Worship Service for December 24, 2021 at 6 PM

Pre-service Music: Christ Is Born, Sing Alleluia!

Christ Is Born, Sing Alleluia!
God’s own Son,  and our Savior
Let us worship Him, Alleluia.

Welcome

Opening Songs: 
O Come All Ye Faithful

Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
Oh come ye oh come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him Born the King of angels
Oh come let us adore him, Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him Christ the Lord!

Sing choirs of angels Sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of hea’en above!
Glory to Go – d Glory in the highest
Oh come let us adore him, Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him Christ the Lord!

Yea Lord we greet Thee Born this happy morning;
Jesus to Thee be glory giv’n!
Word of the Father now in flesh appearing!
Oh come let us adore him, Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him Christ the Lord!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark the herald angels sing “Glory to the new born King
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God an sinners reconciled”
Joyful all ye nations rise_ Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim “Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark the herald angels sing “Glory to the new born King”

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace.
Hail the son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die
Born to raise each child of earth, born to Give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King”
Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King”

Invocation

P: In the stillness of this night,
C: A gift is given.
P: Wrapped in swaddling cloth, coming to us as a little baby,
C: God’s greatest gift is given.
P: In the miracle and mystery of God’s Son born in human flesh,
C: God has given us his salvation.

Confession and Forgiveness:

P: As we gather to celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us pray in repentant faith and seek God’s mercy for our sins.

(a time of silence to reflect and personally confess our sins)

P: In our Christmas joy, let us confess our sins.

C: Mighty God, on this day of celebration, we confess our sin to You. We are by nature sinful. Without Your help, we are powerless to overcome it. We confess our impatience with You and with others, our seeking after worldly passions, and our self-indulgent ways of life. By our sin, we have hurt others, ourselves, and You. We plead with You to forgive our sins for the sake of Christ and to transform our broken lives.

P: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and the light shines on them. The grace of God has appeared through the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, bringing salvation to all people. I, a called and ordained servant of Christ, by His authority, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

Song of Praise and Thanksgiving: Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo; Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be? Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo; Gloria, in excelsis Deo;

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo; Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Old Testament Reading – 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 shone.

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.

Epistle Reading – Hebrews 1:1–4

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.

Children’s Message

Sermon Hymn – Away in a Manger

Away in a manger, No crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus, Lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky, looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus, Asleep on the hay.

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay,
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children, in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with thee there.

Sermon – “Jesus Is the Son of Sinners.”

Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Prayers

Apostles’ Creed

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 there 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.

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

Words of Institution

Peace

P: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
C: And also with you.
P: We greet each other in the peace of Christ.

Distribution

Prayer

Silent Night

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!

Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah
Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born!

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!

Benediction

Closing Song: Joy to the World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart Prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

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!

Offering

Upcoming Events

December 26, 11am – Worship Service
Song and Dance

January 2, 11am – Worship Service
Song and Dance

January 9, 11am – Worship Service
New Series – “Breaking Down the Barriers to a Deeper Faith Life”
Song and Dance

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