Prelude Christmas Medley First Lutheran Musicians
Welcome & Announcements
*Christmas Proclamation
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
A great light has dawned upon the earth. The light no darkness can overcome.
The Word became flesh and lived among us,
And we have beheld Christ’s glory.
Come to the manger and worship the child, Jesus. Let all God’s angels praise our newborn king!
*Processional Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful
tune: Adeste Fideles
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:
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
The highest, most holy, light of light eternal,
born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;
Son of the Father now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore him...
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore him...
Organ Interlude
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him...
text: Latin, John Francis Wade circa 1740
English translation by Frederick Oakeley 1841; altered
*Prayer of the Day
Let us pray:
Gracious God of heaven and earth, you have thrown a lifeline to us in our darkness—a beam of light that shines through Jesus. Though born in a manger, he is the firstborn of all creation. Though crucified on a cross, he is the Lord of life. Fill us with the wonder and joy of his presence in the world and in our hearts.
Amen.
Carol Angels We Have Heard on High tune: Gloria
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 heav'nly 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!”
Traditional French carol,
First published in Nouveau Recueil de Cantiques 1855
English translation by James Chadwick ca. 1852
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 52:7-10
7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. 9Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
Carol Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; the stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing; the baby awakes, 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.
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.
The Epistle Lesson Hebrews 1:1-4
1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation O Little Town of Bethlehem
tune: St. Louis
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.
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.
*Gospel John 1:1-14 Glory to you O Lord
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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;
oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!
text: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893
Homily Pastor Mark Marius, Trinity Lutheran Santa Barbara
*Hymn of the Day Hark! The Herald Angels Sing tune: Mendelssohn
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn king;
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all you nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies;
with angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn king!"
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, incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn king!"
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 we no more may die,
born to raise each child of earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn king!"
text: Charles Wesley+ 1739
*Prayers of the People
Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.
Let us bring before God the needs of the world.
O wondrous God, on this holy day your Son our Savior was born in human flesh.
Renew your Church as the Body of Christ.
On this holy day there was no room for your Son in the inn.
Protect with your love those who live on our streets and all who live in poverty.
On this holy day Mary, in the pain of labor, brought your Son to birth.
Hold in your hand all who are in pain or distress, especially those we name now, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts...
On this holy day your Christ came as a light shining in the darkness.
Bring comfort to all who suffer in the sadness of our world.
On this holy day the angels said “Peace to God’s people on earth.”
Strengthen those who work for justice and peace in this place and throughout the world.
On this holy day the shepherds in the field heard good tidings of joy.
Give us grace to preach the gospel of Christ’s redemption.
On this holy day strangers found the Holy Family, and saw the baby lying in a manger.
Bless our homes and all whom we love.
On this holy day heaven is come down to earth, and earth is raised to heaven.
Hold in your hand all those who have passed through death in the hope of your coming kingdom.
On this holy day Christians the world over celebrate Christ’s birth.
Open our hearts that he may be born in us today.
O Wondrous God, on this holy day angels and shepherds worshiped at the manger throne.
Receive the worship we offer in fellowship with Mary, Joseph, and all the saints through him who is your Word made flesh, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
*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.
The Peace
The Peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.
Offering
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Offering Music
*Offering Prayer
Let us pray…Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: ourselves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Communion Liturgy for the First Sunday of Christ’s Mass
Come and see! The ruler of the earth has come, our Lord born in a stable and raised in the temple, our Lord who will take away from us the heavy burden of our exile, and guide us through this world and the next. Come, let us gather around the table and prepare to meet him.
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 our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God. In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory, that, beholding the God made visible, we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see.
And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the faithful of every time and every place, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
*all sing: tune is Angels from the Realms of Glory
Holy, holy, Lord most holy, God of power and God of might:
heav’n and earth reveal your glory. Hail, hosanna, Lord of light!
Blessed be the coming Savior. Hail, hosanna, Lord of light!
text: metrical Sanctus, Martin A. Seltz (b. 1951)
music: Regent Square, Henry Thomas Smart, 1866
used by permission; all rights reserved
We give you thanks, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, whom you sent in this end of the ages to save and redeem us and to proclaim to us your will.
*all sing: Joy to the World v1
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.
He is your Word, inseparable from you, through whom you created all things, and in whom you take delight. He is your Word, sent from heaven to a virgin’s womb. He there took on our nature and our lot and was shown forth as your Son, born of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary. He, our Lord Jesus, fulfilled all your will and won for you a holy people; he stretched out his hands in suffering in order to free from suffering those who trust you.
*all sing: Joy to the World v2
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He is the one who, handed over to a death he freely accepted, in order to destroy death, to break the bonds of the evil one, to crush hell underfoot, to give light to the righteous, to establish his covenant, and to show forth the resurrection, taking bread… Do this for the remembrance of me.
*all sing: Joy to the World v3
He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations provethe glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.
Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.
Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us:
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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
*Invitation to Communion Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let every heart receive the Savior.
Agnus Dei Love Has Come tune: Un Flambeau
v2 Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free. Love is Jesus within and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking. Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas; Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!
Communion of God’s People
Communion Carols Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
1 Lo, how a rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming as seers of old have sung,
it came, a flow'r so bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half-spent was the night.
2 Isaiah had foretold it, the rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
when half-spent was the night.
3 O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woe;
O Savior, king of glory, who dost our weakness know:
bring us at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven
and into endless day.
Text: German carol, 15th cent.; tr. Theodore Baker, 1851-1934, sts. 1-2; Harriet R. Krauth, 1845-1925, st. 3; John C. Mattes, 1876-1948, st. 4
The First Noel tune: The First Nowell
The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel…
This star drew near to the northwest,
o'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
and there it did both stop and stay
right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel…
text: English traditional
*Post-Communion Blessing and Prayer
Let us pray:
Emmanuel, God with us, you grace us with life and breath and give us bread for the journey. Send us out in service to this world that you love, telling the amazing news of your coming to be Savior and Lord of all. Amen.
*Sending Hymn Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
1 Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
2 Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven's door, and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
3 Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave; Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Text: Medieval Latin carol; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818-1866
*Blessing
May the Word that Mary brought to birth carry you into new and abundant life.
Amen.
May the Word that Joseph cradled in his arms enfold you with love and strength.
Amen.
May the Word that angels proclaimed in song bring harmony to our world.
Amen.
And may the gift and blessing of almighty God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen.
*Dismissal
Glory to God in the highest! And peace to God’s people on earth!
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
Postlude
