stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgstjohnluthchurchmineola.org/.../2021-01-03.christmas_2b.… · Web...

St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA)Mineola, IA

Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Order of Service and Worship TextsFor Virtual Worship

Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran WorshipHoly Communion Setting 2

January 2021 during COVID-19 pandemic

THIS SUNDAY: January 3, 2021 – Happy New Year!10:30 – Virtual-only Worship and Communion with YouTube Live stream

TUES – Quilting. All are welcome!M/W/F – Preschool 9:00-11:30

Preschool is collecting mittens and hats for Mills County Public Health’s NEST Program. Look for the tree outside of the sanctuary. Thank you!

NEXT SUNDAY: January 10, 2021 – Baptism of Our Lord10:30 – Virtual-only Worship and Communion with YouTube Live stream

ACCOMPANIST: Barb Mass

Upcoming: January 12th – 6:30pm Council Meeting, including decision on in-person/virtual worship.January 17th – Annual Congregational Meeting after Sunday Worship. If we are worshipping in-person with livestream, we will meet in the same way, both in-person and online with the following link: meet.google.com/pwo-bcny-rip If we are online-only for worship, we will postpone the meeting until we can meet in-person with a virtual option..

Virtual Communion:During Sunday worship when we worship virtually-only (through January 10th or longer)OR by other arrangement with Pastor Luke.

Pick up a prepackaged communion cup/wafer at church at any of the following times (or use your own bread and wine/grape juice from home):

Communion Pick-Up Times: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday – 9:30am-Noon, or 1:30pm-5:00pm, or evening as arranged. Tuesday – 2:00-5:00pm, or evening as arranged. Friday/Saturday – by arrangement only.

1

St. John Lutheran ChurchMineola, Iowa Phone (712) 526-2268Website: stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgPastor Luke Kuenzli

January 3, 2021 10:30amSecond Sunday in Christmas

We are called to glorify God, grow in faith,

and build community.Mission Statement

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – COVID-19 Virtual-ONLY

Covid-19 Precautions for in-person worship We will require masks be worn while you are in the building (Ages 2 and

up). Refusal to wear a mask will result in your being asked to leave. We will be practicing social distancing of 6 feet. Closed pews are cordoned

off and labelled. Please don’t gather in the hallway or enter any closed spaces. Restrooms will

be limited to single-person/family use at any given time. Those who do not comply with social distancing policies will be asked to leave.

There will not be singing, prolonged unison speaking, communion, or fellowship time. Virtual communion begins December 6.

We continue to advise (not require) that persons in the vulnerable population groups of 65+ years of age and anyone with underlying medical conditions remain home.

We ask that anyone with any respiratory symptoms (cough, sniffles, sneezing, sore throat) or fever please remain home. You will be asked to leave if you are displaying such symptoms.

We ask that if you are traveling to areas of high virus activity, you remain home for the Sunday following your travels.

Hand sanitizers are located throughout the open areas. Feel free to use them!

Food DriveThe Women of St. John are having a food drive and collecting

for Mills County Store House all through the month of January.

Kid-friendly cereals, canned tuna, chicken, pears, peaches and mixed fruits, dry pastas, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products ALWAYS welcome and needed.

Items will be collected in the shopping cart. Only food items

The Mills County Ministerial Association will not be hosting Soup and Song this

year due to pandemic concerns.Please designate gifts to the

MCMA Energy Assistance Fund to support Mills County residents in need.The church office can collect these gifts

and send them all together!

2

Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Setting 2) (*Stand)

Prelude Welcome/Announcements

GATHERING

*Confession and Forgiveness (from sundaysandseasons.com)Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who was in the beginning,who makes a dwelling among us, who covers us with justice and mercy. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.Silence is kept for reflection.

God of goodness and lovingkindness,we confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbors.We have turned away from your invitation to new life.We have turned away from the lowly and downtrodden.In your abundant mercy, forgive us our sins,those we know and those known only to you,for the sake of the one who came to live among us,Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Hear the good news of peace and salvation!God forgives us all our sins, not through our own work,but through ☩ Jesus Christ, made known to all people.With all who come to the manger, rejoice in this amazing gift of grace. Amen.

3


Gathering Hymn “The Bells of Christmas” v.1, 4-6 #298

Greeting The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

4

Kyrie p. 120

5


*This is the Feast p.122

6

Salutation The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Prayer of the DayAlmighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word. By your grace empower us to reflect your light in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORDFirst Reading: A reading from Jeremiah 31:7-14.

