St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship

Jesus took on our flesh, to transform us. The humanity of God means that

now we can love with the love of Jesus, we can experience and share the peace of

Jesus, and we can hear and speak the word of Jesus. But this new reality is only

possible because, most importantly, we now bear the name of Jesus.

What the Incarnation Means for Us — First Sunday after Christmas, December 26, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-first-sunday-after-christmas

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211226-order-of-service.pdf

Psalm 111

Exodus 13:1–3a, 11–15

Colossians 3:12–17

Luke 2:22–40

Hymns:

- See amid the Winter’s Snow: Text: Edward Caswall; Tune: John Goss; Tune and text:

Public domain.

- Angels from the Realms of Glory: Text: James Montgomery. Tune: Henry T. Smart.

Text and tune: Public domain.

- Jesus Loves Me: Text by Anna B. Warner; tune by William B. Bradbury; text and tune

are in the public domain.

- Joy to the World: Text: Isaac Watts; Tune: George Frideric Handel; Text and tune:

Public domain

- What Child Is This: Text: by William C. Dix. Tune: English, 16th century. Text and

tune: Public domain.

- Of the Father’s Love Begotten: Text: Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, 348-c. 413, tr.

John Mason Neale, 1818-66, sts. 1-4; tr. Henry W. Baker, 1821-77, st. 5. Tune:

Plainsong, 13th cent., mode V. Text and tune: Public domain.

- Go Tell It on the Mountain: Text: African American spiritual, ref. John W. Work

II, 1873-1925, sts. alt. Tune: African American spiritual; setting: Hugh Porter,

1897-1960. Text and tune: Public domain.

The Bible tells us that we can't see God because he's invisible, and even

if we were physically able to see him his holiness would consume us in our

sinfulness. But Scripture also says that without seeing God we are doomed. How does

God solve this dilemma? He becomes visible and accessible to us by becoming a human

like us, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Seeing the Invisible God — Christmas Day, December 25, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-christmas-day

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211225-order-of-service.pdf

Psalm 2

Isaiah 52:7–10

Hebrews 1:1–12

John 1:1–18

Hymns:

- Away in a Manger: Text: Little Children’s Book, 1885; Vineyard Songs, 1892; Tune:

James R. Murray; Text and tune: Public domain.

- Angels from the Realms of Glory: Text: James Montgomery. Tune: Henry T. Smart.

Text and tune: Public domain.

- Once in Royal David’s City: Text: Cecil F. Alexander; Tune: Henry J. Gauntlett;

Text and tune: Public domain.

- See amid the Winter’s Snow: Text: Edward Caswall; Tune: John Goss; Tune and text:

Public domain.

- What Child Is This: Text: by William C. Dix. Tune: English, 16th century. Text and

tune: Public domain.

- Infant Holy, Infant Lowly: Text: Polish, tr. Edith M.G. Reed; Tune: Polish; Text

and tune: Public domain.

- Joy to the World: Text: Isaac Watts; Tune: George Frideric Handel; Text and tune:

Public domain

It's easy to read the beautiful, traditional story of Jesus' birth and

forget how broken the entire situation is for its original participants -

personally, politically, and socially. But the incarnation of God in the infant

Jesus brings hope and victory to each one of those situations, and our own life

situations today.

Victory in Hopelessness — Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-christmas-eve

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211224-order-of-service.pdf

John 1:1–14

Isaiah 9:2–7

Titus 2:11–14

Luke 2:1–14

Hymns:

- Light of the World: Music and lyrics: Lauren Daigle, Paul Duncan, and Paul Mabury;

© 2014 CentricSongs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), See You At The Pub (Admin.

by Capitol CMG Publishing), Oceans Away Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing

LLC), So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Annie and Clyde

Music; Used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740.

- O Come, All Ye Faithful: Text and tune: John F. Wade; Public domain.

- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Text: Charles Wesley; Tune: Felix Mendelssohn; Text

and tune: Public domain.

- Away in a Manger: Text: Little Children’s Book, 1885; Vineyard Songs, 1892; Tune:

James R. Murray; Text and tune: Public domain.

