-40
“Be dressed, ready for service, and keep your lamps burning. Be like people waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. Blessed are those servants, whom the master will find watching when he comes. Amen I tell you: He will dress himself and have them recline at the table, and he will come and serve them. Even if he comes in the second or third watch, they will be blessed if he finds them alert. But know this: If the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you are not expecting Him.”
O Jesus Christ, do not delay, But hasten our salvation;
We often tremble on our way In fear and tribulation.
Then hear us when we cry to Thee;
Come, mighty Judge, and make us free From ev’ry evil. Amen.
after which the Congregation will rise for the reading of
The Sermon Text Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through Him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God. Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope. And hope will not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Who was given to us.
On New Year’s 2024-2025 And Always:
Now Thank We All Our God
After which the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The Post-Sermon Benediction
May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He never leave us or forsake us. May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways.
We Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the Lord
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship. However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash, please) to our church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745); or
2) You can donate through our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
As the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation rises for prayer
A Special Litany Prayer
- O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home,
P: We praise You, O Lord, for the harvest of souls that You have brought into Your kingdom throughout the history of the Church. Let all the saints on earth and saints in heaven join today in praising Your holy name.
- Under the shadow of Your throne Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Your arm alone, And our defense is sure.
P: Send Your Holy Spirit down on us with power. Use us as You used Peter on that first Pentecost. No matter how humble our background may be or how poorly we may seem to be equipped to be Your messengers, give us boldness to speak of You, the crucified and risen Savior
C: Before the hills in order stood Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting You are God, To endless years the same.
P: Lord, we thank You for the way You have led Your Church in the past. We thank You for protecting it when Satan has harassed it with persecution and false prophets. We thank You for those whom You have raised up to testify boldly to the truth.
- A thousand ages in Your sight Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.
P: Open our eyes to the many opportunities to witness. Open our mouths to speak boldly about the risen Christ. Help us to see the particular blessings which You have given us, blessings that enable us as a congregation and a church body to preach Your gospel to all nations at this point in the world’s history.
C: Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Soon bears us all away;
We fly, forgotten, as a dream Dies at the op’ning day.
P: We especially thank You for the gift of your dear Son, our Savior, who has rescued us from death and hell and has gathered us into his kingdom. To Him be the glory now and forever.
C: O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last And our eternal home!
TheLord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
The Consecration of the Elements – Pastor
Our Self-Examination Before Receiving The Lord’s Supper
Pastor Let us now examine ourselves in preparation for receiving this Sacrament of our Lord, as the inspired Apostle Paul so instructs us in I Corinthians 11, where he writes, “…whoever eats and the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement upon himself.”
Pastor Accordingly, are you sincerely sorry for your sins and determined, with God’s help, to change your sinful ways?
Congregation Yes, I am sorry for my sins and desire to serve Jesus and not a sinful lifestyle.
Pastor Do you believe that here in the Lord’s Supper you will receive, along with the bread and wine, the true body and blood of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Congregation Yes, I believe that I will be receiving the true body and blood of my Lord and Savior, which was given into death for my sins.
Pastor Are you coming to the Lord’s table as one in the faith with this Christian congregation, as the Scriptures teach?
Congregation Yes I have studied the teachings of this congregation concerning God’s Word; I agree with them; And am one in faith with them, as the Scriptures command me to be before I come to the Lord’s table with anyone.
Pastor Finally, do you recognize your need for forgiveness and do you believe that you will receive through the Lord’s Supper the full and free forgiveness of all your sins?
Congregation Yes, I have examined my life, see the need for God’s forgiveness and believe that I will receive complete forgiveness for all my sins, as my Savior has promised.
Pastor Having examined yourselves and confessed your sins, come now with confidence and joy to your Lord’s table and receive here, through His body and blood, the guarantee that your ins are all forgiven, and that eternal life and salvation are surely yours.
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
TO OUR GUESTS AND FRIENDS
We ask that only “Confirmed, Communicant” members of this congregation, or of one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations come forward to receive the Lord’s Supper at this time.
To us the Lord’s Supper is both an expression of our common faith in Christ (which we share with all our fellow Christian worshipers this evening), and also a public expression of our complete doctrinal agreement as a congregation and church body (as I Corinthians 1:10 and 10:17, as well as Romans 16:17 and I John 4:1 require of us).
Accordingly if you are not a communicant member of Grace Lutheran Church or our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, we are not, in any way, judging your Christian faith by respectfully asking you not to join us in the Lord’s Supper this evening. Rather, we pray that our Scripture-based practice of “Close Communion” will encourage all those Christians who are not presently in full fellowship with us to seriously examine the teachings and practices of their church in order to determine if those teachings and practices are really in full agreement with God’s Word. It is our earnest desire that you might become familiar with the doctrines of our congregation, so that you might one day join with us at the Lord’s altar in this public expression of full unity of doctrine and practice. Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your participation as a fellow Christian in this worship service, and that we appreciate your patience and understanding of our Communion practice. Finally, if you do have any questions or concerns about our “Close Communion” practice, please speak with our Pastor following tonight’s worship service, or at your convenience.
