22 Dec Bulletin – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2023 (EVENING SERVICES)
WELCOME to the Candlelight CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
of MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
December 24, 2023
7:00 PM and 9:00 PM
OPENING HYMN
O Come All Ye Faithful
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 O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
2 The 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
4 Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: Refrain
Text: attr. John Francis Wade, 1711-1786; tr. Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880, sts. 1, 3-4; tr. unknown, st. 2
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that we may walk in the light of your Son’s presence and on the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; thanks be to God for Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God, now and forever. Amen.
The following are paraphrased selections from a narrative reading of Isaiah 9:2-7, (Living Bible Translation)
Light shines; a child is born for us. People who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. For the nation will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when harvest time comes. For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be issuing of battle gear; no more bloodstained uniforms of war; all such things will be burned. For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Everlasting Father,” “ Prince of Peace.” His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. This is going to happen, this is going to happen, because the Lord of heaven’s armies, because the Lord of heaven’s armies has dedicated himself to do it! To do what? To bring true justice and peace to all nations of the world. Justice and peace to all nations of the world.
What would it mean for not only a nation, but for the entire world to experience the rule of a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father/Prince of Peace? How would perfect fairness and justice look to those who experience death and its lingering shadow, who feel bound by lifelong experiences of great trouble and suffering?
In order to gain some perspective, let’s look at a few Humanitarian Crises in the world from which attention has been diverted because of war elsewhere. According to Save the Children, “In countries across the Horn of Africa: especially Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia hunger and displacement are on the rise as crops fail and livestock die. Afghanistan is trying to transition after decades of war and is in the grip of economic crisis which pushed millions into extreme hunger. The Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to be one of the top two countries with the highest number of extreme poor by 2030.
You might be thinking, “Gee, Pastor Brody. This message doesn’t feel very Christmassy. This sounds like a news broadcast or one of those charity infomercials.” Yes, it does. And that’s exactly why it’s important to realize what the birth of Jesus Christ means to people suffering today, and not just historically/during the time in which he was born.
Seven years of war in Yemen have left more than 4 million people internally displaced – half of whom are children. If you’re at all like me, you may not be able to even guess where The Republic of Yemen is located. It’s at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in what’s called Western Asia. It’s bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, a gulf and the Arabian Sea to the south, the country of Oman to the east. Soaring food and fuel costs combined with budget cuts and inflation have forced the World Food Program to halve the amount of food given to millions who rely on aid to survive.
Earlier today, during our morning service, the congregation confessed that the God of life promised good news of great joy for all people, that we are called to be messengers of peace. Instead, through a combination of life choices, government policies, and individual preferences, we deprive others of what we as Americans enjoy: vast resources and security. For various reasons, conflict is prolonged and the needs of neighbors are neglected, neighbors not only defined as only those living in proximity or near our borders. Collectively we ignore the groaning of creation and its inhabitants. Lord, have mercy.
PSALM 96:10-13
“Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord is king!
The one who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved will judge people with equity.”
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your coming, O Lord, for you come to judge the earth.
You will judge the world with righteousness and the people with your truth.
HYMN
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Refrain
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and ev’rywhere;
go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
1 While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. Refrain
2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when, lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth. Refrain
3 Down in a lonely manger
the humble Christ was born;
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain
Text: African-American spiritual, refrain; John W. Work Jr., 1872-1925, stanzas, alt.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
After ten years of brutal violence in Syria, half of the country’s children have grown up knowing nothing but conflict, living in areas where basic services are almost non-existent and the infrastructure, they rely on has been decimated. Syria is a country located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant, a region that includes Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan. 730,000 square kilometers, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east/southeast, Jordan to the south, Israel and Lebanon to the southwest. More than half the population has been forced to flee their homes, and thousands of children have been orphaned or separated from their families in the chaos of war. In South Sudan, successive years of devastating floods, civil war, intercommunal conflict and a deteriorating economy have driven hunger to historic levels.
Okay, is that enough bad news to lend perspective to the present world’s population needing to not only hear, but to experience God’s plan of salvation, good news and great joy? Remembering that Jesus himself was once a child with no place to lay his head, let us sing our next hymn.
HYMN
Away In a Manger
1 Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
the stars in the sky looked down where he lay;
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
2 The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
3 Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay
close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care
and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
Text: North American, anonymous, 19th cent
READING TITUS 2:11-14 (CEV)
God has shown us undeserved grace by coming to save all people. He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world. We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave himself to rescue us from everything evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right.
HYMN
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!
Text: William C. Dix, 1837-1898
SPECIAL MUSIC Pastor Brody and Steve
Breath of Heaven
GOSPEL READING LUKE 2:2-14 (KJV)
And it came to pass in those days, that there was a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 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 firstborn 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 Saviour, 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.
OFFERING
CANDLE LIGHTING
HYMN 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 your holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at your birth,
Jesus, Lord, at your birth.
Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1849; tr. John F. Young, 1820-1885
BLESSING
May God the Father, [☩] Son and Holy Spirit bless and keep you. May the love of God’s pure light send a new dawn of redeeming grace so that the entire world may believe that in Him, grace and truth are revealed. May the knowledge and comfort of Christ insure peace within the hearts of all humankind, now and forever. Amen.
DISMISSAL
Christ the Savior is born.
Thanks be to God.