- Angels We Have Heard on High: Text: The Crown of Jesus, 1862; Tune: French; Text

and tune: Public domain.

- It Came upon the Midnight Clear: Text: Edmund H. Sears; Tune: Richard S. Willis;

Text and tune: Public domain.

- Joy to the World: Text: Isaac Watts; Tune: George Frideric Handel; Text and tune:

Public domain

- Silent Night, Holy Night: Text: Franz Gruber; Tune: Franz Joseph Mohr; Text and

tune: Public domain.

God has accomplished the salvation of his creation through the instrument

of his own body; he gives us this salvation by grace, simply because he loves us;

and we receive this salvation by believing in him and what Jesus has done for us.

Salvation 101 — Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 19, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-fourth-sunday-in-advent

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211219-order-of-service.pdf

Psalm 80:1–7

Micah 5:2–5a

Hebrews 10:5–10

Luke 1:39–45

Hymns:

- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Text: Charles Wesley; Tune: Felix Mendelssohn; Text

and tune: Public domain.

- O Come, All Ye Faithful: Text and tune: John F. Wade; Public domain.

- The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came: Text and tune: Basque, 18th century, public

domain.

- What Hope! An Eden Prophesied: Text: Stephen P. Starke, © 1998 Stephen P. Starke,

used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740. Tune: Repository of Sacred Music,

Part Second, 1813, public domain.

- In Christ Alone: Text and tune by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, © 2001 Thankyou

Music; used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740.

- What Child Is This: Text: by William C. Dix. Tune: English, 16th century. Text and

tune: Public domain.

- Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing: Text: John Fawcett; Tune: Henry T. Smart;

Text and tune: Public domain.

What we most deeply need is someone who is infinitely powerful and

infinitely loving to step into our situation and make things right. The someone is

Jesus.

Yahweh in Our Midst — Midweek Advent Service, December 15, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-midweek-advent-service-3

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211215-order-of-service.pdf

Zephaniah 3:14–20

Romans 8:18–25

John 12:12–17

Hymns:

- Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee: Text by Henry Van Dyke; tune by Ludwig van

Beethoven; text and tune are in the public domain.

- Comfort, Comfort Ye My People: Text: Johann Olearius, tr. Catherine Winkworth;

Tune: Trente Quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva; Text and tune: Public domain.

- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Text: Charles Wesley; Tune: Felix Mendelssohn; Text

and tune: Public domain.

Even the most faithful Christians doubt God sometimes - but God can use

those doubts to drive us to himself, to the reality of his power and love, and to

the salvation that God is working out in our world through the power of his own

death and resurrection.

How to Doubt Well — Third Sunday in Advent, December 12, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-third-sunday-in-advent

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211212-order-of-service.pdf

Psalm 85

Zephaniah 3:14–20

Philippians 4:4–7

Luke 7:18–28

Hymns:

- The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came: Text and tune: Basque, 18th century, public

domain.

- Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness: Text by Rusty Edwards, © 1987 Hope

Publishing Co.; used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740; tune by The Sacred

Harp, 1844, public domain.

- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Text: Charles Wesley; tune: Rowland H. Pritchard;

text and tune are public domain.

- God Loves Me Dearly: Text: August Rische; tune: German; text and tune are public

domain.

- Be Unto Your Name: Text and tune by Gary Sadler and Lynn DeShazo; © 1998

Integrity’s Hosanna! Music, used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740.

- See amid the Winter’s Snow: Text: Edward Caswall; Tune: John Goss; Tune and text:

Public domain.

- Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer: Text by William Williams; tune by John Hughes;

text and tune are in the public domain.

The hope of Advent springs from a recognition not only of the brokenness

outside us, but especially the brokenness inside us. When this understanding of our

own sinfulness is seen against the backdrop of Yahweh's divine grace, we begin to

see infinite hope also coming from outside of us, from him, in Jesus.

