December 27, 2020

1st Sunday after Christmas | December 27, 2020 | Recorded December 26, 2020 Commemoration of Salem 100th Anniversary Pianist: Bonnie Collins Special Music: Linda Bechtold Lay Reader: Mitch Jorgenson Prelude Welcome L Welcome to Salem Lutheran Church in Longville MN. Today marks the 100 year anniversary of Salem and although we are not able to meet in person to celebrate this day YET, we can acknowledge and give thanks to God for not only the past 100 years but for next 100 as well. Please note the new PDF service outline on the website page you find the worship video, so you can follow the service and respond where we would if we were worshiping in person. We will also invite you to pause the video in few moments to gather a few items for worship. If you will be participating in Holy Communion virtually, you will need bread or crackers, and wine or grape juice. Please pause your video now and join us when you are ready. Salem was organized in a little log cabin on the east shore of Lake Inguadona on December 27, 1920. Alverna Vangen ((V)Fang -in) Anderson wrote, “As I recall, there were fourteen people gathered in the living room of the log cabin…Since the meeting was for the organization of a church, and the members present were all in accord, the business meeting was soon accomplished and officers elected. After a prayer service, everyone enjoyed coffee, cake and conversation. 100 years later…This is still the rhythm of our story, except these past 9 ½ months due to Covid, we continue to gather for worship and prayer, coffee, donuts and conversation. Call to Worship: Philippians 1:2-6 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Gathering Prayer1 L Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the 14 people gathered in the log cabin 100 years ago, to begin your work through Salem, we continue today. We thank You that we are all One in Christ, and we pray that as members of Your body, Your Holy Spirit would knit us together in the bonds of unity and love. Lord, You have promised that You are the One that would build Your Church and we ask that You would continue to equip each of us, both individually and corporately with the talents and gifts that root us in Christ, to Love, Grow and Serve your kingdom come. Protect us from sinful natures that seeks to destroy and cause divisions among Your body. Help us to be sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, gentle and gracious toward each other and the world you love. Let us not be motivated by selfishness but in humility may we seek to regard the needs of others before our own. We give you thanks for the countless men and women who have served as pastors, council members, teachers, organists, choir directors and musicians, ministry team members, and laity. Give wisdom to those you have called to serve as Salem’s leadership, and a teachable spirit to those that listen. And we give you thanks that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with us all this day and for ever. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Special Music: “Gesu Bambino“ – Bonnie Collins Confession and Forgiveness L Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who was in the beginning, who makes a dwelling among us, who covers us with justice and mercy. Amen Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Silence is kept for reflection. God of goodness and lovingkindness, C we confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbors. We have turned away from your invitation to new life. We have turned away from the lowly and downtrodden. In your abundant mercy, forgive us our sins, those we know and those known only to you, for the sake of the one who came to live among us, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen. L Hear the good news of peace and salvation! God forgives us all our sins, not through our own work, but through ☩ Jesus Christ, made known to all people. With all who come to the manger, rejoice in this amazing gift of grace. Amen Sharing of Peace L In a moment we will invite you to pause your video and share God’s peace with one another. If you are with loved ones, share the peace with one another with the intention that as you have been forgiven and given peace with God, so you forgive one another and offer them the gift of peace as well. If you are by yourself, we invite you to close your eyes and allow whoever God brings to your awareness to be present with you and offer from your heart forgiveness and the gift of peace you have been given from God. L The peace of the Lord is with you. C And also with you. L Please pause your video now and share that peace with one another. Psalm 148 1Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights. 2Praise the Lord, all you angels; sing praise, all you hosts of heaven. 3Praise the Lord, sun and moon; sing praise, all you shining stars. 4Praise the Lord, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. 5Let them praise the name of the Lord, who commanded, and they were created, 6who made them stand fast forever and ever, giving them a law that shall not pass away. 7Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; 8fire and hail, snow and fog, tem-pes-tu-ous wind, doing God’s will; 9mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; 10wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds; 11sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; 12young men and maidens, old and young together. 13Let them praise the name of the Lord, whose name only is exalted, whose splendor is over earth and heaven. 14The Lord has raised up strength for the people and praise for all faithful servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near the Lord. Hallelujah! 2nd Reading: Galatians 4:4-7 4When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Gospel Reading L The Holy Gospel according to St Luke the 2nd chapter. C Glory to you, O Lord. 22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, [Joseph and Mary] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 36There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

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