https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O8z5INbnbo

God’s Salvation is for all and the Father announces His Son will give it!

 THE EPIPHANY and BAPTISM OF OUR LORD    January 7, 2024

ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH – LCMS

700 Main St.  P.O. Box 220   Clyman, WI  53016

 Pastor Dan 1-(920)-341-2025 –   shepherdatzion@gmail.com

 Bulletin Announcement email: zionclyman@gmail.com

Guests.  Welcome to Zion.  We are glad to have you with us.  Please sign our guestbook located in the Narthex.  About Holy Communion:  We welcome to the Lord’s Table all who have repented of their sins and seek to amend their sinful life; all who believe that Jesus is truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine; and all who believe that through the words “given and shed for you” forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given.  If this is your confession and you are a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, then come with a thankful heart and join us.   If you are a visitor and would like to commune, please talk with Pastor Dan before the service.  To help in preparing to receive Holy Communion open the front cover of the Burgundy hymnal or turn to pages 329 & 330.  Gluten free wafers are available, please talk with an Elder or Pastor before the service if you would appreciate them.  

AS WE GATHER      The Father guided the wisemen to His Son in Bethlehem and they became the first non-Jewish worshipers of the young King.  They were the Father’s first hint to the world, that His Son had come to be the Savior of all people.  At His Son’s baptism, The Father opens the heavens, anoints His Son with the Holy Spirit, blesses Him and proclaims to the world that in His Son, He was well pleased.  The Greek shows us that the Father in His all knowingness, had already seen the cross and the innocent blood His Son would shed.  At the moment of His Son’s baptism, the Father was telling the world and His Son, He will die for your sins, BUT I will accept His payment and He will leave the tomb alive!  Listen to Him.  Believe in Him and live with Him!

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

 Hymn  “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”   LSB 394

 Invocation In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.    Amen

 Opening Sentences   Psalm 29:1-2, 10b-11    Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.  The the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.  May the Lord give strength to his people!  May the Lord bless his people with peace!

 Confession and Absolution – Pastor:  I confess to almighty God, before all the company of heaven, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray almighty God, for the sake of Jesus Christ, His Son, to have mercy on me, forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting life.

Congregation: Upon your confession, we your brothers and sisters in Christ, announce the grace of God to you and share with you the forgiveness of your Lord and Savior, in the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 Congregation:   I confess to almighty God, before all the company of heaven, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray almighty God, for the sake of Jesus Christ, His Son, to have mercy on me, forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting life.

Pastor:     Upon your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you.  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 X Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

Hymn of Praise   This Is the Feast                                                           LSB 155

Prayer of the Day –   Father in heaven, You led the wisemen to Your Son, proclaiming that You had sent Him to be the Savior of all people.  After His baptism by John, You proclaimed Him to be Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit.  You also looked at what He would do as the Savior of the world and proclaimed that You were already well pleased with all that He would do for us.  Keep us in the faith You have given so that we might inherit that salvation given through Him.  We pray this through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.    Amen.

Old Testament Reading   Isaiah 60:1–6 –   (The future glory of Israel)

 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.  Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.    Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.  A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.  They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

 Introit Psalm 2:7–11, 12c; antiphon: Isaiah 42:1a –    I will tell the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”  Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Blessed are all who take refuge in him.  The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

 Epistle   Ephesians 3:1–12 – (The mystery of the Gospel revealed)

 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, show the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,  which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,     and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,  so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Verse Psalm 2:6-7 –   “As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.”   I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me,  “You are My Son; today I have begotten You.

Our Gospel Readings for the Day                      

Matthew 2:1-6, 9-11   (The visit of the Wise Men) 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”  vs9-11   After listening to the king, they went on their way.  And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.  Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Mark 1:9-11 (The Baptism of our Lord)  

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

 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 “To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord”      LSB 405

Sermon

Prayers of the Church

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.

 We Gather our Tithes and Offerings

 Installation of Zion’s Officers

  Service of the Sacrament  

Preface   2 Timothy 4:22    The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Lift up your hearts.  We lift them to the Lord.  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Proper Preface –    The Wisemen came to worship Him, their King, allow us to worship Him, our Savior and King in all we say and do.  As we live in this broken world of sin, remind us that we are joined with Him through Baptism, and He alone gives us salvation, and He alone grants us forgiveness, and hope.  Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

Sanctus                                                                           LSB 161

Prayer of Thanksgiving –   Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit.  Through Your means of grace, You have claimed us as Your own through water and the Word in Holy Baptism.  Through body and blood—in, with, and under bread and wine—You forgive our sins and nourish our faith.  Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us.  To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.        Amen.

The Words of Our Lord – Consecration of the Elements

 Pax Domini – The peace of the Lord be with you always.    Amen.

 Agnus Dei                                                                     LSB 163

Distribution Hymns:  “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here” LSB 399              “All Christians Who Have Been Baptized”  LSB 596                                           “Baptized into You’re your Name Most Holy” LSB 590

Nunc Dimittis – Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled.  My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of every people:  A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel.  Glory be 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

Post-Communion Thanksgiving    Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.       We give thanks to You, gracious Father, for You called and claimed as Your own in Baptism, we have been blessed together in fellowship at Your Table and filled by Your grace with sins forgiven and faith nourished.  Buried with Christ and raised with Him in Baptism, enable us to walk in newness of life until we are called to dwell eternally with You; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 Benediction      Numbers 6:24–26

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.        Amen.

Hymn “As with Gladness Men of Old”                  LSB 397