The service in PDF format is at: 12-31-2018 – New Years Eve Service
Hymn Sing & Communion Service
December 31, 2018
7:00 PM
AS WE GATHER… This evening, we are very aware of the passage of time. Although the past year may have included toil and stress, hardship, and tests of faith, our gracious God has been with us. His Son entered our time and space; He knows the daily toil; He lived a perfect life in our place. And now He continues to forgive and strengthen us each day. Our prayer is that God would “establish the work of our hands” in the coming year; that He would help us make the most of the time He so graciously gives us.
Pastor: O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come.
Women: Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.
Men: Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Pastor: Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.
Women: Before the hills in order stood Or earth received her frame,
Men: From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.
Pastor: A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone,
Women: Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.
Men: Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Soon bears us all away;
Pastor: We fly forgotten as a dream Dies at the op’ning day.
ALL: O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last And our eternal home!
P: As we turn to a New Year, let us do so by asking God to guide us, enlighten us, and strengthen us for what lies ahead. Let us pray…. O God,
C: You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.
P: Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us;
C: through Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM: “He Is Born” Arranged by Jack Schrader
He is born, the divine Christ child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy child, sing we all of the Savior mild.
Through long ages of the past prophets have foretold his coming;
through long ages of the past, now the time has come at last.
He is born, the divine Christ child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy child sing we all of the Savior mild.
Oh how lovely oh, how pure is this perfect Child of heaven;
Oh, how lovely, oh, how pure, gracious gift of God sent down.
He is born, the divine Christ child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born the holy child, sing we all of the Savior mild.
Jesus, Lord of all the world, coming as a child among us;
Jesus, Lord of all the world, grant to us your heav’nly peace,
your heav’nly peace, your peace.
He is born, the divine Christ child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy child, sing we all of the Savior mild.
He is born the holy child – Christ is born
TIME FOR GOD’S WORD Isaiah 51:1-6
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness”
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. “Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.
MESSAGE “Are You Better Off Now?”
TIME FOR STRENGTH
P: God who supplies our every need has given us this meal to share.
C: Lord, we thank You for the bread of eternal life.
P: We come to the table, knowing that we need the strength that comes from the body and blood of Jesus.
C: Lord, we thank You for the bread of eternal life.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” LBW 320
1 Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
2 Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.
4 A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.
6 O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home!