First Sunday After Christmas 12/26/21
FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN, MARTYR
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 26, 2021
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FALLS CHURCH, VA
✠ ✠ ✠
PRELUDE Gentle Mary Laid Her Child Setting: Donald Rotermund
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN (Stand) #374 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
1 Gentle Mary laid her child
Lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the Undefiled,
To the world a stranger.
Such a babe in such a place,
Can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race
Who have found His favor.
2 Angels sang about His birth,
Wise Men sought and found Him;
Heaven’s star shone brightly forth
Glory all around Him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight,
Heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night,
All the hills were ringing.
3 Gentle Mary laid her child
Lowly in a manger;
He is still the Undefiled
But no more a stranger.
Son of God of humble birth,
Beautiful the story;
Praise His name in all the earth;
Hail the King of glory!
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS p. 203
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
(Silence for reflection)
Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
Almighty God, merciful Father, in Holy Baptism You declared us to be Your children and gathered us into Your one, holy Church, in which You daily and richly forgive us our sins and grant us new life through Your Spirit. Be in our midst, enliven our faith, and graciously receive our prayer and praise; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
KYRIE
In peace, let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation; and for the peace of the whole world and the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise; and for the well-being of the whole church of God in Christ, let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
HYMN OF PRAISE p. 204
1 To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth;
Goodwill from God in heaven
Proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!
We praise and bless You, Father;
Your holy name, we sing—
Our thanks for Your great glory,
Lord God, our heav’nly King.
2 To You, O sole-begotten,
The Father’s Son, we pray;
O Lamb of God, our Savior,
You take our sins away.
Have mercy on us, Jesus;
Receive our heartfelt cry,
Where You in pow’r are seated
At God’s right hand on high—
3 For You alone are holy;
You only are the Lord.
Forever and forever,
Be worshiped and adored;
You with the Holy Spirit
Alone are Lord Most High,
In God the Father’s glory.
“Amen!” our glad reply.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father,
in the midst of our sufferings for the sake of Christ grant us grace to follow the example of the first martyr, Stephen, that we also may look to the One who suffered and was crucified on our behalf and pray for those who do us wrong; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
✠ ✠ ✠
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) 2 Chronicles 24:17-22
Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.
Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 119:137-144 (Read responsively)
Righteous are you, O Lord,
and right are your just decrees.
You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words.
Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my delight.
Your testimonies are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
SECOND LESSON Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51-60
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said:
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) p. 205
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
These things are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 23:34-39
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 23rd chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
[Jesus said:] “Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
Today the church calls us to remember St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. One common question about this observance of the church regards its timing. Why are we celebrating it the day after Christmas? It seems so jarring. One day we are filled with joy celebrating the birth of our Lord, the next day we are saddened as we think about the tragic death of one of his followers.
Perhaps we could answer that question of timing by stating that it simply reflects reality. People die in the midst of the Christmas celebration too. I had a relative, in fact, who died on Christmas Day many years ago. Perhaps you know of someone who has died at this time too.
And even if you don’t, you could certainly think of some other kind of sadness that has taken place at Christmas. Christmas is not all comfort and joy. Bad things happen at this time of year too.
When we look at the historical development of the church calendar, we note that St. Stephen’s Day was observed in the church much earlier than Christmas was. Remembrance days for the martyrs were the earliest of all Christian observances and Stephen’s day would have been particularly important.
When December 25 was first proposed for celebrating the birth of Jesus, I would imagine that there were probably some in the church who wondered about the holding of these two festivals on consecutive days. But if so, there is no record of it being an issue, and the two festivals have existed side by side without question for centuries.
The reflected reality which we mentioned earlier is certainly one reason for this. Joy and sadness live together on earth, even in the kingdom of God.
But there is certainly another reason for this as well. Observing a day of death right after Christ’s birthday makes a clear statement about Christ’s mission. It tells us quite plainly that among all the many reasons for Christ’s coming into the world, the foremost of these is that he came to die.
We see this priority of Christ’s mission reflected already in the story of his birth.
St. Luke tells us that when Jesus was born, his mother Mary placed him in a manger, a feeding trough for farm animals. This mention of a manger conjures up for us in the west an image of a little stable, probably made of wood, and looking like most of the stables we see in our Christmas creches.
But the early Christians were mostly convinced that the manger was to be found in a cave, sometimes also called a grotto. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, for one, professes this thought. As does one of the earliest Christian writers, Justin Martyr. We know that there are certainly plenty of caves in that area.
If Jesus was born in a cave, then this becomes very reminiscent of where he was placed at the end of his life – the tomb. Luke tells us specifically that they “placed him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been placed.” This connection has been noted in Christmas iconography through the practice of representing the divine newborn Child lying in a small sarcophagus, highlighting the message that the Redeemer was born to die.
