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AS WE GATHER

Welcome to worship at Christ Lutheran Church Ministries; Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year! In our Psalm for today, God remembers His covenant with His

chosen people. He causes them to remember His wonderful deeds to save them

and provide for their needs. This act of remembering leads us to praise the Lord

together. “I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in

the assembly.” (Psalm 111:1)

PRELUDE “ROCKING”

arr. OVID YOUNG

WELCOME & INVOCATION

Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the + Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

OPENING HYMN LSB 375, “COME, YOUR HEARTS AND VOICES RAISING”

Come, your hearts and voices raising,

Christ the Lord with gladness praising;

Loudly sing His love amazing,

Worthy folk of Christendom.

From the bondage that oppressed us,

From sin’s fetters that possessed us,

From the grief that sore distressed us,

We, the captives, now are free.

Oh, the joy beyond expressing

When by faith we grasp this blessing,

And to You we come confessing

That Your love has set us free.

Gracious Child, we pray, O hear us,

From Your lowly manger cheer us,

Gently lead us and be near us

Till we join Your choir above.

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CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Leader: Jesus Christ came to set us free when we were held captive to sin and

death. Let us confess that sin to our merciful Father.

People: Gracious Lord, we pray, hear our humble confession. We have

sinned against You and against one another. Our thoughts,

words, and actions have hurt others. We have failed to remember

Your promises and trust in You to uphold them. Forgive us,

Father. Grant us Your Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and

witness to Your loving presence all year long. Amen.

Leader: Psalm one hundred eleven says, “[God] provided redemption for His

people; he ordained his covenant forever…” (Psalm 111:9a) God’s

covenant was sealed by the blood of His only Son, Jesus, who shed His

blood for our forgiveness. Because of His great love for you, all your

sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING PSALM 111

Reader: In Psalm one hundred eleven, God remembers His covenant, and His

people remember His deeds and give Him praise.

1 Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright

and in the assembly. 2 Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all

who delight in them. 3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness

endures forever. 4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is

gracious and compassionate. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he

remembers his covenant forever. 6 He has shown his people the power of his

works, giving them the lands of other nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful

and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8 They are steadfast for ever and ever,

done in faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He provided redemption for his people; he

ordained his covenant for ever— holy and awesome is his name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have

good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

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STATEMENT OF FAITH APOSTLES’ CREED

People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by

the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius

Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into

heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He

will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the

communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of

the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE DCE CHERI SELANDER

MESSAGE HYMN LSB 374, “GENTLE MARY LAID HER CHILD”

Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger;

There He lay, the Undefiled, to the world a stranger.

Such a babe in such a place, can He be the Savior?

Ask the saved of all the race who have found His favor.

Angels sang about His birth, Wise Men sought and found Him;

Heaven’s star shone brightly forth glory all around Him.

Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing;

All the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger;

He is still the Undefiled but no more a stranger.

Son of God of humble birth, beautiful the story;

Praise His name in all the earth; hail the King of glory!

MESSAGE “A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE”

PASTOR TRAVIS FERGUSON

ANNOUNCEMENTS & OFFERING CHRISTLAMESA.ORG/GIVE

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HYMN LSB 362, “O SING OF CHRIST”

O sing of Christ, whose birth made known the kindness of the Lord,

Eternal Word made flesh and bone so we could be restored.

Upon our frail humanity God’s finger chose to trace

The fullness of His deity, the icon of His grace.

He came to that which was His own, but He was not received;

Yet still through Him God’s glory shone, and some His name believed.

To these He gave the right to be the heirs of heav’n above,

Born not of human ancestry but born of God in love.

Lord Jesus Christ, You deigned to dwell among us here on earth

As God with us, Emmanuel, to bring this holy birth.

Though rich, You willingly became one with our poverty,

That we might share Your wealth and name for all eternity!

HOLY COMMUNION

What we believe about Communion…

We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: One God, Three Persons.

We believe that we are sinful, in need of grace, and want to do better.

We believe, as Jesus said, that the bread and wine are truly and physically His body and His

blood, which is the ultimate mystery of faith.

BENEDICTION

HYMN LSB 919, “ABIDE, O DEAREST JESUS”

Abide, O dearest Jesus, Among us with Your grace

That Satan may not harm us Nor we to sin give place.

Abide, O dear Redeemer, Among us with Your Word,

And thus now and hereafter True peace and joy afford.

Abide with heav’nly brightness Among us, precious Light;

Your truth direct and keep us From error’s gloomy night.

Abide with richest blessings Among us, bounteous Lord;

Let us in grace and wisdom Grow daily through Your Word.

(continued)

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Abide with Your protection Among us, Lord, our strength,

Lest world and Satan fell us And overcome at length.

Abide, O faithful Savior, Among us with Your love;

Grant steadfastness and help us To reach our home above.

LSB 390, “LET US ALL WITH GLADSOME VOICE”

Let us all with gladsome voice praise the God of heaven,

Who, to bid our hearts rejoice, His own Son hath given.

To this vale of tears He comes, here to serve in sadness,

That with Him in heav’n’s fair homes we may reign in gladness.

We are rich, for He was poor; is not this a wonder?

Therefore praise God evermore here on earth and yonder.

Christ, our Lord and Savior dear, be Thou ever near us.

Grant us now a glad new year. Amen, Jesus, hear us.

POSTLUDE “PAT-A-PAN”

arr. OVID YOUNG

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Hymns and songs are used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000410; CCLI License no. 254628.

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GUIDED PRAYER FOR THE END OF THE YEAR

There’s joy in the past to look at, so that during the pain of the present, you

can have hope in the future.

What's been hard in 2020?

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Who or what has been lost, or at least seems lost?

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What do you need to grieve?

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What are you thankful for?

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How have you seen God at work? How has he protected, provided, answered,

or helped?

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Heavenly Father, Whatever lies ahead… it doesn’t catch you off-guard…it doesn’t

diminish your love for me. Whatever lies ahead…you are still bigger…you are in

still in charge. Whatever lies ahead…you have given hope through the power of

Your cross…you are with me and for me. Whatever lies ahead…I trust you…I want

to be your hands and feet in this world. Jesus Christ, I ask you to help me find joy

in the past to look at so that during the pain of the present I can have hope in the

future. Amen.

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