The Second Sunday after Christmas
January 4, 2026
Divine Service Setting III – LSB 184
Hymn: Dearest Jesus, We Are Here LSB 592
Stand
Confession and Absolution
Exhortation (p.184)
Corporate Confession (p.184)
Service of the Word
Introit (responsively) Psalm 147:1, 5, 11–12; antiphon: John 1:14
P The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his | glory,*
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of | grace and truth.
C Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises | to our God;*
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is | fitting.
P Great is our Lord, and abun- | dant in power;*
his understanding is beyond | measure.
C But the Lord takes pleasure in those who | fear him,*
in those who hope in his | steadfast love.
P Praise the Lord, O Je- | rusalem!*
Praise your God, O | Zion!
C 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.
P The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his | glory,*
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of | grace and truth.
Kyrie (p.186)
Gloria in Excelsis (p. 187)
Collect of the Day
P Let us pray.
Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 3:4–15
4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
15And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Gradual Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 98:1a
C 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 Reading: Ephesians 1:3–14
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Alleluia (p.190)
Holy Gospel: Luke 2:40–52
40The child [Jesus] grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
L This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
Apostles’ Creed (p.192)
Sit
Hymn: Within the Father’s House LSB 410
Sermon
Stand
Offertory (p.192)
Offering
Prayer of the Church
Lord’s Prayer (spoken, p. 196)
Concluding Collect
Benediction
Sit
Announcements
Hymn: The Only Son from Heaven LSB 402
Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Three 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 © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.
Prayers – For the home-bound: Doris Vilhauer, Betty Zundel, Charlotte Scepaniak, Ken & Dorothy Maas, Betty Meints, Verdena Dabbert, Lloyd Jerde, Phyllis Lassanske, Maralyn Hoops, Muriel Pigors, Larry & Sandra Grieben, Patty Wiedmeier, Leroy Neuhardt.
For those sick, injured, or recovering: Nathaniel Wendt, Michael Wendt, Phyllis Yeske, Kevin Fehn, Daryl Swanhorst, Tom Hanson, Dorothy Maas, Annikki Marttila, Roger Zastrow, Keith Underberg, Doris Larson, Dwight Buntrock, Carol Krumm, Butch Podoll, Russ Brandt, Kathie Lassanske, Betty Meints, Shannon Petrich and Cheryl.
For expectant mother, Jessica.
For the children we sponsor through Mission Haiti: Michelet Voltaire, Michel Djoury, and Orgea Djouna.
For Pastor Andreasen & family, and all our LCMS missionaries.
St. John’s
Ushers: Roger & Sharon Zastrow
Next Week: Tony & Amanda Bisbee
Christmas Eve: Attendance – 120; Offering $1,930
Last Week: Attendance – 17; Offering $590
Our Savior
Altar Guild: Amy Johnson & Family
Acolytes: Jaylynn Siebert & Rhyan Johnson
Attendance: Christmas Eve – 102; Christmas Day – 68; Last Sunday – 89;
Offering – General Fund $6,565
Schedule for the Week
Sunday St. John’s Service of the Word – 8:00 am
St. John’s Bible Study – 9:15 am
Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
Bible Bowl Practice – 12:00 pm
Monday Mat Ladies – 1:00 pm
Tuesday Coffee & Confessions – 6:30 am
Wednesday Catechism Class – 5:00 pm
Epiphany Divine Service at Our Savior – 6:30 pm
Thursday Our Savior Elders – 5:15 pm
Our Savior Council – 6:30 pm
Saturday Bible Study – 9:00-11:00 am
Next Sunday St. John’s Divine Service – 8:00 am
Our Savior Sunday School – 9:30 am
Our Savior Voters Meeting – 9:30 am
Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
Announcements
Baptism – Today at Our Savior we welcome Peggy Ann Lesnar into God’s kingdom of grace through the waters of Holy Baptism. She is the daughter of Patrick and Robin Lesnar. Her sponsor is Glen Rausch. We give thanks to God for the new life He gives in Baptism!
