Christmas Eve Service
December 24, 2016, 7 p.m.
We continue our tradition of filling our place of worship on Christmas Eve with praise to the newborn King. This service is an opportunity to hear of the great redeeming work of our Creator God in Scripture and song, and to join with angels in heaven and saints through the ages in singing songs of joy at the birth of our Savior.
Through readings from the Old and New Testaments, and by singing the great carols celebrating the birth of the Savior of the World, we discover that the shape of the Scripture is God’s promise of Christ, and God’s fulfilling of that promise in the sending of His Son, in Whom all the promises of God are “Yes” and “Amen.”
“Let every heart prepare Him room!”
Prelude
Invocation
Hymn 225* Once In Royal David’s City
First Lesson Genesis 3:6-15
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Hymn 196* Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Second Lesson* Isaiah 7:14, 9:2, 6-7
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel…The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Hymn 207* Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Third Lesson Luke 2:1-7
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Hymn 213 What Child is This?
Fourth Lesson Luke 2:8-14
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lordappeared to them, andthe 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 great joy that will be for allthe people. Forunto you is born this day inthe city of Davida Savior, who isChristthe Lord. Andthis will be a sign for you: you will find a babywrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angela multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to Godin the highest, and on earthpeace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Hymn 218* Angels From The Realms of Glory
Fifth Lesson Luke 2:15-19
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.” And 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.
Hymn 224* Go Tell It On The Mountain
Message The True Meaning of Christmas
Hymn 210* Silent Night! Holy Night!
Postlude
Special thanks to our pianist, Janet Ramig