+The Nativity of Our Lord+ Christmas Eve Family Carol Service Preston Meadow Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas December 24, 2017 4:00 p.m. Prelude Welcome Prayer Lighting of the Advent Wreath P Good Christian friends, rejoice! Today our Lord has come in love and humility, in grace and truth, offering hope and peace. C O Come, O Come, Emmanuel! P This promised One, mighty, though small, is our hope, our strength, and our life. C O Come, O Come, Emmanuel! P As we light our Advent wreath, C increase our longing for your presence, that at the celebration of your Son s birth his Spirit might dwell anew in our midst, for he is our light and our salvation. P In hope and joy, with voices of prayer and praise, C come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! Reprinted by permission from The Worship So urcebook, Second Edition, 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources. All four candles of the Advent wreath are lit during the reading. 2
Carol O Come All Ye Faithful arr. by Casting Crowns O Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O, come ye, oh, 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 Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above Glory to God, glory in the highest O Come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him O Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord 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 O Come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him O Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord First Reading Isaiah 9: 2 7 from The Living Bible The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. For Israel will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won. For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon s little band. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned. For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. A The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. 3
Carol Joy to the World ELW #267 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 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 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 Gospel Reading Luke 2:1 7 from the New International Version 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 their own town to register. 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, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 4
Carol Away In A Manger ELW #277 Away in a manger, no crib for his 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 you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh (Instrumental Interlude) 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 Gospel Reading Luke 2:8 14 from the Common English Bible Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord s angel stood before them, the Lord s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, Don t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors. 5
Carol The First Noel ELW #300 The first Noel the angels 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, Noel, Noel, Noel born is the King of Israel Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made heav n and earth of naught And with his blood mankind has bought Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel born is the King of Israel Gospel Reading Luke 2:15 20 from the New Living Translation When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, Let s go to Bethlehem! Let s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. A The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. 6
Children s Message The Three Trees Pastor Kate Knutson The Peace P The peace of the Lord be with you always. C And also with you. As we pass the peace, children are invited to come forward to receive glow sticks for themselves and their families. (Additional participants may also come forward to receive one). Please refrain from lighting until instructed. Offering Carol What Child Is This? ELW #296 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 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 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 7
Carol Silent Night ELW #281 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, heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the savior is born, Christ the savior is born 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 Gospel Reading John 1:1 5, 14 from the New Revised Standard Version In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. And 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. A The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. 8
Blessing P May you see the light of Christ around you. May the unexpected, humble, light of Christ shine through you. And may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you today, and every day. C Amen. Sending Carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ELW #270 Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye 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! Dismissal P Go in peace. Christ is with us. C Thanks be to God! Postlude 9
Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. New Year Worship Service December 31, 2017 10am ~ adultconnect, kidsconnect & youthconnect resumes January 14, 2018 9:45am ~ PMLC s Annual Meeting January 28, 2018 9:45am 10
Serving in Worship Worship Leaders: Pianist: Instrumentalists: Vocalists: Readers: Pastoral Intern Tony Katko Pastor Kate Knutson Hannah Abercrombie Brad and Samantha Powell Carson Dorsey & Tommy Rose Abby Hammons Tyler Hammons Ushers: Head Usher: Atrium Greeters: Kirk Schlotman Jon Johnsen Dan Hammons Allen Gray The Volk Family Used by permission under copyrights: GIA Publishing, Inc., license no. 8077; Augsburg Fortress license no. 10240 S; CCLI license no. 2221727 & OneLicense.net license# A 705394 11
Pastors: Rev. Paul Mussachio, Lead Pastor Rev. Dr. Jackie Linden Schade, Pastor for Congregational Care Rev. Kate Knutson, Pastor for Family Ministries Tony Katko, Pastoral Intern 6801 Coit Road, Plano, Texas 75024 972.618.2233 www.pmlc.org 12