Before the service begins, the Congregation is invited to sing the following carols: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains. Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo. JESUS, NAME OF WONDROUS LOVE St. Paul s Lutheran School Saginaw, Michigan Christmas Service Sunday, December 19, 2010 4:00 p.m. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav nly song? Refrain Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain GENTLE MARY LAID HER CHILD Gentle Mary laid her child Lowly in a manger; There he lay, the undefiled, To the world a stranger. Such a babe in such a place Can he be the Savior? Ask the saved of all the race Who have found his favor. Angels sang about his birth; Wise men sought and found him. Heaven s star shone brightly forth, Glory all around them. Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, Heard the angels singing. All the plains were lit that night; All the hills were ringing. Gentle Mary laid her child Lowly in a manger; He is still the undefiled, But no more a stranger. Son of God, of humble birth, Beautiful the story; Praise his name in all the earth, Hail the King of glory! O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM 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. 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! 1 2
Jesus - Name of Wondrous Love Processional Hymn Oh Come, All Ye Faithful CW 55 sung by the congregation and the students 1) Oh, Come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, born the King of angels. Refrain: Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. 2) God from true God, and Light from Light eternal, Born of a virgin, to earth, he comes, Only begotten Son of God the Father. Refrain 3) Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens, of heav n above. Glory to God, all Glory in the highest. Refrain Please rise for the final stanza 4) Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory giv n, Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Refrain Hymn The Night Will Soon Be Ending CWS 705 Stanza 1 by grades K-4, stanza 2 by grades 5-8, stanza 3 by grades K-8, stanzas 4-5 by the congregation Responsive Reading Pastor (P) and congregation (C) P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen P: The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. C: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. P: In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. C: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. P: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. C: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. The Christmas Prayer (Pastor) God, who made your only begotten Son the Savior of mankind and gave him the name Jesus, mercifully grant that we who worship his name on earth may joyfully behold him in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Please be seated 3 4
PART 1 JESUS THE PROMISED SAVIOR Song: Magnificat (Chorus and Congregation) The first symbol - The Creator s Star Recitation 7 th and 8 th grade students Hymn Behold, a Branch is Growing CW 47 Stanzas 1-2 by the 7 th and 8 th graders 1) Behold, a Branch is growing Of loveliest form and grace, As prophets sang, foreknowing; It springs from Jesse's race And bears one little flow r In midst of coldest winter, At deepest midnight hour. 2) Isaiah had foretold it In words of promise sure, And Mary' s arms enfold it, A virgin meek and pure. Through God's eternal will This child to her is given At midnight calm and still. congregation stands and sings stanzas 3-5 3) The shepherds heard the story, Proclaimed by angels bright, How Christ, the Lord of glory, Was born on earth this night. To Bethlehem they sped And in the manger found him, As angel heralds said. 4) This flow r, so small and tender With fragrance fills the air, His brightness ends the darkness That kept the earth in fear. True God and yet true man, He came to save his people From earth s dark night of sin. 5) O Savior, Child of Mary, Who felt our human woes, O Savior, King of glory, Who conquered all our foes, Bring us at last, we pray, To the bright courts of heaven And to the endless day. (Choir) Refrain (Choir) For he has favored his lowly one, and all shall call me blessed. The almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Choir) He favors those who fear his name, in every generation. He has shown the might and strength of his arm, and scattered the proud of heart. (Choir) He has cast the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with all good gifts, and sent the rich away. (Choir) He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy. He promised his mercy to Abraham and his children forevermore. (Choir) Proclaim the greatness of God, rejoice! The second symbol - The Fleur-de-lis (or the Annunciation Lily) Recitation 7 th and 8 th grade students The third symbol - The Nativity Recitation 5 th and 6 th grade students 5 Recitation Kindergarten, 1 st and 2 nd grade students 3 rd and 4 th grade students 6
Song Away in a Manger Kindergarten 1 st and 2 nd grade Recitation 3 rd and 4 th grade students Hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing CW 61 Stanza 1 by the 5 th and 6 th grade students 1) 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 th angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! congregation stands and sings stanzas 2-3 2) 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 th incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King!" 3) Hail, the heav nly 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 us from the earth, Born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" Recitation 5 th and 6 th grade students Song Carol of the Angels and Shepherds SPL Chorus PART 2 JESUS NAME OF WONDROUS LOVE Recitation 3 rd and 4 th grade students Hymn Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love CW 76:1-3 1) Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Name all other names above, Unto which must ev ry knee Bow in deep humility. 2) Jesus! Name decreed of old, To the maiden mother told-- Kneeling in her lowly cell-- By the angel Gabriel. 