First Service
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Grace Beyond Us
January 4, 2026
AS WE GATHER
We can’t figure God out. Mary and Joseph must have been completely confused about Jesus’ desire to stay in the temple, but it was obvious to Him. There was a long list of blessings God was able to give to Solomon; fortunately, the king chose the right one. The Epistle tells us what God wants and what He has done for us, regardless of if we have understood His plan. He has chosen us, given us the Holy Spirit, and included us in a gracious inheritance. And it all revolves around our Savior—His birth, suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus did all that was necessary for grace to be poured out on us, thanks be to God. It is all certainly beyond our understanding.
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN Of the Father’s Love Begotten TLH 98 vs 1-3
Of the Father's love begotten Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see Evermore and evermore.
Oh, that birth forever blessed When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bare the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face Evermore and evermore.
O ye heights of heaven, adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring Evermore and evermore.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, 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. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
HYMN OF PRAISE A Great and Mighty Wonder TLH 76
A great and mighty wonder. A full and holy cure:
The Virgin bears the Infant With virgin honor pure!
Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!"
The Word becomes incarnate And yet remains on high,
And cherubim sing anthems To shepherds from the sky.
Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!"
While thus they sing your Monarch, Those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains, Ye oceans, clap your hands.
Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!"
Since all He comes to ransom. By all be He adored,
The Infant born in Bethl'em, The Savior and the Lord.
Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!"
And idol forms shall perish, And error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield His scepter, Our Lord and God for aye.
Repeat the hymn again: "To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!"
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1 Kings 3:4–15 (Solomon asks for an understanding mind, a listening heart.)
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
EPISTLE Ephesians 1:3–14 (Paul tries to explain the overwhelming grace of God and our response to it.)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 2:40–52 (The boy Jesus is found in the temple.)
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN Within the Father’s House TLH 133
Within the Father's house The Son hath found His home,
And to His Temple suddenly The Lord of Life hath come.
The doctors of the Law Gaze on the wondrous Child
And marvel at His gracious words Of wisdom undefiled.
Yet not to them is given The mighty truth to know,
To lift the earthly veil which hides Incarnate God below.
The secret of the Lord Escapes each human eye,
And faithful pondering hearts await The full epiphany.
Lord, visit Thou our souls And teach us by Thy grace
Each dim revealing of Thyself With loving awe to trace,
Till from our darkened sight The cloud shall pass away
And on the cleansed soul shall burst The everlasting day;
Till we behold Thy face And know as we are known
Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Coequal Three in One.
SERMON
CATECHISM The Third Article
People: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Pastor: What does this mean?
People: I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Blessed be You, O God our Father, for in Your great wisdom, mercy, and love You have chosen us to be Your own children by faith in Christ. Grant to Your whole church Your light, love, and peace. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Give wisdom, O God, to all preachers of Your Word, to all pastors and leaders in Your church, wherever they may be, that they may rightly divide Your Word, proclaim it with power, and administer Your Holy Sacraments according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Let Your Holy Spirit seek out and reveal Your salvation for those who hear and believe Your saving Gospel. Cast away all doubt and strengthen the faith of Your people everywhere. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Give peace among the nations, O Lord, that Your Word may not be bound but be proclaimed freely and boldly to all people. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Bring Your healing and comfort to all who are sick or injured or in any need, [especially . . .]. Give confidence in suffering and thankful hearts for Your every blessing. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Let the body and blood of Your Son strengthen faith and grant the wisdom that comes down from above, that all who commune may be one in confession and faith. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.