The Distribution of the Elements
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look with favor upon you and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 610 “Now Thank We All Our God”
1 Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom his world rejoices,
Who from our mother’s arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
2 Oh, may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us
And keep us in his grace
And guide us when perplexed
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
3 All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and him who reigns
With them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heav’n adore!
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
Silent prayer
Announcements
Post-service Music
A Bible Study and Devotion
To Start the New Year
January 1st is traditionally recognized as the “Eighth Day of Christmas” and so – following the Old Testament custom of circumcising Hebrew boys on the 8th day – the Christian Church (at least that part which follows the historic Christian “Church Year” calendar….as we do) observes January 1st as “The Day of the Circumcision and Naming of our Lord.” Because we will not be gathering for public worship here tomorrow morning, and so that we do not entirely “lose” the spiritual significance of January 1st, I’d like to share with you this brief Bible study for New Year’s Day in the hope that you will take it home to use devotionally — whether just personally, or with family and friends – as a means to both build your faith and knowledge, and to “start the new year” off in the best way possible: in study of God’s Word and prayer to our Lord. (Note….the titles/names that follow are just some of the many names and terms used to describe Jesus. Likewise, the passages cited in connection with the titles below should not be considered an exhaustive list of their usages.)
Here are Just Some of the Names given
to Jesus which are found in Scripture
Immanuel – A transliteration of the Hebrew, “Immanu-El” which literally means “with us, God.” Coming from the
prophesy in Isaiah 7:14, we also find it used to describe Jesus in Matthew 1:23.
The Alpha and the Omega – (Revelation 1:8) these are the names of the letters which begin and end the Greek alphabet. In Revelation 22:13 these words are followed by the explanation, “The First and the Last, The Beginning and the End” and are used to refer to Christ’s eternal character. As the everlasting, timeless God, He has no beginning and no end, but exists forever. What a thought for us to ponder as we “mark the passage of time” this New Year’s. And while we are not eternal, since we each have a beginning somewhere in past time, we will enjoy everlasting life in heaven through faith in Jesus.
Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come – Interestingly, the number three is often used in Scripture in connection with the Lord (Isaiah 6:3; Numbers 6:24-6). We find it being used here in the second part of Revelation 1:8 as an indication both of Christ’s timelessness, expressing the concept that He has always existed, and of His deity as the One, True God.
Messiah (Hebrew) / Christ (Greek) – both terms mean “The Anointed One” and indicate that Mary’s (and God’s) Son was uniquely designated, or set apart from all others, to be the One and Only world’s Redeemer. “Messiah” and “Christ” are less formal names and more of a “title” for Jesus. Occasionally He directly acknowledge that He was the Messiah, for example….in His conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4:25-26). The use of this title is consistent with the OT-era ancient practice of publicly anointing a king or prophet with oil in order to show that he had been especially selected and set apart for a particular task or role. We can see Jesus being manifestly set apart as “the Messiah/Christ” for His saving work at the time of His baptism, in Matthew 3:13-17. We also know that His mission of redemption, for which He had been set apart, was constantly uppermost in His mind throughout His ministry (John 5:36; John 9:4). Here are some other passages where these titles are used in reference to Jesus: John 1:41; Luke 2:11; John 7:26-27, 41-44; Matthew 16:16; Mark 8:29
Son of God – (Luke 1:35; Matthew 4:3,6; Mark 1:1; John 10:33-39) Though not used nearly as much as the term which follows (“Son of Man”), this title simply and accurately describes Jesus’ divine nature. While not using this title, the writer to the Hebrews (1:1-4) and Paul in Colossians (2:9-10) both testify to Jesus’ divine nature. John calls Him “the Son of God” and “the true God” in I John 5:20. And so we Christians believe that Mary’s Son IS the eternal Son of God.
The Holy One of God – John 6:69 – Another simple statement about Christ’s character, this title describes the perfection that is inherently His as the righteous, sinless God – a sinlessness which He retained (and on which our salvation depended, so that He might be a perfect atoning sacrifice for our sins – John 1:29) after He took upon Himself our human nature…..see Hebrews 4:15.
Son of Man – an oft-used title which gives us an indication of Christ’s
fully human nature. It is used over 80 times in the NT in reference to Jesus. Examples include: Matthew 9:6; Matthew 16:13; Mark 2:10, 28; Luke 12:10; Luke 24:7; John 3:13; John 9:35)
The Root and the Offspring of David – (Revelation 22:16) A reference to Christ having come from David’s line. As will be the case with a number of names and titles given to Him, we can see here that Jesus Christ is the Messiah because he fulfilled the prophecies about the One Who was to come. See also Micah 5:2, indicating that the Christ would come from David’s hometown of Bethlehem. Similar portions of Scripture refer to Christ’s being an ancestor of David and his father, Jesse. Some of those references are: Isaiah 11:1’s Branchfrom the stump of Jesse, and Jesus’ “family history” (genealogy) from chapter one of Matthew’s Gospel (vv 5-6).