3) Jesus! Name of priceless worth To the fallen here on earth, For the promise that it gave, "Jesus shall His people save." The fourth symbol - The King of Kings Recitation 1 st and 2 nd grade students Hymn Crown Him With Many Crowns CW 341 (All) 1) Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne; Hark how the heav nly anthem drowns All music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing Of him who died for thee, And hail him as thy matchless King Through all eternity. (Women) 2) Crown Him the Lord of love - Behold His hands and side, Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified. No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bends his wond ring eye At mysteries so bright! (Men) 3) Crown Him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o'er the grave And rose victorious in the strife For those he came to save. His glories now we sing Who died and rose on high, Who died eternal life to bring And lives that death may die. Please stand for the final stanza (All) 4) Crown him the Lord of heav n, Enthroned in worlds above; Crown him the King to whom is giv n The wondrous name of Love. Crown him with many crowns As thrones before him fall; Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns For he is King of all. 7 8
The seventh symbol - Chi Rho, the name Christ The fifth symbol - The Light of the World Recitation 5 th -8 th grade students Recitation Kindergarten 8 th grade students Please stand Hymn This Night a Wondrous Revelation TLH 88 (Grades 3 & 4) 1) This night a wondrous revelation Makes known to me God's love and grace; The Child that merits adoration Brings light to our benighted race; And though a thousand suns did shine, Still brighter were that Light divine. Congregation sings 2) The Sun of Grace for thee is beaming; Rejoice, my soul, in Jesus' birth! The light from yonder manger streaming Sends forth its rays o'er all the earth. It drives the night of sin away And turns our darkness into day. 3) This light, which all thy gloom can banish, The bliss of heaven glorifies; When sun and moon and stars shall vanish, Its rays shall still illume the skies. This light through all eternity Thy heav n and all to thee shall be. 4) O Jesus, precious Sun of gladness, Fill Thou my soul with light, I pray. Dispel the gloomy night of sadness And teach Thou me this Christmas Day How I a child of light may be, Aglow with light that comes from Thee. The sixth symbol - IHC, the name Jesus The Christmas Litany P: For the gift of Jesus our Savior and Lord: C: We praise our Father in heaven. P: O Jesus, Son of God, our Savior: P: O Christ, the promised Savior of the world: P: O King of kings and Lord of lords: P: O Light of the world: P: O Jesus, name of wondrous love: C Jesus! Only name that's giv n Under all the mighty heav n Whereby all, to sin enslaved, Burst their fetters and are saved. Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Human name of God above; Pleading only this, we, too, Flee, O God, in faith to you. CW 76:4-5 Please be seated Recitation 5 th and 6 th grade students Offering Prayer 9 10
Benediction Welcome to St. Paul s! Whether you are a first time visitor or are returning to worship with us, we welcome you. Please sign our guest book in the back (narthex) of our church, on the right as you exit through the Hymn Silent Night CW 60 the Kindergarten 8 th grade students will sing a verse in German Stille Nacht, heilege Nacht! Alles schläft einsam wacht Nur das heilege Elternpaar, Das im Stalle zu Bethlehem war. Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh. The congregation then sings: 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, Heavenly 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 Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Recessional Hymn 705 is reprinted under Onelicense.net #A-716125 OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO the faculty and students of St. Paul s Lutheran School, Pastor William Brassow, and Mrs. Laurel Proeber for the beautiful service this afternoon, Mr. Dan Leyrer for the construction of the cross, and Mrs. Ruth Howell for her artwork for the service folder. PLEASE NOTE! In order to preserve the atmosphere of worship, the congregation and pastors request that no taping be done at the children s Christmas service this afternoon. The church is recording the service. If you would like to purchase a DVD copy, please come to the office by January 14 th, to order and to pay for your copy ($2.00 each). Please join us again as we celebrate the birth of our Savior - Christmas Eve Afternoon and Evening, December 24 th, 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Christmas Day Morning, December 25 th, 9:30 a.m. May your hearts and homes be filled with the Real Joy of Christmas JESUS CHRIST! 11 double doors. May God bless us all in our worship time together as we praise his holy name. What We Believe - Motivated by the gospel of Jesus Christ, St. Paul s exists to teach the whole counsel of God. Using Word and Sacraments, we will seek to nurture the faith and life of our members, as well as share God s message with our entire community and, through the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, with the world. St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1851 so that with the Gospel of Jesus Christ it might strengthen the faith of its members and reach out into the community and the world. To carry out this purpose we believe and teach that the Bible is the infallible Word of God and the only foundation for Christian faith and life; that the Lord God revealed in the Bible (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) is the true and living God; that all people have sinned against His holy will, fall short of His glory, and therefore deserve to be condemned eternally; that Jesus Christ came into the world to deliver all people from the guilt and power of sin and that he lived and died and rose again as the perfect and only Substitute; that through faith created by the Holy Spirit the benefits of Christ s work are received personally; that on the last day Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead and will take all those who trust in him into eternal life. We join in this confession with over 1200 congregations of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and with them carry on a world-wide ministry. Our Pastors Pastor William R. Brassow, 793-6025 Pastor Carl T. Otto, 790-5915 Elementary School Principal Mr. Michael A. Hein, 799-7467 7467 Sunday School Principal Mr. James F. Roekle, 792-0468 Church / School Office 2745 W. Genesee, 799-3271 12