St. Mark Lutheran Church
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
December 28, 2008
8:15 and 11:00 AM
The Congregation is asked to remain silent during the prelude as a time of prayer and meditation.
PRELUDE
WELCOME
Stand
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
The minister leads the congregation in the invocation. The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Kneel Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P: Most merciful God,
C: we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen
The minister stands and addresses the congregation.
P: Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
Stand
APOSTOLIC GREETING
V: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
KYRIE
SALUTATION
PRAYER OF THE DAY (In Unison)
We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by order of King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims, and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Sit
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:15–17
15Thus says the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.
16Thus says the LORD: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says the LORD: they shall come back from the land of the enemy; 17there is hope for your future, says the LORD: your children shall come back to their own country.
L: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 124 Sung- Responsively by whole verse
1If the LORD had not been | on our side,
let Isra- | el now say;
2if the LORD had not been | on our side,
when enemies rose | up against us,
3then would they have swallowed us | up alive
in their fierce | anger toward us;
4then would the waters have | overwhelmed us
and the torrent gone | over us;
5then would the | raging waters
have gone right | over us.
6Blessed | be the LORD
who has not given us over to be a prey | for their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird from the snare | of the fowler;
the snare is broken, and we | have escaped.
8Our help is in the name | of the LORD,
the maker of heav- | en and earth.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 4:12–19
12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?" 19Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God's will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
L: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
 |
Stand
The Gospel is announced:
V: “The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the second Chapter”.
Stand
The Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:13–18
13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." 16When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."
After the reading the Vicar will say “The Gospel of the Lord.”
Sit
SERMON Vicar Mike Hughes
Stand
Nicene Creed (In Unison)
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; by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
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.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He 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.
Sit
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYERS (Kneel) After each portion of the prayers:
P: Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
The prayers conclude:
V: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
SHARING OF THE PEACE (stand)
V: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
Sit
OFFERING The Offering is received as the Lord’s table is prepared.
(Please sign ALL names of family present today & pass Friendship Registers)
ANTHEM Go Tell It on the Mountain Adult Choir
Stand
OFFERTORY
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PRAYER
V: Let us pray. Blessed are you,
C: O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
GREAT THANKSGIVING
P: It is indeed right and salutary . . . . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
P: Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father:
Endless is your mercy and eternal your reign.
You have filled all creation with light and life;
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Through Abraham you promised to bless all nations.
You rescued Israel, your chosen people.
Through the prophets you renewed your promise;
and, at this end of all the ages, you sent your Son,
who in words and deeds proclaimed your kingdom
and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
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:
This cup 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 of this bread and drink from this cup
we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
P: Therefore, gracious Father, with this bread and cup
we remember the life our Lord offered for us.
And, believing the witness of his resurrection, we await his coming in power
to share with us the great and promised feast.
C: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
P: Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,
the spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection,
that we who receive the Lord's body and blood
may live to the praise of your glory
and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light.
C: Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
P: Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place,
and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest
until he comes as victorious Lord of all.
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen
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
HOLY COMMUNION
Sit
DISTRIBUTION We believe our Lord’s real presence is in the sacrament of Holy Communion. If you are a baptized Christian, we invite you to participate with us. Children who have been instructed or commune in another parish are also welcome to commune. Come forward up the center aisle when instructed and return by the side aisle. We also encourage you to bring non-communing children forward to receive a blessing.
COMMUNION MUSIC
Stand
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE
V: Let us pray. Almighty God, you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
BENEDICTION
Stand
DISMISSAL
V: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
St. Mark Lutheran Church 118 Old York Hampton Hwy. Yorktown, VA. 23692 757-898-4395 www.stmark-elca.org
Pastor, Rev. Gary M. Erdos
Vicar, Mike Hughes
Director of Music, Dan Landis
Assistant Music Director/Children’s Choir, Patricia Jensen
Handbell Choir Director, Gail Teigeler
8:15 Worship Assistants 11:00
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Kevin Buss Erich Buss, Agnes Leach, Tru Whiting |
ACOLYTE COMMUNION |
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Erin Krist Tom and Tammy Williams |
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Bill Valvo |
LECTOR |
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Louise Lund Vaa |
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Una Shurtleff |
NURSERY |
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Una Shurtleff |
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GREETERS |
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Gail Teigeler, Charles Rossi |
TELLER |
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Gail Teigeler, Charles Rossi |
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John Beal |
USHERS |
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Michael Cummings |
Nursery (infants thru pre-school) is provided at all three Worship Services on Sunday mornings.
Please remember these recent St. Mark Family Prayer concerns:
Amanda and Jeff Griffin traveling
Kate Dillon health
Mr. Wolfe hospice care
Bob Price hospitalized
Penny Elliott health
Tom McKercher motorcycle accident
Virginia Wilcox surgery
Our Prayers and Condolences are extended to the Harriet Elizabeth Rhame Meetze family. Harriet died December 22, 2008 in Hampton, Virginia. The Funeral Liturgy in thankful remembrance for her life will be today at 3:00 PM in the Nave.
OPPORTUNITIES
