UnWrap Christmas Eve
Through all history we see how God has wrapped us in his love, But at Christmas we see how Jesus unwraps God presence for us all.
Watch the Christmas Sermon Here!
Watch the Service Here!
Since our Christmas Eve Candlelight service is so dark. You can follow along with your device, All songs and readings are in the Digital Bulletin.
Christmas Day Service at 10AM
See you in the morning!
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
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Wrapped in Love - Christmas Eve Morning
On Christmas Mary wraps her baby in love with swaddling cloths. Yet at the same time, we see that her baby wraps us all in His love and security.
We Will See you tonight
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
Fight or Flight - Exodus A Christmas Story
We want God to do big things. However, when we look in the manger, in Bethlehem, in a virgin birth, in the town of Nazareth, it seems that God keeps working through the small things in life. Perhaps we should look for the small things too.
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
The Son's Life - Exodus A Christmas Story
Out of Egypt I have called my son. God has rescued His people, But His people seem to keep running from Him and back to the Egyption lifestyle. We need someone who comes out of Egypt that will save us all.
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
You're Not the King - Exodus A Christmas Story
It seems like there are kings all around us. The Pharaohs and Herods of the World seem like they are in complete control. But Behold, A Star in the East, an Parted Sea. We see that God was King and in control the whole time.
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
Exodus A Christmas Story - God's Got Your Back
Moses sees a burning bush, which tells him to go and free his people. Joseph see his future wife pregnant, which will bring shame to him and her. However, God promises them the same promise to us: As we go through struggles in our lives, He will always be with us.
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
Re:Form - ReForm our Generosity
In Luther's day it seemed like the church motivated with Guilt. Is our Evangelism motivated by Guilt or Good News
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Re:Form - ReForm our Evangelism
In Luther's day it seemed like the church motivated with Guilt. Is our Evangelism motivated by Guilt or Good News
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Re:Form - ReForm our Confession
In Luther's day, people worried about how they could be saved, and today we are no different. Forgiveness is something which is hard to understand. But the truth is, unforgiveness is like living in the darkness, and are we choosing darkness when God has given us light.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Re:Form - ReForm our Faith
In Luther's day, people worried about how they could be saved, and today we are no different. We trust in different things for salvation like holy living or good works. The story of the rich man shows us that Jesus saves us in an impossible way, through faith.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Fear of the Lord- Let's Build Something Together
We hear the phrase, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” But do we believe it when we actually fear for our own safety and wellbeing over the Lord?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Hurricane Irma Family Service - Faith in the Storm
Confidence to Face Whatever Comes Our Way
Order of Worship
9/10/2017
In Home Worship/Devotion
As you prepare for worship, spend a few moments praying quietly. Lord Jesus, thank you for your wisdom and grace. Allow me to cast off my burdens from the week and focus on you and your promises this morning. Amen.
The Opening Hymn “Come, Christians Join to Sing”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeZLDY8fJ1Y (Click on link to sing along)
Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice, Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice. Alleluia! Amen!
Come, lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend; To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end. Alleluia! Amen!
Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore, His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore, “Alleluia! Amen!”
Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
The Word of the Lord Psalm 44
Come to Our Help
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.
4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah
9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us
and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You have made us turn back from the foe,
and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle,
demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughing stock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back,
nor have our steps departed from your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God discover this?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Romans 8:28-39
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[h] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i]against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
The Gospel of the Lord Mark 4:30-41
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
This is the Good News of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ!
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of
God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn of the Day “Come, My Soul, with Every Care” #433
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9ni22xVDHc (Click link to sing along)
Come, my soul, with ev’ry care, Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He himself bids you to pray, Therefore will not turn away.
You are coming to your King, Large petitions with you bring;
For his grace and pow’r are such None can ever ask too much.
Show me what I am to do; Ev’ry hour my strength renew.
Let me live a life of faith; Let me die your people’s death.