Similarly, when Jesus was born his mother wrapped him in swaddling cloth. And when he died, he was “wrapped in a linen shroud.” Both of these wrappings would have been done for customary reasons of course. But perhaps they are both mentioned to help us make the connection between his birth and his death.
The juxtaposition of Christ’s birth with a day of death allows us to think about the purpose of Christ’s coming into the world. And while St. Stephen may not be Jesus himself, as the first martyr he is an excellent representative of Christ.
That representation comes into even clearer focus when we think about what Stephen said as his death was approaching. As recorded in the reading from the Book of Acts, Stephen, as the people were stoning him, called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” These words are very similar to what Jesus said as he died. Jesus said: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Likewise, as Stephen was about to die, he fell to his knees and cried out with a loud voice: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” So also, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
And we should note here that these last statements of Stephen and Jesus are both prayers for God to forgive their killers. And this is in marked contrast to the prayer of Zechariah that was mentioned in our first reading. Zechariah was killed unjustly also. His cry, however, was for God to take vengeance on his killers. This may be a common sentiment when one’s life is being unjustly taken. And it can be understood in a righteous way as a simple call for justice. But it is not the sentiment to which Christ pushes us. The Christian prayer moves past that and seeks salvation, even for the killer.
One other connection between Jesus and Stephen that we should note is the fact that neither of them was afraid of saying what needed to be said, or of saying it in strong language.
Our Gospel reading today records words of Jesus strongly accusing the scribes and Pharisees of hypocrisy. They come at the end of a series of “woes” directed to these misguided leaders of Israel, with this one telling how they are like their fathers in rejecting God’s prophets, even to the point of killing them. Jesus mentions the killings of Abel and Zechariah – giving here the first and last murders mentioned in the Old Testament history. Jesus knows that he too will soon be
falsely accused, condemned and killed. He mourns that this will happen, and points out the injustice, and the pattern.
Stephen, for his part, was just as strong in his condemnation of those who falsely arrested him. In the parts of his speech which we skipped in today’s reading, he makes a long and reasoned case for his defense. But at the point where we pick it up, Stephen directs some arrows at his accusers, calling them “stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in hearts and ears.” These are strong words, yet simply ones that God himself and his prophet Jeremiah used against the people years ago. The people should have been able to hear Stephen’s words as a challenge to their position. But they couldn’t. Finally, when confronted with their sin of betraying and murdering God’s righteous one, they stamped out that voice which they didn’t want to hear and murdered yet another prophet.
You and I know that we need to be careful with strong words. Strong words can rile up mobs. They can twist and distort truth. They can tear people down. Strong words are also easily misunderstood.
That being said, there are times when we are called to take strong stands. And this may involve the use of strong words too.
Not that our words need to be accusing. We can leave the accusations to our Lord and the prophets. But we must not be afraid to use the words of the scriptures, even if they grate against modern sensibilities or carry within them the accusations of God.
The most important stand that we are to take is our confession of Christ crucified for the salvation of the world. We are to confess him as Lord and Savior, at all times, and especially when that confession is being challenged. We are not to turn our back on the way of salvation God has given us. We are to hold to it as the wisdom and power of God.
Stephen was killed for that faith. Many, many others have been too, perhaps millions.
And these deaths are not simply tragic. They are also beautiful. And glorious. For they are seed… meaning they inspire. Together they lead the rest of us against the temptations of despair and unbelief which we so often face. And together they become the noble army of martyrs mentioned in the book of Revelation, and of which we sing about in the great Te Deum.
Even more than that, the death of the martyrs is like the death of all believers… in that it is not just a death, but also a birth. Of all the reasons to remember a death on the day after Christmas, perhaps the best is to remind us of this connection.
Again, there is a tradition of the church which underscores this. For believers, the day of death is not the end of everything, but rather the passage to immortal life. And because of this, it is the day of the final birth – which Christian tradition sometimes calls the “dies natalis.” This Latin phrase – literally “day of birth,” from which we get our word nativity, has long been used to
mark saint’s days as well. For saints, meaning those who believe, their day of death is actually a new birthday. It is their “dies natalis” – their day of being born into new life.
This teaching is highlighted as we celebrate St. Stephen on the day after Christmas. The timing underscores the link that exists between the “dies natalis” of Christ and the “dies natalis” of St. Stephen. And it reminds us that if Jesus had not been born on earth, men would not have been able to be born for heaven. It is precisely because Christ was born, that we are able to be “reborn.”
To conclude our meditation today, let us be reminded, too, of that to which this new birth leads us. Stephen got a glimpse of it as he was dying. The scriptures says: “But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
What a sight! What joy it must have brought, even amidst the pain of death!
Many others have described a similar vision. Whether it is simply a glorious light, or a warm and inviting feeling, or whether it is also a vision of God’s presence in the personal form of Jesus or his angels, many have been able to describe a scene like Stephen’s in the moments before their death.
