Christmas Day 12/25/22
CHRISTMAS DAY
DECEMBER 25, 2022
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
10:00 a.m.
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THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE Gentle Mary Laid Her Child Setting: Donald Rotermund
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN #374 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
1 Gentle Mary laid her child
Lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the Undefiled,
To the world a stranger.
Such a babe in such a place,
Can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race
Who have found His favor.
2 Angels sang about His birth,
Wise Men sought and found Him;
Heaven’s star shone brightly forth
Glory all around Him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight,
Heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night,
All the hills were ringing.
3 Gentle Mary laid her child
Lowly in a manger;
He is still the Undefiled
But no more a stranger.
Son of God of humble birth,
Beautiful the story;
Praise His name in all the earth;
Hail the King of glory!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION p. 167
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
KYRIE p. 168
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE – “Gloria in Excelsis” p. 170
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty God,
grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Isaiah 52:7-10
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.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
HYMN #385 From East to West
1 From east to west, from shore to shore
Let ev’ry heart awake and sing
The holy child whom Mary bore,
The Christ, the everlasting king.
2 Behold, the world’s creator wears
The form and fashion of a slave;
Our very flesh our maker shares,
His fallen creatures all to save.
3 For this how wondrously He wrought!
A maiden, in her lowly place,
Became, in ways beyond all thought,
The chosen vessel of His grace.
4 And while the angels in the sky
Sang praise above the silent field,
To shepherds poor the Lord Most High,
The one great Shepherd, was revealed.
5 All glory for this blessèd morn
To God the Father ever be;
All praise to You, O Virgin-born,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
SECOND LESSON Hebrews 1:1-6
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.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL HYMN (Stand) #387 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 men 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.
GOSPEL John 1:1-14
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 1st chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
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.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ
SERMON (Be seated)
In the name of Jesus, Amen!
“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. ” We should see that the picture painted by prophet Isaiah has been fulfilled. It was fulfilled on the first Christmas day and is being fulfilled on every Christmas Day thereafter. Angels from on high, like messengers upon the mountains, have sung to the shepherds, bringing good news, publishing peace, bringing good news of happiness, proclaiming salvation, saying, “Your God reigns.” Maybe they didn’t say those exact words , but they indeed said, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Every Christmas, the words from prophet Isiah or similar words are heard from around the world, with modern technology broadcasting from the space that even people on the highest mountain could hear it. We should see it fulfilled in the Christmas Story of the shepherds running off to tell everyone what they saw and heard: the sign of the Christ Child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, and also in every Christmas story of people who are baptized and received Jesus as their savior on Christmas Day, proclaiming the good news to friends and family what they experienced. Christmas day is a day of peace and happiness. However, one sentence in our old
testament text seems to stand out of place and catches us attention, in verse 10, “The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations.”
“Baring arm”? What kind of picture is this? First of all, let’s ask the Lutheran question. What does it mean? What does the “arm” mean in Holy Scripture? Besides the obvious meaning of a body part, it is also a symbol for a person’s strength. A man’s arm is his power, his ability to accomplish deeds and to labor. A warrior uses his arm to fight. A plumber uses his arm to fix things, a worker to produce things. And you use your arm to move things around. When I was young, at one time when I played soccer, I fell and hurt my right arm. I felt useless and helpless. God’s people in ancient time saw God’s merciful power when He brought them back from captivity in Babylon, they knew that the Lord bared His Holy arm before the eyes of all nations, because over night the most powerful nation on earth at that time, the arch enemy of Israel was overthrown. For God to bare His holy arm means to show His Power and defeat His enemies. This sentence seems out of place because it paints a picture of war, not peace; painful and deadly defeat, not happiness. It seems to belong to Law and judgment, not Gospel. Yes, it is law and judgment for those who rebel against God, for those who don’t repent and for Satan and his minions. However, it is Gospel for those who do repent and trust His power to save, and to help in our battlefield against sin, death, and the devil. That’s why after saying “The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations,” our old testament text continue to say, “all
the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Actually, the next verse after our text, verse 11 says, “Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD.” The purpose of God baring His Holy arm is to pull us out of the pit of uncleanness to be holy. He saved people of Israel from the oppression of unclean idols and slave maters in Babylon, so did He save the church from the corruption and bondage of the papacy during the Reformation, as Martin Luther called it “Babylonian Captivity of the Church”, and so does He continue to save us from sin and every evil, from our own uncleanness and from the sinfulness and evil of this world.
Now, what does the Arm of God have to do with Christmas, you may ask? Our text Isaiah 52 comes right before the fourth Savant Song Isaiah chapter 53. The first verse of Isaiah 53 says, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the Arm of the LORD been revealed?” Then we find out that the Arm is the one who grew up as a young plant, “and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…” The Arm of the LORD is the suffering servant prophesied by Isaiah. You may say the picture of this servant, or this Arm doesn’t look strong and powerful, doesn’t look like a victor in the battlefield. God bared His Arm in this suffering Savant to show His mercy. “He was pierced for our
transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” This Is powerful because it is God’s power of unfathomable Love that human logic doesn’t understand. God’s Arm with a capital “A”, is not of just one part, but of one substance with God the Father: “at the Father’s side,” as described in our Gospel reading, John 1:18. The Arm of God is a person distinct from God the Father but being one with Him. The Arm of God is the Son of God, who became man on Christmas day, the Son of God incarnate. The Arm is “bared” by putting on our human flesh so that we can see God, the only true God. He is “bared” to make God the Father known, full of grace and truth. The Arm of God is Jesus Christ. This Arm who brought the people of Israel from Babylon makes the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk. He heals the sick, raises up the dead. The Arm works and labors. The Arm works salvation. Wounded on the cross, the Arm is victorious over sin, death, and the devil by rising up on the third day. He destroys Satan’s kingdom and sets us from its bondage and brings us back to the Kingdom of God. Our God reigns. That’s His power, the Power to save.
