GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

(Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS January 1, 2012

THE ALTAR FLOWERS The Altar Flowers today are given to the glory of God and the beautification of His House by Tommy and Judy Borchert in thankfulness for lifes blessings and in honor of our wedding anniversary.

THE CIRCUMCISION AND NAME OF JESUS NEW YEARS DAY

PRAYER UPON ENTERING CHURCH
Gracious God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You have brought me safely to a new day and a new year, for which I give You my thanks and praise. For all of Your blessings past, present and future I also offer You grateful and heartfelt thanks. Especially do I thank You that by Your grace poured out upon me in my Baptism I bear Your Sons name. He kept the Law perfectly in my place in every way so that I might have forgiveness, life and salvation. Keep me steadfast in my faith for Jesus sake. In His wondrous name I pray. Amen

THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Rev. James C. Walter Director of Parish Music: Nathan Beethe Secretary: Pat Funk Early Childhood Center Director: Colleen Moorman Acolyte: Elisabeth Graf Assisting Elder: Carter Stein Cantor: Joel Junkans Ushers: Bill Allaben, Bobby Bemberg, Tim Loyd, EdMahnken Rudy Bischof, Rick Camacho, JasonCamacho, Richard Sanders Greeters: Verna, Vera and Shirley Rieve Altar Guild: Judy Rivers Altar Guild: (Wed. evening) Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter Nursery Attendant: Mary Ann Dyer

WELCOME
Happy New Year! Welcome to everyone gathered here this morning! It is truly, good, right, and salutary that we gather around the Christ Child and His family as the Christmas season continues. To that end we hear the Good News of Christs fulfillment of the Law in our place and by the power of the Holy Spirit grow in our faith which receives all the blessings that Jesus came to give. It is a blessing to have you here this morning. If you are visiting with us we extend to you a special welcome! We ask that everyone fill out an attendance registration card found at each pew and return it to an usher during the Offering.

HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion is celebrated in our Service this morning. If you are not a member of Grace and desire to receive this Sacrament of Christs body and blood given and shed for the forgiveness of sins, we ask that you first speak with our Pastor so that the unity of faith might be established. Thank you for honoring this request.

NEXT WEEKS READINGS - The appointed readings for next Sunday, January 8th: Circumcision and Name of Jesus, are: The Old Testament Reading: Numbers 6:22-27, The Epistle Reading: Galatians 3:23-29, and The Gospel Reading: Luke 2:21.

AS WE GATHER
Does it seem strange to hear about circumcision on New Years Day? We might prefer to talk about New Years resolutions, new beginnings, shopping centers and clearance sales. But New Years Day is the eighth day after Jesus was born and falls on the typical day in which all Jewish boys are circumcised. We read in our Gospel reading: And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. When Jesus became man, He submitted Himself to the Law for us, and for our salvation He was destined to shed His blood on the cross. In Him, and by His name, we have forgiveness that leads to eternal life. We enter a new calendar year with that confidence. Grace Lutheran Church P. O. Box 250769, Little Rock, AR 72225 www.gracelutheranlr.org Telephone Number: 501-663-3631

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THE ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE FOR THE CIRCUMCISION AND NAME OF JESUS NEW YEARS DAY

Confession of Sins
P C O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
[John 20:1923]

Pre-Service Music Lighting of the Chancel Candles Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell Opening Hymn: Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising LSB 375
C
Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising - Paul Manz

Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Service of the Word Confession and Absolution

Introit
Stand The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism. Ps. 40:6-8; antiphon 40:16

P May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; C may those who love your salvation say continually, Great is the LORD! P Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. C Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

Invocation
P C In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

P Then I said, Behold, I have come; C in the scroll of the book it is written of me: P I desire to do your will, O my God; C your law is within my heart.

Exhortation
P P C P C

Hebrews 10:22; Psalm 124:8; Psalm 32:5

Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Gloria Patri

Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.

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Kyrie

Mark 10:47

Gloria in Excelsis

Luke 2:14; John 1:29

Salutation and Collect of the Day

Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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Sit

Holy Gospel
P
Numbers 6:2227

Luke 2:21

Old Testament Reading

P C This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter.

Gradual

Heb. 8:10; 10:17

The reading of the Holy Gospel. P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of | Israel* after those days, de- | clares the Lord: I will put my laws in- | to their minds,* and write them | on their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my | people.* I will remember their sins and their lawless | deeds no more.

Nicene Creed
C
Galatians 3:2329

Epistle
P C
Stand

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. -8-

Alleluia and Verse

P She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Matt. 1:21

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And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen
Sit

Sit

Reception of New Member Adult Confirmation Offering

Stand The Ancient Law Departs - Wilbur Held

Children's Message Sermon Hymn: The Ancient Law Departs Sermon Marked For Life
Stand

Prayer of the Church LSB 898 Luke 2:21

P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Each petition ends with the following: P C Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

The prayers conclude with the following:

Offertory

Psalm 51:1012

P C

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Service of the Sacrament

Preface
2 Timothy 4:22; Colossians 3:1 Psalm 136

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Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:913

Proper Preface
P It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for in the mystery of the Word made flesh You have given us a new revelation of Your glory that, seeing You in the person of Your Son, we may know and love those things which are not seen. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9

Sanctus

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The Words of Our Lord

Matthew 26:2628; Mark 14:2224 Luke 22:1920; 1 Corinthians 11:2325

Agnus Dei

John 1:29

Sit

Distribution Communion instructions: The Pastor invites the communicants, those who are able, to kneel and then distributes the host which may be received into the hand or the mouth. The Elder distributes the individual cups. The communicants are asked to hold their cups until the Pastor says, Take and drink. Hymn: Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love Hymn: Away in a Manger Hymn: From East to West
Stand

