St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

website: StPaulsManistee.com

facebook: SPLCManistee

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821

January 4, 2026 Epiphany

JESUS IS THE SAVIOR FOR ALL NATIONS

WELCOME

HYMN 83 “As With Gladness Men of Old”

– please stand for last stanza

SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT - page 26

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Lord God, by the leading of a star, you once made known to the nations your one and only Son. Guide us, also, who know him now by faith to come at last to the perfect joy of your heavenly glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sing) Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 60:1-6

The prophet foretold that one born king of the Jews would draw kings from distant nations to the light of his glory.

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is dawning upon you. 2Look, darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness covers the peoples, but the Lord will dawn upon you, and his glory will be seen over you. 3 Nations will walk to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4Look up. Look all around and see! All of them have been gathered. They are coming to you. Your sons will come from far away, and people will carry your daughters on their side. 5 Then you will look and be radiant. Your heart will race with excitement and burst with joy. For great riches from the sea will be delivered to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you. 6 Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba will come. They will carry gold and incense, and they will announce the good news of the praise of the Lord.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

HYMN 79 (1,2) “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star”

SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 3:2-12

Paul explains that that people from all nations are united as equals in the Savior’s kingdom of grace.

2Surely you have heard of the administration of God’s grace given to me for you, 3namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation (as I have already written briefly). 4When you read this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5 This mystery was not made known to people in past generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and people who also share in the promise through the gospel. 7I became a servant of this gospel, in keeping with the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. 8 To me— even though I am the very least of all the saints—was given this grace: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 9and to enlighten everyone about the administration of this mystery. In past ages this mystery remained hidden in God, who created all things. 10 He did this so that, through the church, the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was done according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we can freely approach God with confidence through faith in him.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. Alleluia.

(Sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

These words are written that we may believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12

Magi from the east were the first in a long line of Gentiles would join Israel in worshiping Jesus as King.

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN 67 “What Child Is This?”

SERMON: Making the Time to Worship Matthew 2:1-12

NICENE’ CREED - page 31

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER (traditional)

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 33-35

Because God’s Word clearly teaches the Real Presence of Christ body and blood, and the fellowship connected with the Lord’s Supper, we kindly request that only WELS and ELS communicant members receive this Sacrament. For more information, please contact Pastor Himm.

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION

THANK THE LORD & PRAYER - pages 36

BLESSING (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.

HYMN 92 “Brightest and Best”

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING.

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement.

All Scripture readings are from the EHV ® Used by permission.