By removing sins and collapsing the wall of hostility, Jesus Christ, the Arm of God, brings us closer to the Father. That’s why it’s Good News. Like the people of Israel who was brought back to Jerusalem by the Arm of God, with the voice of watchmen lifting up their voice, singing for joy together as they saw the return of the Lord to Zion, we too will lift up our voice singing Christmas Joy together,
bringing good news of happiness, publishing peace of salvation that the Arm of God has accomplished for us .
Dear brothers and sister, “The Lord has bared His holy arm.” He has revealed this Arm in His Son, Jesus, to the world! The Arm is not some kind of random and unpredictable power. Rather God’s Arm has become man full of grace and truth to work salvation for us and bring us closer to Himself. So, take heart! And rejoice! Enjoy every gift of this season, especially the hope, peace, joy, and love that the Arm of God has brought us, for He is the source of all goodness and our salvation. Our God reigns!
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen!
HYMN OF THE DAY #373 (Stand) See amid the Winter’s Snow
1 See amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See, the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years. Refrain
Refrain
Hail, O ever-blessèd morn!
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
2 Lo, within a stable lies
He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim. Refrain
3 Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this! Refrain
4 Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee
In Thy sweet humility. Refrain
NICENE CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life T of the world to come. 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.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for the eternal Word made flesh; and for His dwelling among us full of grace and truth, that His praise would be extended into all the world and that many with us would come to hope in His steadfast love, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who publish peace and bring good news of happiness in Christ, that they would be kept faithful to declare His reign; and for all missionaries at home and abroad, that all the ends of the earth may see His salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For families who gather in this holy season, that they may have patience and be slow to judge and quick to forgive, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the lonely, that they may be comforted with Christ’s presence, and that we may extend to them the welcome of our homes and the friendship of His grace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in poverty or want, that they may be helped; and that God would increase our generosity so that we would present our bodies as living sacrifices, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation, that it would walk humbly before the true God; and for our soldiers who stand watch this day, that they would be kept safe, and their families would be upheld while they are apart, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick, lonely, grieving and poor in spirit; and for all on our prayer list and for those we name in our hearts at this time… that they may find comfort and healing in Jesus Christ, the light no darkness can overcome, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who commune, that they would receive the body and blood of Jesus worthily with faith in His bodily presence; and that they would depart having received grace upon grace from His fullness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
We thank You, Lord God, for all Your people who have gone before us and now rest in Your presence. Keep us faithful with them until that day when You make all things new; for You live and reign with Christ and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
PREFACE LSB 177
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…evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS LSB 178
Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heav’n and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING LSB 178
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD LSB 179
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
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 LSB 180
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 180
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 peace.
THE COMMUNION (Be seated)
The Communion Assistant will come forward to receive first, then those from the pulpit side – by order of pew, front to back. Communicants will come up the center aisle and return via the side aisle. When all from the pulpit side have communed, the baptismal font side will commune in the same manner. We ask that the wine be consumed away from the tray table. Empty cups should be dropped into the receptacles.
COMMUNION HYMN #384 Of the Father’s Love Begotten
1 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.
2 Oh, that birth forever blessèd,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Savior of our race,
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.
3 This is He whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.
4 O ye heights of heav’n, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing.
Pow’rs, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.
5 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. Amen.
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN #386 Now Sing We, Now Rejoice
1 Now sing we, now rejoice,
Now raise to heav’n our voice;
He from whom joy streameth
Poor in a manger lies;
Not so brightly beameth
The sun in yonder skies.
Thou my Savior art!
Thou my Savior art!
2 Come from on high to me;
I cannot rise to Thee.
Cheer my wearied spirit,
O pure and holy Child;
Through Thy grace and merit,
Blest Jesus, Lord most mild,
Draw me unto Thee!
Draw me unto Thee!
3 Now through His Son doth shine
The Father’s grace divine.
Death was reigning o’er us
Through sin and vanity
Till He opened for us
A bright eternity.
May we praise Him there!
May we praise Him there!
4 Oh, where shall joy be found?
Where but on heav’nly ground?
Where the angels singing
With all His saints unite,
Sweetest praises bringing
In heav’nly joy and light.
Oh, that we were there!
Oh, that we were there!
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE I Dulci Jubilo Setting: Paul Manz
Those serving:
Sunday, December 25 10:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Richard Kauzlarich
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2022 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
Gentle Mary Laid Her ChildText: Joseph Simpson Cook, 1859–1933 Tune: Piae Cantiones Ecclesiasticae, 1582, Griefswald Text & Tune: Public domain
From East to West Text: Coelius Sedulius, 5th cent.; tr. John Ellerton, 1826–93, alt. Tune: Geistliche lieder, 1539, Leipzig, ed. Valten Schumann Text & Tune: Public domain
Joy to the World Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748 Tune: George Frideric Handel, 1685–1759, adapt. Text & Tune: Public domain
See amid the Winter’s Snow Text: Edward Caswall, 1814–78, alt. Tune: John Goss, 1800–80 Text & Tune: Public domain
Of the Father’s Love Begotten Text: Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, 348–c. 413 Tune: Plainsong, 13th cent., mode V Text and tune: Public domain
Now Sing We, Now Rejoice Text: Latin and German, 14th cent.; tr. Arthur T. Russell, 1806–74, alt. Tune: German, 14th cent. Text and tune: Public domain
