Sunday Service - 12/28/2025
WELCOME TO WORSHIP In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we welcome you to St. Paul’s. We especially welcome our guests who have joined us today. We pray that your soul will be strengthened by the good news of God’s forgiveness through Jesus. PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY’S WORSHIP God in heaven, you graciously sent your Son to this earth for me. I can often question your love for me and your desire to protect me and give me what’s best. Show me in Jesus today the proof of your abiding love. Reveal him again as the perfect Savior sent to die at just the right time to win my forgiveness. Build my trust in your kindness toward me and my precious status before you as your child. In Christ I pray. Amen. OPENING HYMN 332 Let Us All with Gladsome Voice INVOCATION CONFESSION ABSOLUTION Prayer and Praise OH, TASTE AND SEE The Word PRAYER OF THE DAY FIRST READING Isaiah 63:7–9 PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 2D 7 SECOND READING Galatians 4:4–7 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Psalm 98:1 GOSPEL Matthew 2:13–23 CHILDREN'S MESSAGE HYMN OF THE DAY 335 To Shepherds as They Watched by Night SERMON John 1:14–18 God Is Love! APOSTLES’ CREED OFFERTORY 752 Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings sts. 1 & 2 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH HYMN 343 Once in Royal David’s City PRAYER LORD’S PRAYER BLESSING CLOSING HYMN 349 A Great and Mighty Wonder NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS BREAK FROM STUDIES We will take a break from our midweek studies the last two weeks of December and will begin our next midweek study on January 6th and 7th. We will also take a break from our Sunday School and Sunday Bible Study on Dec. 28th and Jan. 4th and will pick things back up on Jan. 11th. NEXT MIDWEEK STUDY Our next midweek study will be a unique one. In essence, we will watch accounts of Jesus’ life and then react to it. We’ll gather together to watch an episode from season one of The Chosen, a TV show about the Gospels’ account of Jesus’ ministry and his disciples. Following each episode (or potions of each episode) we will discuss application questions, the biblical accuracy of the show’s depiction, etc. Join us on Tuesday nights or Wednesday mornings as we reflect on what our Savior’s life and ministry might have looked like. BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS Our next Bible Information Class will begin on Sunday, January 11th, after the second service at 11:30 am. We will have classes each Sunday at that time through Palm Sunday. If you or someone you know would like to attend, please contact Pastor Groth and he’ll make sure to have a binder ready for you. BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS LUNCHES? We hope to serve lunch to the attendees of our next Bible Information Class as they study the Word with interest in joining our fellowship. If you would be willing to organize and serve lunch for one or more of these Sundays, please contact Pastor Groth. OFFERING ENVELOPES READY FOR 2026 You can find the new offering envelopes for 2026 in the church basement organized (mostly) alphabetically by last name. SCHOOL CUSTODIAN St. Paul’s school is looking for a custodian to work part-time. If you or someone you know are interested in the position, please contact Blake Horstman at 608-461-2786. HELPING THE HOMELESS Dear WELS brothers and Sisters, our area Care, Compassion and Help Committee is seeking donations to help the less fortunate and homeless this Christmas season. Some of what we are looking for would be gently used coats, waterproof gloves (men and women’s), new winter long underwear (size medium and large), and warm socks. Hygiene products such as soaps, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, and shaving cream are also a need. One of the organizations that we are donating to is developing “Baskets of Belonging” to be distributed to local homeless that are moving into their new apartments. We are collecting laundry baskets, small/medium laundry soap, and dryer sheets. If you would like to contribute this way, there will be a box in the lobby. We are also able to accept nonperishable food items. If you prefer us to do the shopping, checks should be made out to First Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Crosse. Make sure that the donation is clearly marked “Care and Compassion Fund.” All donations will be collected by January 15th. If you are interested in being a part of this newly formed committee, please join us for our next meeting on January 14th, 2026, 6:30 p.m., at First Lutheran School or contact Angie at First Lutheran for more information. LIVE NATIVITY TAKEDOWN On January 1st from 9am-5pm down at Riverside we will be taking down the Live Nativity scene. Any amount of time you can lend to help with this is greatly appreciated.
