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Meeting ID: 619 327 455
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LIGHT of the WORLD ... Second Sunday after Christmas
10:45 - Leader's Meeting
11:00 - Coffee Hour in 11 Minutes
(Sip your coffee and discuss Genesis or John or Matthew ... and how God might reach a Wide Range of People through us during this season of Christmas ... or what does COMPANIONSHIP mean for you during this interesting Holiday Season?)
11:11 - WORSHIP BEGINS
A) PRELUDE: Angels We Have Heard on High!, performed by Pentatonix, an Arlington based acappella YouTube recording phenomenon that won 'The Sing Off"
1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be LIGHT: and there was LIGHT. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
2) And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven.
1) And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
2) And God said, Let there be LIGHTS in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
B) (Light of the World) Here I Am to Worship, led by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, start at 0:45
Please MUTE and SING (lyrics are below)
Light of the world ...
You stepped down into darkness, Opened my eyes, let me see Beauty that made this heart adore You, Hope of a life spent with You
Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that You're my God, You're altogether lovely Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days, Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above, Humbly You came to the earth You created All for love's sake became poor
I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross
If the LIGHTS are focused on MY NEEDS, it's TIME to take them DOWN
If the LIGHTS are focused on JESUS, and I am just one voice in the CHOIR,
I can carry that LIGHT EVERYWHERE I go ...
The DILEMMA is putting those PIECES together
What is the mission of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church?
To Serve as a VEHICLE through which the Gospel is Spread!!!
about being a VEHICLE
that will deliver CONFIDENCE, COMPASSION, and COMPANIONSHIP
to a tremendously anxious COMMUNITY,
remembering that God is our REFUGE & STRENGTH.
I) THIS Sunday is the 10th Day of Christmas
LIGHT TWO ADVENT CANDLES:
Tuesday, January 6 is the Day of Epiphany
Sunday, January 10 is EPIPHANY Sunday;
Sunday, February 17 is Ash Wednesday
Sunday, February 21 is the First Sunday in LENT
Sunday, April 4 is EASTER Sunday
II) NEXT Bible Studay is Wednesday, January 13 at 7 PM
Who is my Biblical Companion ... and Why?
(Besides Jesus) Which person in the Bible would I want to get to know better.
How come?
III) Reports from the EZEKIEL 44:5 EXPERIMENT
EVERYONE is a part of one Project or the Other:
1) Clean HANDS Project ... Next Pantry Distribution
2) Clean HEART Project ... Epiphany, Lent & Holy Week Companionship
IV) Lenten WITNESSES of Mt Olive (theme resumes in Lent 2021):
1) Wednesday, February 24 ... Who?
2) Wednesday, March 3 ... You?
3) Wednesday, March 10 ... Guest?
4) Wednesday, March 17 ... Best?
5) Wednesday, March 24 ... Friend?
Maundy Thursday, April 1 ... Pastor Todd leads Seder Meal
6) Good Friday, April 2 ... Led by Laity or Partnership with another Church
V) NEXT Recording Projects
Carlos, Tanya, & Ms. Davis record by January 1, 2021
Detroit Folk Mass, by James Harris and Tillis Butler, Fortress Press
Ask members of Christ Lutheran or St. John's Lutheran to offer a Hymn
C) SECOND LESSONS
3) But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ... Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ... But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” ~ John 8:1-2, 12, 23-24
4) Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,2 and he began to teach them. He said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:1-2, 14-16
3) “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ~ John 9:3-5
4) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin. ~ I John 1:5-7
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be to God!!
E) KYRIE, led by Carlos Leggett
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
5) The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
AND ALSO WITH YOU
6) We gather together and share a CREED to remember that in God, we have a Companion who will never fail us and will be with us always. It is a CREED that reminds us that death is never the final answer, and the hope springs eternal for those who follow the God of Resurrection and Life.
I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY
Creator of heaven and earth.
I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,
God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
5) We take this moment to confess our sins: Do you confess that you are captive to sin and cannot free yourself from this trap of sin and death, at least not in this life? Do you confess that you have sinned against God in anger, rebellion, frustration, doubt and fear.
WE DO.
6) Do you confess that, because your neighbor fails to love in the way that God commands, that you also have not loved your neighbor as yourself? Do you confess that you struggle to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
WE DO.
5) Do you ask, with the help of Jesus Christ, Forgive us, Lord, 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.
WE DO. AMEN.
