St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
January 1, 2023 -Christmas 1 – Christ the Child
Prayer Before Worship - Lord, after the celebration we just had it is hard to get excited about being here again. I know that sounds silly, since You never stop blessing me. Help me to overcome the attitude which thinks Your blessings are routine.
Hymn 45
Word and Sacrament, pg 26
Hymn 35, verse 5 replaces “O Lord, our Lord"" pgs 28-29
Prayer: Almighty God, in mercy You sent Your one & only Son/ to take upon Himself our human nature. By His gracious coming deliver us from the corruption of our sin/ & transform us into the likeness of His glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 63:7-9
Isaiah praises the kindness of God toward His people. In kindness He became their Savior who redeems & carries them in His grace.
7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. 8 He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. 9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Hymn 35, verses 1-4 replaces Psalm.
Epistle: Galatians 4:4-7
Christ came at precisely the right time, purposefully, to extend the grace of God over Jew & Gentiles alike, that all who believe might receive adoption into the family of God as His children.
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Hymn 552:8 replaces verse
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Herod seeks to take Jesus’ life. God’s grace will not be thwarted by kings of the earth. Egypt & then Nazareth provide safety & fulfillment.
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Hymn 707
Sermon Text: Epistle: Galatians 4:4-7
Theme: GOD SENT HIS SON
1 To Be One with us
2 To make us One with Him
Nicene Creed, front of hymnal, 31
Offering The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.
Prayer of the church Hymn 38:8-13 (replaces pg 32)
Lord's Prayer, pg 32
Continue page 33, front of hymnal
Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of St Paul's & other WELS or ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith (1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with the worship leader after worship. We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord, with us and with our congregation.
Hymn 41 during distribution
Continue pg 36
Hymn 64