Pax Domini

John 20:19

LSB 900 LSB 364 LSB 385

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Nunc Dimittis

Luke 2:2932

Post-Communion Collect
P Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Salutation

2 Timothy 4:22

Benedicamus

Psalm 103:1

Thanksgiving

Psalm 107:1

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Benediction

Numbers 6:2426

THIS WEEK AT GRACE SUNDAY: MON-FRI: MONDAY: TUESDAY: WEDNESDAY: 9:00 a.m. Divine Service with Holy Communion NO Sunday School and Bible Class today 7:30 a.m. Early Childhood Development Center 4:30 p.m. 7th Grade Confirmation 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Class NO Sit and Sew 6:30 a.m. Mens Bible Class at St. Vincent 6:00 p.m. Handbell Choir 7:00 p.m. Mid-Week Worship Service 7:00 p.m. Adult Choir 4:15 p.m. 8th Grade Confirmation 9:00 a.m. Take down Christmas trees and decorations

FRIDAY: SATURDAY:

Closing Hymn: Let Us All with Gladsome Voice Postlude

LSB 390

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Jan. 3 Judy and Tommy Borchert, Betty and Bob Bryant Jan. 4 Susie and Ray Barlow Jan. 5 Wendy and Bob Schmidt HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Jan. 1 John Ketcher Jan. 2 Edwin Mahnken, Doris Parker Jan. 3 Diane Roberts Jan. 5 Sharon LeBlanc Jan. 6 Jennifer Harrod, Joni Jones, Elsie Westerfield Jan. 7 Perryn Andrews, Jaxon Ham, Lindsey Zweifel REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Sherry Bischof continues her recovery and treatments. Jeanette Keehn continues her recovery at home. Dave Graf continues healing from an injury to his eye. LAST WEEKS STEWARDSHIP Attendance: Christmas Eve 12/24: 228 Sunday Christmas Day 12/25: 131. Offerings: Christmas Eve 12/24: $18,220.00. Sunday Christmas Day 12/25: $6,123.50. 4th Advent Evening Prayer Service 12/21: $1,037.00. Fan into Flame: $370.00. Food Pantry: $50.00. Memorials: $90.00.
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Let Us All with Gladsome Voice - Healey Willan

Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

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NEW MEMBER Mr. David A. Drago will be received as a new member of our Grace congregation this morning by Adult Confirmation. Please welcome David to our Grace Family. WELCOME Drs. Craig and Lauren Schluterman have transferred their membership to Grace from Zion Lutheran Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Please welcome Craig and Lauren to our Grace Family. THANK YOU The family of Sherry Bischof would like to express our deep and sincere appreciation to our Grace Family for the prayers, love, cards, flowers, and concern during Sherrys recent hospitalization and treatments. Words can never express our thanks. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers. With Much love and gratitude to our dear Lord and Savior, Sherry and Rudy Bischof 7th GRADE CONFIRMATION CLASS will meet on Monday, January 2nd, at 4:30 p.m. 8th GRADE CONFIRMATION CLASS will meet on Friday, January 6th, at 4:15 p.m. POINSETTIAS Thank you to everyone who gave poinsettias to decorate the church for Christmas. The chancel area is beautiful! Please leave the poinsettias until after next Saturday, when we take the Christmas decorations down. Thank you! CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS We will be taking down the Christmas decorations on Saturday, January 7th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Please take an hour or two out of your busy schedules to help us take down the trees and put away all the decorations. Thanks!! PORTALS OF PRAYER for January March, 2012 are on the bridge next to the offering envelopes. Please pick up your copy today and recycle your old one when you are finished with it. 2012 ALTAR GUILD The Altar Guild schedule for 2012 is on the stand by the breezeway door. Please sign up for the month and service in which you wish to serve. 2012 ALTAR FLOWERS CALENDAR is posted in the Ushers room at the back of the sanctuary. Please sign up on the date that you would like to place flowers on the altar. The chart fills up quickly, so sign up now. For more information, call the church office. 2012 OFFERING ENVELOPES Your 2012 offering envelopes are on the table in the breezeway. Please pick them up today and throw away any 2011 envelopes you have.
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COOKIE WALK - Thank you to everyone who participated in the Cookie Walk. Those who baked, those who helped, those who bought, and those who donated. Through your efforts and support we raised $720! We were able to support 2 of our Grace families toward their Christmas needs. Thank you, Grace members. SIT AND SEW will not meet this week. They will resume meeting on February 7th. Call Carole Nichols if you need more information. KROGER GIFT CARDS - Our ECDC earns funds each month when you use a Kroger Gift Card purchased from the ECDC. It works like this: - Buy a gift card for $5. (it is already loaded with $5) - At Kroger Customer Service Desk, load the gift card with an amount of your choosing. An amount equal to 5% of your purchase is rebated to our ECDC. - When purchasing groceries, use the gift card. - When the card is empty, reload and repeat. Kroger Gift Cards are available in the Grace church office or from Colleen. MEMORIALS IN MEMORY OF REV. NORMAN ABBOTT Grandfather of Megan Witte TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Verna, Vera, and Shirley Rieve Warren and Judy Rivers IN MEMORY OF MR. JOHN MARVIN Brother of Jim Marvin TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Verna, Vera, and Shirley Rieve Warren and Judy Rivers Robert and Sheila Wilimzig

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