I’ve always thought that God gives visions such as these to people who are essentially alone in their death. For as we know, some people are blessed to be with family or friends at that moment, but others are not. To those who are not, like Stephen, I’d like to think that perhaps God makes his presence known to them in other ways.
Either way, you and I have that vision set before us through God’s holy words. And that should be enough to sustain us. When we hear of God being there for Stephen, we know, too, that God will be there for us as we have need. God will welcome us into his good and perfect presence on the day of our “dies natalis.” And that will begin the great celebration which knows no end.
May that vision then sustain us through all of our trials. And may it give us the joy of Christmas every day.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) #661 The Son of God Goes Forth to War
1 The Son of God goes forth to war
A kingly crown to gain.
His blood-red banner streams afar;
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below—
He follows in His train.
2 The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave,
Who saw his master in the sky
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for those who did the wrong—
Who follows in his train?
3 A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came,
Twelve valiant saints—their hope they knew
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their necks their death to feel—
Who follows in their train?
4 A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heav’n
Through peril, toil, and pain.
O God, to us may grace be giv’n
To follow in their train!
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH (Stand)
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for St. Stephen, whom Christ has received into glory, and for all who have died in the faith and received the new birth into heaven, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith and love in imitation of the Church’s first martyr, that we also may speak Christ’s truth with boldness, forgive those who persecute us, fall asleep in Jesus and so receive the crown of life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church and her ministers, that the Lord’s Word would be treasured and His commandments honored, so that the Church and her congregations may prosper, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For families, especially the children of Christian parents, that our heavenly Father would gather them as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, preserving them faithful and growing in the knowledge of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the princes and rulers of this world, that they would govern wisely and justly; for those who serve God, that they would not abandon His house; for those who serve false idols, that their hearts would be turned to heed the truth; and for peace in our time, that the confession of the incarnate Savior may have free course, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who are in sorrow or need, sickness or adversity, especially those on our prayer list and those whom we name in our hearts…__________, that they would receive from God all His good gifts of healing for the body, grace to bear the cross, and finally a blessed end and the gift of eternal life in His kingdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who receive the body and blood of Christ, that in this communion they may receive His pardon, and see him who stands at the right hand of God to be present and active with the Church, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION
PREFACE TO HOLY COMMUNION p. 208
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is truly good right and salutary…evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS p. 208
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;
Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.
Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;
Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
PARYER OF THANKSGIVING
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
PAX DOMINI P. 210
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
You take the sin of the world away;
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
You take the sin of the world away;
Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ,
And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray.
DISTRIBUTION (Be seated)
The Communion Assistant will come forward to receive first, then those from the pulpit side – by order of pew, front to back. Communicants will come up the center aisle and return via the side aisle. When all from the pulpit side have communed, the baptismal font side will commune in the same manner. Distancing must be maintained between all communicants. We ask that the wine be consumed away from the tray table. Empty cups should be dropped into the baskets.
COMMUNION MUSIC Of the Father’s Love Begotten Setting: Wilbur Held
NUNC DIMITTIS p. 211
1 O Lord, now let Your servant
Depart in heav’nly peace,
For I have seen the glory
Of Your redeeming grace:
A light to lead the Gentiles
Unto Your holy hill,
The glory of Your people,
Your chosen Israel.
2 All glory to the Father,
All glory to the Son,
All glory to the Spirit,
Forever Three in One;
For as in the beginning,
Is now, shall ever be,
God’s triune name resounding
Through all eternity.
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN #386 Now Sing We, Now Rejoice
1 Now sing we, now rejoice,
Now raise to heav’n our voice;
He from whom joy streameth
Poor in a manger lies;
Not so brightly beameth
The sun in yonder skies.
Thou my Savior art!
Thou my Savior art!
2 Come from on high to me;
I cannot rise to Thee.
Cheer my wearied spirit,
O pure and holy Child;
Through Thy grace and merit,
Blest Jesus, Lord most mild,
Draw me unto Thee!
Draw me unto Thee!
3 Now through His Son doth shine
The Father’s grace divine.
Death was reigning o’er us
Through sin and vanity
Till He opened for us
A bright eternity.
May we praise Him there!
May we praise Him there!
4 Oh, where shall joy be found?
Where but on heav’nly ground?
Where the angels singing
With all His saints unite,
Sweetest praises bringing
In heav’nly joy and light.
Oh, that we were there!
Oh, that we were there!
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE In Dulci Jubilo Setting: Paul Manz
ALTAR FLOWERS: “In memory of Albert Jacquez, born December 24, 1953.”
By Lynn Jacquez
Those serving:
Sunday, December 26, 8:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Rich Kauzlarich
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Judy Koucky
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Judy Koucky
Acknowledgements
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 © 2021 Concordia Publishing House.
Gentle Mary Laid Her Child Text & Tune: Public domain
The Son of God Goes Forth to War Text & Tune: Public domain
Now Sing We, Now Rejoice Text & Tune: Public domain