6) Brothers and sisters hear this grace: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you and for His sake, God forgives you all of your sins. As a called disciple of Christ I declare the entire forgiveness of all of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
AMEN.
Halle, Halle, Halle-lujah, led by Tanya Browne & Dolphene Davis
Our Gospel Lesson comes from Luke in the 1st Chapter.
GLORY TO YOU, O LORD!
7) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
8) [The Word] was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
PRAISE TO YOU, OH CHRIST
G) SECOND SONG: We Light A Thousand Candles, A traditional Swedish Christmas Carol, led by Willie & Rodi Longenecker
Please MUTE and SING along (lyrics are below:)
Nu tändas tusen juleljus, På jordens mörka rund Och tusen, tusen stråla ock, På himlens djupblå grund
Och över stad och land ikväll, Går julens glada bud Att född är Herren Jesus Krist, Vår frälsare och Gud
Linden J. Lundstrom, Director, the Kantorei: The Singing Boys of Rockford, IL
A thousand Christmas candles light, the earth's revolving sphere, And thousands, thousands beam above, to bring the heavens near.
O'er city, village, town, and farm, the joyfuls new is told, That Jesus Christ our Lord is born, our Saviour and our God
O star that shines o'er Betlehem, pray let your gentle light Shine on with hope and joy and peace, in every home tonight
H) SERMON: "When Should We Take Our Lights Down, Pastor?", shared by Pastor Todd
1. Let Your Lights Shine, by the Skit Guys
THE DILEMMA
The Angels proclaimed the Good News
The Shepherds joyfully shared the Good News
Mary pondered the Good News
The Wise Men travelled out of their way to withold what didn't want to be heard
The Light came to his own people; and his own people did not recognize him
If the LIGHTS are focused on MY NEEDS, it's TIME to take them DOWN
If the LIGHTS are focused on JESUS, and I am just one voice in the CHOIR,
I can carry that LIGHT EVERYWHERE I go ...
The DILEMMA is putting those PIECES together
THE CONFESSION
Sweet little Jesus boy, They MADE YOU be born in a manger Sweet little holy child, We didn't know WHO YOU WERE Didn't know you'd come to save us Lord, To take our sins away Our EYES WERE BLIND, we could not see, We didn't know who you were
Long time ago, You were born, Born in a manger Lord Sweet little Jesus boy, The world treats you mean Lord Treats me mean too, But that's how things are down here We DON'T KNOW who YOU ARE
You have told us how, We are trying Master you have shown us how, Even when you were dying Just seems like we can't do right, Look how we treated you But please Sir forgive us Lord, We didn't know IT WAS YOU
If the LIGHTS are focused on MY NEEDS, it's TIME to take them DOWN
If the LIGHTS are focused on JESUS, and I am just one voice in the CHOIR,
I must carry that LIGHT EVERYWHERE ...
The CONFESSION is putting those humbling WORDS together
3. Lift Your Light, by Mary McDonald,
shared by Church of the Saviour
Celebration Singers, Montgomery, Ohio
THE PROCLAMATION
I SANG this in the Castle Church of Germany with Resurrection Lutheran in Plano. That's the church with the Door where Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses
I DIRECTED this for my first Sunday at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Coppell. Another church where Pastor preceded me
I long to LEAD this with a choir from Mt. Olive and four or five other churches.
If the LIGHTS are focused on MY NEEDS, it's TIME to take them DOWN
If the LIGHTS are focused on JESUS, and I am just one voice in the CHOIR,
I must carry that LIGHT EVERYWHERE ...
The PROCLAMATION comes in adding our Voice to the CHOIR
4. Go Tell It on the Mountain, by The Golden Gospel Pearls in Germany
THE CALL (We Tend to Avoid If At All Possible)
Go, Tell It on the Mountain, over the hills and EVERYWHERE
Down in a lowly manger, Our humble Christ was born, And GOD sent us SALVATION, That blessed Christmas morn .... SOoooooooo ...
Go, Tell It on the Mountain, over the hills and EVERYWHERE
BUT .... The Shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! Above the Earth, Rang out the angel CHORUS, That hailed our Savior's birth
HOW EASILY WE FORGET ... When I was a seeker, I sought both night and day, I asked the Lord to help me, And he showed me the way ... BECAUSE ... Somebody ... DID
Go, Tell It on the Mountain, over the hills and EVERYWHERE
So God made me a watcher, Upon a city wall, And if I am God's follower ... I AM THE LEAST OF ALL ...
