CHRISTMAS EVE, 2024
Nativity of Our Lord
Brass Ensemble:
Todd Larsen, trumpet
Jeff Richards, trumpet
Barbara Richards, horn
James Richards, trombone
PRELUDE
Sarah Hawbecker, organist
Noël Étranger Louis-Claude Daquin
Chorale prelude on “Vom Himmel hoch” Johann Pachelbel
Chorale Prelude on “Silent Night” Samuel Barber
Standing HYMN 283
1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold him, born the king of angels: Refrain
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
2. 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
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God in the highest: Refrain
4. 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
In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen.
Kneeling or seated
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God. Most merciful God, | we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen.
Standing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.
KYRIE
HYMN OF PRAISE
1. Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria in excelsis Deo; gloria in excelsis Deo.
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav'nly song?
Refrain
SALUTATION
3. Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king. Refrain
The Lord be with you. | And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. | Amen
Seated CHILDREN’S SERMON
THE READING
Isaiah 9:2-7
This poem promises deliverance from Assyrian oppression, a hope based on the birth of a royal child with a name full of promise. While Judah's king will practice justice and righteousness, the real basis for faith lies in God's passion for the people: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
After the reading Word of God, word of life. | Thanks be to God.
Standing
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – Stanza 1
GOSPEL Luke 2:1–20
God's greatest gift comes as a baby in a manger. Angels announce the "good news of great joy" and proclaim God's blessing of peace.
Before the reading
The Holy Gospel according … | Glory to you, O Lord.
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.
After the reading
The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to you, O Christ.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – Stanza 4
Seated SERMON Pastor Jonathan Trapp Standing HYMN 274
On Christmas Night
1 On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring. On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring: news of great joy, news of great mirth, news of our merciful king's birth.
2 Then why should we on earth be sad, since our redeemer made us glad?
Then why should we on earth be sad, since our redeemer made us glad, when from our sin he set us free, all for to gain our liberty?
3
When sin departs before his face, then life and health come in its place. When sin departs before his face, then life and health come in its place.
Angels rejoice with us and sing, all for to see the newborn king.
4 All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night. All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night: "Glory to God in highest heav'n; peace on earth, and goodwill. Amen."
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
Kneeling or seated PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Wonderful Counselor, increase our joy as the church gathers on this holy night to sing of our dear Savior’s birth. May the story of salvation live in the hearts of all who sing of its wonders.
God of grace, | Hear our prayer.
Mighty God, you have broken the yoke of sin’s burden through the birth of your Son. Comfort those whose burdens distract them from the deeper peace of this holy night and grant them a restful mind.
God of peace, | Hear our prayer.
Everlasting Father, uphold all who are in sorrow or need of your divine goodness and mercy. We remember with thanksgiving all who have died and who now rest in your peaceful light.
God of love, | Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, bathe us always in the light of your Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Standing PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you.
Seated
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
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ANTHEM Were You There on that Christmas Night?
Natalie Sleeth
The J.O.Y. Choir ensemble
Were you there on that Christmas night, when the world was filled with a holy light?
Were you there to behold, when the wonder foretold came to earth?
Did you see how they hailed Him king, with the gifts so rare that they chose to bring?
Did you see how they bowed, as they praised him aloud at his birth?
Did you hear how the choirs of Angels sang at the glory of the sight?
Did you hear how the bells of Heaven rang all through the night?
Did you know it was God’s own Son, the salvation of the world begun?
Did you know it was love that was sent from above to the earth?
Words by Natalie Sleeth
Standing OFFERTORY
God of heaven and earth, from the beginning, you have called forth life, in which you take delight. The trees, the fields, and the seas sing for joy. Bless now these gifts, received from your bounty, that we may join the chorus of creation to tell of your salvation from day to day. | Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts! | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory, that, beholding the God made visible, we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
We sing a new song to you, O God of our salvation, for you have done marvelous things. Through your Word all things came into being, and without you not one thing was made.
You spoke through your covenant and created a people bound to you. Through promise and pardon, slavery and exile, you showed that what had come into being through you was life. When that day came, and the Word became flesh, your angels sang for joy and put a new song into our hearts. And even when we rejected your Son, you brought forth from his death a resurrection of everlasting glory.
Life-giving God, as your Word became flesh and lived among us, come among us now in the fullness of your grace and truth. Make us holy as you are holy; that your Word may become flesh anew today. Send your Holy Spirit upon this bread and wine and make them be for us the body and blood of Jesus; who in the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
God of glory, make your church a sign of new-born hope in your kingdom. Be born in us today. Where your children are faced with ruin, show them redemption. Where sorrow endures, bring your holy comfort. Where division excludes, give your grace. Where bondage confines, sing your new song. Restore our hope in you, until the day when all that you have brought into being finds its everlasting destiny in your only Son, through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever. | Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
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
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
A child has been born for us, a Son given to us. Come, receive the gift of Jesus.
Seated INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION
All who seek to meet the Risen Christ in the bread and wine are invited to receive Holy Communion.
