2020 Christmas Eve Worship Service
The Names of the Christ Child
Luke 1:35 sets the tone for this evening’s Christmas Eve worship service, “The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.” “Son of God” is one of many names given to the Child born to Mary on that first Christmas. There are, of course, many, many more names recorded in Scripture that are associated with Jesus . And while we won’t be able to examine them all this evening, we will consider ten different names, or titles, that describe Jesus and what He came to earth over 2000 years ago to accomplish for us. This year’s service is entitled: “The Names of the Christ Child.”
Tonight we’ll start our service by completing our midweek Advent service (and yes, Christmas Eve is actually the close of the “Advent Season”) and sermon series on Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a Child is born. To us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulders. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Because He is our “Wonderful Counselor” we know that Jesus’ teaching in His Word is always true and reliable…whether it provides guidance in life or instructs us about how we are saved through faith in Him. “Mighty God” tells us that Jesus is no mere human. If Jesus was only another human like us, then He could not have been our Savior and we would still be under the curse of our sins. However, the truth is that Jesus is “Mighty God” – the Lord in human flesh Whose death on the cross in our place of damnation was sufficient to pay for the sins of the whole world….yours and mine included. The title “Everlasting Father” does not mean that Jesus is the Father Himself. We know that Jesus and His Father are two distinct persons who are unified as the one, true Triune God along with God the Holy Spirit. Still Isaiah, under divine inspiration, calls Him our Everlasting Father. Why? Because by the word “Father” he means that Jesus has made us His people, and that He guides and guards and keeps us like a loving father cares for His dear children. TONIGHT, we’ll focus on Jesus as our “Prince of Peace” – Who came to earth not to establish peace among nations or families (which is, unfortunately, how many misunderstand His role), but to earn peace between the perfect God and our sinful human race, which is/was hostile to God. He secured that peace with God for us (and the promise of eternal life in heaven) by living righteously in our place to fulfill all of God’s holy Law, by dying as our Substitute on the cross – suffering the wrath of God that our sins have earned, and by rising from the grave to guarantee that His work of redemption was successful….and that one day we will live with Him forever in heaven.
In addition to the devotion on Isaiah 9:6 which our Pastor will present this evening, tonight’s Christmas Eve service will involve a number of people from our church family. This evening we will hear again the story of Christ’s birth as both Matthew and Luke recorded it in their Gospels. We will also listen to a special musical selection from a vocal soloist tonight. Finally, a number of members of our church family will read various narrative and Scripture selections that present nine different names for the Christ Child. The first letters of those names, when properly arranged, form the word CHRISTMAS. Those titles are: Christ; Redeemer; Helper; Immanuel; Shepherd; Trinity; Messiah; Almighty; and Savior. It is our hope and prayer that you fill find this evening’s service interesting, enjoyable, and – especially – edifying for your faith as a Christian who trusts in Mary’s Baby, Who is also God’s own Son, as your one and only Savior from sin and your Guarantee of everlasting life one day in heaven. May tonight’s service contribute to a very blessed and merry Christmas for you!
Unless otherwise designated, all Scripture readings in this worship flyer have been taken from the Evangelical Heritage Version of the Bible. Copyright 2019 by the Wartburg Society.
Prayer in Preparation for Worship: Heavenly Father, I thank You for bringing me safely to this hour of worship and praise tonight. Help me to listen attentively to Your Word, and use that Word to increase both my faith and my knowledge of Your will. Bless all who will share in re-telling the Christmas story this evening. Thank You, also, for sending Your Son to become a human like me, and – more than that – to live the life of faithfulness for me that I could not live because of my sinfulness; and to die the death of sin that I deserve because of my unfaithfulness. Finally, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit, to work faith in my heart, so that I can believe in You, along with Your Son and the Spirit, as the one, true God of my salvation, In Jesus’ name, and for His sake, I ask all this. Amen.
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary
Pre-service Music
Pre-Service Hymn Singing, beginning at 6:50 p.m.
Behold a Branch is growing Of lovliest form and grace,
As prophets sang, foreknowing; It springs from Jesse’s race
And bears one little flow’r In midst of coldest winter, at deepest midnight hour.
+ + + + + + + + + +
It came upon a midnight clear That glorious sound of old,
From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold;
Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, From heav’n’s all-gracious king.”
The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.
+ + + + + + + + + +
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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel
+ + + + + + + + + +
Let us all with gladsome voice Praise the God of heaven,
Who, to bid our hearts rejoice, His own Son has given.
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Once in Royal David’s city, stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby, in a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.
