INTRODUCTION

Within the gospel reading’s profound words lies the simple message that God is revealed in a human person. Though we may try to understand how the Word existed with God from the beginning of time, the wonder we celebrate at Christmas is that the Word continues to dwell among us. Christ comes among us in the gathered assembly, the scriptures, the waters of new birth, and the bread and the wine. Through these ordinary gifts we receive the fullness of God’s grace and truth.

ANNOUNCEMENTS   Sending Hymn ELW 857 please use hymnals

PRELUDE    In the Bleak Midwinter

* CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity,   one God, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Savior, Prince of Peace. Amen.

Trusting in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness,

let us confess our sin.

Reconciling God, we yearn for your presence to transform our grief, pain, and despair. We confess that we have not always prepared

room in our hearts for your love; we have not always recognized your presence among us; we have not always embraced your message of peace. We cry out, weary with the burden of violence, oppression, and fear. We confess our failure to make room for those seeking refuge;

our participation in violent systems that harm your innocent ones;

our reluctance to embody your good news. Be born in us today and teach us to sing the joyful song of your salvation. Amen.

God’s grace upon grace flows over you.   Christ’s presence redeems the whole creation. Your sins are forgiven. Let the earth rejoice and be glad! Amen.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 

Almighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word. By your grace empower us to reflect your light in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

* GATHERING SONG   When Long before Time (ELW 861)

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 31:7-14

 7 Thus says the LORD:

 Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,

  and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;

 proclaim, give praise, and say,

  “Save, O LORD, your people,

  the remnant of Israel.”

 8 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north

  and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,

 among them the blind and the lame,

  those with child and those in labor together;

  a great company, they shall return here.

 9 With weeping they shall come,

  and with consolations I will lead them back;

 I will let them walk by brooks of water,

  in a straight path where they shall not stumble,

 for I have become a father to Israel,

  and Ephraim is my firstborn.

 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,

  and declare it in the coastlands far away;

 say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him

  and will keep him as a shepherd does a flock.”

 11 For the LORD has ransomed Jacob

  and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

 12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,

  and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD,

 over the grain, the wine, and the oil,

  and over the young of the flock and the herd;

 their life shall become like a watered garden,

  and they shall never languish again.

 13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,

  and the young men and the old shall be merry.

 I will turn their mourning into joy;

  I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow.

 14 I will give the priests their fill of fatness,

  and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,

 says the LORD.

PSALM: Psalm 147:12-20

 12 Worship the LORD, | O Jerusalem;

  praise your | God, O Zion,

 13 who has strengthened the bars | of your gates

  and has blessed your children within you.

 14 God has established peace | on your borders

  and satisfies you with the | finest wheat.

 15 God sends out a command | to the earth,

  a word that runs | very swiftly. 

 16 God gives | snow like wool,

  scattering | frost like ashes.

 17 God scatters | hail like bread crumbs.

  Who can stand against God’s cold 

 18 The LORD sends forth the | word and melts them;

  the wind blows, and the | waters flow.

 19 God declares the | word to Jacob,

  statutes and judgments to Israel.

 20 The LORD has not done so to any | other nation;

  they do not know God’s judgments. | Hallelujah! 

SECOND READING: Ephesians 1:3-14

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 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on 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 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

GOSPEL John 1:[1-9] 10-18

The holy gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

  10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

  14 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. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

MEDITATION Pastor Wende Bleam

* HYMN OF THE DAY O Word of God Incarnate (ELW 514)

* NICENE CREED

We believe in one God,

   the Father, the Almighty,

   maker of heaven and earth,

   of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

   the only Son of God,

   eternally begotten of the Father,

   God from God, Light from Light,

   true God from true God,

   begotten, not made,

   of one Being with the Father;

   through him all things were made.

   For us and for our salvation

       he came down from heaven,

       was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary

       and became truly human.

       For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

       he suffered death and was buried.

       On the third day he rose again

       in accordance with the scriptures;

       he ascended into heaven

       and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

       He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

       and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

   who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*

   who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

   who has spoken through the prophets.

   We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

   We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

   We look for the resurrection of the dead,

       and the life of the world to come. Amen.

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

* OFFERING PRAYER

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Empowered by the news of Christ’s birth, let us pray boldly for the church, creation, and all who are in need.

O God, you reveal yourself wherever two or three are gathered in your name. Be with us now, not only in the infant Jesus and resurrected Christ, but in the beloved people of this assembly. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You reveal yourself in the waters of the womb; in brooks, ponds, and oceans; and in the waters of baptism. Grant us wisdom to tenderly care for the earth as a garden watered by your grace. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You reveal yourself in blessed diversity. Help us to look for you in people near and far, in bodies of all kinds, and in kindred young and old. Let us seek you in many places, praising you in many tongues. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You reveal yourself in new life. Support those beginning a new job, a new relationship, or a new living situation, especially those displaced because of tragedy or loss. Be with all others who need your life-giving touch this day. We pray especially for the Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, Bill and Pam, the family of Tiona, Pastor Wende, Ray, Richie, Derek, Chris, Donna, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts.  We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit.  Grant them healing and wholeness. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You reveal yourself in holy communion. Sustain all who provide food and fellowship in this congregation and in the wider community. Make our tables signs of your welcoming presence among us. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You promise to turn mourning into joy and to comfort those who weep. We remember those who have died and look to being united with them in your glory. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

With the joy of Christ’s birth in our hearts, we commend our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your boundless mercy and eternal love; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

* LORD'S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.

   

* THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.  And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.  We lift the 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, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,

through our Savior Jesus Christ.

In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh

you have opened the eyes of faith

to a new and radiant vision of your glory,

that, beholding the God made visible,

we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn

* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

* INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Christ's table is spread before you and Jesus invites you to come. 

Gather here with all the saints.

COMMUNION SONG

May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace.  Amen.

CONGREGATION HYMN Of the Father's Love Begotten (ELW 295)

*PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

*BLESSING

The triune God, glorious Mystery, holy Incarnate One, abiding Comforter,

  bless you with endless grace, peace, and joy. Amen.

* SENDING SONG Lord, I Lift Your Name on High (ELW 857)

DISMISSAL - Glory to God in the highest! And peace to God’s people on earth! Go in joy. Embody God’s redeeming grace. Thanks be to God.

The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of January by the St. Johns Current Fund.  

Sponsors are needed for the ETERNAL CANDLE for the following months in 2026: January, July, September and December.  The cost is now $27.

YOU CAN HELP!  You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done.  Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards.  Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards.  Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry. 

Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON.  Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.  Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende know.

The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!

With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.

UPCOMING EVENTS:  

Our Financial Response  (November) 

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month        $   7,263.55

Offering last month        $   6,609.14

Budget required to date (11 months)        $  79,899.05

Total received to date        $  60,963.54

MISSION SUPPORT

Budget required to date (11 months)        $   4,400.00

Total received to date        $   4,193.92

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.