Children s Christmas Worship December 16, 2018 11:00 am.
A member of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Reaching, Caring and Sharing Christ 615 East Turnpike Avenue Bismarck ND 58501 701-255-1433 office & the Bismarck-Mandan Lutheran School Association Pastor Jonathan Walla pastor@bethelbismarck.com 701-805-5642 cell Vicar Justin Woodside justin.woodside@ctsfw.edu 951-217-3385 cell secretary@bethelbismarck.com www.bethelbismarck.com www.facebook.com/bethelbismarck Welcome to Bethel in the name of our crucified, risen and ascended Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We re glad that you ve joined us for worship! May this time together, gathered around God s Word, be a blessing to all. As you hear of and receive God s forgiveness in Christ, and return your thanksgiving and praise, it is our prayer that you will be strengthened in your faith and your life as a child of God. William C. Dix wrote What Child Is This about 150 years ago, one of his several Christmas poems. These three stanzas include many important persons in the nativity account: Mary, angels, shepherds, Wise Men, and even you and me. But the main focus is on the most mysterious person of all: the Child sleeping on Mary s lap. As Mary, the shepherds, and the Wise Men all learn of this promised Child, they are confronted with an essential question: What Child is this? As we approach Christmas, we must consider the same question: Who is this Jesus? Why do we celebrate His birth? Enjoy listening to the children today as they point to the Bible for the answer. As the hymn text proclaims, This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Let us all haste to bring Him laud, the babe, the Son of Mary!
CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM December 16, 2018 11:00 AM OPENING HYMN # 379... O Come, All Ye 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: Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal, Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes; Son of the Father Now in flesh appearing! Refrain Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God In the highest: Refrain INVOCATION P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. 1
OPENING WORDS L: What child is this? A babe is born. C: An infant in a stall forlorn. L: Who can this Son of promise be? C: We marvel at the mystery. HYMN # 367... Angels From the Realms of Glory Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o er all the earth; Ye who sang creation s story, Now proclaim Messiah s birth. Refrain Come and worship, come and worship; Worship Christ, the newborn King. Shepherds in the field abiding, Watching o er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, Yonder shines the Infant Light. Refrain Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations, Ye have seen His natal star. Refrain PRAYER Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. EPISTLE READING 1 John 4:9-16 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to 2
be the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM PASTOR GATHERING OF OFFERINGS (children come forward after offering is collected) SPECIAL OFFERTORY MUSIC What Child Is This WHAT CHILD IS THIS? Presented by the Children of Bethel Lutheran Church THE CHILD IS ANNOUNCED TO MARY Grades 6-8 Luke 1:26-33 His arm now baring, His strength declaring Sing the greatness of the Lord! The proud He scatters, Their rule He shatters Sing the greatness of the Lord! Oppression halted; The meek exalted. Full are the hungry; Empty, the wealthy O sing the greatness of God the Lord! Here is the token All that was spoken To Abr ham s offspring God is fulfilling O sing the greatness of God the Lord! Text: 1991 Stephen P. Starke; admin. CPH 3 The Crown HYMN #933... My Soul Rejoices Congregation My soul rejoices, My spirit voices Sing the greatness of the Lord! For God my Savior Has shown me favor Sing the greatness of the Lord! With praise and blessing, Join in confessing God, who is solely Mighty and holy O sing the greatness of God the Lord! His mercy surely Shall rest securely On all who fear Him, Love and revere Him O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
The Crown THE CHILD WILL BE A KING Grades K-1 HYMN #370, stanza 1... What Child Is This Students 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! The Cross THE CHILD IS ANNOUNCED TO SHEPHERDS Grades 6-8 Luke 2:8-15 HYMN #361, stanzas 1-2... O Little Town of Bethlehem Students 1st verse, Congregation verse 2 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. Congregation: For Christ is born of Mary, And, gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond ring love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the king And peace to all the earth! THE CHILD WILL GIVE HIS LIFE Grades 2 3 4
The Cross HYMN #370, stanza 2... What Child Is This Congregation 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! THE CHILD IS WORSHIPPED BY WISE MEN Grades 6-8 Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12 HYMN #368... Angels We Have Heard On High Students 1st verse, Congregation verses 2-3 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. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain THE CHILD REIGNS, EVEN WITHIN OUR HEARTS Grades 4 5 5 Our Hearts Congregation: Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav nly song? Refrain
Our Hearts HYMN #370, stanza 3... What Child Is This Congregation 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! Conclusion HYMN #364... Away in a Manger Students Away in a manger, no crib for a 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. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with Thee there. CONFESSION OF FAITH The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. 6
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. RESPONSIVE READING L: What Child is this? A babe is born. C: An infant in a stall forlorn. L: Who can this Son of promise be? C: We marvel at the mystery. L: What Child is this? He came as King. C: The nations shout; His praises ring. L: What Child is this? He came to die. C: Forgiven, we can live on high. L: What Child is this? He came in love. C: One day, He ll bring us home above. L: What Child is this? Oh, go and tell. C: Christ Jesus is Immanuel! PRAYERS BENEDICTION P: The Child of Mary is the Child of God, Jesus, your Savior! In His salvation, you are all children of God. May the peace of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you today and every day. C: Amen. RECESSIONAL HYMN #387... Joy to the World All 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. 7
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love. Thank you for joining us for our Children s Christmas Service! Parents, please pick up your children from the Fellowship Hall! POSTLUDE MUSIC Joy to the World Copyright 2018 Concordia Publishing House 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118-3968 1-800-325-3040 www.cph.org All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without purchasing this product from Concordia Publishing House. Through this registered purchase, your congregation is allowed to adapt and duplicate the contents for your local, one-time Christmas-service use. Written by Lisa M. Clark Edited by Lisa A. Krenz Scripture quotations from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Hymns marked LSB are from Lutheran Service Book, copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America 8
Officiant... Rev. Jonathan Walla Organist... Linda Hoag Musicians... Ashley Guthmiller Ellie Miller Paxton Miller Alexis Peacock Music Director... Pierette Johnson Program Director... Joan Breiner Sunday School Teachers... Kristy Dahl & Ruth Wanner Carla Mogard & Shannon Suggs Ashley Guthmiller & Darrick Wiest Tracy Price & Brianna Wegner Becky Emter, Scott Tschaekofske, & Alida Wiest Bob Gordon & Jinnie Stai 9
Midweek Advent Worship @ 6 pm (Advent Potluck Soup Supper @ 5:15-5:45 pm) Wednesday, December 5, 12 & 19 Children s Christmas Worship @ 11 am Sunday, December 16 Christmas Eve Worship @ 4 pm & 7 pm Monday, December 24 Christmas Day Worship @ 9 am Tuesday, December 25