Sunday January 11, 2026

Prelude
Announcements
Opening Hymn – #467 Trust and Obey (4 verses)
Opening Prayer
1st Scripture Reading – Luke 2:21-40
Choir Anthem
Children’s Time
Joys & Concerns / Pastoral Prayer / Lord’s Prayer / Choral Response
Hymn – #140 Great is Thy Faithfulness (3 verses)
Loving the Wider World through Our Giving (Doxology #95)
2nd Scripture Reading – Luke 2:41-52
Pastor’s Message “In The Middle” – Pastor Devin
Praise Music – “You Never Let Go”
Benediction
Postlude

1st Scripture Reading – Luke 2:21-40
Jesus Is Named
21 When the eighth day came, it was time to circumcise the child, and he was called Jesus, the
name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him
up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every
firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according
to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and
devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26
It had
been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the
Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law,
28 Simeon took him
in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word,
30
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then
Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the
rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed 35
so that the inner thoughts of
many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a
great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37
then as a widow to
the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer
night and day.
38At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the
child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the
favor of God was upon him.

2nd Scripture Reading – Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.
42And when he
was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended and
they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents were unaware
of this. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they
started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they
returned to Jerusalem to search 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. 48When his parents saw him they were
astonished, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Your father
and I have been anxiously looking for you.”
49He said to them, “Why were you searching for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 But they did not understand what he
said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to
them, and his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.