Stephen J. Schmidt, Pastor (414) 651-0313 Rod Bollinger, Staff Minister (414)534-3925 www.stjohnsoakcreek.org A Caring Church Proclaiming Jesus Christ 1 December 24, 2016
Welcome to worship tonight here at St. John s! Christ the Savior is born! Tonight s services are candlelight services; we leave it to the discretion of parents whether or not their children should hold candles. Candles are being distributed with the bulletins at the Welcome Center entrance. If you re visiting us for the first time, you will find restrooms in our Welcome Center and down the stairs in the back of the church. Changing tables for babies are available in the Welcome Center bathrooms and in our nursery room near the Welcome Center. OPENING HYMN: #42 Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising STAND M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. M: Dear friends, on this night before Christmas let us approach God with sincere hearts and confess our sins, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. C: Father in heaven, I confess to you that I am sinful in thought, word, and action. I cannot undo anything I have done. I am sorry for all that I have done wrong. Try as I might, I cannot make myself a perfect person, as you demand that I be. Be merciful to me, for I need a Savior. M: Christ is born, the true Light of God s love come into this world of darkness. In his great mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins: Hear the word of Christ through his called servant: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. M: Let us pray. Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Though we were born in darkness, we see him and know him as our Lord and Savior. Grant that as we by faith have known on earth the wonder of that Light, we may also behold him in all his glory in the life to come; through your only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. BE SEATED FIRST READING GENESIS 12:1-3 Abram is called by God and given the promise that all nations will be blessed through his Offspring. 2
SOLO/CHORAL ANTHEM: Gesu Bambino (4:30 and 7PM) When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows, upon a winter night, Was born the child, the Christmas rose, the king of love and light. The angels sang, the shepherds sang, the grateful earth rejoiced; And at his blessed birth the stars their exultation voiced. Chorus: O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the lord. Again the heart with rapture glows to greet the holy night, That gave the world its Christmas rose, its king of love and light Let ev'ry voice acclaim his name, the grateful chorus swell From paradise to earth he came that we with him might dwell. Ah! Oh come, let us adore Him. Ah! Adore Him, Christ the Lord. O come, O come, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. A Stable Lamp Is Lighted (10PM) A stable lamp is lighted whose glow shall wake the sky; The stars shall bend their voices, and ev ry stone shall cry. And ev ry stone shall cry, and straw like gold shall shine; A barn shall harbor heaven, a stall become a shrine. This child through David s city shall ride in triumph by; The palm shall strew its branches, and ev ry stone shall cry. And ev ry stone shall cry, though heavy, dull, and dumb, And lie within the roadway to pave his kingdom come. Yet he shall be forsaken and yielded up to die; The sky shall groan and darken, and ev ry stone shall cry. And ev ry stone shall cry, for stony hearts of men; God s blood upon the spearhead, God s love refused again. But now, as at the ending, the low is lifted high. The stars shall bend their voices, and ev ry stone shall cry. And ev ry stone shall cry in praises of the child By whose descent among us the world is reconciled. SECOND READING MICAH 5:2-5a God reveals that the promised Savior will be born in Bethlehem. STAND PRAYER M: Let us pray to God our Father and worship Christ our Savior, everlasting God and Mary's Son. M: Heavenly Father, to whom glory is sung in the highest and peace is proclaimed to people on earth, give to your holy Church the peace of sins forgiven and your continued favor and merciful good will. C: Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! M: On Christmas night you sent the angels to preach the good news of Jesus' birth. Give to all ministers of our church courage to lead us boldly to the Christ Child. Fill us with joy that we may each make known abroad the glad tidings concerning this Child, that more may be given faith to confess him as Lord. C: Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! M: Bless our country, all its citizens, and all who are in authority over us. Cause your glory to dwell among us, and let mercy, truth, and justice prevail everywhere, that throughout our land people may come to know the Prince of Peace. C: Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! M: Merciful God, we thank you for the joys of family and friends this season, together with the abundance of your blessings. Open our hearts and homes to the lonely and destitute that we may be your instruments of love and charity. C: Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 3
