Lisa Frenz 1999
Order of Worship
Pre-Service Music & Ringing of the Bell & Greeting
Prelude & Lighting of Candles
Gathering Song : “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful”
Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
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:
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory giv’n!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing: Refrain:
Greeting
P: Grace and peace be to you this glorious day! The day of our salvation! The day of our Savior’s birth!
C: Amen! Grace and peace be to you also!
Prayer of the Day
P: Let us pray,
C: God of all, almighty and holy, you have revealed yourself to us through your son, Jesus. For today we celebrate this child divine, born to bring salvation to all the world. Remind us always that you are ever with us. Amen
Praise Song: “Oh, How Joyfully”
Oh, how joyfully, Oh, how merrily
Christmas comes with its grace divine!
Grace again is beaming,
Christ the world redeeming:
Hail, ye Christians,
Hail the joyous Christmas time!
Oh, how joyfully, Oh, how merrily
Christmas comes with its peace divine!
Peace again on earth is reigning,
Christ our peace regaining,
Hail, ye Christians,
Hail the joyous Christmas time!
Oh, how joyfully, Oh, how merrily
Christmas comes with its life divine!
Angels high in glory,
Chant the Christmas story:
Hail, ye Christians,
Hail the joyous Christmas time!
First 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 laboured;
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.’
Responsive Reading: Psalm 97
A: The Lord is king!
C: Let the earth exult, the many islands rejoice!
P: Dense clouds are around Him, righteousness and justice are the base of His throne.
A: Fire is His vanguard, burning His foes on every side.
C: His lightnings light up the world; the earth is convulsed at the sight;
P: mountains melt like wax at the Lord’s presence, at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
A: The heavens proclaim His righteousness
C: And all peoples see His glory.
P: All who worship images, who vaunt their idols,
are dismayed; all divine beings bow down to Him.
A: Zion, hearing it, rejoices,
C: The towns of Judah exult, because of Your judgments, O Lord.
P: For You, Lord, are supreme over all the earth;
A: You are exalted high above all divine beings.
C: O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
P: He guards the lives of His loyal ones, saving them from the hand of the wicked.
A: Light is sown for the righteous, radiance for the upright.
C: O you righteous, rejoice in the Lord and acclaim His holy name!
Second Lesson: Titus 3:4-7
But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour 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 Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Gospel Song: “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
From heav’n’s all-gracious king.”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
For lo! The days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
when with te ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Gospel Lesson Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph 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. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And 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.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth 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 heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’
When 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.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Music for Meditation
Christmas Message
Theme Song" “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
Good Christian Friends, rejoice
With heart and should and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say: News! News!
Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before him bow,
And he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
Good Christian Friends, rejoice
With heart and should and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door,
And we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian Friends, rejoice
With heart and should and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave; Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
Creed:
We believe in one God, who is Creator, King of the universe, maker of all we see and all we don’t see: Source of all creation!
We believe in one God, who is Jesus Christ, God from God, Light from Light, true God and true human. He is one with the Creator; the Word made flesh, our Messiah: Savior of all creation!
We believe in one God, who is Holy Spirit, Breath of God moving among us. Who is one with the Creator; one with the Christ; our Comforter and our Guide: Revelation of all creation!
Prayers
Greeting of Peace
C: Although we believe and trust in God, we have forgotten the covenant which God made with our ancestors and sinned.
A: However, God shows the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembers this holy covenant; giving us the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of our sins.
P: By the tender mercy of our God, the Dawn will break upon us, shining into the darkness and the shadow of death, guiding our feet into the way of peace.
Offering
Offering Song: “O Come, Little Children”
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 angels the heavenly child.
See Mary and Joseph with love-beaming eyes
Are gazing upon the rude bed where He lies,
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.
The Prayer before The Meal
A: Wonderful Counselor!
C: Mighty God!
P: Everlasting Father!
A: Prince of Peace!
C: We bless your Name forever!
A: Light of Light!
C: Lord of Lords!
P: King of Kings!
A: Emanuel, God with Us!
C: We bless your Name forever!
P: True God, Giver of Life, Word of our Creator, Spirit of Counsel and Might; God of our essence, be with us now as we join in the celebration of your love.
On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this often in remembrance of me.”
After supper Jesus took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this often in remembrance of me.”
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you make public Jesus’ death until he comes. So, come, eat and drink. This Bread of Life and this Cup of Christ are given for you.
C: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
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 for ever. Amen.
P: Come to the table for all things are ready for the people of God.
Distribution of Communion
The Dismissal:
P: Go now in the knowledge that the body and blood of Christ is your defense and your purpose, your life and your death, your everlasting joy.
C: Amen!
Prayer:
A: Oh, Christ Jesus, Messiah of us all, grant us the awareness to hear your counsel, the confidence to trust your strength, the faith to receive your life, the grace to accept your peace.
C: Amen.
P: On this marvelous day! This day of new beginnings! This day of wonders and signs! May God bless you and keep you. May God’s holy face shine upon you. May you go in peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen! So be it!
Sending Song: “Joy to the World”
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its 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 all 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 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 of his love,
And wonders, wonders of his love.
P: Go now to serve and love the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God Almighty!