The Second Sunday After Christmas - Online Worship - January 2, 2022

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vs 1
Good Christian friends rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Give ye heed to what we say
Jesus Christ is born today
Ox and lamb before him bow
And he is in the manger now
Christ is born today
Christ is born today

vs 2
Good Christian friends rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye hear of endless bliss
Jesus Christ was born for this
He has opened heaven’s door
And we are blest forevermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this

vs 3
Good Christian friends rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave
Jesus Christ was born to save
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save

Friends, we come to worship and rejoice, with heart and soul and voice, heaven and nature sing in God’s joy to the world, for Christ is born to save, to come to us anew! In Emmanuel, God’s grace is forever alive among us, so we worship in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.

In the spirit of Christmas and as we begin the year 2022, let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins, and those times we have failed to adore Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

(silence for reflection)

Friends of Emmanuel: God is with us, The Lord is come, to make you new in every gift of joy and grace in these words: Jesus saves, Jesus forgives you all your sins! Sing a new song unto the Lord! He has done marvelous things! Break into joyful song and sing praises! Emmanuel is here! O, come, let us adore Him!

vs 1
Oh come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
Oh come ye oh come ye
To Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of angels

refrain:
Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Through his bright light the Lord is alive, making known his victory. The Word has become flesh. God has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness. This is his Christmas gift to you and to the world. Search no longer for hope and grace! Live anew! Emmanuel is with us! Make a joyful noise to the Lord! Break forth into joyful song, sing praises! Greet The One who is here!  Come, let us adore Him!

vs 4
Yea Lord we greet thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to thee be glory giv’n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

refrain:
Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Loving God, you are the Faithful One. In the awe of Christmas, you, Emmanuel, come to us. In you alone, heaven and sing. Keep Christ coming to us, keep Christmas coming to us.  Whenever we go searching for you, renew in us your living hope and grace, here and now, in The Word made flesh, The Light no darkness can overcome. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

For thus says the Lord: Sing a loud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.” See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; and Ephraim is my first born. Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.” For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty. 

(New Revised Standard Version)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.  (John testified to him and cried out, “This is he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

(New Revised Standard Version)

God’s Son who was born in a manger, who went forward to make us one through his death and resurrection, will come again. Trusting heaven and nature sing in the hope and grace in Emmanuel, we share our faith, for our light has come and the darkness will not overcome it.

God who sits upon the throne says, “Behold, I make all things new. Write these words for they are trustworthy and true. It is done! I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain the water of life without payment. They who conquer shall have their heritage, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” Amen.

JEREMIAH 31:7-14; EPHESIANS 1:3-14; JOHN 1:1-18

Do you ever wish you had more time?  Time sure seems in short supply.  Where did 2021 go any way?  How do we slow things down enough to take in more of it?  One of the blessed gifts of Christmas is that even when we fail to have time for God, God makes it priority to have time for us.  God is in constant search of being in relationship with us, even when we do not make time for him.  If you are wondering if there is still time this Christmas to open some of the treasured gifts God has for you, God says, `yes!'  God has been coming to his people since the beginning of time.  Thanks be to God, there is still time to open the wonders of his love, God's gifts of `grace and truth.'  Heaven and nature sing, here, now, and there is still time to see the Word made flesh alive and dwelling in the very center of your life!

1. In your excitement this year, did you remember to open the greatest gift of all?  There is still time.  Heaven and nature sing, here, now: "The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's son, full of grace and truth."
John 1:14

A. "The Word ..." - the Trinity has forever, and will be forever, the Trinity!
John 1:1-5

B. "The Word became flesh ..." - the Incarnation is an awesome gift to grasp.

i. If from the beginning, why Jesus?

ii. God gets tired, too; but he never stops coming to us!

iii. If you are going to do something right, do it yourself!  God knows this axiom best of all!

iv. God knew exactly what we needed and he did it; he gave it!

C. "The Word became flesh to live among us."  The Gift is in your midst.

i. "... to dwell among us."  

ii. We are loved and comforted.

iii. God is with us!

