| Prelude
Greeting and Welcome
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn – Joy to the World (LSB 387)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love.
+ Preparation +
Invocation P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.
Opening Sentences – John 1:14; Psalm 96:3; Psalm 98:1 P: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, C: and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. P: Declare His glory among the nations, C: His marvelous works among all the peoples! P: Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things! C: His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.
Confession and Absolution P: Joined in worship on this sacred night, let us make confession to our heavenly Father, confident of His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. C: Almighty Father, we confess that we are sinners by nature and by thought, word, and deed. We have not always given You the best of what we have and are, and have not fully made room for You in our lives. With repentant hearts, we turn to You for mercy, seeking Your grace. In Your loving kindness forgive, restore, and lead us so that we may be renewed and live to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. P: With joy I announce God’s Good News to You. Our gracious God in His mercy has given His Son to be born, to live, and then to die for you and to rise again in glory. For His sake God forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Be at peace and rejoice in the Lord. C: Amen.
+ Word +
Hymn – 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
Salutation and Prayer of the Day P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Gracious heavenly Father, with joy we celebrate our Lord’s birth as the fulfillment of Your promise of redemption from sin. Grant that as Your Holy Spirit works in our lives, there always be room for Jesus as Lord of our hearts, who now lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. C: Amen.
First Reading – Isaiah 7:10–14 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Gradual – Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 98:1a P: To us a child is born, C: to us a son is given; P: and the government shall be upon His shoulder. C: And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. P: Sing to the Lord a new song, C: for He has done marvelous things!
Second Reading – 1 John 4:7-16 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel – Luke 2:1-7 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ.
Children’s Song – Go Tell It on the Mountain (LSB 388)
Refrain: Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev’rywhere; Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching O’er silent flocks by night, Behold, throughout the heavens There shone a holy light. Refrain
The shepherds feared and trembled When lo, above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior’s birth. Refrain
Children’s Message – Pastor Scott
Hymn of the Day – Away in a Manger (LSB 364)
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.
Sermon
Apostles' Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life + everlasting. Amen.
Prayer of the Church P: God entered human history in the person of Jesus, who experienced all our joys and sorrows. He has promised that our heavenly Father will hear whatever we ask in His name. Let us bring our requests to Him in confident faith. Wonderful Counselor, we pray that You will give empathy, wisdom, and compassion to all who seek to meet the needs of the people around them, providing food, clothing, and shelter, tending to the sick and injured, and responding to human crises and natural disasters. Remember, we pray, those with special needs and those known only to You. As You give us opportunity, grant that we may be part of Your answers to their petitions. Mighty God, whose Word created all things in heaven and on earth, when storms rage, fires spread, or the earth trembles, give courage and skill to those who would provide rescue, relief, and shelter. Bless those who till the soil and raise crops and all who manage and distribute the world’s bounty, that the hungry be fed, the poor clothed, and the displaced given shelter. Gracious God, receive our plea; C: hear the prayers to You we bring, Father, Spirit, newborn King. P: Everlasting Father, shower Your grace on all families, enabling parents and children to grow in faith and love. In neighborhoods, communities, and cities where there is discord, open doors of peace; where there is discrimination, provide justice; where there is loneliness, provide companionship. Bless individuals and organizations to use the talents and resources You provide to restore dignity, health, and peace to everyone in their care. Gracious God, receive our plea; C: hear the prayers to You we bring, Father, Spirit, newborn King. P: Prince of Peace, use the earthly powers that be to put into positions of authority those who will work for justice within their nations and cooperation across their borders. Give protection and courage to police and first responders in their communities and to armed forces deployed. Where wars threaten, move leaders to seek calm; where long-term animosity gives rise to fear and hatred, open avenues of communication and understanding. Grant that Your Church stand as a beacon in this troubled world to proclaim the Gospel and exhibit loving forgiveness in Your name. Grant that many find the peace they seek in You, our gracious Savior. Gracious God, receive our plea; C: hear the prayers to You we bring, Father, Spirit, newborn King. P: Into Your hands, heavenly Father, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy for the sake of Him whose birth we celebrate this day, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. C: Amen.
Offering
Choir Anthem – All Is Well
(Lyrics provided for reflection)
All is well, all is well, angels and men rejoice; For tonight darkness fell into the dawn of love's light. Sing alle, sing alleluia. All is well, all is well; let there be peace on earth. Christ is come, go and tell that He is in the manger. Sing alle, sing alleluia. All is well, all is well; lift up your voice and sing. Born is now Emmanuel; born is our Lord and Savior. Sing alleluia, sing alleluia. All is well.
+ Sacrament +
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.”
Proclamation of Christ P: As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. C: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. P: O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen.
Distribution Hymn – 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 Hymn – The First Noel
The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Refrain
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
For all to see there was a star Shining in the east, beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. Refrain
And by the light of that same star The wise men came from country far; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain
Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord Who hath made heav’n and earth or naught, And with His blood mankind hath bought. Refrain
Blessing
Post-Communion Thanksgiving P: Let us pray. Most merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become incarnate of the Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts, that they be ready for Your visitation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn - 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 P: The blessing of God almighty—the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit—be with you and fill you with Christmas peace and joy, now and forever. C: Amen! Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth!
Postlude
+ WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Liturgist/Celebrant – Pastor Scott Jonas Organist – Seth Carruthers
5:30pm Lector – Jerry Nicolaus Sound/Video – Tony Petzoldt Greeters – Jerry & Beth Nicolaus Communion Assistant – Mike Toney and Seminary Student Ushers – Terry Buchholz, Ken Clark, Ron Froesel, Rodger Lubben
7:30pm Lector – Miriam Lee Sound/Video – Paul Barbercheck Greeters – Jack & Norma Bentzinger Communion Assistant – John Steele and Seminary Student Ushers – Gerry Lucas, Becci Sasser, Judy George, Jack Hurley
Many thanks to Glendale members who have donated poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary this Christmas season. | 
