Advent 3 Children’s Service 12/15/24
ChildrensService2024 worship folder PDF 12.15
Isaiah: His Name Shall Be Called
A worship service led by youth and children of St. Paul’s.
Welcome
Processional Hymn Hark the Glad Sound LSB 349
1 Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let ev’ry heart prepare a throne
And ev’ry voice a song.
2 He comes the pris’ners to release,
In Satan’s bondage held.
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
3 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace
To_enrich the humble poor.
4 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heav’n’s eternal arches ring
With Thy belovèd name.
Invocation
P: In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Opening Sentences
P: To us…
C: a child is born!
P: To us…
C: a son is given!
P: His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
C: Mighty God
P: Everlasting Father,
C: Prince of Peace.
Confession and Absolution
P: Isaiah wrote that the coming of the Messiah would mean change as great as having “waters break forth in the wilderness.”
C: Help us value the Word of God and the water of our Baptism.
P: When nothing appears to change, and our Lord’s return seems too far in the distant future, James urges: “Be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
C: Help us grow in patience.
P: When our Lord returns, Isaiah promises: “He will come and save you.”
C: Forgive us, Lord, for our sins of thought, word, and deed
P: Christ Jesus paid for all your sins when He came. Today, as He comes through Word and Sacrament, he assures you of the peace with God this brings. When He returns, it will be to lead you to a new heaven and a new earth. As a called servant of Christ, I announce the forgiveness of God to you in the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Greeting and Prayer
Children: How good and how joyous it is to be together in this place.
Encircled by the love of God, surrounded by His grace.
Children: I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen
Immanuel – God with Us
Creator. Heavenly Father. Good Shepherd. Lamb of God. Holy Spirit. Jesus. These are just a few of the many names of God that we read in the Bible. Each name describes our one true God.
Christmastime, we hear special names of God from the prophet Isaiah: Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. But what do these names mean, and why does Isaiah use them to describe the promised Savior? Today we will find out!
In Old Testament times, God sent the prophet Isaiah to unbelieving King Ahaz and God’s people living in Judah. Ahaz and the people did not trust that God could save them from their enemies.
They had turned away from God, just as people have done since the time of Adam and Eve and the first sin in the garden. But God would not give up on His people! He had promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Savior to bring all people back to Him. Through the many years that followed, God continued to remind His people about the Savior He would send.
God sent Isaiah to King Ahaz and the Israelites, telling them to repent of their sins and turn back to the Lord. Only the one true God could deliver them from their enemies. And one day, God would deliver all people from our greatest enemies: sin, death, and the power of the devil. God gave them a sign to show He would do this.
Isaiah 7 says, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” The name Immanuel means “God with us.” God Himself would come to earth and be born a human baby in order to save us and to bring us back to Him. What wonderful, happy news!
Young Children
Happy, happy, happy,
As we wait today
For the baby Jesus
Sleeping on the hay.
Happy, happy, happy,
Jesus, God’s own Son
Born on Christmas morning
Loves us everyone!
Hymn Benedictus: Blessed Be the God of Israel
C: Blessed be the God of Israel who comes to set us free
And raises up new hope for us: a Branch from David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies and all who wish us harm.
Wonderful Counselor
Have you ever tried walking in the dark without a flashlight? It’s hard to see where you are going! You could easily get hurt or lost. Walking in darkness is how Isaiah describes people who don’t trust and believe in God. But God doesn’t leave us in the dark! Jesus came to be the light that shines in the darkness.
Isaiah 9 tells us: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” Jesus is the light of the world!
The light of the world would come as a baby, born of a virgin. Isaiah tells about the birth of this baby, a new king who would come from David’s kingly line and who would rule over an everlasting kingdom. The new king is the promised Messiah, Jesus.
Isaiah describes the Messiah using names that show us His power and authority: “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” (Isaiah 9:6).
Children The Lord God is my strength and my song, and He shall become my salvation.
The second name Isaiah gives Jesus the Messiah is Wonderful Counselor. A counselor is someone who gives advice, or counsel. The world often gives bad advice that leads us away from God into darkness. Jesus gives wonderful, lifegiving counsel—the Good News of salvation.
We hear this wonderful counsel from Jesus in His words recorded in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Hymn The People That in Darkness Sat LSB 412
C: The people that in darkness sat
A glorious light have seen;
The light has shined on them who long
In shades of death have been,
In shades of death have been.
Mighty God
The third name Isaiah gives to Jesus is Mighty God. The child born of a virgin would be God Himself! Jesus our Savior is true God and true man. Before Jesus was born, God sent an angel to proclaim this miraculous news to Joseph. Matthew chapter 1 tells us, “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”
Children My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
The birth of Jesus Christ from Luke chapter 2: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town 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 registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1–7).
Hymn The People That in Darkness Sat LSB 412
C: To us a Child of hope is born,
To us a Son is given,
And on His shoulder ever rests
All power in earth and heaven.
All power in earth and heaven.
Everlasting Father
“And in the same 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, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto 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 baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’
Children 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, good will toward men’ ” (Luke 2:8–14).
Children
From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good new to ev’ry home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:
To you this night is born a child
Of Mary chosen virgin mild;
This little child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the earth
“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.’
they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up 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” (Luke 2:15–20).
Children
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev’rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!
Isaiah gives the baby born in Bethlehem a fourth name: Everlasting Father. Jesus is the Son of God, but He has the heart of a father toward His people. Jesus rules over His kingdom as a loving father. He is the Everlasting Father—Jesus has no beginning and no end, and His kingdom is eternal.
Isaiah 9 says, “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”
Hymn The People That in Darkness Sat LSB 412
C: His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
The Everlasting Lord,
The Wonderful, the Counselor,
The God by all adored.
