Luke 2:22-38 / Colin Rueter

22 And 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 male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

This Sunday we’ll step into a quieter corner of the Christmas story—one that invites us to slow down and reflect on what it means to wait on the Lord. In a season marked by hurry, noise, and expectation, Scripture introduces us to Simeon, a righteous and devout man who spent his life waiting for the promised Messiah. For Simeon, waiting was not passive or wasted time; it was an active expression of faith, shaped by trust in God’s word and attentiveness to God’s Spirit. His long wait teaches us that truly waiting for Christmas—waiting for Christ—is itself an act of worship, a declaration that God is faithful to keep His promises in His perfect time.

Service Order

Welcome
Exhortation
Assurance of Pardon
    Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Reading – Psalm 85
    Bless The Lord O My Soul (Psalm 103)
    Christmas Sanctus (Holy Holy Holy)
Offering
Sermon
    Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery
    Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Benediction

Memory Verse

Revelation 21:3 – [And] I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God."

Service Times

Prayer
8:30-8:45am
Sunday School
9:00am-10:00am
Worship Service
10:30am-Noon

Berea

In Berea, the adults will continue to work through the whole Bible, this week we will look at the book of Galatians. Sunday School (kids ages 2-12) and Berea (kids 12+ and adults) take place at 9am on Sunday. No Berea and Sunday School on December 28th and January 4th.