A Divine Service for Christmas Eve December 24, 2010 Hark! The Heralds! Heralds of the Gospel Pre-Service Music The Call to Worship: P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Congregation: + Amen. P: Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! C: Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. P: Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; C: Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. P: For the LORD is the great God, C: And the great King above all gods. P: Oh come, let us worship and bow down; C: Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. P: For He is our God, C: And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. P: Let us pray: O God, because You once caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light, grant that we who have known the mystery of that Light here on earth may come to the full measure of its joys in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: + Amen. Service Theme Introduction by the Pastor -1-
~ Processional ~ Congregational Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing + Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim. "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" Christ, by highest heaven adored. Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with man to dwell; Jesus, our Immanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He leaves His throne on high, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home; Oh, to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart! Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" Part One: Old Testament Heralds of the Gospel [WHO S UP: Lydia (Narrator), Spencer, Shelby, Levi] When we think of heralds of the Gospel in the Bible, we should think of more than just the angels that visited the shepherds when Jesus was born. The Bible is full of heralds that told the good news about Jesus. Nearly 1500 years before Jesus was born, Moses told of a great Prophet that the LORD would send in Deuteronomy 18 - Spencer: Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear... In the Old Testament there was no herald who had more good news to tell about our Savior than the Prophet Isaiah. In his ninth chapter, the prophet Isaiah tells us that our Savior would be the King of kings! Shelby: Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end... The LORD through His herald, Isaiah, would even foretell Jesus virgin birth in chapter seven - Levi: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. -2- -3-
Adult Choir Jesus, Name Above All Names [WHO S UP: Shelby (Narrator), Lydia, Eli, Bella] But more than just telling us about who our Savior would be, the Old Testament heralds also told us the good news about what our Savior would do. By His Old Testament herald Jeremiah, the LORD tells us that our Savior Jesus would be our righteousness. Hear now what He says in Jeremiah 23 - Lydia: Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. It was through His herald King David, that the LORD promised a Savior who would defeat all of our enemies. Psalm 110 - Eli: Psalm 110:1-2 The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! The LORD even made known through His Old Testament herald Micah that the Savior Jesus would be born in the little town of Bethlehem. Micah chapter 5 - Bella: Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." Congregational Hymn: 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 darkness shineth The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God, the King, And peace to men on earth. 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! Part Two: Heavenly Heralds of the Gospel [WHO S UP: Eli (Narrator), Shelby, Lydia, Spencer] The heralds we usually think of are those heavenly heralds that God sent to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born. But in the months leading up to Jesus birth, other heavenly heralds were sent to tell the good news about the coming Savior. The LORD first sent the angel Gabriel to an old man named Zacharias. This heavenly herald brought the good news that the days were finally fulfilled and the promised Savior was to be born. But first Zacharias and his wife would have a son in their old age. And their son, John, would get the people ready to meet their Savior. In Luke 1, we hear Gabriel telling Zacharias good news about his son John - -4- -5-
Shelby: Luke 1:15-17 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord,... he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." A little over six months later God sent Gabriel to a young virgin named Mary to tell her the good news that the promised Savior of the world was coming and she would be His mother. Also in chapter 1 of Luke we hear Gabriel say - Lydia: Luke 1:33-37 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." And it was a heavenly herald that was sent to Mary s fiancee, Joseph, to tell him the good news that the Child Mary was pregnant with was the promised Savior of the world! From Matthew chapter 1 - Spencer: Matthew 1:21-22 "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Congregational Hymn: Joy to the World + Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains 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. He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love. [WHO S UP: Lydia (Narrator), Bella, Spencer, Eli] The good news that we rejoice to hear tonight is that the promised Savior was finally born into the world. We hear this joyous news recorded for us in Luke chapter 2 - The Christmas Account - Luke 2 Bella: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor r of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Spencer: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. -6- -7-
