Bulletin: December 21, 2025

First Lutheran Church                                                                Advent 4
PO Box 153 - 240 Elm Street West                                             December 21, 2025          
Amery, WI   715-268-7135                                                            www.flcamery.org
Our mission is to know Jesus and to make Jesus known. Jn. 17    

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN: Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers……………………….Red 244

LIGHTING ADVENT CANDLES

HYMN: One Small Child

YOUTH HANDBELLS: Bell Peal (How Great Our Joy)

PRAYER: Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew's story of Jesus' birth focuses on the role of Joseph, who adopts the divinely begotten child into the family of David and obediently gives him the name Jesus, which means, literally, "God saves." Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

SERMON

YOUTH HANDBELLS: Christmas Bell Tidings

SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Angels We Have Heard on High
Oh, Come, Little Children
Away in a Manger
Silent Night, Holy Night
Joy to the World

OFFERING: Youth Handbells: The Holly and The Ivy
PRAYERS

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, LORD’S PRAYER
Infant Holy- Gn 44, Your Little Ones Gn 52 When Christmas Gn 59

BLESSING The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Matthew 4:13)

May Christ, the Sun of righteousness, shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen

HANDBELLS: Jingle Bells

Narrator: Joseph Rude; Baby Jesus: Ashton Major-Ouellette; Mary: Aleida Lopez;           Joseph: Jack Christopherson;  Shepherds: Miles Schuh, Wylie Christopherson      
Wise Men: Hank Rose, Tate Rose, Graham Rose
Angel: Emma Major     Star: Charlotte Rogney
Readers: Estelle White, Chloe Nelson, Ellie Amans, Macie Boe, Lila Schuh, Blake Boe, Jackson Rude, Paul Johnson, Laken Aizpurua, Vivian Schuh, Skylar Chelberg,                           Sophia Nelson

WE THANK Diane Amans, Katie Johnson, Julia White, Carrie Schuh, the Rose family, Steve Osero, the handbell players, Liz Bowman, and Karen Christopherson for assisting with the program.

Thanks Handbells! (Mateo Aizpurua, Laken Aizpurua, Ellie Amans, Macie Boe, Brady Johnson, Paul Johnson, Katelyn Osero, Jackson Rude, Lila Schuh, Vivian Schuh, Anna Williamson)