Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran Church
A Praying Church
1460
Almond Avenue
St.
Paul, Minnesota 55108
651.645.2575
www.mtolive-wels.net
Carl R.
Henkel, pastor
651.631.8625
The
Epiphany Of Our Lord
January 7, 2007 9:00am
God's
Blessings To All Who Worship With Us Today! Lord, help us to make Your house a home
where those who are here will want to remain, where those who visit will want
to return, and where those who have left will want to come back. May
God's Spirit fill your hearts with joy and peace through the knowledge of His love for
you in Jesus. Visitors, we want you to
feel at home in our midst. Please know
that you are welcome!
Large Print Hymnals and Personal Sound
Devices are available at
the usher's station to help make worship more meaningful for those who may
appreciate such assistance. Just ask
one of the ushers before the service.
The Lord's Supper is being celebrated today. This special meal, instituted by Christ, unites us with Him and our brothers and sisters in the faith. This sacrament is intended for those who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven; and believe that the true body and blood of Jesus are present with the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Guests who share this faith are invited to speak with the pastor before joining us in this holy meal.
Assisting Us In Worship
This Morning
The Tim Pearson
family and Dottie Wezler, greeters
Greg Schuyler, head usher
Angela Young, organist
Mark Sauer, communion assistant
Please Join Us In The Fireside Room before worship this morning as we pray for
our church’s ministry, our members, and other requests. Bring your prayer requests or simply join
us! "And pray in the Spirit on
all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests," Ephesians 6:18.
Order of Service: The
Common Service, page 15 in the front of the hymnal
Hymns: 83 283 79 87
Anthem: “What Star Is This?”
Message: Luke
2:41-52
“Where
Is Jesus?”
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah
60:1-6
(Isaiah
prophesies that the Gentiles would come to faith and seek the Lord.)
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the
glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick
darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears
over you. Nations will come to your
light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
"Lift up your eyes and look about you: All
assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are
carried on the arm. Then you will look
and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the
seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Herds of camels will cover your land, young
camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and
incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.”
EPISTLE LESSON Ephesians
3:2-12
(The
mystery of God is revealed to the Gentiles.)
Surely you have
heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written
briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into
the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as
it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
This mystery is
that through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members
together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
I became a
servant of this Gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working
of His power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace
was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and
to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages
past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
His intent was
that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known
to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal
purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Him and
through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
GOSPEL Matthew
2:1-12
(The
Magi worship Jesus.)
After
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from
the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the One who has been born
king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship
Him."
When
King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had
called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he
asked them where the Christ was to be born.
"In
Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has
written: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among
the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd
of my people Israel.'"
Then
Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star
had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful
search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may
go and worship him."
After
they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in
the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child
was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they
saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then
they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense
and of myrrh.
And
having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their
country by another route.
Today: 10:00am Fellowship Hour
10:30am Education
Hour
11:45am Outreach
Committee Meeting
Monday: 11:30am Mt.
Olive Worship Service on Cable Channel 14
4:00pm “Cross-Eyed
Warriors” Bible Study
6:30pm Mt. Olive
Worship Service on Cable Channel 14
7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study
Tuesday: 7:00pm “More
Than Rubies” Bible Study
7:00pm Choir
Rehearsal
Wednesday: 5:30pm Confirmation
Class
7:00pm Sunday
School Teachers’ Meeting
Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Class
Next
Sunday: 9:00am Family
Worship Service
10:30am Education
Hour
11:45am Worship
Committee Meeting
6:30pm Coordinating Council at St. Croix LHS
Please Pick Up your 2007 offering envelopes from the table in the Fireside Room if you haven’t already done so. Thanks!
Progressive Dinner: Our Annual Progressive Dinner is set for Saturday, January 27th, starting at 5:30pm. A British Isles theme has been chosen for this year's dinner menu. We will be meeting at two or three houses for appetizers, the main course, desserts, and fun! This is always an evening of good food and great fellowship! As usual we are planning to have a “White Elephant” gift event, so please bring a white elephant gift with you. Please sign up today! If you have any questions speak with Nicole Burkhardt.
Calling
All Men, Women, and Families: We
are currently looking for ushers for 2007. The usher schedule is put together
as a rotating schedule with five groups serving on the corresponding four or
five Sundays of the month (the group that serves for the fifth Sunday also
ushers for holiday and Lenten services). All members of Mt. Olive are welcome.
If you have not served as an usher before please consider it. Sign up today!