7Thus says the LORD: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O LORD, your people, the remnant of Israel.”

8See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.”

11For the LORD has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 12They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. 13Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. 14I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the LORD. ...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

7


Psalm 147:12-20 Two lectors read responsively by whole verse.12Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,13who has strengthened the bars of your gates

and has blessed your children within you.14God has established peace on your borders

and satisfies you with the finest wheat.15God sends out a command to the earth, a word that runs very swiftly.16God gives snow like wool, scattering frost like ashes.17God scatters hail like bread crumbs. Who can stand against God’s cold?18The LORD sends forth the word and melts them;

the wind blows, and the waters flow.19God declares the word to Jacob, statutes and judgments to Israel.20The LORD has not done so to any other nation;

they do not know God’s judgments. Hallelujah!

Second Reading: A reading from Ephesians 2:3-143Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us

in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. …Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

8

*Gospel Acclamation

All the ends of the earth | have seen the victory of our God.

*Announcement of the Gospel The holy gospel according to John 1:1-18. Glory to you, O Lord.

*The Gospel is proclaimed In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word

was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

…the gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ!

9


10

Sermon Pastor Luke Kuenzli

This Wednesday, January 6th, is the celebration of the Epiphany of Our Lord.

As a brief reminder, that is the holiday on which we celebrate the wise men, or

magi, and their journey to visit the child Jesus, led by a star. That visit didn’t

happen on Christmas night, but sometime within Jesus’ first two years of life. I

know that might “break” the image of kings and shepherds kneeling together

before Jesus in the manger… a beautiful and meaningful image, to be sure, and

there’s nothing wrong with that image… it just… well, it’s the summary version of

the story, where everything just gets mashed together. If we could go back in time

to witness Jesus’ birth, what we would see is not what many of us would expect to

see.

You may be aware that last week, in the days prior to Christmas on

December 21st, there was an opportunity to gaze heavenward and witness a near

alignment of Saturn and Jupiter, a phenomenon known as “the Christmas Star.”

While this planetary alignment does occur every 20 years or so, the two planets

have not appeared so near to one another nor so bright as they did this year, not

since the Medieval Era. There has been some speculation about the “Christmas

Star” we saw and the “Christmas Star” the magi saw, and whether they were the

same thing or not.

Well, I don’t know. I haven’t done (nor am I capable of doing) the science to

figure out if this alignment would have occurred at the time of Jesus’ birth. But

here’s what I do know… when I looked up last week at the “Christmas Star,” and

saw those two bright points of light shining out over the horizon, I was…

underwhelmed. Sure, they were pretty… it was kinda’ neat… but it didn’t live up

to my family’s expectations. The kids – and the grown-ups – kept on going outside

through dinnertime to see if the stars looked any different, any more exciting, any

11


more special. They didn’t. If anything, they got less exciting as the evening

progressed, and then they dropped out of sight.

I was hoping for something more brilliant, a “star of wonder, star of night,

star with royal beauty bright!” Maybe one of those neat cross-shaped stars that we

always find depicted in Nativity scenes on holiday greeting cards. We even got out

Jeremiah’s telescope that he got for his birthday, and looked through that… and we

could see a little more – I think I saw some of the planetary rings around Saturn…

But still, it really just looked like two regular old points of light, just closer to one

another than usual… What we saw was not what we expected to see.

We have begun a new calendar year, and many of us are holding very high

expectations for 2021. But as I said in my Christmas Eve sermon… we just don’t

know what this year will bring. We have high hopes, but we might not see what we

are expecting. In the progression of COVID-19 and this pandemic that just won’t

quit, in the national economy, in a liberal Administration, in a conservative

Supreme Court, in a divided Congress… we have all sorts of expectations, but the

truth is that Forrest Gump’s mama was a wise woman. “Life is like a box of

chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get.” Expectations may or may

not be met.

Even if we know when and where to look for what we are seeking, we may

not find it (as Herod didn’t find Jesus). Even if we know when and where to look

for what we are seeking, we may find it and be disappointed (as I was by the

Christmas Star). Even if we know when and where to look for what we are

seeking, we may find it and not like what we see at all (as we so often do of our

hopes for government).