If the LIGHTS are focused on MY NEEDS, it's TIME to take them DOWN
If the LIGHTS are focused on JESUS, and I lift my voice in the CHOIR,
I can carry that LIGHT EVERYWHERE I go ...
The CALL is finding ... and fitting our voice ... into the HARMONY
The CALL is finding ... and fitting our lives ... into the STORY, God's STORY
SERMON SERIES:
Epiphany: We SEE the LIGHT ...
1) OF THE WORLD - January 3
2) IN THE DARKNESS - January 10
3) YET TO COME - January 17
4) AND LET IT SHINE - January 24
G) THIRD SONG: Light of the World, led by Lauren Daigle
Please MUTE and SING along (lyrics are in video:)
K) LITURGY of HOLY COMMUNION Lord, God, Heavenly King .... Led by Tanya Browne
LORD, GOD, HEAVENLY KING, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory, Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Faither, Lord, God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us,
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, In the Glory of God the Father, Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING & Preface by #7
Please UNMute & RESPOND
The Lord be with you,
AND ALSO WITH YOU
Lift up your hearts
WE LIFT THEM TO THE LORD!
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE.
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, Holy Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so with the Church on Earth and all the hosts of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, led by Pastor Todd
Please MUTE & SING:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD, Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he, who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION & Lord's Prayer, led by #7
The Words of Institution are recorded for us in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as well as by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:
“Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night in which He was betrayed, took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying: ‘Take and eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.’
“In the same way also He took the cup after supper, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying: ‘Drink of it all of you; this cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is shed for you and for all people, for the remission of sins. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'”
When the disciples didn't know how to PRAY in the face of the challenges ahead of them, they asked Jesus for help. He said, "Pray this way!" Will you share with me the Lord's Prayer?
Please UNMute & RESPOND
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.
1) Lamb, Of God, led by Dolphene Davis
2) See Dat Babe, led by by the Alfrelynn J. Roberts & Pastor Todd, in preparation for a South Dallas Concert Choir Virtual Christmas Concert on Wednesday, December 24 at 4 PM.
Please MUTE & SING:
1) Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us (repeat) ... Lamb of God, you take away, the sins of the world, grant us peace ... grant us peace.
* AND *
2) See dat Babe in the lowly manger, he gon' take all my sin away, he gon' reign with my God in glory, one of these days, one of these days
He was born of a Virgin Mary to bring peace to a weary land, he come down from the God in heaven to behold the Son of Man.
Was no room in the inn they told him and they sent my Lord away, he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and he was born in a manger hay
See that baby, See that baby, Oh behold, oh behold the King
Oh yes, he gon' reign, one of these days.
L) Post Communion Blessing & Prayer led by #7
ALL: May the body and blood of our Risen Lord, Jesus the Christ, strengthen you and keep you in His grace, now and always. Amen.
Let us pray. Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people. Help us to stand with Jesus as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, that we may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. AMEN.
M) BENEDICTION: Shine, Jesus, Shine!, The Youth & Music Ministry present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at St. Thomas a'Becket Catholic Church in Canton, Michigan
Please MUTE and SING along (lyrics below)
(CHORUS) Shine, Jesus, shine, Fill this land with the Father's glory Blaze, Spirit, blaze, Set our hearts on fire Flow, river, flow, Flood the nations with grace and mercy Send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light
Lord, the light of your love is shining, In the midst of the darkness, shining Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us Set us free by the truth you now bring us, Shine on me, shine on me
Lord, I come to your awesome presence, From the shadows into your radiance By the blood I may enter your brightness Search me, try me, consume all my darkness, Shine on me, shine on me
As we gaze on your kingly brightness, So our faces display your likeness Ever changing from glory to glory, Mirrored here may our lives tell your story Shine on me, shine on me
SENDING: Led by led by #7
What is the mission of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church?
TO SERVE as a VEHICLE through which the Gospel is Spread!!!
Go in Peace and Serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God!! And WE WILL!!
If the LIGHTS are focused on MY NEEDS, it's TIME to take them DOWN
If the LIGHTS are focused on JESUS, and I lift my voice in the CHOIR,
I can carry that LIGHT EVERYWHERE I go ...
The CALL is finding ... and fitting our voice ... into the HARMONY
The CALL is finding ... and fitting our lives ... into the STORY, God's STORY
POSTLUDE 1: Christmas Carols!, performed by Starrkeisha