Author: Julie Raffa

Introit Psalm 98:1–3; antiphon: Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name | of the Lord,* who made | heaven and earth. 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. 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. Our help is in the name | of the Lord,* who made | heaven and earth.
Collect of the Day
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.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 30:8–17
8And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 9For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; 10who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 11leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 12Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, 13therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; 14and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.” 15For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, 16and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. 17A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.
Gradual Psalm 90:12, 14
Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Epistle Romans 8:31b–39
If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Holy Gospel Luke 12:35–40
35[Jesus said:] “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Announcements
CBI Presents: Dr. Brian German’s Heaven on Earth A Study of the Book of Revelation. It is an online course through Concordia University. If you follow the link you will be able to join in.
https://contiuninged.cuw.edu/offerings.html?area=christianministry
The 2023 Envelopes are now available for pick up.
They are in the Narthex as you enter or leave. We all have new numbers for next year, Please make note of this on your checks. PLEASE do not use them until January 1, 2023. Thank you.
Catechism & Sunday school will be starting up again. Catechism starts on Wednesday, January 4 and Sunday school starts up on Sunday, January 8.
Wednesday evening Bible class –1 & 2 Kings starts on Wednesday, January 4. 2nd Samuel, Sunday at 12:30 pm. will start up on Sunday, January 8, on chapter 13. 2nd Samuel on Thursday mornings starts on Thursday, January 12.
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
We are wishing you a very Happy & Joyous New Year

New year’s Eve
Divine Service
Lutheran Service Book: Page:
Liturgy: Setting 4 Nicene Creed 203
Hymns:
Evening and Morning 726
Across the Sky the Shades of Night 899
Communion Hymns:
Jesus Priceless Treasure 743
Abide with Me 878
Now the Light Has Gone Away 887
Now Rest beneath Night’s Shadow 880
Our God, Our Help in Ages Past 733
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah 30:8-17
Epistle: Romans 8:31b-39
Gospel: Luke 12:35-40
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 struggling with health issues:
Rev. John Wille, Mary Margaret Hatfield, Phyllis Laabs-Darkow, Suzanne Stadelmayer, George Muth, Rev. Joel Kotila, Joyce Virchow, Rev Donald & Carolyn Bren, Jerry Sullivan, Russell & Jeanette Guillaume, Richard Lewandowski, Mark Selzler, Ethan Tinlin, Sheryl Pajewski, Paul Lierman, Judy Clark Louise Kreis, Betty Steely, Inez Schwoch, Ruth Mertz, 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. Christopher Raffa
Liturgist: Rev. Joseph Fisher
Elder: Gary Jenovai
Cantor: Samuel Boehlke
Organist: Ben Grosskreuz

Coming Up at Pilgrim
Saturday, December 31, 2022:
6:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Divine Service
Sunday, January 1, 2023:
9:00 a.m. New Year’s Day Divine Service
Monday, January 2:
6:30 p.m. Elder’s Meeting
Tuesday, January 3:
2:00 p.m. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court
Wednesday, January 4:
4:00 p.m. Youth Catechesis
6:30 p.m. Adult Class: 1 & 2 Kings
Thursday, January 5:
7:00 p.m. Divine Service
Friday, January 6: Office Closed
Saturday, January 7:
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study

New Year’s Eve
December 31, 2022
40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:40
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