Welcome to Celebration Lutheran Church Welcome to our visitors and friends this evening! Please take the time to sign the visitor's book located near the front doors (include your email address if you have one!) Celebration Lutheran 4pm Comm. Assists: Jaden Linn and Nancy Platt Lay Assistant: Austin Linn Readers: Austin Linn and Nancy Platt Worship Volunteers Join us for Christmas morning worship at 11am to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 8pm Acolyte: Nina Weber Comm. Assists: Monica Saggio Greeter: Dave Saggio, Joann Betts Lay Assistant: Dorothy Stinchcomb Reader: Ken Coryell Usher: Cloyd Peters, Kris and Ryan Connolly, Dennis Betts Christmas Eve Family Service of Carols & Holy Communion Tonight s liturgy is an adaptation of Luther s Chorale mass. A Chorale mass is nothing more than substituting hymns (chorales) for portions of our liturgy like the Kyrie, hymn of praise, offertory and so forth. This evening our music ministers have worked hard to choose Christmas carols that reflect the various portions of our liturgy. While tonight s liturgy is geared toward families, we still want to capture the mystery of the coming of God in the infant Jesus. [If our children s eyes sparkle with the wonder of the appearance of gifts under the tree from Santa, so too, should they sparkle with the wonder of the angels appearing in the heavens.] To help with that sense of wonder, we light candles this evening young and old alike. We light candles and dim the lights and sing Silent Night because the sparkle of candles instills a sense of wonderment in children and adults too. A word of caution: if you have little ones, please light their candles for them and also help them to keep their candles upright when they are lit. Celebration Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 10621 Auburn Rd., PO Box 249, Chardon OH 44024 Phone: (440)285-5402 Email: office@celebration-lutheran.org Website: www.celebration-lutheran.org 12
PRELUDE ~ WE GATHER FOR WORSHIP ~ CHRISTMAS PROCLAMATION GATHERING HYMN O Come all Ye Faithful ELW #283 O, come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the king of angels: Refrain Refrain: Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! The 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 the God.. In... the highest; Refrain 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. WELCOME KYRIE Holy Child within the Manger Holy Child within the manger, long ago yet ever near; come as friend to ev ry stranger, come as hope for ev ry fear As you lived to heal the broken, greet the outcast, free the bound, as you taught us love unspoken, teach us now where you are found. Laura Barbins In honor of Paul, Anna, Gabriella, Amelia and Sofia In memory of Karen, He is Risen and to God s Glory The Dahlquist and Lunka Families In memory of Carl Dahlquist, Reverend Milton, and Catharine Engelhardt John and Joanne Stein In memory of our daughter Lynne s good friend Conni McIsaac The Mummert Family In memory of our family no longer with us The Connolly Family In honor of Christ s Birth The Karaffa Family In memory of Vince and Marie Dippold and Steve and Irene Karaffa The Saggio Family In honor of our Celebration Family Jim and Liz Sumiejski In memory of Liz s father, Richard Jarrett In honor of the Teenage Saints of Celebration POINSETTIAS ARE GIVEN BY: Gail and Neal Goldsworth In honor of Glenn Kulma, Luke Kruse, Beth Singer sharing their musical gifts in our combo and Pastor Laura and family Janice Price In memory of parents Stanley and Irene Kazek and brother Gregory J. Kazek The Caruso Family In memory of Anthony Caruso Luke and Victoria In memory of Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner The Franck Family and Gordon Pederson In memory of Cheryl Pederson Lynne and Larry Naylor In honor of Christmas and In memory of brother-in-law James Hoisington Don and Joan Solar In honor of our Grandchildren The Betts Family For God s many blessings 2 11
DIALOG OF LIGHT The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them light has shined. We have beheld Christ s glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. To us a child is born, to us a Son is given. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. SENDING SONG 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, 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 your holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at your birth, Jesus, Lord, at your birth. BENEDICTION DISMISSAL Go in peace. Christ has come! Thanks be to God. Holy Child within the Manger, Text and music: Marty Haugen, b.1950. Text and music 1987 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Onelicense.net A-702521 HYMN OF PRAISE Angels, We Have Heard on High ELW #289 Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains. Glo- - - - ria in excelsis Deo; Glo- - - - ria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be, Which inspire your heav nly song? Glo- - - - ria in excelsis Deo; Glo- - - - ria 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. Glo- - - - ria in excelsis Deo; Glo- - - - ria in excelsis Deo. PRAYER OF THE DAY The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray... Amen ~ WE LISTEN TO GOD S WORD ~ FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:2-7 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. It Came upon a Midnight Clear ELW #282 It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: Peace on earth, good will to all, from heav n all gracious king. The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven, skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heav nly music floats o er all the weary world. Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hov ring wing, And ever o er its babel sounds the blessed angels sing. 10 3
And you, beneath life s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow: Look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; Oh, rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing! For lo! The days are hast ning on, by prophets seen of old, When with the ever circling years shall come the time foretold, When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, And all the world give back the song which now the angels sing. SECOND READING: Psalm 96:7-10 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL Joy to the World Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its 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. GOSPEL READING: Luke 2:1-20 The Holy Gospel according to Luke, the second chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. After the reading. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Joy to the World (cont.) No more let sin and sorrow 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. 4 ELW#267 Love is born! Come, share in wonder. Love is God now asleep in the hay. See the glow in the eyes of his mother; What is the name her heart is saying? Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers; Love! Love! Jesus, Immanuel. Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free. Love is Jesus within and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking. Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas. Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high! On Christmas Night ELW #274 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 kings birth. Then why should we on earth be sad, since our redeemer made us glad? Then why should we on earth be sad, since our redeemer made us glad, When from our sin he set us free, all for to gain our liberty? When sin departs before his face, then life and health come in its place. When sin departs before his face, then life and health come in its place. Angels rejoice with us and sing, all for to see the newborn king. All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night. All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night: "Glory to God in the highest heav'n; peace on earth, and goodwill. Amen." POST-COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER CANDLELIGHTING ~ WE ARE SENT TO SERVE ~ 9
INVITATION TO THE TABLE DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION All who are baptized and confess Jesus as Lord are welcome to commune. Communion will be distributed by stations this evening; please follow the ushers cues. We receive Holy Communion by intinction: when you receive the wafer, proceed to the cup and dip the wafer in the wine, then eat. Children and adults who do not receive Holy Communion in their home congregations are invited to come forward for a blessing. We now have gluten free wafers. COMMUNION HYMNS (Sung during distribution) 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 bright sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky, and stay by my side until 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 fit us for heaven to live with thee there. Love Has Come ELW #292 Love has come -a light in the darkness! Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies. See, all the heaven has come to proclaim it; Hear how their song of joy arises: Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on high. HOMILY ~ WE RESPOND TO GOD S WORD ~ WORD SONG Hark, the Herald Angels Sing ELW #270 Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born king; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all you nations, rise; Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Refrain: 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 God-head see! Hail, incarnate deity! Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel! Refrain 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. Refrain THE PRAYERS Each petition ends with: O God, Please respond with: Stir up your Spirit and come. ~ WE GATHER FOR THE MEAL ~ PEACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. OFFERING A Christmas Medley OFFERTORY Choir (8pm only) 8 5
What Child Is This ELW #296 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! OFFERTORY PRAYER GREAT THANKSGIVING (Congregation sings the underlined text) THE LORD'S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen 6 7