NEW YEAR’S EVE WORSHIP
The Lord Grants Us Another Year
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31, 2023
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+ ORDER OF WORSHIP + WELCOME
HYMN—O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Christian Worship 820
INVOCATION Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.
DIALOGUE FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE Look! God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. Revelation 21:3 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity you are God. Psalm 90:1–2 1
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: For the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 2 Peter 3:8 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day, like yesterday that has gone by, or like a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4 And there is no creature hidden from him, but everything is uncovered and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we will give an account. Hebrews 4:13 Surely, we are consumed by your anger, and by your wrath we are terrified. You have laid out our guilty deeds in front of you. Our hidden sins are revealed in the light of your face. Psalm 90:7–8 A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord makes his steps secure. Proverbs 16:9 Teach us to number our days in such a way that we bring a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 This is how God’s love for us was revealed: God has sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we may live through him. This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9–10 Satisfy us in the morning with your mercy, so that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14 O Lord, I have heard the report about you, and I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. In the midst of our years revive those deeds. In the midst of our years reveal them again. Habakkuk 3:2 Let your deeds be seen by your servants and your majesty by their
children.
Psalm 90:16
[God] says: At a favorable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. Look, now is the favorable time! See, now is the day of salvation! 2 Corinthians 6:2 May the kindness of the Lord our God rest upon us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 2
HYMN—O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Christian Worship 820
PRAYER OF THE DAY Eternal Father, before whom all generations rise and fall, teach us to think earnestly on the brevity of our lives and on the immensity of your goodness. Help us to enter the new year trusting in the name of your Son and walking in the way of his peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HYMN—O God, Our Help in Ages Past
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Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, abr., alt. Tune: William Croft, 1678–1727. Text and tune: Public domain.
Christian Worship 820
FIRST LESSON 1
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Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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HYMN—Abide with Me
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Christian Worship 783
SECOND LESSON
1 Peter 1:22–25
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Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Psalm 90:1
Alleluia. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Alleluia.
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SERMON HYMN—Across the Sky the Shades of Night
Christian Worship 367
Tune: adapt. Nicolaus Decius, c. 1485–after 1546; plainsong, 10th cent. Public domain. Text (sts. 1–2, 4): James Hamilton, 1819–1896, alt. Public domain; (st. 3): Gregory J. Wismar, b. 1946: © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.
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SERMON
Luke 13 The Lord Grants Us Another Year
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Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8
“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
+ REMEMBRANCE OF MEMBERS CALLED HOME TO HEAVEN + In this New Year's Eve service we remember our Christian brother and sister of Grace whom the Lord has welcomed home to heaven in this past year.
We celebrate our family members who have escaped the sorrows of this world and now, because Jesus is their Savior, enjoy the eternal pleasures of heaven: Leon Roske September 19, 2023 Kathy Rauh November 17, 2023
PRAYER FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
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+ THE LORD'S SUPPER + Tonight we celebrate the Lord's Supper. Jesus urges all who receive it to do so in a worthy manner in order to receive the blessings he promises. He also gives warning that no one receive it to their judgment. For this reason, we practice Member Communion. If you are a guest at Grace tonight and not a member of another WELS congregation, we would ask that you speak with one of the pastors about a time to discuss what exactly God says about Holy Communion before you come to the Lord's Table. We look forward to that opportunity!
COMBINED GRACE CHOIR
This Broken Bread—Not Bread Alone
This broken bread—not bread alone but Jesus’ body, broken, torn upon the cross at Calvary—this bread he offers now to me. I come, unworthy, weary, worn. My soul is yearning for my Lord. “Do this,” he said, “Remembering me. My life and death have set you free. My life and death have set you free.”
This brimming wine—not wine alone but Jesus’ blood that richly flowed from wounds he bore upon the tree—this wine he offers now to me. I come, unworthy, weary, worn. My soul is yearning for my Lord. “Do this,” he said, “remembering me. My life and death have set you free. My life and death have set your free.” A miracle, a mystery: his blood and body here for me. I fix my eyes on things unseen. I eat and drink eternity. I come, unworthy, weary, worn. My soul is yearning for my Lord. “Do this,” he said, “Remembering me. My life and death have set you free. My life and death have set you free.” I come, unworthy, weary, worn. My soul is yearning for my Lord. “Do this,” he said, “remembering me. My life and death have set your free. My life and death have set you free.” Text: Laurie F. Gauger. Music: Sarah R. Lambrecht, Jeremy S. Bakken © 2015, 2019 Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.
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WORDS OF INSTITUTION Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” The peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION
BLESSING The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace. Amen.
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CLOSING HYMN—Abide with Me
Christian Worship 783
Text: Henry F. Lyte, 1793–1847, alt. Tune: William H. Monk, 1823–1889. Text and tune: Public domain.
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP Minister ..................................................................................... Pastor Ryan Heiman Accompanist ........................................................................................ Teri Guenther Choir Director ....................................................................................Jeremy Bakken Acknowledgements: Scripture readings are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Created by Christian Worship: Service Builder © 2023 Concordia Publishing House. Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House.
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