Christmas Eve 8:00p 12/24/21
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
CHRISTMAS EVE
December 24, 2021
8:00 p.m.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
Pastorale ‘Gesu Bambino’ – Pietro Yon
The Holy Boy – John Ireland
Noel no, 10 – Louis-Claude Daquin
Choirmaster and Organist: Kantor Aaron Jansen
CALL TO WORSHIP (Stand) #384 Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Stanza one is sung by one voice)
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.
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.
INVOCATION
P: In the name of the Father and of the Son ✠ and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
INTROIT from Psalm 98
Oh sing to the LORD a new song,
For he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The LORD has made known his salvation;
He has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
PRAYER
Let us pray. O God,
because you once caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light, grant that we who have known the mystery of that Light here on earth may come to the full measure of its joys in heaven; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN #379 O Come, All Ye Faithful
(As the cross is brought forward, the Congregation turns to face the front)
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
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
2 Highest, most holy,
Light of Light eternal,
Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes;
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing! Refrain
3 Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest: Refrain
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Dearly beloved of God, we come together on this night to hear of the great miracle whereby God became flesh and dwelt among us. Because He did this in order to free us from our sin, let us first consider our transgressions and confess these before God and one another.
(Silent reflection and confession)
God of our Salvation:
we have sinned in our relationships with you and with one another. We have hurt others through our words and actions and have failed to respond to your life-giving Spirit. Have mercy on us for the sake of Jesus. Forgive us by grace, renew us in love and lead us with joy, that we may bear your peace to all the world. Amen.
To all who receive Him, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God. Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a minister of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE #377 (Stand) “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing”
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 men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
Then why should men on earth be so 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 grace,
Then life and health come in its place,
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
Angels and men with joy may 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 and peace to men
Now and forevermore. Amen.”
OLD TESTAMENT READING (Be seated) Isaiah 9:2–7
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.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
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.
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.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM JUBILATION CHOIR Wexford Carol
Good people all, this Christmastime, Consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done, In sending his beloved son. With Mary holy we should pray To God with love this Christmas Day; In Bethlehem up-on that morn There was a bless-ed Messiah born.
The night before that happy tide, The noble Virgin and her guide Were long time seeking up and down To find a lodging in the town. But mark how all things came to pass; From ev’ry door repell’d, alas! As long foretold, their refuge all Was but an humble ox’s stall.
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep Their flocks of lamb and feeding sheep; To whom God’s angels did appear, Which put the shepherds in great fear. ‘Prepare and go’, the angels said, ‘To Bethlehem, be not afraid; For there you’ll find, this happy morn, A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.’
With thankful heart and joyful mind, The shepherds went the babe to find, And as God’s angel had foretold, They did our Savior Christ behold, Within a manger he was laid, And by his side the virgin maid, Attending on the Lord of life, Who came on earth to end all strife.
NEW TESTAMENT READING Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL HYMN #361 (Stand) “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
1 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.
2 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!
3 How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
4 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;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel!
CHRISTMAS GOSPEL Luke 2:1-20
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 2nd chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David; to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they had heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (KJV)
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON (Be seated)
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
The children’s sermon may have centered around the verse from James – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of light” – but that verse was chosen because of our second reading today – the one that the church has assigned us to read, from Titus, chapter two. That text begins with the verse: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”
We can see right away why this is such a good Christmas text. Christmas is all about remembering and celebrating that Jesus has appeared.
The Greek word for “appearing” is epiphany. You may recognize this word as the name we give to the season right after Christmas. It’s a very appropriate name because in that season we tell of the early life and ministry of Jesus, with its texts establishing for us just how good and how different things are now that Jesus has appeared.
Today, as we think of his very first appearing, Paul’s words to Titus are also appropriate because of how they describe what this appearing means. Paul makes clear that this isn’t just the appearance of a man. Rather, “the grace of God” has appeared.
What a wonderful way to describe Jesus. Jesus is the grace of God.
Think about this. Grace is love. Grace is caring. Grace is mercy. All of these are given in Jesus. And Jesus gives them in the greatest measures.