The Opening Hymn: Hymn 62 Joy to the World
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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
The Opening Responsive Dialog
P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us
C: Oh, come, let us worship Him.
P: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
C: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
P: Those who lived in the land of deep darkness – on them light has dawned.
C: We have seen Christ’s glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
P: For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
C: In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
P: Christ is born; our salvation has appeared.
C: Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia!
The Opening Prayer
P: Almighty God, Heavenly Father, You made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light of the Word: Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grant that, while we walk here on earth, we might live in the light of Jesus’ presence and His peace, and that on the Last Day we might arise to the brightness of His glory and celebrate His grace for all eternity. We ask this in the name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who – along with You and the Holy Spirit – lives and rules as the one, true God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
We Give our Attention to God’s Word
Tonight’s Devotion based on Isaiah 9:6
For to us a Child is born. To us a Son is given. The authority to rule will rest on His shoulders. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The Christ Child….Our Prince of Peace
The Post-Sermon Hymn: Hymn 36 A Great And Mighty Wonder
A great and mighty wonder, A glorious mystery:
A virgin bears an Infant Who veils His deity.
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men.”
The Word becomes incarnate And yet remains on high,
And cherubim sing anthems To shepherds from the sky.
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men.”
Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored,
The Infant born in Bethl’em, The Savior and the Lord.
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men.”
Introduction:
No brilliant electric light, no raging fire, not even a massive explosion could have caused the blinding light that shattered the darkness that first Christmas night. Normally invisible spirit beings – the heavenly angels – revealed their glory to humble shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem. That night, real peace – God’s peace – was proclaimed to a sinful world. This evening, many throughout the world are gathering as we are doing on this Christmas Eve, to reflect on the full implication of what happened on that special night….so very long ago….and so very far away in Bethlehem.
“C” is for CHRIST
First Narrator: (Richard Tragasz)
Many people spend time searching for that perfect Christmas gift for the people they love. Our God is no different. On Christmas He gave our human race the most perfect and precious gift of all – the One we all need the most.
The name CHRIST is the Greek word for “The Anointed One,” namely, God’s specially-selected, most perfect Gift of all to all of us.
First Reading: Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 And everyone went to register, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a Child.
6 And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn Son, wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11 Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: You will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, Who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen Him, they told others the message they had been told about this Child. 18 And all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Hymn: Hymn 61 Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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 th’angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King”
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King”
”H” is for HELPER
Second Narrator: (Drake Schwartz)
No one who has ever read the New Testament could deny that Jesus helped people. He miraculously supplied food and drink to those who were hungry and thirsty. He healed people who were ill or disabled. On occasion, He cast demons out of people who were being tormented by those evil spirits. He even raised the dead back to life! But the greatest help of all the help that Jesus ever provided to people….was the spiritual help for our souls that we desperately needed, but which we could not acquire on our own. That help completely satisfied our greatest need: the need for the forgiveness of all our sins. We have that forgiveness in Jesus.
Second Reading: Luke 1:51-55
51 He has shown strength with His arm.
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of His servant Israel, remembering His mercy,
55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and His offspring forever.
Hymn/Vocal Solo (verse 2) “What Child Is This?”
1 What Child is this Who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet With anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate Where oxen now are feeding?
Good Christians, fear; For sinners here The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through; The cross He’ll bear for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of kings Salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high; The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
“R” is for REDEEMER
Third Narrator: (Todd Schwartz)
The Child born that first Christmas would live according to God’s will – perfectly…..they way we all should, but no one else has been able to since Adam’s fall in Eden. He would also shed His sinless blood on the cross as the supreme, once-for-all-time sacrifice in payment for all the sins of the world. Not only does God now “credit” us with Jesus’ perfection (so that He regards us as sinless…for Jesus’ sake), He also has applied the benefits of Jesus’ death to us (so that we will not have to die eternally in hell as the punishment for our sins). Through His sinless life and His sacrificial death for us, Jesus has REDEEMED us – that is, He has bought us back for God.
Third Reading Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son to be born of a woman, so that He would be born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as sons.
Tonight’s Vocal Solo O Sing of Christ”
(sung by Cynthia Tragasz)
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known The kindness of the Lord,
Eternal Word made flesh and bone So we could be restored.
Upon our frail humanity God’s finger chose to trace
The fullness of His deity, The icon of His grace.
What Adam lost, none could reclaim And Paradise was barred
Until the second Adam came To mend what sin had marred.
For when the time was full and right God sent His only Son;
He came to us as life and light And our redemption won.
Lord Jesus Christ, You deigned to dwell Among us here on earth
As God with us, Emmanuel, To bring this holy birth.
