1st Sunday after Christmas ~ 2025

 

Today's Service Leader Rev. Brett Cornelius, Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church

 

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting One, LSB pages 151ff.

 

402 The Only Son from Heaven

Text (sts. 1–3): Elisabeth Cruciger, c. 1500–1535; (sts. 1–3): tr. Arthur T. Russell, 1806–74, alt.; (st. 4): Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978
Tune: Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbüchlein, 1524, Erfurt
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Exhortation LSB 151

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Kneel/Stand

 

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

 

Confession of Sins LSB 151

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.

 

Absolution LSB 151

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Stand

 

Introit Psalm 93:1, 3–4; antiphon: vv. 5, 2

Your decrees are very | trustworthy;*
holiness befits your house, O Lord, for- | evermore.
Your throne is established | from of old;*
you are from ever- | lasting.
The Lord reigns; he is robed in | majesty;*
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength | as his belt.
Yes, the world is es- | tablished;*
it shall nev- | er be moved.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted | up their voice;*
the floods lift up their | roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves | of the sea,*
the Lord on high is | mighty!
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
Your decrees are very | trustworthy;*
holiness befits your house, O Lord, for- | evermore.
Your throne is established | from of old;*
you are from ever- | lasting.

 

Kyrie LSB 152

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 154

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Sit

 

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 11:1–5

¹There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
²And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
³And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual Psalm 45:2a, 1b

You are the most handsome of the | sons of men;*
grace is poured up- | on your lips.
I address my verses | to the king;*
my tongue is like the pen of a | ready scribe.

 

Epistle Galatians 4:1–7

¹I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, ²but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. ⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia and Verse LSB 156

 

Holy Gospel Luke 2:33–40

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter.

³³And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, ³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sit

 

389 Let All Together Praise Our God

 

5 He is a servant, I a lord:
    How great a mystery!
How strong the tender Christ Child’s love!
    No truer friend than He,
    No truer friend than He.

 

6 He is the key and He the door
    To blessèd paradise;
The angel bars the way no more.
    To God our praises rise,
    To God our praises rise.

 

D 7 Your grace in lowliness revealed,
    Lord Jesus, we adore
And praise to God the Father yield
    And Spirit evermore;
    We praise You evermore.

Text (sts. 1, 3–7): tr. F. Samuel Janzow, 1913–2001; (st. 2): tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.
Text and tune: Nicolaus Herman, c. 1480–1561
Text (sts. 1, 3–7): © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Text (st. 2) and tune: Public domain

 

Sermon ~ Rev. Brett E. Cornelius, Pastor

 

Stand

 

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Church

P In peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who have been grafted into Christ, that they would bear the same godly fruit as the shoot of the stump of Jesse, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all pastors in Christ, that our God, who sent His Son to the temple and placed Him in the hands of blessed St. Simeon, would abide with those He places in the Office of the Holy Ministry, that their hands would be ever ready to deliver His gifts to His people and their lips bold to speak the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For babes and nursing infants, out of whose mouths the Lord perfects His praise, that our Lord would silence their enemies, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who, like Herod, would despise children or destroy the unborn for selfish gain, that the Lord would turn their hearts, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who mourn the loss of infants, that they would fix their eyes on Christ who, though spared for a time, shed His blood for the world’s salvation, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For parents and their children, that they would be given the wisdom and courage to know Christ as Savior and Redeemer and gather around the Word and Sacraments; and that the Lord would help parents form within their children the knowledge of, and the will to do, what is right according to God’s Word, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For our nation, that our leaders may serve faithfully and wisely, making God-pleasing decisions and walking in integrity, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who suffer affliction and grief, [especially _____________,] that as God’s children and fellow heirs with Christ, they would receive relief from their suffering according to His will and find comfort and confidence in Him, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who commune this day, that they would see their salvation in the very body and blood of Christ given them to eat and to drink and thus, with Simeon, be prepared to depart in peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Sit

 

Offering

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 159

 

Preface LSB 160

 

Proper Preface

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for in the mystery of the Word made flesh You have given us a new revelation of Your glory that, seeing You in the person of Your Son, we may know and love those things which are not seen. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

 

Sanctus LSB 161

 

Lord’s Prayer LSB 162

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C 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.

 

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

Pax Domini LSB 163

 

Agnus Dei LSB 163

 

Sit

 

624 The Infant Priest Was Holy Born

 

5 The veil is torn, our Priest we see,
As at the rail on bended knee
Our hungry mouths from Him receive
The bread of immortality.

 

6 The body of God’s Lamb we eat,
A priestly food and priestly meat;
On sin-parched lips the chalice pours
His quenching blood that life restores.

 

7 With cherubim and seraphim
Our voices join the endless hymn,
And “Holy, holy, holy” sing
To Christ, God’s Lamb, our Priest and King.

Text: Chad L. Bird, 1970
Tune: Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature, 1778, London; adapt. Edward Miller, 1731–1807
Text: © 1997, 2003 Chad L. Bird. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

384 Of the Father’s Love Begotten

Text: Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, 348–c. 413; (sts. 1–4): tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt.; (st. 5): tr. Henry W. Baker, 1821–77
Tune: Plainsong, 13th cent., mode V
Text and tune: Public domain

 

382 We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth

 

5 The very Son of God sublime
Entered into earthly time
    To lead us from this world of cares
    To heaven’s courts as blessèd heirs.
        Alleluia!

 

6 In poverty He came to earth
Showing mercy by His birth;
    He makes us rich in heav’nly ways
    As we, like angels, sing His praise.
        Alleluia!

 

7 All this for us our God has done
Granting love through His own Son.
    Therefore, all Christendom, rejoice
    And sing His praise with endless voice.
        Alleluia!

Text (st. 1): German, c. 1380; (sts. 1, 6): tr. Gregory J. Wismar, 1946; (sts. 2–7): Martin Luther, 1483–1546; (sts. 2, 4): tr. F. Samuel Janzow, 1913–2001; (sts. 3, 5, 7): tr. Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Tune: Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbüchlein, 1524, Erfurt
Text (sts. 1, 3, 5–7): © 2006 Concordia Publishing House; (sts. 2, 4): © 1978 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 165

 

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Benediction LSB 166

 

388 Go Tell It on the Mountain

Text (sts. 1–3): John W. Work II, 1873–1925, alt.
Text (ref) and tune: African American spiritual
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting One from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.