2nd Sunday of Christmas
January 5, 2025
10 a.m. Worship
Prelude
Announcements
Confession & Forgiveness
Opening Song “Jesus, What a Wonderful Child” ELW 297
Greeting
Kyrie
Canticle of Praise "This is the Feast"
Prayer of the Day
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 in which they shall not stumble; or 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 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. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Children’s Message
*Gospel Acclamation
*Gospel: John 1: [1-9], 10-18
The holy Gospel according to John, the 1st chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
[1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.] 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 God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” ELW 270
Nicene Creed
Prayers of Intercession
Peace
Offering & Special Music: "Swing Down Angels" Madalyn Wilkinson, John & Linda Muhlbach, Marci Langan
Offertory Hymn: “As the Grains of Wheat”
Offertory Prayer
Great Thanksgiving
Words of Institution
Lord’s Prayer (Sung)
Invitation to Communion
Communion Hymns: “In the Bleak Midwinter” ELW 294
"Let All Mortal Flesh" ELW 490
"Love Has Come" ELW 293
Post-Communion Blessing
Prayer after Communion
Blessing
Sending Hymn: “Let Our Gladness Have No End” ELW 291
Dismissal
Adapted from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2025 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #014958
Weekly Calendar:
Please note the pastors will return to the office on January 7th.
Sunday, January 5— 10 a.m. Worship (Contemporary & Livestreamed), Coffee Time (Narthex)
Wednesday, December 8—10:30 a.m. De-decorating Christmas (Narthex & Sanctuary)
Sunday, January 12—9 a.m. Worship (Contemporary & Livestreamed), 10 a.m. Sunday School (begins in Sanctuary), Coffee Time (Narthex), 11 a.m. Worship (Traditional)
Keep watch for the upcoming January, 2025 newsletter! Ministries will resume their regular meetings, preschool will be back in session January 7th, and new and exciting things are in store for 2025!
Announcements:
Hurricane Helene recovery support update: : As we all continue to process the devastation in our nearby mountains, we
have compiled an ongoing list of a variety of ways to offer support that are continuing to evolve. This large scale catastrophic
damage will take months and years of recovery, so please continue to hold the entire region and its people in prayer while
also keeping your eyes and hearts open to ways to offer assistance now and well into the future.
Please click the box to learn about some current ways to offer assistance.
Have you joined CIC's new online photo directory yet? The directory is through a program called Church Center, which
is also an app. Follow the QR code to get started.
January Grocery Cart: During the month of December we will be partnering with the CIC preschool in collecting canned soups (think high protein soups) for the Bags of Hope Program. When you’re doing your grocery shopping this month consider picking up a few cans and adding them to the grocery cart at CIC. Thank you to everyone who continues to support our grocery cart collections each month. Your generosity is making a difference!
Preschool Registration for 2024/2025 Is now open. Please call or email Sharon Fuller for more details, refer to our website
for an online registration form or follow the QR code. Currently there are openings in the 4 year old PK class and the TK class.
All women of CIC are welcome to The 5:11s. 1st Thessalonians 5:11, we are a women’s group that “encourages one another and builds one another up, just as you are doing.” We meet on the third Sunday of the month between services to discuss ways we can continue to encourage and build each other up and support our church. Contact Jill Brooks (jlkbrooks@gmail.com) with any questions.
Retreat: The next Women’s Retreat will be March 14th-16th, 2025. Dr. Jacqueline Bussie will be our guest speaker discussing her books “Outlaw Christian” and “Love Without Limits”! Registration information will be available at a later date ……...
Prayer Shawl Ministry: We meet in the CIC Parlor Room on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Join us for some fellowship, idea-sharing, and fun! Questions? Contact Kathy Dutton at mamabissy@gmail.com. Of course, you can also participate in this important ministry at home by crafting items, and bringing them to CIC.
Card Ministry: Will meet on Tuesday, January 14th at 2 p.m. and Tuesday January 26th at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome and no experience is needed! Please enter through the doors nearest the Spirit Center. If you would like information contact: Kathy Shugarman at shugs02@gmail.com or 940-300-2290.
Quilting Ministry: We will meet Thursdays January 9th & 23rd in Classroom #1. Questions? Contact Barbara Eaker at 704-483-2060.
Journeys of Paul in Greece: CIC is co-hosting a trip following some of Paul’s footsteps, Journeys of Paul in Greece, through “Educational Opportunities Tours” (EO Tours) in partnership with Huntersville United Methodist Church (HUMC). We have our own registration process through CIC, but we will be travel companions with HUMC. The trip departs on April 26, 2025, for 8 days, traveling through Neapolis, Amphipolis, Philippi, Veria, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Delphi, Corinth, Acropolis, and Athens. An optional Greek Isle Cruise Extension making the trip a total of 11 days also travels to Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, and Santorini. If you are interested in learning more and registering, use the following link: https://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/pa25042625a62347#eotours
Sunday School: If you are interested in teaching Sunday School please contact Pastor Lisa. Register your child for Sunday School here 2024-2025 Sunday School Registration - Community In Christ Lutheran Church (churchcenter.com)
One Blood’s Big Red Bus: One Blood’s Big Red Bus is returning to CIC’s parking lot on Sunday, January 26th, 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Donors receive a $20 eGiftCard and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Appointments are available for Whole Blood and Double Red donations.
Game Night: Friday, January 24th at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall In celebration of the memory of Kevin Myers Bring a snack, dessert or drink to share. **Please refrain from wearing any perfume or cologne