| Prelude
Greeting and Welcome
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (LSB 380)
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the_angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the_incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
+ 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 +
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 – Daniel 7:13–14 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
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 – Tim Cosby
Hymn of the Day – 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!
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: Let us pray. Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting Light: C: O Christ, Redeemer, save us all and hear Thy servants when they call. P: O God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, the wonder and beauty of Your creation is surpassed only by the awe and miracle that You became one with us in the incarnation of the Son of God, the Son of Mary. Thou, grieving that the ancient curse should doom to death a universe, C: hast found the healing, full of grace, to cure and save our ruined race. P: O Jesus Christ, true Son of God, You came into the world to save sinners. Come now to us in Word and Sacrament to give us life by living in us. O Thou, whose coming is with dread to judge the living and the dead, C: preserve us from the ancient foe while still we dwell on earth below. P: O Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of life, move us to truly repent of our sins and more truly to be filled with faith in Christ, our life. As the angels revealed to Mary and Joseph the miracle of Your visitation and to the shepherds the majesty of the incarnation of Your Son and to the Wise Men the holiness of the gift of Your salvation, so continue to send forth preachers of Your Word and witnesses of Your truth, that many may come to believe in Your love and receive eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: Inspire those whom you send to preach and proclaim Your salvation, that they may remain steadfast in the clarity and purpose of Your Word. Fill the entire earth with the beautiful news of Your grace and mercy. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: For all who are in any need—all who suffer illness, injury, or any adversity—send Your healing and help, forgiveness and strength. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: Give to all who have died in Christ Your safekeeping and peace. Bring us all at last to the great joy of our resurrection and the life of the world to come. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: To God the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, Three in One, C: praise, honor, might, and glory be from age to age eternally. Amen.
Offering
Anthem – Born on Christmas Day (Lyrics provided for reflection)
One starry night, so bright The world was filled with love Wonderful sight, the light That shined from up above The angels proclaimed his holy name King of kings This is the story, the power and the glory Three wise men knelt to pray A guiding star had led the way And there he lay born on Christmas day Joy did he bring, the king Let every song rejoice And every heart did sing, hear it ring The sound of heaven's voice The angels proclaimed his holy name King of kings
+ 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 – A Great and Mighty Wonder (LSB 383)
A great and mighty wonder, A full and holy cure: The virgin bears the infant With virgin honor pure! Refrain
Refrain: Proclaim the Savior’s birth: “To God on high be glory And peace to all the earth!”
The Word becomes incarnate And yet remains on high, And cherubim sing anthems To shepherds from the sky. Refrain
While thus they sing your Monarch, Those bright angelic bands, Rejoice, O vales and mountains, And oceans, clap your hands. Refrain
Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored, The infant born in Bethl’em, The Savior and the Lord. Refrain
All idols then shall perish And Satan’s lying cease, And Christ shall raise His scepter, Decreeing endless peace. Refrain
Distribution Hymn – Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (LSB 393)
Infant holy, Infant lowly, For His bed a cattle stall; Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the child is Lord of all. Swiftly winging, angels singing, Bells are ringing, tidings bringing: Christ the child is Lord of all! Christ the child is Lord of all!
Flocks were sleeping, whepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new Saw the glory, heard the story, Tidings of a Gospel true. Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, Praises voicing, greet the morrow: Christ the child was born for you! Christ the child was born for you!
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 Vocalists - Seth & Leann Carruthers Lector – Greg Frimel Sound/Video – Jerry Nicolaus Greeters – Ken & Jeanne Clark Communion Assistant – Mike Toney & Seminary Student Ushers – Rodger Lubben, Jack Hurley, Terry Buchholz, Gerry Lucas
Many thanks to Glendale members who have donated poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary this Christmas season.
To the Glory of God - Jack & Norma Bentzinger In memory of Kim and Herb Dixson - Beverly Dixson In memory of Betty Jane Grimm - Al Grimm & family Thanks to God for blessings received - Jean Peterson In memory of loved ones - Steve & Phyllis Phelps Thanks be to God! - The Ryan family To the Glory of God - Judy Sowers | 