Son of David – (Matthew 9:27; Matthew 12:23; Mark 9:47) Another title used to describe the direction connection between Jesus and His great forebearer, David, to whom the LORD had promised that a Descendant would one day sit on his throne Who would reign forever over the house of Israel (Psalm 110; Mark 13:36). This term is used frequently in the NT in connection with Christ.
The Bright Morning Star – From Revelation 22:16, this title gives us a glimpse of the brightness, the glory that Christ possesses as the almighty God. We will personally behold that glory one day with our own eyes (Job 19:27), even as we already see that glory now through the eyes of faith (John 1:14)
LORD (Yahweh, in Hebrew) – actually a verb which means “I AM” – whenever you see this word capitalized in the OT it
refers to the God of free and faithful grace, and so is a reference to the entire Trinity. See Exodus 34:5,6. When Jesus’ disciples called Him “Lord” they were acknowledging that He was (and is) the One True Almighty God, Who is One with the Father and the Spirit in power, authority, and honor. Jesus used this term “I Am” occasionally (John 8:58, Mark14:62) to describe Himself, to immediate charges of blasphemy from opponents because He “dared” to make himself equal to God.
Wonderful Counselor – from Isaiah 9:6, the One Who revealed the truth about God to us, and Who showed us (by earning for us) the way to heaven and eternal life. See also John 14:1-6.
Mighty God – from Isaiah 9:6, an indication of the power and authority that Christ possessed as the almighty, Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. Also see Matthew 28:18 and Matthew 19:26, where Christ’s “omnipotence” (all-powerful character) is highlighted.
Everlasting Father – from Isaiah 9:6. See also John 10:30. Another affirmation of the unity and equality that exist between the 1st and 2nd Persons of the Trinity. (Those who today claim that Jesus is, in every way, inferior to the Father – such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses – have an obviously difficult time “reinterpreting” or “interpreting away” the very clear indication here that the Father and the Son are one and the same in their divine essence.
Prince of Peace – from Isaiah 9:6 This is not the peace (from warfare or politically between countries) that the world seeks, but the infinitely more needed and spiritually significant peace that now….for Jesus’ sake and because of His reconciling work (II Cor 5:14-21)….exists between our perfect God and sinful mankind. The angels sung about it in Luke 2:14, and Paul spoke about it in Philippians 4:7.
Mediator – Paul describes Jesus as “the Mediator between God and men” in I Timothy 2:5. For us the significance of this name is found in the fact that Jesus continues to serve us now in heaven as our Great High Priest by being our Go-Between/Mediator, pleading for us and insuring that our prayers are heard and favorably answered. We “confess” this truth every time we offer our prayers “in Jesus’ name.” (John 16:23)
Good Shepherd – one of the most endearing portraits of Christ found in the Bible. David first gave us this picture in “the world’s most beloved Psalm,” Psalm 23. In John 10 (1-6, 11-18, 22-30 ) Jesus speaks at length about Himself as the Good Shepherd, Who not only protects His flock but willingly sacrificially lays down His life for His sheep. Likewise, in the parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7) Christ speaks in shepherd’s terms about His work in seeking out and saving those who are spiritually lost.
The Gate – often overlooked because it comes at the start of the “Good Shepherd chapter,” this title from John 10:7 declares to us that entrance into heaven comes ONLY through faith in Jesus. Peter would later affirm this fact in Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name, under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved.” Can you also see Him as “the Gate” in Matthew 7:13-14?
The Resurrection and the Life – John 11:25. Jesus performed three miracles raising others from the dead: the son of the
widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 9:23-26; Luke 9:40-56), and Lazarus (John 11). In addition, in connection with His Good Friday death, many dead people were raised from their graves (Matthew 27:52-53). The even greater miracles of resurrection in which Christ was/will be involved were when He raised Himself from the grave (John 10:18….but see I Peter 3:18 where the Spirit is also involved in Christ’s resurrection) and when He will call our bodies forth from our graves on the Last Day (I Thessalonians 4:17-18; John 5:28). For the believer, then, the death of my body is never something to be feared, since my soul will live forever and even my dead body will one day be raised imperishable from my grave. (I Corinthians 15:20, 50-54)
Jesus (Jeshua, in Hebrew) – An example is found in Matthew 1:21. The name means “The Lord Saves” and is used in excess of 1274 times in the New Testament in connection with Christ. This name, clearly, puts an exclamation point on the principal work which He came to accomplish: our souls’ salvation.
Savior – (Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Jude 1:25; Titus 3:6) As with the remarks above, in connection with the name “Jesus,” this title describes what Christ achieved for us through His perfect substitutionary life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection: He saved us from the curse of our sins, from eternal death, and from the Devil’s power. Put more “positively,” He saved us for eternal life in heaven with Him. This term is used at least 24 times in the New Testament in connection with Jesus.
Finally, see Philippians 2:6-11, especially verse 11, which tells us that even if many today do not recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior, the day (of Judgment) will come when everyone will bow down before Him and acknowledge that He is the God of all and the world’s Redeemer. Aren’t you grateful that God has already given you the faith to believe in Him as your Savior?