Though rich, You willingly became One with our poverty,
That we might share Your wealth and name For all eternity!
“I” is for IMMANUEL
Fourth Narrator: (Timothy Huebner)
The birth of Jesus is special for many reasons. One of them is that, in the person of Jesus, the eternal God became fully human in order to save our sinful, human race. Our God came to live among us as one of us, in order to be the Savior for all of us. One of the special names by which we know him is IMMANUEL, which is Hebrew for “God With Us.” As our Immanuel, Jesus never remote or unconcerned for us. He is personal, intimate, aware of all our physical, emotional and spiritual needs – and able to meet them. He has promised that He will be with us always. And because our God gave Himself up for us all to save us from our sin and Satan’s power…..through faith in Him, we will be with Him always and forever in heaven.
Fourth Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found to be with Child by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her. So he decided to divorce her privately. 20 But as he was considering these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
22 All this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin will be with Child and will give birth to a Son. And they will name Him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Mary home as his wife, 25 but he was not intimate with her until she gave birth to her firstborn Son. And he named Him Jesus.
Hymn: Hymn 65 O Little Town of Bethlehem
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.
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;
Oh, come to us, Abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel!
“S” is for SHEPHERD
Fifth Narrator: (John Johnson)
Who hasn’t heard of Bethlehem’s shepherds – those humble, near-bottom-rung-of-society individuals which the angel chorus serenaded from the sky? We see them filling the same role in the Christmas drama that we also ought to fill: hear the message; go and worship; and then, spread the Good News to others that our Savior has come.
That first Christmas, the shepherds worshiped a Baby in a manger. Little did they know then, that that Child was born in order to die for the world’s sins and for our salvation. Years later, as He contemplated giving up His sinless life as the perfect payment to deliver us from sin, eternal death and the Devil’s power, Jesus would describe Himself to His followers in an especially encouraging and endearing way: as our Good Shepherd Who would willingly sacrifice Himself for us – His precious sheep.
Fifth Reading: John 10:14-18
14 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me 15 (just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father). And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I also have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one Shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This is the commission I received from My Father.”
Hymn: Hymn 54 Where Shepherds Lately Knelt
Where shepherds lately knelt and kept the angel’s word,
I come in half belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred,
but there is room and welcome there for me,
but there is room and welcome there for me.
In that unlikely place I find Him as they said:
sweet newborn Babe, how frail! and in a manger bed,
a still, small voice to cry one day for me,
a still, small voice to cry one day for me.
Can I, will I forget how love was born, and burned
its way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned,
to die, to live, and not alone for me,
to die, to live, and not alone for me?
“T” is for TRINITY
Sixth Narrator : (Steve Stone)
It wouldn’t be difficult to make the case that the “T” in Christmas should stand for “Teacher.” After all, the Child born to Mary and Joseph did grow up to be the greatest Teacher Who ever lived! From His “Sermon on the Mount” to His spell-binding, eminently instructive and laser-beam precise Parables, Jesus taught with the authority that He possessed as the eternal God.
In spite of His being the Greatest Teacher of all, when we think about what the “T” in “Christmas” could stand for, it is certainly appropriate for us to connect that “T” to the “Triune God”…..the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…..Who not only created us and sustains us, but Who worked together to carry out the perfect plan for our salvation.
Sixth Reading Luke 1:30-35
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. 31 Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will never end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Hymn: Hymn 2 Savior of the Nations Come.
1 Savior of the nations, come, virgin’s Son, make here Thy home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.
2 Not of flesh and blood the Son, offspring of the Holy One;
born of Mary ever blest, God in flesh is manifest.
3 Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child of the Virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned, still to be in heav’n enthroned.
“M” is for MESSIAH
Seventh Narrator: (Chris Roberts)
Eventually the miraculous events and memories of that First Christmas in Bethlehem gave way to the realities of daily life for Mary, Joseph and their special Child, Jesus. But thirty years later along the Jordan river another special individual in God’s plan of salvation – John the Baptist – would serve countless souls of his day by calling men, women and children to repent of their sins and look to the Promised Messiah for their salvation. One day, seeing Jesus coming toward him, John declared: “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” Two of John’s disciples, Andrew and (most likely) John, began to follow Jesus that day…..trusting that He was the Promised Messiah.
Seventh Reading: John 1:40-41
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his own brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated “the Christ”).
Hymn: Hymn 16 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
1 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry announces that the Lord is nigh.
Awake and harken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings!
3 We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our Refuge and our great Reward.
Without Your grace we waste away like flow’rs that wither and decay.
5 All praise to You, eternal Son, Whose advent has our freedom won,
Whom with the Father we adore, and Holy Spirit, evermore.
