Christmas Eve Worship Bulletin
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
CHRISTMAS EVE Coronavirus
12-24-2021 7:00PM Worship
THE OPENING RITE:
L The animal are restless. A mule brays. A cow bumps the stable stall.
The cold wind whistles, the straw stinks.
Over in the inn, perhaps there is a hearty laugh, maybe a loud shout, or it might be real quiet and very still.
This is GOD’S PLACE.
C An anxious husband stops pacing the makeshift delivery room to console his love on the dusty barn ground.
The young woman moans in pain, whimpers, grunts and groans, and endures another contraction.
A newborn baby slowly emerges and suddenly sputters his first cry on the face of this earth.
This is GOD’S TIME.
L With a spirited cry this child announces his birth to a world that sleeps and goes about its business.
But angels sing, shepherds approach, a star shines, wise men journey.
This is an ordinary birth, this is an extraordinary birth.
This is GOD’S PLAN.
C The waiting is over. Not just nine months, but all the centuries of desperate hope and eager longing.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.
Embedded in the tiny heart of this little crying, sleeping, nursing, giggling, wiggling baby is a message for all.
This is GOD’S SALVATION.
L His name is JESUS… and he is our SAVIOR!
C His name is JESUS… the SON OF GOD!
L His name is JESUS… the WORD-MADE-FLESH for a world in need!
C His name is JESUS… the GREATEST GIFT ever given, ever received!
L GOD is present! GOD is with us! Nothing can separate us from the LOVE OF GOD!
C CHRIST is born among us and for us! O come, let us adore him, CHRIST THE LORD!
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:
GREETING AND PRAYER: Daren + Donna Waite
L My brothers, my sisters,
Joy to the world!
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
A child has been born, a Son has been given to us.
May grace and peace be with you from our (+) God,
Love from the beginning,
Word made flesh,
Breath of Heaven.
C Let us pray.
Living and loving God, on this holy night we gather –
to stand with shepherds, amazed at your glory;
to sing with angels, rejoicing in your work;
to wait with Joseph, trusting in your promise;
to sit with Mary, cradling your love.
May the good news of this night inspire us to tell the world of our great joy:
For to us is born a Savior,
the Messiah, the Lord.
Glory and praise to you forever! Amen and Amen!
FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:2-7 John Hill
[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: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS” Youth Choir
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 “EMMANUEL” All Saints Choir
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.]
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman
world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who
was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 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 and
placed 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.
9 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.
SONG SELECTION: “YOU ARE THE LIVING WORD” All Saints Choir
TONIGHT’S MESSAGE: “I was there: Five witnesses describe the birth of Jesus”
SONG SELECTION: “O HOLY NIGHT” Sarah Blanford
THE OFFERING… People of God, the greatest gift you have received this year and in your entire lifetime is the gift of Jesus… the greatest gift you can give to others is words and deeds, help and hope, that share Jesus with
others. Let us be grateful and generous in our response.
OFFERING SONG:
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!”
OFFERING PRAYER:
Good news! Great Joy!
Amazing God, if light has dawned on us, we want to share it. And if there is joy to tell, we can’t help but proclaim 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.
MUSIC SELECTION: “O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM” Dennis Fortune
THE PRAYERS… We pray that the joy and light of JESUS CHRIST will touch all lives! Pastor Clesha Staten
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!
CLOSING SONG: “SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT!”
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
He was born to die, he died to give us new birth.