The Bulletin is at: 12-25-2016-bulletin
The Service in PDF is at: 12-25-2016-christmas-day-autosaved
pr the service is as follows:
Christmas Day Worship
Peace Lutheran Church
December 25, 2016
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AS WE GATHER……….We focus our attention this morning on a very different part of the Christmas message than we highlighted yesterday. God’s own Son has come to wear human flesh and blood, to be born as a man of the blessed Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. He has come as the Word made flesh to fulfill the promise laid down before the foundation of the world and rescue His lost creation. That same Word remains among His people, the living voice speaking to bestow what He has won, summoning sinners from guild to righteousness and from death to life. So we come on Christmas morning to rejoice in what the Lord has done to save His people.
RINGING OF THE BELL
CHORAL ANTHEM O Come, O Come on Christmas Day By Patrick Liebergen
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
P: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
C: and the Word was God.
P: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
C: and we have seen His glory. (John 1:1,14)
RECEIVING GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS
P: Dearly beloved of God, we come together this day to hear of the great miracle that God became flesh and dwelt among us. Because He did this in order to free us from our sins, let us first consider our
sinfulness and confess our need before God and one another. Together let us seek God’s grace and forgiveness, convinced of His love.
(Silence for reflection)
P: Almighty God,
C: Have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life; for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
P: To all who receive Him, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God. Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw 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
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,
That hath made heav’n and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought. Refrain
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN Go Tell It on the Mountain
Refrain
Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev’ry-where
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
Down in a lonely manger The humble Christ was born;
And God sent us salvation That blessed Christmas morn. Refrain
SERMON A Religion of Joy Rev. Jeremy Lucke
Pastor: God has made us His people through our Baptism into Christ.
Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
People: 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.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Mighty and loving God our Father, hear our prayer for the whole Church gathered today. Give us true unity of faith and singleness of love. To all people, give ears of faith to hear that their lives reflect Your desire. Lord, in your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: May the good news of the Savior descend upon all people of the entire world, granting the miracle of repentance and faith in the hearts and minds of all. Bring true peace among nations and people. Guide leaders to promote justice and peace. Bless all who work even through today to defend and protect us. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Father each of our families into that love we view in the Holy Family. Give tender courage to all fathers, loving endurance to all mothers, and trusting obedience to all children. Grant to all who are single or all who are lonely an awareness of Your great love for each of them. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Visit with Your mercy all who are afflicted with illness, (especially……..), all who suffer injury, and all who fear death. Give calmness in their silent suffering, and give faith to know and look to Your love that gives healing and life. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Your love came down to us on Christmas. Now may that love flow through us and out to others in our community. We commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
People: Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
People: 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.
BENEDICTION
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.
DISMISSAL