Christmas Eve

The Nativity of Our Lord—Christmas Eve December 24, 2015

Grace Lutheran Church Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

and Preschool

God’s grace welcomes you, no matter who you are or where you are from—and so do we. We

believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior of all people. By his perfect life, innocent death, and

triumphant resurrection he saves all lost sinners even without our help. Jesus Christ makes us

special people, right with God and ready for life! We learn this from the Bible, God’s authentic

message of grace and guidance for us. Whether you are a first time visitor or a returning guest,

we are delighted to share our worship with you. You are always welcome here. If there is

anything we can do to make your visit more comfortable, please let us know. The restrooms

are located down the hall opposite the sanctuary, and there is also a cry room with toys across

from the coat racks. Please worship with us again soon!

God’s grace… it’s the heart of it all

1515 South 15th Street Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin 53821

Church Office: 608-326-4899 www.gracepdc.net

Daniel Naumann, Pastor pastornaumann.gracepdc@gmail.com

Cell Phone: 608-306-1011

Debi Bahlmann, Preschool Director and Teacher preschool@gracepdc.net

Cell Phone: 608-485-2396

and Preschool

Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful Christian Worship 55

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son 9 and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

P: Dear friends, on this night we remember and celebrate the beginning of God’s great

plan of salvation put into action. Jesus came to earth to forgive sins. Yet we are not worthy to come into his presence. Therefore, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking him in the name of our Savior Jesus to forgive us.

C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For faithless worrying and selfish pride, For sins of habit and sins of choice, For the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, You should cast me away from your presence forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’s sake.

Candlelight Service

Please stand.

P: Glory to God in the highest! In love that astounds us, the eternal God sent his one and only Son to live among us, to obey as we could not, and to suffer what we deserved. In Christ there is indeed peace on earth. In him God extends his good will to all people. He was born to save us. Because of Christ and by his authority, I say to you what God himself says: In Christ 9 your sins are forgiven!

C: Glory to God in the highest! Amen.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Gloria in Excelsis Christian Worship 61

Please be seated.

P: O God, who makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your only Son,

Jesus Christ, grant that as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Isaiah 9:2-7 2 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. 3 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.

4 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.

5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 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.

7 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.

A Son, Emmanuel (Meditation on Hebrews 2 and Psalm 8) Composed and Arranged by Koiné Hands that placed the stars, reaching for the virgin’s warm embrace. Word that once was spoke, gath’ring waters, cries into the night. “Who is man that you mind? The son of man that you care?” You placed him here beneath angels, a Son, Emmanuel. “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. Son now hear my voice, Go unto my chosen people. No burden they’ll ever bear, will you, my Son not share. Like them in ev’ry way, from their sins you will save.” Fit for a King, a crown, thorned with human sin and pride, ribboned with man’s disdain and lies. Pressed on all sides, oh, from the tempter’s whispered sins, “Who is man that you should mind?” “This is now my choice to walk among my fellow brothers. Wounds I won’t erase to bear the sin that’s pulled them from your heart. No skin of mine will be saved, but for you will be slaved.” Beneath the light of angelic skies a Son, Emmanuel.

1 John 1:1-9

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(Luke 2:11) P: Alleluia. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Alleluia. Please stand for the reading of the Gospel.

Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Please be seated.

Following the sermon, please stand for the Creed.

* The Augsburg Confession was written for an official gathering on June 25, 1530. There a group of Lutheran princes, university professors, and other laymen read this Confession before the Holy Roman Emperor. The unaltered version of this Confession is still a basis for our Lutheran Church body today. Article III gives a clear confession of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, which we focus on during the Christmas season.

Please be seated.

To Shepherds as They Watched by Night Christian Worship 53

C: Our churches teach that the Word, that is, the Son of God,

assumed the human nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. So there are two natures—the divine and the human—inseparably joined in one person. There is one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. He did this to reconcile the Father to us and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of mankind.

He also descended into hell, and truly rose again on the third day. Afterward, He

ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. There He forever reigns and has dominion over all creatures. He sanctifies those who believe in Him, by sending the Holy Spirit into their hearts to rule, comfort, and make them alive. He defends them against the devil and the power of sin.

The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead.

The members of Grace Lutheran Church have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. Please also note that tonight’s offering will go directly to support our Synod’s home and world missions. Following the offering please stand.

The pastor lights a candle from the altar candles; the ushers light their candles from the pastor’s candle. The ushers then light the candle of each worshiper nearest the aisle. The flame is passed down the aisle from worshipper to worshipper. Lighted candles should not be tipped, to avoid wax dripping on the floor. The unlighted candle should be tipped when lighting it from a neighbor’s candle.

Silent Night, Holy Night! Christian Worship 60

P: Almighty God, heavenly Father, we are thankful that you fulfilled all of your ancient

promises and sent us a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. Your Son left the glory of heaven and became flesh of our flesh. He became our brother so that through him we might become your children. We marvel at his grace.

P: Almighty God, you made this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true light. Grant that as we have known on earth the wonder of that light, we may also behold him in all glory in the life to come; through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The candles are extinguished. You may hand them to the ushers as you leave.

The music in this service folder is covered under Onelicense.net, license # A-722539, and CCLI, license # 1222450. Quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All artwork in this folder is a product of Paramentics. © 2015 Ian M. Welch. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved. paramentics.com Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

As you have shown us your glory on this holy evening, so one day bring us into your glory in heaven, where we will take our places among the saints and angels. There we will forever praise and glorify you for the grace and mercy you have shown to us poor sinners. Hear us, O Lord, for the sake of your name, in which we also join to pray:

C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

P: May he who by his incarnation gathered things earthly and heavenly into one, fill us with

such joy that comes with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And the blessing of God Almighty—the Father, the Son, 9 and the Holy Spirit—be upon you and remain with you always.

C: Amen. Please be seated.