Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
14722 Morris Ave, Allen Park, MI 48101 (313) 429-3085
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - English District
Rev. Joel M. Holls, Pastor
christourredeemerlutheran.com
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD (observed)
January 7, 2024
Divine Service Setting Three – Page 184
As We Gather
The Twelve Days of our Christmas celebration have come to an end. But the miraculous birth of the Son of God is only the beginning of the story. For though Jesus came as the fulfillment of all the promises to God’s chosen people Israel, the promise to Abraham was clear that by his seed “all the families of the earth” would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This is the mystery Paul speaks of in Ephesians 3, how “the Gentiles are fellow heirs ... of the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6). Anything hidden remains a mystery until it is revealed. No one, Jew or Gentile, can come to faith in Christ without the Gospel being revealed. Another word for “reveal” is “epiphany.” So today Matthew uses the word “behold,” showing what may seem a surprise to some. “Behold, wise men from the east” (Matthew 2:1). “Behold, the star that they had seen” (Matthew 2:9). Today we say, behold, Christmas is a much bigger thing than many have thought. It encompasses nothing less than all our Lord’s earthly ministry culminating in His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit. It is nothing less than the gift of salvation to all who believe. This epiphany has invaded your darkness through the water and the Word of your Holy Baptism, through the Word of God preached in your hearing, and through the receiving of our Lord’s very body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar to sustain that gift, that epiphany of faith to the end of days. By faith you have made a very good beginning.
The Opening Hymn:
“What Child Is This” LSB 370
The Confession and Absolution page 184
The Introit Psalm 45:6-8a; antiphon: Psalm 45:17
I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations.
Therefore, the people shall praise You forever and ever.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations.
Therefore, the people shall praise You forever and ever.
Continue with the Kyrie page 186
The Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
"Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba
3
shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
The Gradual Psalm 117:1-2a; Psalm 96:8
Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever.
Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts.
The Epistle Reading Ephesians 3:1-12
This is the reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for those of you who are not Jewish.
Certainly, you have heard how God gave me the responsibility of bringing His kindness to you. You have heard that He let me know this mystery through a revelation. I have already written to you about this briefly. When you read this, you will see that I understand the mystery about Christ. In the past, this mystery was not known by people as it is now. The Spirit has now revealed it to His holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is the Good News that people who are not Jewish have the same inheritance as Jewish people do. They belong to the same body and share the same promise that God made in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this Good News through God's kindness freely given to me when His power worked in me.
I am the least of all God's people. Yet, God showed me His kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish. He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past. He did this so that now, through the church, He could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know His infinite wisdom. This was God's plan for all of history which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. We can go to God with bold confidence through faith in Christ.
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
The Alleluia
The Holy Gospel Reading Matthew 2:1-12
P: The Holy Gospel selection is recorded by the Gospel writer Matthew, in the 2nd chapter, with the 1st verse.
C: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
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P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
The Creed: THE NICENE CREED page 174
The Hymn of the Day:
“Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning”
LSB 400, v. 1, 3, 5
The Sermon
The Offering & the Offertory page 192
The Prayers of the Church
We pray for those in need.
(After our petitions) Lord in Your mercy hear our prayer.
Dear heavenly Father, in the darkness of this world’s spiritual night, You created a special star to guide the Wise Men to Your Son.
For this revelation of Your glory, we give You humble thanks.
For predicting this event through Your prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years before it took place,
we praise and adore You.
Like Herod, we have often been guilty of being insincere in our search for Christ.
Forgive us, O Lord.
We have often failed to show others the way to Him, who is the Truth and the Light.
Have mercy on us, O Lord.
We confess that we have not always permitted Your Son to be the Light of our life.
Forgive us, O Lord.
For guiding Gentiles to the birthplace of Your Son Jesus and for accepting their worship as fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel,
we give You thanks.
For making it possible for us to become Your children through Christ, we are eternally grateful.
Send us Your Holy Spirit that He may increase our understanding of the magnitude of Your love.
Loosen our tongues
and give us courage to tell the Good News to a world still largely in darkness.
Motivate us to generosity in bringing our gifts for the extension of Your kingdom.
Extend Your healing hand to the sick and Your presence to the lonely.
Grant our government and the governments of the world sincere, honest, and wise officials.
We bring these our petitions in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Continue with The Service of the Sacrament page 194
Hymn during The Distribution:
“Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray” LSB 623
The Nunc Dimittis page 199
The Closing Hymn:
“The Star Proclaims the King is Here” LSB 399
Welcome to Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
We are happy that you have joined us today. Our hope is that you enjoyed the service and were inspired by God’s Word, that you will join us again very soon. If you are interested in membership, please talk to Pastor Holls or one of our Elders.
.Daily Readings this week are in our hymnal, page 303, beginning today. If you can’t be with us, follow Divine Service 3 on page 184.
Lectionary Readings for the Second Sunday after Epiphany are on page xvi, at the front of the hymnal. These are the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel readings to preview for our worship next Sunday, January 14th.
Free Will Offering: Those who wish to give an offering,
The offering plate is located at the entrance by the organ. Offerings, donations, and envelopes can be placed there.
Prayer List: Landon, Sheryl, Leda, Martha, Bill, Jody, Shirley W, Carrie, Matthew, Scottie, Steve, Andy, Terry, Buddy, Vicki. If you need someone on the permanent prayer list or they can be taken off, please see Sarah Lange.
Coming Events:
Today, January 7th: Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Bible Class will happen!
Wednesday, January 10th: Church Cleaning at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 14th: Worship at 10:00 a.m.
with Bible Class to follow
Saturday, January 13th: Council meeting at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, January 17th: Women’s Bible Study continues. Please check to see that you have the papers for the Woman at the Well. If needed, Sue can print more.
Our Birthdays: Deanna Jentzen- January 11th;
Tammy Scheid- January 13th.
Anniversary: PJ and Deanna Jentzen-January 17th.
May our Lord bless you all with a wonderful day!
Donations for the Military: Paul started a nice tradition of making donations to the troops overseas. We are asking that you bring in goodies and snacks for them by January 28th. There will be a table to collect items you may wish to bring.
Who has taken a look at our website?
christourredeemerlutheran.com
Our worship bulletin and Connections are posted every week, and Pastor and Sue have posted many good articles for the enhancement of your faith. Please go to the site and see what’s available! Please let Sue know if you use the site. If you also have articles or pictures to contribute, please tell us!!
Today, January 7th at 5:00 p.m., is a special Vespers service celebrating Epiphany at Trinity Lutheran Church,
465 Oak St, Wyandotte. It will feature music written by the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod music composer Rev. Gerald Coleman, who was unexpectedly called to eternal rest just this past Fall.
The sermon will be given by our own Pastor Holls who was personally acquainted with Rev. Coleman. Gather with us as we thank God in a special way.