Instruction From God’s Word
This is taken from the Lutheran Hour. You can listen or read the sermon at this link: http://www.lutheranhour.org/sermon.asp?articleid=30095
Our Prayers of Intercession
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty Jesus, you have the power to calm the storm. Be with those who are affected by Hurricane Irma. Give us your protection and strength. Remind us that you are always with us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You are the ultimate authority. Thank You for good government and those with authority over us. Guide them in using their authority according to Your will, and help us to be obedient. Be with those who are under corrupt authority, and give them all boldness and confidence to live in accordance with Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Kind Master, grant favorable weather to all in Your care, and protect us from drought, famine, flooding and other tribulation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, let us receive Your good gift of Christ’s body and blood with childlike faith. Let us humbly trust that Your forgiveness is poured out for us in this meal. Let it strengthen us in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, please look with compassion upon those who are struggling with illness, grief, loneliness, and mental or spiritual malady [especially _____________]. Reassure them of Your love, which is like that of the shepherd who seeks and saves the one lost sheep. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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 Hymn “Beautiful Savior”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e17k9vV-q-o (Click here to sing along)
Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I'd love Thee, truly I'd serve thee, Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flow'rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer; He makes our sorr'wing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and forevermore be Thine!
The Departure
Go in peace and Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God
All Hands on Deck- Let's Build Something Together
Names? A Genealogy? Uh, I can’t stand when my Bible reading slows down to a crawl when I see a genealogy. Why do I need to read all these names? Perhaps it’s a call for all hands on deck?
Sermon Readings and Info
Nehemiah 3
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of[d] Jerusalem, repaired. Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.
Luke 24
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,[b] 43 and he took it and ate before them.
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Serve the Nervous King - Let's Build Something Together
When Nehemiah saw that all was not right in Jerusalem, did he rise up and call for revolution? No. He instead made it his calling to calm and serve the nervous king.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Holy Discontent - Let's Build Something Together
Haggai begins by telling us that our life choices matter. Of course that is true; we all know that. But what happens when we make good choices and nothing gets better?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Haggai - The Minor Leagues
Haggai begins by telling us that our life choices matter. Of course that is true; we all know that. But what happens when we make good choices and nothing gets better?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Nahum - The Minor Leagues
The Shortest book in the bible has a timeless message to us all.
We had a goof this weekend and the Camera was never started. So enjoy the same sermon from Mark Adrian at Messiah Lutheran in Tampa
Nahum 1
An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
God's Wrath Against Nineveh
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither;
the bloom of Lebanon withers.
5 The mountains quake before him;
the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,[a]
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 What do you plot against the Lord?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.
10 For they are like entangled thorns,
like drunkards as they drink;
they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
11 From you came one
who plotted evil against the Lord,
a worthless counselor.
12 Thus says the Lord,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
they will be cut down and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.
13 And now I will break his yoke from off you
and will burst your bonds apart.”
14 The Lord has given commandment about you:
“No more shall your name be perpetuated;
from the house of your gods I will cut off
the carved image and the metal image.
I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15 [b] Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
he is utterly cut off.
Romans 10
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Obadiah - The Minor Leagues
The Shortest book in the bible has a timeless message to us all.
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom:
We have heard a report from the Lord,
and a messenger has been sent among the nations:
“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”
2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
you shall be utterly despised.[a]
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,[b]
in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,
“Who will bring me down to the ground?”
4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
though your nest is set among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,
declares the Lord.
5 If thieves came to you,
if plunderers came by night—
how you have been destroyed!—
would they not steal only enough for themselves?
If grape gatherers came to you,
would they not leave gleanings?
6 How Esau has been pillaged,
his treasures sought out!
7 All your allies have driven you to your border;
those at peace with you have deceived you;
they have prevailed against you;
those who eat your bread[c] have set a trap beneath you—
you have[d] no understanding.
8 Will I not on that day, declares the Lord,
destroy the wise men out of Edom,
and understanding out of Mount Esau?
9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,
so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
your deeds shall return on your own head.
16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,
so all the nations shall drink continually;
they shall drink and swallow,
and shall be as though they had never been.
17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,
and it shall be holy,
and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
20 The exiles of this host of the people of Israel
shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,
and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
shall possess the cities of the Negeb.
21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
to rule Mount Esau,
and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.
Philippians 2
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.What Happened This Week
John the Baptist comes to our Whoville churches and rains on our Christmas parades.