Eli: So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Adult Choir While Shepherd s Watched Their Flocks by Night [WHO S UP: Spencer (Narrator); Levi, Sadie, Steele, Mac, and Noah] We now come to the heavenly heralds that we are most familiar with. The ones God sent to the shepherds to tell them the good news about the birth of His Son who is their Savior - Levi: Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Sadie and Steele: Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Levi: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly enly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" [WHO S UP - Shelby, Bella (Narrator), Lydia, Levi, Sadie, and Steele] Shelby: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Having heard with their ears and seen with their eyes the good news about the birth of their Savior Jesus, the shepherds now become heralds themselves as they spread the good news about Jesus birth! Lydia: And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Levi, Sadie, and Steele: Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Lower Grade Choir Away In A Manger Congregation: + 3. 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 th - 8 th Grade Choir Angel s Carol 4 th -8- -9-
[WHO S UP - Eli (Narrator); Bella, Levi] But something terrible happened to that little baby laying in a manger. As the Old Testament herald Isaiah prophesied, He would be punished on account of our sins. 33 years after His birth He would be nailed to a cross and die to take away all of our sins. When Jesus died, His disciples thought all hope had died with him. But on the third day after His death God would once again send heavenly heralds with good news that Jesus had risen from the dead. Listen to the good news these heavenly messengers tell of in Luke chapter 24 - Bella: Luke 24:5-7 "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead He ascended to His Father s right hand in heaven. His disciples weren t quite sure what to do and stood staring up into the sky where they saw Jesus ascend. Once again, God sent two heavenly heralds to tell the good news that Jesus would one day return and take us to be with Him in heaven! Acts chapter 1 - Congregational Hymn: As Angels Joyed With One Accord + As angels joyed with one accord Upon the advent of our Lord, So laud we all and bless the name Of Him who from the Father came. He came, not clothed in majesty Nor pow r that suits His diety. In lowly state He walked till He In dying set us captives free. This done, He soared to God s right hand, Yet orphaned not His chosen band, For He, not bound in grace and pow r, Attends His own each day and hour. In ev ry age - let praise abound - He comes; we hear His voice resound. His glorious gospel does not cease To bring us comfort, joy, and peace. Lift up your heads! All grief and pain Shall vanish when He comes again. Where we shall see Him face to face, There joy alone shall have a place. Levi: Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." -10- -11-
Part Three: New Testament Heralds of the Gospel [WHO S UP: Shelby (Narrator); Sadie, Steele, Mac, Noah] Before Jesus ascended into heaven He had a mission for His disciples. Jesus wanted them to be heralds of the Gospel - to go into all the world and tell everyone that He had died to save them. Sadie: Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Steele: "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Macoya and Noah Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Congregational Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come + "From heaven above to earth I come To bear good news to every home; Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing: "To you this night is born a child Of Mary, chosen virgin mild; This little child, of lowly birth, Shall be the joy of all the earth. "This is the Christ, our God and Lord, Who in all need shall aid afford; He will Himself your Savior be From all your sins to set you free. My heart for very joy doth leap, My lips no more can silence keep; I, too, must sing with joyful tongue That sweetest ancient cradle-song: Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto us His Son hath given! While angels sing with pious mirth A glad new year to all the earth. [WHO S UP: EVERYONE (Except Pre-School); Bella (Narrator)] This mission of spreading the Gospel throughout the world is not limited to Jesus 12 Disciples. Jesus has the same mission for each of His followers. God now sends us as heralds of His Gospel! Lydia: Romans 10:13-17 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Eli: How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Shelby: And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" Eli: But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Spencer:Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Everyone: Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." -12- -13-
Sunday School Choir Go Tell It On The Mountain - Children s Offering - Prayers - Benediction - Closing Hymn: Silent Night Congregation: + 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 nd Verse - Choral Duet 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! Congregation: 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. Amen. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church A Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) Pastor: Nathan Pfeiffer Narrators: 6th-8th Grade Confirmation Class Instrumentalists: Gweneth Hansen (Organ and Piano), Tamar Pfeiffer (Piano and Flute) Erica Wietgrefe (French Horn; Duet) & Amy Wietgrefe (Clarinet; Duet) Bella Hansen (Saxaphone), Shelby Schwab (Trombone), Lydia Hansen (Flute) Ushers: Marvin Hansen and Mick Odenbach, Our Sunday School: Superintendent: Scott Hansen 8 th & 6 th Grade: Steve and Larry Hansen, Teachers Lydia Hansen, Shelby Schwab, & Eli Wietgrefe (8 th ) Bella Hansen (6 th ), Spencer Schwab (6 th ) 4 th & 2 nd Grades: Rachel Kippley, Teacher Levi Schwab (4 th ) Sadie Hansen & Levi Hansen (2 nd ) Pre-School: Shelly Schwab, Teacher Macoya Hansen & Noah Kippley Thank you to our children for the hard work they put in as they prepared for our service. Thank you to our parents and teachers who spent a great deal of time working with our children. May the joy and love of Christ be with you all! The celebration of our Savior s birth continues tomorrow morning, here at His house at 9:00 with our Christmas Day service. -14-