Yahweh is Our Advent Hope — Midweek Advent Service, December 8, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-midweek-advent-service-2

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211208-order-of-service.pdf

Malachi 3:1–7b

Titus 2:11–14

Matthew 11:2–6

Hymns:

- What Hope! An Eden Prophesied: Text: Stephen P. Starke, © 1998 Stephen P. Starke,

used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740. Tune: Repository of Sacred Music,

Part Second, 1813, public domain.

- Prepare the Royal Highway: Text: Franz Mikael Franzen, tr. from Lutheran Book of

Worship, © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, used with permission: LSB Hymn License no.

110001220. Tune: Swedish, public domain.

- As with Gladness Men of Old: Text: William C. Dix. Tune: Conrad Kocher. Text and

tune: Public domain.

God calls John the Baptist to proclaim a message of repentance. This

message rings out to us still today: To prepare our hearts and our lives for the

coming of the Lord.

Prepare Yourself — Second Sunday in Advent, December 5, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-second-sunday-in-advent

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211205-order-of-service.pdf

Psalm 66:1–12

Malachi 3:1–7b

Philippians 1:2–11

Luke 3:1–18

Hymns:

- Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending: Text: Charles Wesley; tune: Thomas Olivers;

text and tune are in the public domain.

- Comfort, Comfort Ye My People: Text: Johann Olearius, tr. Catherine Winkworth;

Tune: Trente Quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva; Text and tune: Public domain.

- On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry: Text: Charles Coffin; tr. composite. Tune:

Michael Praetorius. Text and tune: Public domain.

- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence: Text: Liturgy of St. James, 5th century; tune:

French, 17th century; text and tune are in the public domain.

- My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less: Text: Edward Mote. Tune: William B. Bradbury.

Tune and text: Public domain.

- What Is This Bread: Text: Frederic W. Baue. Tune: Jean Neuhauser Baue. Text and

tune: © 1991 Fred and Jean Baue, used with permission, LSB Hymn License no.

110001220.

- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Text: Charles Wesley; tune: Rowland H. Pritchard;

text and tune are public domain.

In the horror of the impending Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem,

Jeremiah promises her citizens that God would someday send a Righteous Branch to put

everything to rights.

Yahweh is Our Righteousness — Midweek Advent Service, December 1, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-midweek-advent-service-1

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211201-order-of-service.pdf

Jeremiah 33:14–16

1 Corinthians 1:26–31

Matthew 5:2–12

Hymns:

- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Text: Latin c. 12th cent; tr.John Mason Neale; Tune:

French, 15th cent; Tune and text: Public domain.

- Comfort, Comfort Ye My People: Text: Johann Olearius, tr. Catherine Winkworth;

Tune: Trente Quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva; Text and tune: Public domain.

- Prepare the Royal Highway: Text: Franz Mikael Franzen, tr. from Lutheran Book of

Worship, © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, used with permission: LSB Hymn License no.

110001220. Tune: Swedish, public domain.

Individualism imprisons us in our own weaknesses, but God has created a

community - the Christian church - where he grows us in faith, holiness,

perseverance, and praise.

Growth in Community — First Sunday in Advent, November 28, 2021:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/2021-first-sunday-in-advent

Order of service:

https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/st-james-20211128-order-of-service.pdf

Psalm 25:1–10

Jeremiah 33:14–16

Luke 19:28–40

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13

Hymns:

- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Text: Charles Wesley; tune: Rowland H. Pritchard;

text and tune are public domain.

- O Church, Arise: Text and tune by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, © 2005 Thankyou

Music; used with permission, CCLI License # 20286740.

- Oh, How Good It Is: Text and tune by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Ross Holmes,

Stuart Townend; © 2012 Getty Music; used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740.

- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Text: Latin c. 12th cent; tr.John Mason Neale; Tune:

French, 15th cent; Tune and text: Public domain.

- Joy to the World: Text: Isaac Watts; Tune: George Frideric Handel; Text and tune:

Public domain

- Amazing Grace: Text by John Newton; tune by Columbian Harmony, 1829; text and tune

are public domain.

- Christ Be My Leader: Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith; tune: Irish; © 1964, renewed 1992

Hope Publishing Co.; used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740.