Let’s think about this word in the Greek, too. Grace is Xaris. And from that word comes one of the Greek words for gift – Xarisma. As we can see by this relationship between the words, a gift is to be understood as an expression of grace. Pretty cool. And this shows us, clearly, that Jesus, as God’s grace, is also God’s gift.
By the way, it’s always good to look at the words of the scriptures in the original language of the New Testament. But I thought a little Greek would be good tonight, too, to remind us that it’s more than just the language of Delta, Omicron and those awful Covid variants! God’s word comes to us through this language, and this word is far more powerful than any virus.
Oh, and I could tell you a lot more about those words because of a gift I received this past year. Pastor Lehrer, bless his heart, gave me his copies of Gerhardt Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament – a nine-volume work that takes up about this (!!) much space on a bookshelf. Lots of good reading! But I think what I’ve given you is probably sufficient for tonight.
Yes, God’s grace is a gift. And as such, it is “free” – coming to us without any strings attached, much like a little child receives a Christmas gift and is expected to give nothing in return. Paul stated this understanding most clearly to the Ephesians when he wrote: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Paul said something similar to the Romans as well when he wrote: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Indeed, God’s grace is “free” in that it is given without consideration for the worthiness of the recipient. God offers the free gift of grace to all – the divine Giver lavishing his favor on his children. This is not a Santa Claus-y type of grace in which only the good little boys and girls are offered it and the naughty get lumps of coal. God’s gift of grace is unconditional in that it doesn’t depend on one’s status or good works to receive it.
Sometimes people question this. Maybe even you. In fact, you might find yourself saying: “I’m pretty sure if I go to church, they’re going to want me to live a certain way, support their efforts, etc. And these sound like conditions.”
They may sound that way. But they’re not. Rather, they’re goals. And desired outcomes.
Think of it this way: grace is unconditional in the giving, but it is also a gift designed to be opened, used, enjoyed and treasured. It’s the kind of gift given for the benefiting of one’s life. In that sense, it’s also a conditioning gift … the sort of gift that changes the relationship between the giver and receiver and conditions the receiver into a new way of living.
God’s grace is unconditional (no strings attached), but also conditioning in that it creates a certain condition. A good one!
I suppose at this point we could make the comparison to hair conditioner. A hair conditioner creates a good condition for your hair. For that matter, an air conditioner creates a better condition for the air. You get the point.
Jesus creates a good condition for your life. We see this point made by Paul to Titus as well. Right after he says that the grace of God has appeared “bringing salvation for all people,” which is unconditional grace, he then adds that it is, “training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.” That’s the conditioning Jesus brings.
I don’t know if the idea of conditioning is going to catch on as a theological term. It hasn’t to this point from what I can tell. But it does mirror well this idea of training.
The Madison High School football team recently took second place in the state of Virginia – an awesome achievement! I’m pretty sure they spent a lot of time working on their conditioning. It was probably a regular part of their training. I hear they have some very motivating coaches!
Training is important. And the training Jesus gives us is the most important of all.
Note how Paul describes this training in his letter to Titus. It begins with “renouncing ungodliness and worldly passions.” Think about this. Even before we can live the way God wants us to, we must renounce – that is, take a stand against – those ways of living which oppose God’s plans. Sometimes this renouncing is the hardest part. Sometimes we lose the battle right there.
Then Paul urges us “to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” We’re to show discipline in our lives, make righteous choices and mirror the ways of God as best we can.
And here, because Paul knows that this kind of life is not always so easy, he introduces the idea of waiting – “waiting for our blessed hope.” We can more easily find the strength to live a better life if we know we have something to look forward to. It works the same way with Christmas gifts. We can wait to see our gifts if we know that we’ll get to open them on Christmas Day. Kids eventually learn this. We can learn to wait for God’s gifts too.
When Paul brings up the subject of waiting, he also tells us what we’re waiting for. And what we’re waiting for is another epiphany. We’re “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
This appearing will take place at the end of time; when Christ comes again. This will be a time when all will see his glory. And notice just how glorious that glory is. Jesus will come with the glory of God – because he is God. Paul calls him here “our great God and Savior.” This is a clear and strong statement about the divinity of Jesus. Jesus is not only Savior. He is God.
