From Heaven Above to Earth I Come A Children s Christmas Service Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation by Rebecca Kramer Processional Hymn: On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (CW 52) On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring; On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring, News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King s birth. When sin departs before your grace, Then life and health come in its place. When sin departs before your grace, Then life and health come in its place. Angels and saints with joy may sing All for to see the newborn King. From out of darkness we have light Which made the angels sing this night. From out of darkness we have light Which made the angels sing this night: Glory to God and peace to men Now and forevermore. Amen. Narration: Wyatt George This year, as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we will look at Martin Luther s Christmas hymn From Heaven Above to Earth I Come. Part One: Know Narration: Wyatt George From Heaven Above to Earth I Come is based on the account of Jesus birth in Luke chapter 2. The first five stanzas of the hymn focus on what God wants us to know about his plan of salvation. Know That Christ Is Born for You Stanzas 1,2 Narration: Hailee McDonough Stanzas 1and 2 underscore the truth that Jesus came for each one of us.
(K-8) Theme Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38:1,2) From heav n above to earth I come To bear good news to ev ry 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. Narration: Hailee McDonough In this hymn, Luther shares the Christmas story from the point of view of the angel that appeared to the shepherds. Luke tells us how it all began in chapter 2:1-7: Recitation: 3-5 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. 6-8 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. K-2 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. Narration: John Ahrens In chapter 1, verses 22 and 23, of his gospel, Matthew adds: Recitation: (3-5) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet [Isaiah]: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us ). Narration: John Ahrens God s mission in sending Jesus is found in the well-known words of John 3:16: Recitation: (K-2) God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Narration: Devin Klatt God sent Jesus to reconcile us to himself. What good news for every home! Narration: Devin Klatt To you this night is born a child! The saving work of Jesus belongs to all of us. He is truly the joy of all the earth! (Congregation) Hymn: What Child Is This (CW 67) 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 oxen now are feeding? Good Christians, fear; For sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce him through; The cross he ll bear 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! Know Freedom From Sin Stanzas 3,4 Narration: Kayla Shelstad Truly, Jesus was born for us all! Stanzas 3 and 4 explain his purpose in coming: to free us from sin.
(6-8) Theme Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38:3,4) This is the Christ, our God most high, Who hears your sad and bitter cry; He will himself your Savior be From all your sins to set you free. He will on you the gifts bestow Prepared by God for all below, That in his kingdom, bright and fair, You may with us his glory share. Narration: Kayla Shelstad The sad and bitter cry of the human race has echoed throughout history since the first sin. David cries out in Psalm 51:1,2: Recitation (6-8) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;... Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Narration: Phillip Gerken God gave Adam and Eve a way to show their love for him. He commanded in Genesis 2:17, You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Sadly, they disobeyed. But God loved them beyond their wildest imagination! In Genesis 3:15, he gave the first promise of a Savior: Recitation: (6-8) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. Narration: Phillip Gerken God was faithful to his promise. Galatians 4:4,5 says: Recitation: (K-2) But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Narration: Isabella Goeman God sent Jesus to buy us back out of our slavery to sin. First John 2:2 says: Recitation: (3-5) He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Narration: Isabella Goeman As the perfect substitute for the world of sinners, Jesus paid for your sins. Do you feel undeserving? We all are. Perhaps that is why the first people God told about his newborn son were not rich or important. Luke 2:8-11 fills in the details: Recitation: (3-5) There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (K-2) But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Narration: Dyson Heschke Because of our sins, we deserve nothing but punishment from God. But the apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15,16: Recitation: (6-8) Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Narration: Dyson Heschke As God s children, let us rejoice in the freedom Christ has won for us freedom from sin! Know the Signs of the Savior Stanza 5 (K-2 Chant/Poem) Narration: Sarah Kirchner Jesus was God s gift to us, our Savior from sin! Stanza 5 points out the signs of our Savior s chosen role as the servant of all. (K-2 Read as Chant/Poem) Theme Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38:5) These are the signs which you shall mark: The swaddling clothes and manger dark. There you will find the infant laid By whom the heav ns and earth were made. Narration: Sarah Kirchner Since the first promise of the Savior, God s people watched for its fulfillment. God sent the angel with a clear description of Jesus baby clothes and location in Luke 2:12:
Recitation: (K-2) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Narration: Kadence Korsten-Prall Imagine that: God s Son, wearing strips of cloth, lying in a feed box! Narration: Kadence Korsten-Prall The angels knew the true honor that belonged to this lowly baby. Luke 2:13,14 reports: Recitation: (K-8) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:13,14) Narration: Kadence Korsten-Prall Truly we enjoy the favor of God, who humbled himself to save us. Hymn: Silent Night! Holy Night (CW 60) Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin, mother and child Holy Infant, tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. (K-8) Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schlaft, einsem wacht Nur das Traute, hoch heilige Paar Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlische Ruh, Schlaf in himmlische Ruh. Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar; Heav nly 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. Optional Sermon Offering Part Two: Go Go See, Go Tell Stanzas 6,7 Narration: Joey Engel Now that we know God s wonderful message of salvation, what is there to do but go see for ourselves and tell others about it? (3-5) Theme Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38:6,7) How glad we ll be to find it so! Then with the shepherds let us go To see what God for us has done In sending us his own dear Son. Come here, my friends, lift up your eyes, And see what in the manger lies. Who is this child, so young and fair? It is the Christchild lying there. Narration: Joey Engel The shepherds couldn t wait to go find the baby. Luke 2:15,16 continues: Recitation: (K-2) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Narration: William Ahrens God s Word encourages us to also go to his house! David says in Psalm 122:1: Recitation: (3-5) I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord. Narration: William Ahrens Let s continue to follow the shepherds in Luke 2:17-20:
Recitation: (3-5) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (6-8) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Narration: Kane Hanson Like the shepherds, let s go tell a friend, a relative, a neighbor, an acquaintance, or a coworker to come and see Jesus, who won God s forgiveness for all. Hymn: Go, Tell It on the Mountain (CW 57) or song, Go and See, Go and Tell (K-8) Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills, and ev rywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born. (K-2) While shepherds kept their watching O er silent flocks by night, Behold, throughout the heavens There shone a holy light. Refrain (3-5) The shepherds feared and trembled When lo, above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior s birth. Refrain (6-8) Down in a lowly stable The humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation That blessed Christmas morn. Refrain Part Three: Glow Glow With Confidence in Christ s Humble Sacrifice! Stanzas 8-11 Narration: Kane Hanson After we go to see Jesus, we glow with confidence in Christ s humble sacrifice!
