The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Eve Festival Holy Communion Saturday, 24 December 2016 half past ten o clock in the evening Gloria Dei Lutheran Church South Bend, Indiana The Prelude In dulci jubilo a 2 clav. e pedale, BuxWV 197 Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707) In dulci jubilo, BWV 608 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) The Proclamation of Christmas sung by the cantor Confession & Forgiveness when the bell rings, all stand and turn to face the font In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The continues with a prayer of preparation. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Holy Name. Amen. The pronounces the declaration of forgiveness, all responding, Amen.
THE OPENING RITES The Hymn at the Procession, 283 sung by all O come, all ye faithful Adeste fideles Blessing of the Crèche The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; And we beheld his glory. Today you will know that the Lord is coming to save us; And in the morning you will see his glory. Let us pray. O Lord our God, with Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds, and the animals in the stable, we gather around your Son, born for us. Bless this crèche which we have prepared to celebrate your holy birth. Be present to us that we might share Christ s love with all the world, for he is our light and salvation. Glory be to you in heaven and peace on earth, now and forever. Amen. The Introit sung by the schola John Ainslie (n.d.) Ant. The Lord said to me: you are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day. Ps. The Lord reigns, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. Glory be to the Father... The Apostolic Greeting The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Kyrie eleison sung by the schola Messe a tre voce Antonio Lotti (1667-1740) Kyrie eleison Christe eleison Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy 2
The Hymn of Praise sung by all ein Gott in der Höh 3
The Prayer of the Day Let us pray. Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD The First Reading all sit Isaiah 9:2-7 Reader The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 96 the antiphon is sung first by the cantor, then by all Robert Wetzler (n.d.) The cantor sings the italicized verses; all sing the bolded verses. Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless the name of the LORD; proclaim God's salvation from day to day. Declare God's glory a- mong the nations and God's wonders a- mong all peoples. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised, more to be feared than all gods. [antiphon] 4
As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; but you, O LORD, have made the heavens. Majesty and magnificence are in your presence; power and splendor are in your sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD hon- or and power. Ascribe to the LORD the honor due the holy name; bring offerings and enter the courts of the LORD. Worship the LORD in the beau- ty of holiness; tremble before the LORD, all the earth. Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is king! The one who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved will judge the peo- ples with equity." Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that is therein. Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your com- ing, O LORD, for you come to judge the earth. You will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with your truth. [antiphon] [antiphon] The Second Reading Titus 2:11-14 Reader The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. eluia sung by all, standing; candles are lit in preparation for the Gospel ELW Setting 5 The cantor sings the verse and all repeat the eluia. 5
The Holy Gospel Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] Before the Gospel: The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. After the Gospel: The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. repeat the eluia as the procession returns to the chancel. The Homily all sit and extinguish their candles The Rev'd Jeff Zell The Hymn of the Day sung by all, standing From heav n above Vom Himmel hoch Introduction: J. G. Walther (1684-1748) German verses: M. Praetorius (c. 1571-1621) Sung in German by the cantor 3. Es ist der Herr Christ, unser Gott, This is the Christ, God s Son most high, der will euch führn aus aller Not, who hears your sad and bitter cry, er will eu'r Heiland selber sein, who will himself your Savior be von allen Sünden machen rein. and from all sin will set you free. 6
Sung in German by the cantor 6. Sei mir willkommen, edler Gast! Welcome to earth, O noble Guest, Den Sünder nicht verschmähet hast, through whom this sinful world is blest! und kommst ins Elend her zu mir: You turned not from our needs away; wie soll ich immer danken dir? how can our thanks such love repay? The Nicene Creed said by all We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all 7
things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, + and the life of the world to come. Amen. Prayers of Intercession Assistant Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. The Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. Let us share a sign of Christ's peace with one another. At the conclusion of the Peace all sit for the Offertory. THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST The Carol at the Offertory sung by the soloists; see translation on the bulletin insert O Jesulein süß, O Jesulein mild! Harmonization: J. S. Bach Introduction: G. F. Kauffmann (1679-1735) The Offertory Prayer all stand Let us pray. Good and loving God, we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace. As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be a blessing for others. With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 8
The Great Thanksgiving The continues with the Proper Preface of Christmas, concluding, "...we praise your name and join their unending hymn." Sanctus & Benedictus sung by all ELW Setting 5 9
The pastor continues with Eucharistic Prayer III found on pg. 110 of the hymnal. The Lord's Prayer Pater noster 10
The Fraction Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are they who are called to his supper. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. Agnus Dei sung by the schola Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. Messe a tre voce Antonio Lotti Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace. Hymns at the Distribution of Communion sung by all, seated 271 I am so glad each Christmas Eve Jeg er så glad 288 Good Christian friends, rejoice In dulci jubilo 272 Lo, how a rose e er blooming Es ist ein Ros The Prayer after Communion all stand Assistant Let us pray. On this day, O God, you gave us Christ the Son to save us. As you sent the one foretold, send us now with good news for all people. Let the gladness of this feast have no end as we share with others the joy that fills us; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 11
THE CLOSING RITES The Closing Hymn, 281 Silent night Stille nacht As the candles are lit, the soloist sings the verse in German; continue together in English, beginning with verse 1; the final verse is a cappella The Benediction The Dismissal Assistant Go in peace; share the Good News. Thanks be to God. Postlude Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her, BWV 769.II J. S. Bach Please join us for Holy Communion on Christmas Day at 10:30 a.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Holy Communion: Sundays at 10:30am 225 E. Haney Ave., South Bend, Indiana, 46613 574.288.5266 / www.gloriadei-in.org / www.facebook.com/gdlcin The Rev. Jeff Zell pastor Ms. Lisa Suter liturgical assistant Liam Boyd, Colin Dreher, & Thomas Zell servers Dr. Kevin J. Vaughn director of music & organist Mr. Jack Seifer cantor Ms. Victoria Fraser soprano Mr. Steve Martin tenor 12