“A” is for ALMIGHTY
Eighth Narrator: (Tim Pfortmiller)
The New Testament explains why we should put our faith in that Baby born in Bethlehem….. because He possesses all the attributes, or characteristics of God…..because He IS God. It tells us how, as God, He existed for all eternity as the Alpha and the Omega (Greek for “the first” and “the last”). It teaches us that He knows everything about us, about everyone else, about everything that exists because He is Omniscient (or, “all knowing”). It informs us that He is Omnipresent…..that is, He is always with us, present everywhere with everyone. And, among His other Godly characteristics, the New Testament assures us that Jesus is Omnipotent……that He possesses all power over everything, because He is ALMIGHTY.
Eight Reading: Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, the One Who is, and Who was, and Who is coming, the Almighty.
Hymn: Hymn 35 Of The Father’s Love Begotten
- Of the Father’s love begotten Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
- Oh, that birth forever blessed When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bare the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.
- Christ, to Thee, with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.
“S” is for SAVIOR
Ninth Narrator: (Kelvin Johannes)
When all is said and done, we could get by with just one name for the Christ-Child. The angels told both Mary and Joseph to name the Baby “Jesus,” because He would save His people from their sins. Of course, the name “Jesus” doesn’t only mean “Savior”…….for each of us it means that He is OUR Savior. And that’s why every one of us has every reason to celebrate the birth of this Child tonight, tomorrow, every day of our lives, and for all eternity.
Ninth Reading: Luke 1:46-47……….Luke 2:11-2………Titus 3:4-7
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, (Luke 1:46-47)
11 Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: You will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12)
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, 5 He saved us—not by righteous works that we did ourselves, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 Whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs in keeping with the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
Vocal Duet Away In A Manger
(sung by Cynthia and Rick Tragasz)
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep little Babe; We sing You a song.
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep little Babe; We sing You a song. Sleep, O sleep.
1 Away in a manger, no crib for His 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.
2 The cattle are lowing; the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love You, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
3 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 take us to heaven, to live with You there.
We Offer Our Gifts to the Lord
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
Because we aren’t able to pass an offering plate today during tonight’s worship service, those in attendance may leave their offerings in the offering plates by the exit at the close of our service. For those watching this worship service, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash) to the church address (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) You can go to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option.
We Bring our Prayers Before the Lord
P: Eternal Father, we give You thanks and praise on this holy night for sending Your one and only Son to share our humanity, to carry our guilt, and to become for us the perfect Lamb Who takes away the sin of the world.
C: We adore You, O Lord.
P: Keep our faith in Your Son alive and strong. Nourish us with Your Word and Sacrament and, by Your Holy Spirit, give us strength to overcome Satan’s power and pride. Help us to withstand the temptations the world and our sinful nature put in our path.
C: Give us courage, O Lord.
P: Remember ministers of the gospel throughout the world who on this evening are proclaiming that a Savior has been born. We especially commend to Your care the missionaries which we, as members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, have called to bring Your Word to people across our country and around the globe. Since they cannot enjoy the fellowship of their extended families this Christmas, we pray that You would give them the inner joy that comes from being of service to You, Lord, in Your kingdom.
C: Protect all those who preach the gospel in our place, O Lord.
P: We pray for our community, O Lord, and for all who live and work and find delight here. Keep the economy of our nation strong so that we may enjoy plenty from which to bring You our first and best offerings.
C: Govern and prosper Your people, O Lord.
P: As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, particularly to those who are less fortunate than we are. Give us hearts that truly care for people who need our help. If it is Your will, bring Your powerful healing to those who are sick or diseased in body or mind. We pray especially for brothers and sisters who are setting aside their celebration today to care for the sick, feed the bedridden, and stand at the side of the dying.
C: Sustain those who endure the troubles of life, O Lord.
P: Be a source of strength to the members of this congregation. Comfort all who have lost a loved one during the past year, support those who are troubled, and be with those who are spending Christmas alone. If any are among us today who have lost the true meaning of this festival, let them rediscover the joy that comes through Christ our Savior and Lord.
C: Let Your peace reign in the hearts of all, O Lord. Special prayers and intercessions
P: Hear us, Lord, as we bring You our private petitions and praises.
Silent prayer
P: As You sent Your Son to bring peace to all people on earth, so we pray for all people, those known and those unknown to us. Hear us as we join in the prayer Your Son taught us:
C: Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as 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 for ever and ever. Amen.
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look upon you with favor, and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 60 “Silent Night”
1 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.
2 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!
3 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.
Silent prayer
Announcements, Post-service Music