The First Sunday After Christmas

December 30, 2007 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. We're glad you're here! Please sign the Friendship Register. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. Here you will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and an appreciation of being part of God’s family.

Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service. Stick around for a time of socializing and refreshments. We hope you are able to stay! Welcome!

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Ryan & Trisha Jacobs, greeters

Carolyn Baumann, organist

Kory Henkel, solo, “Joseph’s Lullaby”

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Order of Service: The Service of the Word, page 38 in front of the hymnal

Hymns: 47 58 59 71

Message: Galatians 4:4-7

“Great Timing!”

OLD TESTAMENT READING Hosea 11:1-7

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

"Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from Me. Even if they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.”

EPISTLE Galatians 4:4-7

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him." So he got up, took the child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

...After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." So he got up, took the child and His mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship Service

10:00am Refreshments and Social Time (No Education Hour)

Monday - Wednesday: No Activities or Classes at Church

Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Study

12:00pm Women’s Guild

Next Sunday: 9:00am Family Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:30am Education Hour for Children and Adults

Visitors: Please include your email address in the Friendship Register information. Thanks!

Progressive Dinner: Coming on Saturday, January 12^th, at 5:30pm. Mt. Olive Congregation is cordially invited to the 2008 'Peruvian' Progressive Dinner. This year's dinner will be somewhat different from the norm. Instead of going house-to-house, we will progress from the Mt. Olive Fireside Room to the Mt. Olive Fellowship Hall, and back to the Fireside Room for dessert and our always popular "white elephant gift exchange." The reason for the change is three-fold;

1. we'd like everyone to feel comfortable coming out on a winter Saturday evening (this way you will only have to get to church and home, not drive from one house to another, and we'll even furnish transportation to those who wish it),

2. we are using this as an opportunity to raise money for the Peruvian church family and friends of Pastor Terry and the Peruvian national pastors (the money will be matched up to $800 by Thrivent - please see poster in narthex), and

3. you will not have to cook any of the food for this year's Progressive Dinner. Pam and Darryl Folkens and Linda and Lee Petersen will be cooking the entire meal, which will be of Peruvian influence. The food will not be spicey, but will be some of the most-loved Peruvian dinnertime staples. Since you will not be spending money on ingredients, and you will not be spending time on cooking, we are hoping that all who participate will feel generous with their donations to these very needy Peruvian people. Thank you, and please consider joining us for this year's Peruvian Progressive Dinner.