The Hebrew people had been waiting for long years – decades – centuries, in

fact, for the Messiah. They had been told what to look for, and where to find the

promised one. But they were expecting a royal child, not a poor carpenter’s son;

12

they were looking for a throne, not a manger; they were looking for freedom from

worldly powers, not freedom from sin and death. And though we have the benefit

of hindsight, we so often end up looking for the same kinds of things when we are

seeking Christ. We want big moments, clear signs, sudden inspiration! We want

that shiver of the Spirit, that sense of awesome presence, that feeling of blessed

assurance! And every so often, we may get such a signal of God’s presence and

activity with and within us, we may see it in a loved one, we may recognize it in

momentous occasions and achievements by public figures of the world.

But for the most part, I think, we are left wondering where those moments,

those signs, those divine inspirations are when we have decided that we need them.

Where are the lights that shine into the uncreated, unformed depths of our

experiences of darkness? The trauma, the suffering, the abuse, addiction, illness,

grief, pandemic, depression, fear, tragedy, loss – the darknesses that are so hard for

so many to overcome... Where is our brilliant light of hope? Where is our clearly

present divine presence? When will God let us know that it is time to pick up the

remnants of our broken lives and follow our Savior into salvation, our Deliverer

into deliverance, our Redeemer into redemption for us and for all of the created

world?

We keep looking for such signs, expecting them to come in big and

wonderful and flashy ways… but more often than not, I believe that God’s Word

comes in small ways. Not a king, but a baby; not a throne, but a manger, not a

bright and brilliant star of wonder, but two simple points of light, two planets

shining close to one another in the darkness, low over the horizon, reflecting the

light of a distant Sun.

That’s what I have come to appreciate about the so-called “Christmas Star”

we saw last week… unlike so many of the other lights in the sky, the light we saw

when we gazed with hope and expectation at those two distant orbs wasn’t their

13


own. After the disappointment and underwhelmed feeling of “that’s it?...” as I have

had the chance to reflect on this, myself, I have considered my experience from the

night of December 21st and found in this small thing a sign, a symbol, a clear and

honest hope for what the new year will hold for us.

After the year that we have had, this 2020 that is now in our hindsight,

maybe two points of light shining together is enough to hope for, enough to expect.

Two lives – your own and your spouse’s; your own and your child’s; your own and

your neighbor’s; your own and that of someone with whom you have had conflict –

any two lives, confronting the darkness side-by-side, reflecting the light of the

same Son, God’s Son, Jesus Christ, distant though he may seem to be. The light

shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

The Light of the World, Jesus our Lord, came to us; and we didn’t see him

because we were looking for something bigger, flashier. The Word of God, Christ

our Lord in whom Creation was spoken into being, came to us; and we didn’t hear

him because we were listening for a royal trumpet, not an infant’s cry. God’s only

Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, came to us; and we didn’t feel him because

we were longing for something that would fill our lives with glory, and instead we

have been given eyes filled with tears because when we look at the world around

us we see pain, suffering, sadness, death…

But this Light, this Word, this Son of God… our Lord came to us writ small,

Eternal God in the form of an infant, and our Lord comes to us in small ways still.

God is made known to us through the acts of kindness shown by friend and family

and stranger; in the journeys of those from far away, who bear gifts that make our

lives richer for their presence; in the tiny glimpses of light and hope and goodness

and joy that we find when we draw near to another, and see in them the love of

God reflected in the world. In a crumb of bread, a sip of wine, a splash of water, a

word of hope.

14

In this new year, may God meet you in countless small and unexpected

ways, and fill you with hope, for you have been given an inheritance with Jesus,

the Eternal Son. You are a child of God. We are the light of the world. Amen.

15


Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God, begotten, not made,of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Maryand became truly human.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures;he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession Joining our voices with the song of the angels, let us pray for the church, the

world, and all who are in need. A brief silence.

Redeeming God, you gather together your people from the farthest parts of the earth. Protect your church from stumbling. Let it not be overcome by sorrow, division, or despair. Make us radiant with goodness, that we might live always to the praise of your glory. We pray especially for First Congregational UCC and Pastor Susan Reed, and for Holy Rosary Catholic Church and Father Dan Siepker; for Ascension Lutheran in Coon Rapids and Pastor Terry Mogensen and Riverside Lutheran in Sioux City and Pastor Tim Squier. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You bring together heaven and earth. All creation testifies to your splendor. Hold the ecosystems of this earth in delicate balance, from coastlands to farmlands,

