Prelude
Announcements
Call to Worship and Confession and Forgiveness
We teeter on the dawn of a new day, a new year.
People of God: O Lord, call us so we may hear your voice.
The world turns from what we know of the past
People of God: to hopes and dreams of the future.
We enter this new year with hope and excitement.
People of God: O Lord, keep us in your ways and on your path.
We look to you, loving God, for wisdom.
People of God: O Lord, remind us that you lead us. Amen.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the Word made flesh, our life and our salvation.
People of God: Amen.
Trusting the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God of life,
People of God: you promise good news of great joy for all people, and call us to be messengers of your peace. We confess that too often we hoard our joy, our resources, and our security. We nurture conflict and build barriers. We neglect the needs of our neighbors and ignore the groaning of creation. Have mercy on us. Where we are self-centered, open our hearts. Where we are reluctant, give us courage. Where we are cynical, restore our trust. Renew us with your grace and give us again the hope of eternal life in you. Amen.
Hear the good news: We are children of God and heirs of God’s promises through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In ☩ Jesus we are forgiven and redeemed. Sing with joy, for all the ends of the earth shall know the salvation of God.
People of God: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Assisting Minister: Let us pray God of promise, you made a commitment to Joseph that you would make Jesus a savior to all. Renew your commitment with us, so that all may know the saving grace of your son, Jesus. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
People of God: Amen.
Reading Matthew 1:1-17
Assisting Minister: 1An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. The word of the Lord. People of God: Thank be to God
Sermon Rev. Arlyn Tolzmann
Prayers of the People
Assisting Minister: God of revelation, as we gather in praise for the gracious mystery of your Son, we remember the many needs of your church and your world.
A brief silence.
Assisting Minister: Reveal yourself within the church, O God; guide us in the ways of witness and proclamation that all the world may know of your love and grace. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Reveal yourself within creation, O God; open our eyes to the beauty of your world and make us better stewards of all that you have made. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Reveal yourself within governments, O God; place compassion and wisdom in the hearts and minds of the world’s leaders that your peace and justice may prevail. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Reveal yourself within the broken places of the world, O God; help us to see the face of Christ in those who struggle and mourn. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Reveal yourself within the suffering, O God, especially the McDonough family, Jeanne, Barb, Cecil (See-sil), Marlene, Ryleigh, Dylan, Sandy, Hopie (Hope-y), the Lang family, the Mauger (maw-ger) family, Susan, the Bredemus (bread-a-mus) family, Allen, Bunny, the Vogt (vote) family, Richard, Pat, Pete, Dick, Karen, Patricia, Michael, Nicholas and his family, Beth, Jim, Kara (car-a), Betty, Tom, Lorie and her family, Pastor Kara (car-a) and those we name silently or aloud <pause>; may we reach out to all with arms of comfort and hope grounded in you. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Reveal yourself within this congregation, O God; move us out from this place to bear your redeeming Word to our friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Please offer your own prayers of joy or concern, ending with “Lord, in your mercy,”
We respond with “hear our prayer.”
Assisting Minister: Reveal yourself within the saints, O God; keep us following the path they have trod, the path that leads to our heavenly home. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Guide us on the path of salvation, O God, that the radiance and power of your Holy Spirit working in the world will gather together all peoples and nations in one community to offer you worship and proclaim your splendor.
People of God: Amen.
Hymn ELW #641 All Are Welcome Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Jordan Devine
Children’s Sermon Rev. Arlyn Tolzmann
The Peace (Please share peace by waving or showing the peace sign.)
The peace of Christ be with you always. People of God: And also with you.
Offering
Let us pray. God of abundance, receive and bless these gifts we have offered. Join our hearts with the song of the angels, and gather us at your table of celebration. Strengthen us to share with all the world the abundance of your grace upon grace, poured out in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. People of God: Amen.
Communion
The Lord be with you.
People of God: And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
People of God: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People of God: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; he 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.
And now let us pray with confidence in the words that Jesus taught us:
People of God: 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.
Invitation to Communion
Assisting Minister:Glory to God in the highest! Come to the table of peace.
For our at-home worshippers, you may take communion using these words:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Table Blessing
And now may the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. People of God: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. God our redeemer, you have fed us at this table with gifts of grace, truth, and life. As you have gathered us in joy, send us forth as messengers of your peace. Make us shine with the good news of your glory, born to us in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
People of God: Amen.
Blessing
God bless you and keep you, ☩ Jesus grant you grace and truth, and the Spirit send peace upon your hearts, now and forever. People of God: Amen.
Sending Hymn ELW #774 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Jordan Devine
Dismissal
Assisting Minister: Christ the Savior is born! Go in peace. Proclaim this good news. People of God: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Thank you to those serving us today
Pastor: Rev. Arlyn Tolzmann
Worship Assistant: Andy Taylor
Acolyte: Marissa Mauger
Music: Gloria Peetz ~ Song Leader: Jordan Devine
Altar Guild: Challyn Hyde
Usher/Greeter: John and Denise Ulaszek
Sound Board: Sally Skalany
AV Tech: Mark Gates
Counter: Marianne Barstow and Karen McKune
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved
Call to worship based on work by Rev-o-lution Resources by Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, http://rev-o-lution.org, (c) 2020.
Used by permission