The God by all adored.
Apostles’ Creed Hymnal, back cover
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.
Prayers of the Church
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the whole Christian church on earth and for our congregation, that we would work together joyfully and faithfully toward the mission of Christ; and that we would truly love one another and be a light to the world according to our calling, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For pastors and church workers, that God would send them as messengers before the face of Jesus to prepare His way, making known His saving name; and that Christ would open the ears of all who hear to rejoice, repent and firmly believe, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who suffer for the name of Jesus, that our heavenly Father, who rescues the daughter of Zion, would look on them with compassion, giving them wisdom when they are pressured to compromise, providing for them when they suffer loss, granting courage when they are afraid, and delivering them from all evil, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes, that God would provide companionship for those who are alone, strengthen the bonds of marriage, and equip parents to raise their children in love and faith; and that, for Jesus’ sake, our homes would be places of joy, reasonableness, peace and prayer, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and for all nations, that peace and justice would prevail among us; for those in authority and those newly elected, that God would give them wisdom, health and success in their governance; and for all of us as we serve one another through our vocations and citizenship, that we would rest confident in the peace of Christ, and abandoning all anxiety, by prayer and thanksgiving, make our requests known to God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in need of help and healing, especially those on our prayer list and those we name in our hearts at this time… that the God of all joy would lift their spirits, extend his healing and care, and guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus through whom all prayers are heard, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune today at the Supper of Christ’s body and blood, that our Father would watch over them and preserve in them repentant and worthy hearts, firmly believing the words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Offering
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
Offertory Silent Night LSB 363
Children
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
Nur das traute, hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.
C: 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
THE LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION
PREFACE TO HOLY COMMUNION
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 Him thanks and praise.
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS LSB 208
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;
Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.
Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;
Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father:
Endless is Your mercy and eternal your reign.
You have filled all creation with light and life;
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Through Abraham you promised to bless all nations.
You rescued Israel, your chosen people.
Through the prophets you renewed your promise;
And, at this the end of all ages, you sent your Son,
Who in words and deeds proclaimed your kingdom
and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Therefore, gracious Father; with this bread and cup
We remember the life our Lord offered for us.
And believing the witness of his resurrection,
We await his coming in power to share with us
The great and promised feast.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and place,
And unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest
Until he comes as victorious Lord of all.
Amen.
THE 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.
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 963
1 Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;
grant us Your peace,
grant us Your peace.
DISTRIBUTION (Be seated)
Those wishing to commune at the foot of the steps should come forward first. Those wishing to commune at the altar rail should come forward after these, front rows first, from both sides of the aisle. After receiving, all should return to their seats. A common dismissal will be given at the end.
Distribution Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus LSB 338
1 Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of ev’ry nation,
Joy of ev’ry longing heart.
2 Born Thy people to deliver;
Born a child and yet a king!
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come LSB 350
1 Come, Thou precious Ransom, come,
Only hope for sinful mortals!
Come, O Savior of the world!
Open are to Thee all portals.
Come, Thy beauty let us see;
Anxiously we wait for Thee.
2 Enter now my waiting heart,
Glorious King and Lord most holy.
Dwell in me and ne’er depart,
Though I am but poor and lowly.
Ah, what riches will be mine
When Thou art my guest divine!
3 My hosannas and my palms
Graciously receive, I pray Thee;
Evermore, as best I can,
Savior, I will homage pay Thee,
And in faith I will embrace,
Lord, Thy merit through Thy grace.
4 Hail! Hosanna, David’s Son!
Jesus, hear our supplication!
Let Thy kingdom, scepter, crown,
Bring us blessing and salvation,
That forever we may sing:
Hail! Hosanna to our King.
Post-Communion Collect (Pastor)
Prince of Peace
Jesus Christ came for all people, and all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior belong to His eternal kingdom. God showed His desire for all to be saved when He placed a star in the heavens to guide Wise Men from the East to the Savior of the world.
We read from Matthew chapter 2: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him’ ” (Matthew 2:1–2).
That special star guided the Wise Men to the place where Jesus was. Matthew writes, “The star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9–11).
Children
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.
Prince of Peace is the final name Isaiah gives the promised Messiah. We all want peace in our lives and in our world. Only Jesus gives us true peace—peace with God. Jesus won that peace for us when He went to the cross to pay for our sins.
Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
C: The child born in Bethlehem is Jesus, the Messiah. He is our Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!
Hymn The People That in Darkness Sat LSB 412
C: His righteous government and power
Shall over all extend;
On judgment and on justice based,
His reign shall have no end.
P: Let us pray.
C: Heavenly Father, thank You for fulfilling Your promise to send Your Son to be our Savior who came to live, die, and rise again for us. In His name we pray. Amen.
Blessing
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: Amen.
Hymn Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates Sts 1, 3, 5 LSB 340
1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits.
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here.
Life and salvation He doth bring;
Therefore rejoice and gladly sing.
To God the Father raise
Your joyful songs of praise.
3 How blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the ruler is confessed!
O peaceful hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
The cloudless sun of joy is He
Who comes to set His people free.
To God the Spirit raise
Your happy shouts of praise.
5 Redeemer, come and open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
O enter with Thy grace divine;
Thy face of mercy on me shine.
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won.
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy name.
FLOWERS: Jennifer Zambone
FELLOWSHIP CONTRIBUTORS: Council Officers
Those serving:
8:00 a.m.
Greeter: Steve Janssen
Comm. assist: Jim Easterly
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
10:30 a.m.
Greeter: Lynn Jacquez
Comm. assist: Holly Siebrass
Reader: Sunday School
Acolyte: Julia Dennis
AV Assistants: Hannes Buuck, Andreas Buuck
