The Nativity of Our Lord

      Christmas Eve

                          On a long winter evening we gather to proclaim the coming of the light.  Isaiah 

            announces that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.  Paul reminds 

           us that the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.  In the familiar account 

         of Christ’s birth, the evening sky is bright with the heavenly host singing, “Glory to God

           in the highest.”  Amid our broken world we proclaim that the prince of peace is born  

     among us.  God comes to us in human flesh—in Christ’s body and blood—so that 

we may be bearers of divine light to all the world.

Prelude

 

Welcome and Announcements

 

Greeting  

 

P:The true light that enlightens everyone has come into the world!  God be with you.

Q:And also with you.

R:When Adam and Eve fell, the darkness of sin covered the earth.  And thick Darkness covered all people born into this world.

S:We dwelt in darkness.

T:When sin kept the way of God hidden from us, we groped for answers like 

     people without eyes.  At midday we stumbled as if it were twilight.

C:We dwelt in darkness.

D:But Christ is risen upon us, and all nations have come to his radiant dawn.

E:We now are children of the Light.

F:Christ has brought sight to the blind and broken through the deep darkness of woe.

G:We are children of the Light.

H:Lift up your eyes and look around.

I:The light of God is beaming bright.

J:Lift up your eyes and look around.

K:The Light of God’s mercy is spreading fast.

L:Lift up your eyes and look around.

M:The light of God’s glory is here to stay.

N:Joy to the world!

O:The Light of the world has come!

 

“Silent Night, Holy Night”      

         

    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, Heavenly host 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 your holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace,

               Jesus, Lord, at your birth,  Jesus, Lord, at your birth.

 

P: A special Christmas Eve Gospel from Luke 2:1-20

2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

    ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was 

     expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for 

     all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the 

    Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped 

     in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the   angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.   

Away in a Manger 

 

     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. 

 

A Christmas Message  from Pastor Bart Muller

 

P:And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and Truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

Q:Joy to the world; the Lord is come.

R:Sing unto the Lord a new song.  Sing unto the Lord, all the earth.  Declare His glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the people.

S:Joy to the world; the Savior reigns.

T:Let the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.  O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy,  for you will judge the people with equity, and govern the nations upon the earth.

U:Joy to the world; the Lord rules with truth and grace.

V:Let us pray.

W:O God, you made this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true light.  Having come to know the mystery of that Light on earth, we pray  for the fullness of his heavenly joys, through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now   and forever.  Amen

 

The Blessing

 P :   May the good news that is Jesus, the Messiah, bring your great joy each day.  

        Almighty God, Gather, +Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.                Amen

 

 Joy to The World

Joy to The world! the Lord is come
          Let earth receive her King
          Let ev'ry heart prepare him room

          And heaven and nature sing
     And heaven and nature sing
     And heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! 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 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 wonder wonders of His love

The Dismissal  

 

P:  Go in peace.  Christ is with you.

C:Thanks be to God.  

 

 

Welcome to Worship

 

We are glad that you are here this evening. 

 

So Many People to Thank****We give thanks to our Lord for providing

     us with the means to help those around us with gifts and food            this holiday season****We give thanks to our Lord for giving us              the members and their talents to sing and play to the Glory of     God****We give thanks to our Lord for giving His Son to die for the     forgiveness of our sins. 

 

 

 

Learning, Living and Leading 

all people to God’s word.

 

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