The Holy Innocents Matthew 2:13-18

Among the Pure and Innocent Cries

of a Newborn Child

Come the shrill reminders

of a world

---- and systems

far from that touch of life

a child brings

Far from

the trusting eyes

of love

that want only someone to show caring

Far from this

lies

our world

of agendas

and power and money

shock and awe

collateral damage

and the bleeding, smoldering bodies

of someone else’s child

and the nations play the game

of vying for position 

to make the world a better place
through the moans of death

and lifeless bodies

that are the victims of

what we claim

is a better world

Hear that cry

so pure and innocent

of a newborn child

and remember

what power and ambition and money

disguised as caring and freedom

can do

Christmas Luke 2:1-20

Praise to the Lord on High

Who is born

Among us

A child helpless and wrapped

In the loving embrace of newness

Glory to God in the Highest

With the Praise going to all the earth

That we may rejoice

Not in greatness

---far off there

but here

---among us

The Lord God who created all

Come as one for us all

The Birth of the Christ child has come

The Birth of the Messiah

Who will lead the people

You and I

On to love

----(Victory over death)

on to life

as the one laying here

so innocent

feel the shadow of the cross

in the night

and the angels know

and sing of this one

so innocent

who will save us all

Opening Litany based on Psalm 148

Worship Leader: Praise the LORD from the heavens, and in the heights above.  Praise the LORD, all angels and heavenly hosts.

Congregation: Praise the LORD, sun and moon and shining stars. Praise, you highest heavens and waters above the skies.

Worship Leader: Let everyone and everything praise the name of the LORD, for the LORD spoke and they were created. The LORD set them in place for ever and ever and gave a decree that will never pass away.

Congregation: Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding.

Worship Leader: Praise the LORD you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.

Congregation: Praise the LORD all you kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children.

Worship Leader: Let them praise the name of the LORD, for the LORD alone is exalted; and the LORD’s splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Congregation: The LORD has raised up for all people a voice through the praise of the saints, and the people close to the heart of God. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 96:1-13

 

Worship Leader: Sing to the LORD a new song; let all the people of the earth sing a new song unto the Lord. 

Congregation: We will sing praises to the Lord and proclaim the salvation of the Lord all our days.  We will proclaim the glory of the Lord to all the nations and the Lord’s marvelous deeds to all peoples. 

Worship Leader: For the Lord is great and worthy of praise above all gods.

Congregation: Our idols in this world are only that, just idols, but the Lord God created the heavens and the earth.  Splendor, Majesty and Glory surround the presence of the Lord. 

Worship Leader: Let all the peoples in all the nations of the earth ascribe to the Lord the glory and honor due the name of the Lord of all creation. 

Congregation: We will worship the Lord with praise and say to all people, “The Lord Reigns” For the justice of the Lord will be established over all the earth. 

Worship Leader: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound and all that is in it.  Let the fields be jubilant and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Congregation: Let all creation rejoice before the Lord who comes to judge the earth and all people with righteousness and loving kindness.  

10w for December 25th, Christmas.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 25th, Christmas. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is Silent Night by Dakota Road from the CD Love can Break Through.   Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at Dakotaroadmusic.com

10w for December 29th, Holy Innocents.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 29th, Holy Innocents. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is Cry Mercy by Dakota Road from the CD All Are Welcome.  Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at Dakotaroadmusic.com

10w for December 29th, NL, And Immediately.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 29th, NL, And Immediately. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is Out in the Wilderness by the Jay Beech Band from the CD Everyone Who is Thirsty, Come.    Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at baytonemusic.com

Matthew 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus Christ

Fear not

Broke into the darkness

Fear not

Into the night of doubt

Fear not

To take this one called blessed

Fear not

As the world is about to change unnoticed

For into this world will come

Not just a son

But the very God of creation

(Immanuel)

To be held by those rough hands

Loved

Kissed

Nurtured

By none other than

Fear not

You Joseph

And he took Mary into his home

And they had a son

And named him

(God with us)

Jesus

Opening Litany based on Psalm 80:7-15

Pastor: Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

Congregation: You liberated your people from slavery in the land of the Pharaohs.  You gave them a great land and a great calling, just as you have given us a great land and a great calling.  You blessed them with abundance as you have blessed us with abundance.  

Pastor: Why then O Lord have you broken down the walls so that all who pass by may pick its grapes? Why O Lord do you let the wild things and insects ravage and feed upon the abundance you have blessed us with?

Congregation: Return to us, God Almighty! Look to us from your heavenly realm and watch over this blessing you have planted, the children of God you have called your own, and help us in turn return to You as the cornerstone of our lives. 

10w for December 22nd, That's Life.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 22nd, That's Life. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is Love Can Break Through by Dakota Road from the CD Love Can Break Through. Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at Dakotaroadmusic.com

10w for December 22nd, NL, Desert Destined.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 22nd, NL, Desert Destined. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is The First Noel by Andra Moran from the CD Presents from the Attic.    Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at andramoran.com

Matthew 11:2-11 3rd Sunday of Advent

Are you the one

Who is to come

The one prepared for from before all time

(the blind see)

Are you the one

Claimed by the thunder crack

And the dove gently coming down

(the lame walk)

Are you the one for whom I baptized

Calling one and all to run

From the life of games

To the calling of God

(the deaf hear)

You seem so gentle

Not what I expected

When I first leapt in my mothers womb

Not what I expected

Out there at the river’s edge

Not what I expected

(new life)

And yet somehow

(good news for the poor)

more

Opening Litany based on Psalm 146

Worship Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 

Congregation: I will praise the Lord as long as I live and will sing praises to my God all my whole life long. 

Worship Leader: Do not put your trust in mortals, the powers of this world, for they are no help, when their breath departs, they return to the earth like everyone else and on that very day their plans perish. 

Congregation: Happy are those whose help and hope is in the Lord our God who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them and who keeps faith for ever

Worship Leader: For it is the Lord our God who executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. 

Congregation: The Lord sets the prisoners free and opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down and loves the righteous. 

Worship Leader: The Lord watches over the strangers and upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked the Lord will bring to ruin. 

Congregation: The Lord will reign forever and our God for all generations.  I will indeed Praise the Lord with my whole life.

10w for December 15th, What'd You Expect?

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 15th, What'd You Expect? If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is Stables by Dakota Road from the CD Love Can Break Through.   Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at dakotaroadmusic.com

10w for December 15th, NL, Free To Be.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 15th, NL, Free To Be. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is Go Tell it on the Mountain by Dakota Road from the CD Love Can Break Through.    Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at dakotaroadmusic.com

Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Two men walking up a hill

One disappears

One’s left standing still

I wish you had all been ready

You brood of vipers

The kingdom is coming

And already here

The ax is at the root of the tree

And we are not ready for

For

Ready for what?

An end where some are saved

And most condemned?

Leaving this earth in a moment before

Before

The lamb comes to live in the Holy City

With the children of God from every nation?

Bear fruit that is worth repentance

Prepare ye the way of the Lord

Love one another.

10w for December 8th, NL, Keep Calm.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 8th, NL, Keep Calm. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is The First Noel by Andra Moran from the CD Presents from the Attic. Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at andramoran.com

10w for December 8th, Desert Thunder.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for December 8th, Desert Thunder. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard. The song for the day is Rebel Jesus by Dakota Road from the CD Love Can Break Through. Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at dakotaroadmusic.com