The Name of Jesus
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Prelude, Welcome, and Information Hymn
#288 Good
Christian Friends, Rejoice |
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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. Psalm: Psalm 8 O Lord,
our Sovereign, how
majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the
mouths of babes and infants you have
founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. When I look
at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon
and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of
them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you
have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have
given them dominion over the
works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the
field, the birds
of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord,
our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! |
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The Lord be with you. And
also with you. Let us pray. Eternal Father, you gave your
incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be a sign of our salvation. Plant in every
heart the love of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. |
Reading:
Numbers 6:22-27
A reading from the Book of Numbers
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his
sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to
them, The Lord bless you and keep
you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious
to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you
peace. So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
The Word of the Lord
Reading:
Galatians 4:4-7
A reading from the letter to the Galatians
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the
law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are
children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba!
Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then
also an heir, through God.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel
Verse:
Alleluia! At the name of
Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Alleluia! (Phil. 2:10)
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:15-21
A reading from the Gospel of Luke
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to
one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken
place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and
found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw
this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary
treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it
had been told them.
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he
was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the
womb.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise
to you, O Christ.
Sermon
(added at the end of the document)
Hymn
#293 That Boy
Child of Mary
Thanks and Offertory
Prayers of the Church:
Father, we rely on your grace and mercy in all
things. Hear our prayers for the world, the church, and for all people
according to their needs.
You who
gave the good news through an angel, help us to hear and live out the good news
of life in Christ, we pray... Lord, in your mercy, Hear
our prayer.
You who
gave Mary and Joseph the name for the child, help us to remember that his name
means “God saves”, we pray... Lord, in your mercy, Hear
our prayer.
You who
redeemed us in Christ, grant us grace to spread the good news, we pray... Lord,
in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
You who
created all that is, create in us new hearts in Christ, we pray... Lord, in
your mercy, Hear our prayer.
You who
break the bow and snap the spear, grant peace in Ukraine, Russia, all of
eastern Europe, Iran, and Afghanistan, and to all who suffer the terrors and
dangers of war anywhere, we pray… Lord, in your mercy, Hear
our prayer.
You who heal the sick and stand with the suffering, be with those struggling with the COVID-19 virus, the seasonal “flu”, and the RSV virus as well as all who work for healing in any way, we pray... Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
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You who
heal the sick and stand with the suffering, hear our heart-felt prayers for those
we care for and for those who have asked for our prayers … * … we pray… Lord, in your mercy, Hear
our prayer. {*Gail Mauer, Deb Kirschner, Rose Gotzmeister}
Father, we
know you hear our prayers. Grant what is best for us as we pray in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
Hymn #501 Come With Us, O Blessed Jesus
The
Lord’s Prayer
Finally let
us pray for all things as our Lord would have us ask:
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.
Closing prayer
Master, now
you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)
Glory 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
Benediction & Sending
May the Lord
bless us and keep us.
May the
Lord’s face shine upon us with grace and mercy.
May the Lord
look upon us with favor and X give us peace.
Amen.
Hymn
#624 Jesus
Still Lead On
Go in peace. Serve
the Lord. Thanks be to God.
W
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Upcoming Services
for the rest of January: 8
January Holy Communion at St. John's -11:00am (the Baptism of Our Lord) 15
January YouTube - 11:00am (Epiphany II) January
22 Holy Communion at St. John's - 11:00am (Epiphany III) January 29 YouTube -
11:00am (Epiphany IV) |
At the name of
Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
(Phil. 2:10)
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I’ve spoken a
lot during this Advent and Christmas season about the meaning of Jesus’ name.
There’s always more to say, but I’m not theologian enough to say it all. Nor do
we all have the time. I’ve decided to focus on the Gospel preparation verse
assigned to this day, for the festival of the Name of Jesus.
·
I think it’s
an appropriate festival for the first day of the new year. Today we might
dedicate ourselves and our time to the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We might think a bit on the name of Jesus.
·
That is not
simply a veneration of the name, although
“Jesus” does mean “God saves” or “God is savior” in its original language form
– which is Yahushua or simply
“Joshua.”
·
To do
something in someone’s name has much meaning. Parents are permitted to make
decisions for their children – “in their child’s name” – until the child
reaches a certain age. Laws are passed by Parliament now “in the name of the
King.” A friend of mine is an officer in the Air Force and holds what he called
a few months ago, “the Queen’s Commission.” In old movies, criminals are often
told to “stop in the name of the law.” All this really means that things are
done with the power, authority, and agreement of the one whose name is invoked.
·
To invoke a
name means to invoke the power of the person whose name is used, whether that
is a child who would make such a decision of their own will at a proper age, or
under the authority and will of a monarch or leader that allows the action to
be done.
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We are told
to pray “in Jesus’ name.” This is not a magical formula guaranteeing a result.
It means to pray and ask according to the mind and will of Jesus.
·
The portion
of the letter to the Philippians begins with this: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…
What follows, whether Paul wrote it or was quoting it from another source, is a
beautiful poetic hymn about the humility of Jesus, making Jesus the example of
discipleship for Christians, Paul wrote:
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Let
the same mind be in you that was in
Christ Jesus,
who, though he existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but
emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
he humbled himself and became
obedient
to the point of
death—
even death on a
cross.
Therefore God exalted him even more highly
and gave him the name
that is above every other name,
so
that at the name given to Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and
every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Phil 2:5-11)
·
So we
celebrate “the Name of Jesus” for “name” means far more than what we might yell
to get someone to the supper table. In this sense, it is the power and will of
God. That will is summed up in the name Jesus… which means simply and
powerfully, “God saves.”
At the name of Jesus every knee should
bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (Phil. 2:10)
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