(Congregation) Theme Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38:8-11) Welcome to earth, O noble Guest, Through whom the sinful world is blest! You came to share my misery That you might share your joy with me. Ah, Lord, though you created all, How weak you are, so poor and small, That you should choose to lay your head Where lowly cattle lately fed! Were earth a thousand times as fair And set with gold and jewels rare, It would be far too poor and small A cradle for the Lord of all. Instead of soft and silken stuff You have but hay and straw so rough On which as King, so rich and great, To be enthroned in royal state. Narration: Rachael Hernlem On the first Christmas, Jesus laid aside his majesty so that we could look him in the eye, walk and talk with him, and throw our arms around him in thankfulness. In 2 Corinthians 8:9 Paul says: Recitation: (K-2) You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Narration: Rachael Hernlem Through Jesus perfect life and sacrifice for our sins, he took our misery, and true joy is ours! Hundreds of years before Jesus fulfilled his prophecy, Isaiah foretold this in chapter 53:4,6: Recitation: (3-5) Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering... and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Narration: Nina Augustine What love God has shown us, to come down to our world and suffer in our place as the servant of all. We glow because God has given us his riches at Christ s expense!
Hymn: See in Yonder Manger Low (CW 58:1-3) (K-2) See in yonder manger low, Born for us on earth below, See the gentle Lamb appears, Promised from eternal years. Refrain: (K-2,6-8) Hail the ever blessed morn; Hail redemption s happy dawn; Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem! (6-8) Lo, within a stable lies He who built the starry skies, He who, throned in height sublime, Sits amid the cherubim. Refrain (K-2,6-8) (6-8) Sacred Infant, all divine, What a tender love was thine, Thus to come from highest bliss Down to such a world as this. Refrain (K-2,6-8) Part Four: Grow Grow as Christ Remains Within Stanzas 12,13 Narration: Nina Augustine As we glow with the value God has placed on us, let us grow as Christ remains within. (K-2) Theme Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38:12,13) And so it pleases you to see This simple truth revealed to me: That all the world s wealth, honor, might, Are weak and worthless in your sight. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled Within my heart, made clean and new,
A quiet chamber kept for you. Narration: Tyler Tirrel By nature, we try to fulfill selfish desires, to be honored, and to be important. Narration: Tyler Tirrel God gives us strength to grow past our sinful attitudes of greed and self-exaltation. Paul urges in Philippians 2:3,4: Recitation: (6-8) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Narration: Stanza 13 of From Heaven Above to Earth I Come is a simple prayer similar to some of the prayers we find in the Bible. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians in 3:16,17: Recitation: (3-5) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Narration: May Christ remain in us always, and may we continually grow, bearing fruit through him. (3-5) Hymn: O Jesus Christ, Your Manger Is (CW 40:1,5) O Jesus Christ, Your manger is My paradise where my soul is reclining. For there, O Lord, We find the Word Made flesh for us your grace is brightly shining. The world may hold Her wealth and gold; But you, my heart, keep Christ as your true treasure. To him hold fast Until at last A crown is yours and honor in full measure. Part Five: Overflow Overflow With Praise Stanzas 14,15 Narration: Nathan Shannon-Gross As we continually grow as Christ remains within, we overflow with joyful praise to him!
(K-8) Theme Hymn: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38:14,15) My heart for very joy must 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 has given! While angels sing with pious mirth A glad new year to all the earth. Narration: Nathan Shannon-Gross The gospel fills us to overflowing! With Jesus apostles in Acts 4:20, we say: Recitation: (K-2) We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Narration: Aiden Roper Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:14,15: Recitation: (K-8) The one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus.... All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Narration: Joey Mason Overflowing with the joy that comes from God s gracious gifts in Christ, let us bring him glory and praise! (Congregation) Recessional Hymn: Joy to the World (CW 62) 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.
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.