Christmas Day: God's Word

God's Word comes alive today!

Order of Worship

▲ = Stand as you are able▼ = Sit

Prelude

▲ Prayer of the Day:

C: Amen.

Hymn: "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful"

Tune Name: ADESTE FIDELES

Text Source: Text: attr. John F. Wade, c. 1711-1786; tr. Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880, sts. 1, 3-4; tr. unknown, st. 2

Music Source: Music: attr. John F. Wade, c. 1711-1786

Oh, come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant!

Oh, come ye, oh, come

Ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold hire

Born the king of angels:

Refrain: Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

The highest, most holy,

Light of light eternal,

Born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;

Son of the Father

Now in flesh appearing! Refrain:

Sing choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to the God

In the highest: Refrain:

P: Welcome to God's house.

C: We give thanks to God, the Creator.

P: May the happiness of God's message be with you.

C: We give thanks to God, the Son.

P: May God's word of life-saving love be yours.

C: We give thanks to God, the Comforter.

P: God's word comes alive today!

C: in the birth of Jesus, God's Son.

P: God's love comes to us today.

C: in the birth of Jesus, God's Son.

P: God's light comes to us today.

C: in the birth of Jesus, God's Son.

P: Praise God above!

C: For God loves us all!

"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"

Tune Name: W ZLOBIE LEZY

Text Source: Text: Polish carol; tr. Edith M. G. Reed, 1885-1933, alt.

Music Source: Music: Polish carol

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!

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds 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!

The sharing of the peace:

P: God has sent us the joy and peace we can know. He has sent us Jesus Christ. Let us share that joy and peace with each other. The peace of God be with you.

C: And also with you.

(All share a greeting of peace.)

▼ P: Let us pray,

C: God of love we give you thanks for the gift of your Son, Jesus. He is our friend and savior. Your love gives us comfort and joy. Teach us to love our friends and family like you love us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

"Go Tell It on the Mountain"

Tune Name: GO TELL IT

Text Source: Text: African American spiritual, refrain; John W. Work Jr., 1872-1925, stanzas, alt.

Music Source: Music: African American spiritual

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 angels chorus

That hailed our Saviors' birth. Refrain

Down in a lonely manger

The humble Christ was born;

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn. Refrain

First Lesson Titus 3:4-7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

"All Earth Is Hopeful"

Tune Name: TODA LA TIERRA

Text Source: Text: Alberto Taule, b. 1932; tr. Madeleine Forell Marshall, b. 1946

Music Source: Music: Alberto Taule, b. 1932

All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last! ...set ev'rybody free.

People of Israel, you heard the prophet tell:...children of this earth.

Mountains and valleys will have to be prepared; ...come out in haste!

We first saw Jesus a baby in a crib....ever sets us free.

Second Lesson Isaiah 62:6-12

Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. The LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, "See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him." They shall be called, "The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD"; and you shall be called, "Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken."

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

Tune Name: MENDELSSOHN

Text Source: Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, alt.

Music Source: Music: Felix Mendelssohn, 1809-1847; arr. William H. Cummings, 1831-1915

Hark! The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn king;

peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled."

Joyful, all you nations, rise;

join the triumph of the skies;

with angelic hosts proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain

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, incarnate deity!

Pleased as man with us to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel! Refrain

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 we no more may die,

born to raise each child of earth,

born to give us second birth. Refrain

▲ Gospel Lesson Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city 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 enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

A Children's Christmas Story might be read. at this time.

▼ Music for Meditation

Message

▲ "Away in a Manger"

Tune Name: AWAY IN A MANGER

Text Source: Text: North American, anonymous, 19th cent.

Music Source: Music: North American, anonymous, 19th cent

Tune Name: CRADLE SONG

Text Source: Text: North American, anonymous, 19th cent.

Music Source: Music: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;

The stars in the slay looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay

Close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in your tender care

And fit us for heaven, to live with you there.

P: The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

A: Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

C: Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.

P: The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.

A: All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.

C: Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God. For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

P: The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

A: Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

C: Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Psalm 97

▼ Offering

▲ "O Come, Little Children" (von Schmidt/Schulz)

O come, little children, O come one and all,

To Bethlehem haste, to the manger so small,

God's Son for a gift has been sent you this night

To be your redeemer, your joy and delight.

He's born in a stable for you and for me,

Draw near by the bright gleaming starlight to see,

In swaddling clothes lying so meek and so mild.

And purer than angles the heavenly child.

See Mary and Joseph with love beaming eyes

Are gazing upon the rude bed where He ties,

the shepherds are kneeling, with hearts full of love,

While angels sing loud hallelujahs above.

Kneel down and adore Him with shepherds today,

Lift up little hands now and praise Him as they;

Rejoice that a Savior from sin you can boast,

And join in the song of the heavenly host.

P: We shout and sing our thanks to God

C: Who has given us everything:

P: Our homes and family,

C: Our food and friends.

P: God has made sure we have everything we need.

C: We shout and sing our thanks to God!

P: God has also given us everything. Best of all God has given us Jesus who is the bread and wine we share.

C: Amen.

Institution of Communion:

P: For I received from the Lord

that which I also handed down to you—

that the Lord Jesus

in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

and after giving thanks, He broke it and said,

“This is My body, which is for you;

do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant which is in My blood;

do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,

you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

I Corinthians 11:23-26 (tr. Annal Frenz, 2001)

Lord’s Prayer:

C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

P: Come to the table of the Lord and eat what God gives us: peace, joy and love forever through Jesus Christ, the baby of Bethlehem.

C : Amen.

▼ “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”

Tune Name: IN DULCI JUBILO

Text Source: Text: medieval Latin carol; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.

Music Source: Music: German carol, 14th cent.

Good Christian friends, rejoice

with heart and soul and voice;

give ye heed to what we say:

Jesus Christ is born today;

ox and ass before him bow,

and he is in the manger now.

Christ is born today!

Good Christian friends, rejoice

with heart and soul and voice;

now ye hear of endless bliss:

Jesus Christ was born for this!

He has opened heaven's door,

and we are blest forevermore.

Christ was born for this!

Good Christian friends, rejoice

with heart and soul and voice;

now ye need not fear the grave;

Jesus Christ was born to save!

Calls you one and calls you all

to gain his everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save!

Distribution of Communion

▲ P: May the body and blood of Jesus in the bread and wine we shared keep you a child of God. May God bless you and keep you always in the wonder and happiness of God's love and kindness which is greater than we can imagine. May all the joys and promises of Jesus' birth be yours now and forever, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

C : Amen.

"Joy to the World"

Tune Name: ANTIOCH

Music Source: Music: George F. Handel, 1685-1759, adapt.; arr. Lowell Mason, 1792-1872

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive its King:

Let ev'ry heart prepare him room

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let all their songs employ,

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy,

No more let sin and sorrow 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, wonders of his love.

P: Go in peace and serve the newborn King, Jesus Christ!

C: Thanks be to God!

Postlude