Christmas Eve Order of Service

We will gather together for worship service on Zoom using the following information:
MEETING ID: 5977365682
MEETING PASSWORD: 204934

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St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church         

CHRISTMAS EVE  Coronavirus  

12-24-2020     8:00PM Worship

THE OPENING RITE:

L   When the time was right, God sent the Son.

C He came among us.

He was one of us.

L   So the Word crawled into our skin and became flesh –

     tiny and frail flesh,

     diaper wet and whimpering flesh,

     bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh,

     the son of Mary and Joseph…

C God’s own Son.

He came among us.

He was one of us.

L   He would be loved by some, feared by others,

     befriended by the weak, despised by the strong,

     deserted by his listeners, betrayed by his friends,

     murdered by his enemies, and buried with the dead,

     bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh…

C the lover of the unlovable,

the toucher of the untouchable,

and the forgiver of the unforgivable.

God’s own Son.

He came among us.

He was one of us.

L   Light bursts forth! Joy is released!

     A Son is given,

     born in a stable,

     to lift us up from life’s shadows and sorrows!

C A word takes shape!

A child is born, living to die, dying to deliver us from grave and hell!

He came among us.

He was one of us.

L   He is little baby Jesus,

     our Light and our Hope,

     our Savior and our Lord…

C God’s own Son.

He came among us.

He was one of us. 

OPENING SONG: “O COME, ALL YOU FAITHFUL”    

  • 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!

  • Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,   sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to… God   in… the… highest:

  • Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;   Jesus, to thee… be… glory given!

Word of the Father,   now in flesh appearing:

INVOCATION AND PRAYER OF THE DAY:

L   Blessed be the holy Trinity, [+] one God,

     Love from the beginning,

     Word made flesh, 

     Breath of Heaven, Amen.

C Let us pray with grateful and willing hearts. 

      Lord God and Father of Jesus Christ, this is the night when He was born, our hope and our salvation.

      We pray to you to let His light shine in and through our lives. 

May we love Him and keep Him, your Word among us, today and every day, world without end. 

Always, Amen.

FIRST READING:   Isaiah  9:2-7   

[Introduction: Isaiah’s words come at a time of national chaos and despair, when things were about as bad as they could get for those in the Kingdom of Judah. His good news is this for those who walk in darkness: rescue is coming! This poem promises deliverance from Assyrian oppression, a hope based on the birth of a child with a name full of promise. While Judah’s king will practice justice and righteousness, the real basis for faith lies in God’s passion for his people: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this! In ancient times, the Old Testament prophet didn’t know the name of this child… but, in the Church, believers have been naming and claiming the name of the one who God has sent throughout the ages!]

2  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; 

on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 

   3  You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

   4  For as the day in Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

   5  Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood 

will be destined for burning,

will be 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 shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

   7  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

   

SONG SELECTION

SECOND READING:   Titus 2:11-14   

[Introduction: Paul addresses his letter to Titus, who has been left behind to continue leading and establishing a church in Crete. It is in the midst of a culture that is apparently somewhat of a mess and probably won’t be too interested in being faithful and obedient to God. This might sound familiar to us. Paul reminds Titus, reminds the Cretan Christians, reminds us, that the grace of God has indeed already appeared, bringing salvation to all. Consequently, in the present they and we ought to live wisely and justly, while also anticipating the hope of our Savior’s final appearance.]

   11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people.  12  It teaches us to say “No”

   to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present

   age,  13  while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus

   Christ,  14  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

SONG SELECTION

GOSPEL READING:   Luke 2:1-20    

[Introduction: In Luke’s familiar account of Christ’s birth, God’s greatest gift comes as a baby in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem, born to an unwed girl. The evening sky is bright with angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest.” Stirred by the good news of great joy and the spoken blessing of peace, lowly shepherds hurry to see. Luke tells the story of Jesus’ birth with reference to rulers of the world because this birth has significance for the whole earth, conveying a divine offer of peace to all.]

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.

   4  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, 

7  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths andplaced him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

   8  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.   

   An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were terrified.

10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

11  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  12  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

   13  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people on whom his favor rests.”   

   15  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go

   to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

   16  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger.  17 When

   they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  18  and

   all were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  19  But Mary treasured up all these things and

   pondered them in her heart.  20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things

   they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

MUSIC SELECTION

A BRIEF SERMON Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen 

SONG SELECTION

THE PRAYERS…  We pray that the joy and light of JESUS CHRIST will touch all lives!

MUSIC SELECTION:

OFFERING PRAYER:

     Good news! Great Joy! 

     Amazing God, light has dawned on us and we want to share it… there is joy to tell and we can’t help but

     bear it. O how we thank you for the gift of your amazing grace in Jesus Christ! As we celebrate his birth, 

     guide us to be bearers of light, makers of peace, and heralds of good news to all the world.  

     Always, Amen.

THE PREFACE:

L   Christ is born among us! The Lord be with you.                  C   AND ALSO WITH YOU!

L   Hope and promise are alive! Lift up your hearts! C   WE LIFT THEM UP IN LOVE FOR GOD!

L   Jesus is our Redeemer! Let us give thanks to our God! C   IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE GOD THANKS AND PRAISE!

L   We give you thanks and praise, O Holy One, for the world of wonder you have created – forest and field,

     sea and sky – and for the gift of grace you have given – a little child, lying in a manger, your only Son, your

     Word of love, your peace on earth, the light that comforts us, the hope to which we cling. He was born to

     give us new life, and he died to give us new birth. With angels and shepherds and all the faithful on earth

     and in heaven, we add our voices in singing with joy that is unlimited…  

C (sing) JESUS… JESUS…   OH, WHAT A WONDERFUIL CHILD!

JESUS… JESUS…   SO HOLY, MEEK, AND MILD!

NEW LIFE, NEW HOPE, TO ALL HE BRINGS; LISTEN TO THE ANGELS SING,

            “GLORY, GLORY, GLO-RY TO THE NEW BORN KING!”

THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.

THE LORD’S PRAYER 

HOLY COMMUNIONAll believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! CHRIST COMES TO US IN BREAD AND   WINE AND BLESSING, BRINGING US PEACE, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND HOPE! 

     As you take or share the bread:  “THIS IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.” 

      As you take or share the wine:    “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.”

THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER:

     O Lord, with our own eyes we have seen the joy of your salvation, and with our own lips we have tasted

     of your Kingdom. We celebrate the birth of your Son among us! Shine out through us to a hurting world

     that knows the night and needs the light.  Amen.

BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!

CANDLELIGHTING AND CLOSING SONG: “SILENT NIGHT, HOLY 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.

  1. Silent night, holy night!   Shepherds quake at the sight;  

Glories stream from heaven afar,   heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ, the Savor, is born!   Christ, the Savior, is born!

  1. 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.