Our Savior Offering Envelopes for 2026 are in the fellowship hall. Your number may have changed in order to keep the list in alphabetical order, so please throw out any old envelopes you may have, to assist us with accurate record-keeping. Thank you!
Poinsettias – Thank you to all who ordered poinsettias. You may take your poinsettia home if you haven’t done so already.
Epiphany Divine Service – Wednesday, January 7
th at 6:30 pm at Our Savior.
Bible Bowl – Youth 6
th grade and up will begin practicing for the Bible Bowl on January 4
th after the service at Our Savior. This year they’ll be studying 1 Samuel 16 – 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 2, Psalm 51, and from the Catechism – Confession. There will be a sign-up sheet on the kitchen counter if anyone would like to provide them with a lunch on one of the Sundays they’ll be practicing.
Saturday Bible Study – 9:00-11:00 am at Our Savior on Jan. 10
th. Topic: The real presence of Christ in the Old Testament.
Our Savior Voters Meeting – The first quarterly voters meeting for 2026 will be Sunday, January 11
th at 9:30 am.
Installation of Officers for the new year will take place during the service on January 11
th.
Men’s Club – We will meet Monday, January 12
th at 7:00 pm at Our Savior.
Mission Trip – The South Dakota District is looking for five to seven volunteers to go on a mission trip to Brasov, Romania to help Pastor Andreasen with a project. A building there needs paint and some repairs. The trip will take place around April 24 to May 3. The deadline to sign up is January 20
th. If you are interested, contact Eric Johnson at 605-216-6701 for more information.
Christian Foundations Class: Pastor Schopp will be teaching a ten-week adult education class on Tuesdays, Jan 27 – Mar 31, 2026 at Our Savior. This class is both for those without a church home and also for members who would like a fresher on the basics of the Christian faith. There is no cost and all materials are provided. There are invitations in the narthex if you know of someone you would like to invite (and perhaps attend with them). Please RSVP through the church office.
LCMS Stewardship Ministry – 2
nd Sunday after Christmas
Luke 2:49 – “And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’” What a privilege the Lord has given to us by calling us to come to His house! It is not a burden but rather an honor and a blessing for us to always be able to come to a place where we know God is present for us in His gifts of Word and Sacrament. Likewise, the Lord has honored us by allowing us to support the work of His house with our tithes and offerings.
Building Healthy Families: The beginning of a New Year can bring feelings of anticipation, excitement, and hope as we start with a clean slate, our resolutions to keep. Still looking for ideas that will bring new life to your New Year? How about one of these: read from Scripture 15 minutes every day; go to church every Sunday; set aside 20 minutes at the end of the day to pray; join a Bible Study group; memorize a new Bible verse each week. Don’t give up! It takes 6 weeks of doing something repeatedly to make it a habit. Happy & Blessed New Year to you and your family!
Lutheran Family Service www.LutheranFamilyService.org
Email:
info@lutheranfamilyservice.org or call 605-271-1081
Main Street Living – 10:00 AM- This Is the Life –
“The Other Wiseman” – Another Magi, making his journey to the Christ child, encounters others and shows kindness along the way. 10:30 AM- Rev. Joshua Jones, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Rapid City, SD, presents the message
“Behold, Your King!” based on Matthew 2:1-12. Watch Main Street Living on Sunday mornings on KDLT NBC TV. Past shows are archived at
www.mainstreetliving.com.
The Lutheran Hour – God invites us to speak with Him in prayer and hear from Him in the Bible, to know Him and to love as we are loved. Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler delivers the message
“Knowing and Being Known in a New Year” based on John 17:3. Listen to The Lutheran Hour on Sunday mornings at 9:00 on KAWZ 88.1 FM, or on Sirius-XM Family Talk 131 at 9:00. Sermons are also archived on the website
www.lutheranhour.org.
STUDY GOD’S WORD IN 2026… The Word of the Lord Endures Forever is a daily 15-minute, verse-by-verse Bible study produced by Lutheran Public Radio and hosted by LCMS Pastor Will Weedon. You can listen by phone, (618) 262-0078. You can also listen at
thewordendures.org, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider.
