| Pre-Service Music
Prophesy – Isaiah 9:2, 6 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Worshippers may stand) Entrance of the Christ-Candle – O Come, All Ye Faithful (LSB 379, verses 1-2) O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him Born the king of angels: Refrain Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal, Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes; Son of the Father Now in flesh appearing! Refrain Invocation P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen! Greeting and Collect P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Let us pray. C: O God, because you once caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light, grant that we who have known the mystery of that Light here on earth may come to the full measure of its joys in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Worshippers may be seated) Children’s Message – Tim Cosby + The Story of Christmas + Luke 2:1-20 Luke 2:1-7 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Carol Response – From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (LSB 358, verses 1-3, 13) “From heav’n above to earth I come To bear good news to ev’ry home; Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing: “To you this night is born a child Of Mary, chosen virgin mild; This little child of lowly birth Shall be the joy of all the earth. “This is the Christ, our God Most High, Who hears your sad and bitter cry; He will Himself your Savior be From all your sins to set you free. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled, A quiet chamber set apart For You to dwell within my heart. Luke 2:8-14 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Carol – Angels We Have Heard on High (LSB 368) Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains. Refrain Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav’nly song? Refrain Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain Luke 2:15-20 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Carol – What Child is This (LSB 370, verses 1-2) What child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The babe, the son of Mary! Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The babe, the son of Mary! Message – “Birth is Just the Beginning” (Worshippers may stand) Eucharistic Prayer P: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have had mercy on us and, in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you have revealed your glory to us. We give you thanks for redeeming us from our sin through Jesus Christ. Send your Holy Spirit to renew in us a living faith and prepare us joyfully to receive our Savior who comes to us in his body and blood. 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. The Words of Our Lord P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” Sharing of the Holy Communion Distribution Carol – O Little Town of Bethlehem (LSB 361) O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, And, gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the king And peace to all the earth! How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heav’n. No ear may hear His coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him, still The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel! Distribution Carol – Away in a Manger (LSB 365) Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the [bright] sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with Thee there. Dismissal (Worshippers shall stand) Lighting of the Candles (To avoid wax dripping, please tip only the unlighted candle; assist your child if necessary, and return the candle and holder to the ushers following the service.) A Carol - Silent Night (LSB 363)
Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia! Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born! Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Benediction
Concluding Act of Worship (Persons are encouraged to greet one another with “The Peace of the Lord be with you.”) Postlude + + + + WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Liturgist/Celebrant – Pastor Steve Albers Organist – Jim Thielker Communion Assistant – Derek Don Lector – Pastor Scott Candle Bearer – Gwendolyn Boehme Sound/Video – Mike Toney Usher – Terry Buchholz, Ken Clark, John Steele Greeters – Bob & Debbie Jacobson
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