New Year's Eve Worship

This evening, before heading to a favorite local restaurant for some ring-in-the-New-Year dessert with my daughter, I attended worship at my local church.  Since so many of my friends have never experienced a Lutheran service, I thought I might post the one from last night, New Year's Eve 2012.  Written mostly by my pastor, the order of worship follows the Divine Service closely though not exactly.  His introduction, As We Gather, provides some food for thought and a theme for the service.
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AS WE GATHER
On New Year's Eve most of us step back and take inventory of our lives.  Many of us make resolutions or decisions to improve our life in one way or another.  Tonight, however, St. Paul has us step back, way back to get the broadest view of our entire life.  The hopeful reason is that we might see not so much our feeble efforts to improve, but that, as baptized children of God, we may be increasingly convinced of God's great love.  It is great because there is nothing in our lives, our world or all of creation that can ever separate us from God's love.  With such a view of God's love in our life we are freed even more to make our resolutions since, if we happen to fail (again), it doesn't change the most important things:  the grace of God, the forgiveness of all our sins, and the gift of eternal life now and forever.

PRELUDE

OPENING HYMN:  "Now Greet the Swiftly Changing Year"

INVOCATION
Pastor:  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People:  Amen.

CONFESSION
Pastor:  Having come to the close of another year, we are compelled to look back upon it and to carry forward its joys and blessings into the New Year.

People:  Thank you, Lord, for the goodness You have shown to us in the year now ending.  You have blessed us in ways too numerous to count.  You have sustained us in times of trouble in ways we cannot ever fully appreciate.

(Silence for personal reflection)

Pastor:  Having come to the close of another year, we are compelled to look back upon it and to unburden ourselves before God of all that destroys our happiness and hinders our mission.

People:  Merciful Father, this has been another year of sin.  We have grieved Your heart with our rebellion in thought, word, and deed.  And even though we bear the name "Christian," we have failed to lead lives worthy of that calling.  We have not done the good things required of us in Your commandments.  We ask Your forgiveness in the name of Jesus, Your only Son, who died for our sins.  We ask Your Holy Spirit's help in the year now beginning to faithfully reflect the image of Christ.

ABSOLUTION
Pastor:  God has heard your confession.  His love, mercy, and grace are everlasting.  Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I forgive you your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

People:  As we begin a new year, forgiven by God, we are reminded that we are His redeemed saints.  We forge ahead in this new year, not in bondage, but in freedom;  no longer in futility, but persevering in hope that does not disappoint us.  God bless us and keep us in the coming year.  Amen.

HYMN:  "The Lord, My God Be Praised"

PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR
Pastor:  Let us pray.

All:  God of all time and eternity, Alpha and Omega, we commit to You the year now completed and commend to Your kindness and love the year now at hand.  Throughout the coming days, weeks and months, encourage us by Your Spirit to make wise use of Your Word and Sacraments that we may be thoroughly strengthened in our faith, and grounded in the love, grace, and mercy of Christ, our Lord, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING:  Isaiah 51:1-6
(God promises His people eternal love that exceeds the limits of time.)

Pastor:  This is the Word of the Lord.
People:  Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE READING:  Romans 8:31-39
(Nothing will separate us from God's love for us.)

Pastor:  This is the Word of the Lord.
People:  Thanks be to God.

HOLY GOSPEL
Pastor:  The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 12th chapter.
People:  Glory to You, O Lord.

Luke 12:35-40

Pastor:  This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People:  Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN OF THE DAY:  "Across the Sky the Shades of Night"

SERMON:  "What's Your Resolution?" based on Romans 8:31-39

CREED (A Statement of Belief)
We believe in one God.  God the Almighty Father made everything that exists, even those things we cannot see.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ.  He is the eternal Son of God, and is really God Himself.  In order to save us from our sins, He came down from heaven and by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born a man, the child of the virgin Mary.  For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and died and was buried.  As the Bible had foretold, He rose form the dead on the third day.  He returned to heaven, and rules there with God the Father.  He will come back in glory to judge all people, and He will rule forever.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is the giver of life.  He is to be worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son.  He speaks to us in the Bible.  We believer that all Christians are called to be members of the Body of Christ, the Church.  We believe that our sins are forgiven in Baptism, and we look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the eternal life promised to us.  Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

OFFERINGS (Please take this time to sign the Friendship Register)

PREFACE to COMMUNION

Pastor:  The Lord be with you.
People:  And with your spirit.

Pastor:  Lift up your hearts.
People:  We lift them to the Lord.

Pastor:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People:  It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Pastor:  It is right and fitting that we should give thanks to You, gracious Lord.  You are the source of our life and the ruler of time.
People:  Strengthen us with Your presence, eternal God, that we may ever live to Your glory.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 his disciples and said:  Take, 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, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying:  Drink of it, all of you;  this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.  This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Communion Distribution Hymns:
"Your Table I Approach"
"O Living Bread from Heaven"

BLESSING

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Pastor:  Let us pray.
People:  Lord, we thank You that once again You have been with us as we have gathered in Your house and at Your table.  We thank You, that of Your mercy You have strengthened us with Your heavenly feast and with the very body and blood of Your Son.  Bless our lives with Your abiding presence and bring us at last to Your eternal kingdom.  We ask this for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

BENEDICTION
Pastor:  The Lord bless you in the year to come;  the Lord's face shine on you now and always;  the Lord look upon you with His favor and be present in your life, now and for eternity.

People:  Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:  "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"

POSTLUDE