But of course his particular role is to save us. So that’s what Paul mentions as he tells us more. Jesus is our great God and Savior “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession.”
Our salvation consists in being redeemed from all lawlessness – our lawlessness – with the price of the redemption being his death on the cross. Jesus has saved us from our sins. He has purified us and made us his own possession. That means that even in those times when we fail in our training, and our conditioning runs short, we are still saved. We are saved because we have been redeemed by Jesus’ blood. And we belong to him.
Paul will often end sections of his messages with words like these. But here he adds one further thought. Jesus saves, trains, redeems and purifies with the goal of bringing forth those “who are zealous for good works.”
And because Paul ends this way, let’s do so now as well. Here we are, celebrating the birth of Jesus, remembering our salvation, and that is certainly good and right for us to do. But let’s not forget to crank up a little zeal after we leave this place. And let’s be sure that our zeal is directed to good works – those words and actions of ours that build other people up and make the world a better place.
Jesus Christ is God’s gift to us. And he is the perfect gift.
Let us find joy and meaning in giving gifts to others, even if ours aren’t so perfect. With zeal, training and the hope of the perfect future to come, we can do surprisingly well. That is our faith. And we know God is with us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY #389 (Stand) Sts. 1-4, 7 Let All Together Praise Our God
1 Let all together praise our God
Before His glorious throne;
Today He opens heav’n again
To give us His own Son,
To give us His own Son.
2 He leaves His heav’nly Father’s throne,
Is born an infant small,
And in a manger, poor and lone,
Lies in a humble stall,
Lies in a humble stall.
3 Within an earthborn form He hides
His all-creating light;
To serve us all He humbly cloaks
The splendor of His might,
The splendor of His might.
4 He undertakes a great exchange,
Puts on our human frame,
And in return gives us His realm,
His glory, and His name,
His glory, and His name.
7 Your grace in lowliness revealed,
Lord Jesus, we adore
And praise to God the Father yield
And Spirit evermore;
We praise You evermore.
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; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. 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. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He 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.
OFFERING
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
The response to each petition will be:
P: “Lord, in Your mercy,”
C: “hear our prayer!”
✠✠✠
COMMUNION LITURGY
PREFACE (Stand)
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.
PROPER PREFACE
SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
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.
AGNUS DEI
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.
COMMUNION HYMN #370 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!
2 Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne 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!
COMMUNION HYMN #380 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
1 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 the_angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Refrain
Refrain
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
2 Christ, by highest heav’n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the_incarnate Deity!
Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel! Refrain
3 Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth. Refrain
BLESSING
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER (Stand)
O God, as you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
SHARING THE CANDLELIGHT
(The congregation’s candles are lighted from the Christ Candle. In passing the flame, DO NOT TIP A LIGHTED CANDLE. The candles remain burning until after the benediction.)
HYMN #363 (Sing in the language of your choice) “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.
BLESSING (Extinguish candles following the Blessing)
SENDING HYMN #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.
DISMISSAL
P: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Joy to the World Settings: 1. Wilbur Held 2. Hugo Gehrke
THOSE SERVING IN OUR MIDST:
Greeter:
Reader: Lynn Jacquez
Communion Assistant: Dede Dixon
Violin: Shaw-hwa “Jenny” Yang
Acknowledgements
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Quarter 1. Copyright © 2021 Concordia Publishing House.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. 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 © 2021 Concordia Publishing House.
Of the Father’s Love Begotten Text and tune: Public domain, O Come, All Ye Faithful Text & Tune: Public domain
On Christmas Night All Christians Sing Text and tune: Public domain, O Little Town of Bethlehem Text & Tune: Public domain
Let All Together Praise Our God Text (sts. 1, 3–4, 7): © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Text (st. 2): Public domain Tune: Public domain, What Child Is This Text & Tune: Public domain, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Text & Tune: Public domain, Silent Night, Holy Night Text & Tune: Public domain, Joy to the World Text & Tune: Public domain