Author: Julie Raffa

Introit Psalm 98:1–4; antiphon: Isaiah 52:10
The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the | nations,* and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation | of our God. Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done | marvelous things!* His right hand and his holy arm have worked salva- | tion for him. The Lord has made known his sal- | vation;* he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the | nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of | Israel.* All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation | of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, | all the earth;* break forth into joyous song and sing | praises! Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now, and will be forever. | Amen. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the | nations,* and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation | of our God.
Collect of the Day
O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Old Testament Reading Exodus 13:1–3a, 11–15
1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”
3Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. . . .
11“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. 13Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’”
Gradual Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 98:1a
To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
Epistle Colossians 3:12–17
12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Holy Gospel Luke 2:22–40
22When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30for my eyes have seen your salvation 31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
Announcements
Holiday Services are as follows:
Sunday December 26: 8 & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
Thursday, December 30: No Services
Friday, December 31: 6:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Divine Service
Saturday, January 1, 2022: 9:00 a.m. New Year’s Day Divine Service
Sunday, January 2: 8 & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
Please remember that there will not be a 7:00 p.m. midweek service on Thursday, December 30.
Catechism resumes on Wednesday January 5, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
Pilgrim Ladies Guild/LWML:
We always give thanks to God for our Pilgrim family. We were able to sell all 89 boxes of cookies and a Ginger bread House with a profit of $800.
We are so pleased to continue supporting Seminarian Austin Meier and Missionary Micah Wildauer. Thank you Pilgrim for you financial support.
Cable Worship Schedule Pilgrim’s Sunday 8:00 a.m. Divine Service is broadcast on WB 987 and AT&T Uverse 99 multiple times during the week: Sundays: 6:00 a.m. Mondays: 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. Wednesdays: 4:00 p.m. Bible Study, Thursdays: 4:00 p.m. This service is also live streamed and archived on the church’s YouTube channel:
Pilgrim Lutheran Church- West Bend, WI

First Sunday after Christmas
Divine Service
Lutheran Service Book: Page:
Liturgy: Setting 2 167
Hymns:
Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising 375
O Jesus Christ, They Manger Is 372
Communion Hymns:
From East to West 385
The Infant Priest was Holy 624
Angels from the Realms of 367
Now Sing We, Now Rejoice 386
See Amid the Winter’s Snow 373
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15
Epistle: Colossians 3:12-17
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
X X X
In our prayers, we remember:
X all who live under the flag of our nation,
X our government and judicial officials,
X law enforcement officers, military personnel, and their families,
X those isolated from family and friends,
X those struggling with health issues:
Judy Frank, Sheryl Pajewski, Bob Mayer, Jess Doughty, Carl Pritzlaff, Janet Meisenheimer, Mark Selzler, Paul Lierman, Sherry Cullen, Judy Clark, Carolyn Bren, Ron & Joyce Virchow Sr., Louise Kreis, Betty Steely, Inez Schwoch, Sue Zell, Ruth Mertz, Jerry & Gert Sullivan, Kandie Darmody, June Fry, Elaine Kuenzel, Diane Behrens
X pastors, missionaries, and those who serve God’s people with the gifts of Christ,
X Christians persecuted for the confession of the faith, and especially we remember
X all who have forsaken the faith, that they may be restored to gladness of heart and be made wise to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
X X X
Preacher: Rev. Joseph Fisher
Liturgist: Rev. Christopher Raffa
Elder: Bob K. Gary J.
Cantor: Tanner Schmidt
Organists: Sam Grosskreuz

Coming Up at Pilgrim
Sunday, December 26:
8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
9:30 a.m. Adult Class: Life of Christ
Monday, December 27:
10:30 a.m. Chapel @ Jackson Crossing
Tuesday, December 28:
2:00 p.m. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court
Wednesday, December 29:
6:30 p.m. Adult Class: Lutheran Difference
Thursday, December 30:
No Divine Service
Friday, December 31: Office Closed
6:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Divine Service
Saturday, January 1, 2022
9:00 a.m. New Year’s Day Divine Service
Wednesday, January 5
4:00 p.m. Youth Catechism
6:30 p.m. Lutheran Difference on Worship
Thursday, January 6
9:00 a.m. Galatians Bible Class
7:00 p.m. Divine Service
Saturday, January 8
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study

First Sunday after Christmas
December 26, 2021
29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30for my eyes have seen your salvation 31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
Welcome and blessings to you through our Lord Jesus Christ!
We welcome all who gather with us around the Altar and Pulpit to hear the Word of God. If you are visiting, we are happy that you could join us today. Please sign the guest book in the narthex and fill out one of the pew cards and pass it in with the offering plate to leave a record of your visit.
Communion Statement: By the design and specific warning of our Lord Jesus Christ in His Word, the precious gift of the Lord’s Body and Blood is to be shared with His blessing only with those prepared to take it rightly. (1 Cor 11:23-32) At the first communion our Lord did not commune all believers, but only those who had been instructed by Him daily for three years. The custom of our church is to offer the Sacrament only to confirmed members of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. So that our pastors would faithfully fulfill their obligations, (1 Cor 4:1; Heb 13:17; 1 Cor 11:27), all first-time visitors should speak to one of the pastors prior to communing. Our pastors are eager and available to provide instruction leading to a right and salutary reception our Lord’s holy Body and Blood, so that in the future you may join us in the blessing of this sacrament.

Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 334-0375 www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org