D. "...And we have seen his glory ... full of grace and truth."

i. "In him we have redemption ... forgiveness ... the riches of his grace that he lavished on us."  Let yourself be lavished upon, by the one who does it best!
Ephesians 1:7-8

ii. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."  This Light will overcome all that overwhelms you.
John 1:5

iii. "Grace and truth."  The perfect combo.

2. "The Word became flesh to live among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth."  "From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace."  Heaven and nature sing, here, now, in the greatest gifts and the best Gift of all.  There is still time, open every last gift! Heaven and nature sing, here, now, so trust anew, the gifts of God’s grace, just keep coming!
John 1:14,16

Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.

vs 1
Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev’ry heart
Prepare him room
And heav’n and nature sing
And heav’n and nature sing
And heav’n and heav’n
And nature sing

vs 4
He rules the world
With truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of
His righteousness
And wonders of his love
And wonders of his love
And wonders wonders
Of his love

... as we pray to you, Jesus,
We trust heaven and nature sing anew, in your light and your grace.

All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The peace of Emmanuel be with you always.
And also with you.

Holy Communion will take place after the closing Benediction. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.

In order to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.

In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

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.

vs 1
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
(Do you see what I see)
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see
(Do you see what I see)
A star a star Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

vs 2
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
(Do you hear what I hear)
Ringing thru the sky shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
(Do you hear what I hear)
A song a song High above the tree
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

vs 3
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
(Do you know what I know)
In your palace warm mighty king
Do you know what I know
(Do you know what I know)
A Child a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver & gold
Let us bring Him silver & gold

vs 4
Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
(Listen to what I say)
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say
(Listen to what I say)
The Child The Child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

vs 1
Hark The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful all you nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”

refrain:
Hark The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn king”

vs 3
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace
Hail the sun of righteousness
Light and life to all he brings
Ris’n with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by
Born that we no more may die
Born to raise each child of earth
Born to give us second birth

(refrain)

The body and blood of our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, come to you, be born anew in you, strengthen you and keep you in his grace this most holy and blessed morning and on into life everlasting.
Amen.

Let us pray.
Faithful God, on that first silent night, you sent Emmanuel, you came to us, giving your Son as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive your every gift of grace always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. Amen.

The Lord come to you and bless you in these holy days, in the coming new year, and all your days, and give you His light. The Lord bless you with his presence and fill you with the warmth and quiet of the manger. The Lord bless you as heaven and nature sing, for Christ is salvation and hope, life and grace, love and peace, comfort and joy. In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Let us go in the peace of Christ, in the presence of Emmanuel, celebrating the love of God, and serving the Lord of life.
Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth! Good will to all!  Go one and all; live anew, and share the priceless tidings of comfort and joy!

vs 1
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O - tidings of comfort and joy

vs 2
From God our heav’nly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings to the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O - tidings of comfort and joy

vs 5
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Savior lay
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay
His mother Mary kneeling down
Unto The Lord did pray
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O - tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy have come to us
In God’s amazing grace
Comfort and joy have come to us
In this and every place
Comfort and joy will be fulfilled
The day we see God’s face
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O - tidings of comfort and joy

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Thank you for being with us today as we celebrate these blessed twelve days of Christmas! A most merry and blessed and holy Christmas and New Year to one and all! Thank you to one and all for blessing our ministry and worship and the joy of the season!

Join us next Sunday, January 9, as we share The Baptism of Our Lord, “Treasured Life!” Faith Quest Sunday School resumes next Sunday Worship next Sunday includes a special blessing as a new year begins!

As we share worship in this way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!

All who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion is now offered once again during worship, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served! For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.

For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org

We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love, and grace!

Acknowledgments for today’s service include:

Litany of God’s Presence, Heaven And Nature Sing, In Hope & Light, written based on Psalm 98 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice,” “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” “Joy to the World” “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission.  “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” © 1962 Regent Music Corp., renewed by Jewel Music Publishing Co., Inc. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” © 1980 Beam Me Up Music, CCLI #39441 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.