‘Be Renewed in Christ!’ Thursday 31 December 2020

New Year’s Eve Service

St. John’s First Evangelical Lutheran Church Rev. Jared Cooksey

59 Oak Street. Bridgeton, NJ, 08302. T: 856-451-0141 (Church Office) T: 712-265-1754 (Pastor’s Cell)

E: secretarystjohnluth@verizon.net E: jared.cooksey@icloud.com

W: www.stjohnsbridgeton.com Facebook: @StJohnsBridgetonNJ

Divine Service: Sunday at 10:15 a.m.

Pastor The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last. Congregation Amen. Pastor It is good to give thanks to the Lord, Congregation to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; Pastor To herald Your love in the morning, Congregation Your truth at the close of the day. PROCESSIONAL HYMN: LSB 763 WHEN PEACE, LIKE A RIVER

Text and tune: Public domain

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Pastor Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one

another.

(Silence for self-examination.)

Pastor Holy and gracious God, Congregation I confess that I have sinned against You this day. Some of my

sin I know—the thoughts and words and deeds of which I am ashamed—but some is known only to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me that I may rest in peace.

Pastor By the mercy of God we are redeemed by Jesus Christ, and in

Him we are forgiven. We rest now in His peace and rise in the morning to serve Him.

Congregation Amen. SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY Pastor The Lord be with you. Congregation And also with you. Pastor Let us pray.

Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Congregation Amen. (Sit)

LSB 899 ACROSS THE SKY THE SHADES OF NIGHT

Text (sts. 1–3, 5) and tune: Public domain Text (st. 4) and tune: © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110003928

OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 40:27–31 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Pastor O Lord, have mercy on us. Congregation Thanks be to God.

(Stand) HOLY GOSPEL Mark 11:20–25 Pastor The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the eleventh chapter. Congregation Glory to You, O Lord. 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Pastor This is the Gospel of the Lord. Congregation Praise to You, O Christ. HOMILY (Stand)

APOSTLES’ CREED Congregation I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. 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 T everlasting. Amen.

PRAYER Pastor Hear my prayer, O Lord; Congregation listen to my cry. Pastor Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Congregation hide me in the shadow of Your wings. Pastor In righteousness I shall see You; Congregation when I awake, Your presence will give me joy.

Pastor Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of life may find our rest in You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Congregation Amen. Pastor Visit our dwellings, O Lord, and drive from them all the snares of

the enemy; let Your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let Your blessing be on us always; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Congregation Amen. Pastor Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day is far

spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us at the end of the day, at the end of our life, at the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with Your holy Word and Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair, the night when death draws near. Abide with us and with all the faithful, now and forever.

Congregation Amen.

+ SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT + PREFACE LSB 208 Pastor The Lord be with you. Congregation And also with you. Pastor Lift up your hearts. Congregation We lift them to the Lord.

Pastor Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Congregation It is right to give Him thanks and praise. Pastor It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and

in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

SANCTUS LSB 195

LORD’S PRAYER Pastor Taught by our Lord and trusting His promises, we are bold to

pray: Congregation 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 WORDS OF OUR LORD Pastor 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 the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T 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 cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PAX DOMINI Pastor The peace of the Lord be with you always. Congregation Amen.

AGNUS DEI LSB 198

(Sit) DISTRIBUTION HYMN: LSB 818 IN THEE IS GLADNESS

Text and tune: Public domain

NUNC DIMITTIS LSB 165 Pastor Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Congregation Your word has been fulfilled. Pastor My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared

in the sight of every people: Congregation A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your

people Israel. All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

POST-COMMUNION COLLECT Pastor We now pray. Congregation We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have

refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

BENEDICTION LSB 259 Pastor The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the T Son, and the

Holy Spirit, bless you and keep you. Congregation Amen. Pastor Almighty Father, give us serenity this New Year. Congregation Amen. Pastor Beautiful Savior, bring us comfort and confidence this New Year. Congregation Amen. Pastor Guiding Holy Spirit, be our ever constant this New Year. Congregation Amen. Pastor To the Triune God, be glory forever. Congregation Alleluia. Amen!

RECESSIONAL HYMN: LSB 803 JOYFUL, JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE

Tune and text: Public domain

In Our Lord’s Service This Evening Officiant: Rev. Jared Cooksey Music Director: Mrs. Elizabeth Hulitt Worship Assistant: Robert Hulitt, Jr. Altar Guild: Veronica Scythes and Candus Zambone

Please be reminded that Pastor Jared and his family will be heading west to Minnesota on Wednesday 6 January for a family baptism.

Pastor Jared will be back in New Jersey on Thursday 14 January but can still be reached anytime during his period away in the Midwest via

telephone, text, or email!

Happening Over the Coming Days:

Sunday 3rd January 10:15 a.m. Divine Service. Wednesday 6th January – Thursday 13th January Pastor Jared away on vacation. 10th January 10:15 a.m. Divine Service with celebrant, Rev. Dennis Bottoms.

Good Evening! We pray God’s richest blessings on your night, and we give thanks that you have joined us today to worship our Lord. If you are a visitor here, we hope that you feel comfortable and welcome. If you would like to find out more about us, please feel free to speak with Pastor Jared or any member of the congregation outside the building at the conclusion of the service. You are also encouraged to check out our webpage www.stjohnsbridgeton.com for more. The Lord’s Supper is celebrated every Sunday here at St. John’s and will be this evening, as well. We confess that the Words of Institution (page 197 in the hymnal) are the very words of Christ and by them believe that His body and blood are present under the bread and wine for us. And in the eating and drinking of His body and blood we are receiving the forgiveness of sin. If you have any questions about the receiving of the Sacrament, or are a visitor today, please speak with Pastor Jared prior to worship. Thank you! Face Coverings provide Christian care for your neighbor and your loved ones. It is also the current state mandate and recommendation for public gatherings. Please also be aware of the social distancing guidelines of maintaining a six feet distance from those from outside of your family.

Temperature Checks continue to be taken prior to entering the Sanctuary and we thank you for your cooperation with these efforts to deal with the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus in our community. Please note, if you have a fever or are not feeling well, please stay home and contact Pastor Jared for your pastoral needs, immediately. God keep each and every single one of you safe and healthy!

May God bless you all and may He be integral and

central to you in the Year 2021!

Unto You A Savior Has Been Born.

To Him be all the power and glory!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Compline from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of

Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2020 Concordia Publishing House.