16

forests to wetlands, deserts to rainforests. Show us new ways to live in harmony with the world around us. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You overflow with grace upon grace. Expand the imaginations of those who serve in positions of authority. Open their hearts to the needs of their nations and communities. Protect all those in harm’s way and those risking danger for the sake of others. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You bring consolation to those who weep. Embrace those who feel far-off, excluded, or defeated. Accompany those living with chronic and invisible illness. Sustain the weak and weary. Refresh those who labor under the weight of grief, pain or sickness, especially the family of Kathy Deitchler, Linda Kuenzli, Flo Tompkins, Ann, Jane and Andy, Erin and Jonah, Jeremy and Jillian Kahl, . Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You come to us in the beauty of darkness and of light. Bring justice and reconciliation to communities divided by oppressions and misuse of power. Guide us to speak holy words of advocacy and truth. Help us to honor your image in one another. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You turn our mourning into joy. We give thanks for those who have died in faith. With all the saints, give us our inheritance in Christ. In the fullness of time, gather us all together in your mercy. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of mercy, come quickly to us with grace upon grace as we lift these and all our prayers to you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Peace The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.Share a word or a sign of peace with those around you, or send a virtual greeting of peace to someone you’re thinking of.

17


MEALGREAT THANKSGIVING

The presiding minister continues:

18

Eucharistic Prayer and Words of InstitutionThis God of whom we speak, of whom we sing, in indeed a Holy and Mighty God, powerful and merciful. And this God not only came to us, but became one of us; God grew in Mary’s womb, nurtured by her body, and as he grew, the hope and fears of all the years drew near to their fulfilment.

On the night in which he was born, our Lord Jesus took a body, in all its human brokenness, and his mother placed him in a feeding trough – a foreshadowing of another night, when Jesus would offer his own body, broken as food. That night, when God came to earth, the new covenant began to take shape, a covenant begun with the pains of labor and brought to completion with the agony of the cross. On the night in which he was born, our very God became very human, so that he might live and die for us.

On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks; and 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, take and drink, this 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.

For as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim that the Lord comes, that the Lord has come, that the Lord will come again. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

God who comes to us, pour out your Holy Spirit upon this bread and wine, and upon all your people gathered here: grant us faith so that we may live in hope;

19


lead us into Peace with self, neighbor, creation, and Creator; bring us the Joy of living in the freedom of salvation; send us out with the Love that is born in Bethlehem and in our hearts; so that we may proclaim Christ in word and deed. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

All glory and honor is yours, O God, who comes to fulfill all expectation in the most unexpected of ways, through Jesus Christ the Word made flesh, with the Holy Spirit who breathes life into a dying world; now and forever. Amen.

Gathered together by the Holy Spirit, we pray as Jesus taught us: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:The Word is revealed in a manger, in simple bread and wine. Come meet Christ in this meal.

20

At this time, peel back your pre-packaged communion cup’s top (clear) layer to remove the wafer, then the next (foil) layer to open the juice cup.

OR, prepare your bread and wine or grape juice from home for your communion.If you are by yourself, eat the wafer or bread as the Pastor speaks these words: The body of Christ, broken for you. You may reply: Amen.And drink the wine or grape juice as the Pastor speaks these words: The blood of Christ, shed for you. You may reply: Amen.

If you are with family members or others, you may choose to serve the meal to one another using the words above.

May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen us and keep us in his grace, now and forever. Amen.

After communion, we sing:

Prayer after CommunionWe give you thanks, gracious God, that you have once again fed us from your very self with the body and blood of Christ. Through this mystery, send us forth to proclaim your promise to a world in need, through the same Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

21


SendingBLESSING

Almighty God, who sent the Holy Spirit to Mary, proclaimed joy through the angels, sent the shepherds with good news, and led the magi by a star, bless you this day ☩ through the Word made flesh. Amen.

Sending Song “Light of the World” by Cathy Pino

Text and Music © 2003 Cathy Pino. Used by direct permission from artist.

Dismissal Go in peace. Share the gift of Jesus! Thanks be to God!

22

From Evangelical Lutheran Worship copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. And/or from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46263.

“Light of the World” Text and Music © 2003 Cathy Pino. Used by direct permission from artist.

Permission to stream music in this service obtainedfrom ONE LICENSE, License #731513-A. All rights reserved.

23

stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgstjohnluthchurchmineola.org/.../2021-01-03.christmas_2b.… · Web...

Documents

Transcript of stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgstjohnluthchurchmineola.org/.../2021-01-03.christmas_2b.… · Web...