The God Man

The First Sunday after Christmas

Today’s sermon explores our spiritual nature and how to develop our ability to imitate Christ in the everyday values we live by.  Jesus became man so that he could save us from ourselves: the false religions we adopt, the wealth we think will make us happy, the superficial relationships that keep us from experiencing real love, and the unhealthy life styles that make us sick.  All this represents a distortion of what our hearts long for, namely, our desire for a spiritual relationship with God. Human  history provides all the evidence we need to conclude we are lost.  God became man, as 1st John describes, in order to give us the grace and divine power to heal, forgive, and lead us, such that we are able to live an authentic human life.

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP

Prelude: “Pastorale”, Bach

Welcome and Announcements

Welcoming Hymns

Apostolic Greeting

Hymn of Praise

Prayer of the Day

First Reading: Isaiah 63:7-9

Second Reading: Hebrews 2:10-18

Anthem: “I Wonder as I Wander”, Appalachian Folk Carol, arranged by John Jacob Niles

Children’s Time

Gospel Acclamation and Gospel: John 1:1-18

Sermon: “The God Man”, Pastor Dan Severson

Sermon Hymns

Apostles Creed

Prayers of Intercession

Offertory Music: “Mary’s Little Boy Child”

The Great Thanksgiving

Words of Institution

Communion Distribution: “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

Communion Blessing and Post Communion Prayer

Benediction

Sending Hymns

Dismissal

Postlude: “Gloria”, Vivaldi