M: In the birth of your Son, O God, you have clothed us with eternal life. We remember with thanksgiving all those who have died in the faith. Unite our voices with theirs that we may join the heavenly song of angels: C: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. M: For all these things and whatever else you would have us ask, we implore you to hear us, gracious Father, through Jesus Christ our Savior, whom together with you and the Holy Spirit we praise; one God, now and forever. BE SEATED HYMN: #47 Behold, A Branch is Growing THIRD READING: ISAIAH 9:2-7 God promises through Isaiah that the child of the promise will be God Himself. CHOIR ANTHEM: Glory, Hodie! (10PM) A tiny little babe was born one night, In a stable bare, bathed in candlelight, A humble little child that slept till break of day. The shepherds in the fields bowed down in fright, To shield their eyes from the heav nly light, Then hastened to the stable long fore break of day. Angel hosts sang Allelu, glory to the promised Son; Glory to the newborn King, Jesu, chosen one. The wise men from the East led by a star, Traveled to the babe from their lands afar, To lay their precious gifts before Him on the hay. The baby Jesus born in lowly stall, With his love and grace to redeem us all, Sing glory, halleluia, Glory, Hodie. Sing glory, halleluia, Gloria, sing Gloria, to the newborn King. Sing glory, halleluia, Glory, Hodie. Sing glory, halleluia, Glory, Hodie. STAND CHRISTMAS GOSPEL: LUKE 2:1-20 C: 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 his own town to register. Men: 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. Women: 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 room for them in the inn. ALL: And 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. Men: But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has 4
been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. ALL: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Women: 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. ALL: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Men: 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. Women: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ALL: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. BE SEATED HYMN: #61 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing FIFTH READING AND SERMON TEXT: TITUS 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (NIV 84) SERMON: A CHRISTMAS YES AND NO SOLO/CHORAL ANTHEM: I wonder, as I wander out under the sky How Jesus the Saviour had come for to die For poor orn'ry creatures like you and like I I wonder as I wander out under the sky When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall With wisemen and shepherds and farmers and all And high in the heavens a star's light did fall 'Twas the promise of the ages, it then did recall I Wonder As I Wander (4:30+7PM) If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing Like a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing Well, he surely could have had them, for he was their King I wonder as I wander out under the sky How Jesus the Saviour had come for to die For poor orn'ry creatures like you and like I I wonder as I wander, out under the sky. 5
Good people, all, this Christmastime, consider well and bear in mind; In Bethlehem this happy morn, a tiny baby, sweet Jesus, born. Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep, To whom the angels did appear, which filled the shepherds with trembling fear. Arise and go to Bethlehem, be not afraid, the angels said, The Wexford Carol (10PM) In Bethlehem this happy morn, a tiny baby, sweet Jesus, born. Venite adoremus Dominum... Arise and go to Bethlehem, be not afraid, the angels said. In Bethlehem this happy morn, a tiny baby, sweet Jesus, born. A tiny baby, sweet Jesus, born, He is born. OFFERING - Offertory (10PM) - Flute Solo It Came Upon the Midnight Clear HYMN: #65 O Little Town of Bethlehem As the hymn is sung, the candles are lit. The ushers will have their candles lit by Pastor, whose candle is lit from the Christ candle. From the center aisle the ushers will light the candle of the person nearest the aisle. STAND PRAYER M: Almighty God, grant that the birth of your only Son in the flesh may set us free from our old bondage under the yoke of sin; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. SIXTH READING ROMANS 5:15-17 Through the apostle Paul God explains his Christmas gift to us. C: But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 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; 6
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. for ever and ever. Amen. BENEDICTION M: May the grace of the Lord Jesus sanctify us and keep us from evil. May Christ drive all hurtful things from us and purify our souls and bodies. May the living Savior bind us to himself in his eternal love. The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The LORD look on you with favor and give you peace. CLOSING HYMN (4:30 and 7PM): Silent Night (CW #60) CLOSING HYMN WITH CHOIR (10PM): All on a Silent Night (words projected on screen) BE SEATED Worship Leader: Rev. Stephen Schmidt Organist and Director of the St. John s Choir: Sue Horvath Flautist: Carmen Brich Soloist: Michael Prado Gesu Bambino MCMXCIX by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. I Wonder As I Wander Copyright, 1934, by G. Schirmer, Inc. Copyright, 1944, by G. Schirmer, Inc. Glory, Hodie 1980 by Hinshaw Music, Inc. A Stable Lamp is Lighted Text: A Christmas Hymn from Advice to a Prophet and Other Poems 1961, renewed 1989 by Richard Wilbur, reprinted by permission of Harcourt, Inc. Tune: Allan Mahnke 1990 Allan Mahnke. Setting: 2011 Northwestern Publishing House The Wexford Carol 2010 and this arrangement 2013 Heritage Music Press All on a Silent Night 2012 Heritage Music Press (CCLI License #1727692) Scripture reprinted from NIV 84 according to Fair Use Law. 7
Christmas Day - Sunday, December 25 9:30 AM - Worship Thursday, December 29 Divine Worship with Communion at 6:30 PM New Year s Eve - Saturday, December 31 6:30 PM - Worship (Holy Communion will be served) New Year s Day - Sunday, January 1, 2017 Divine Worship with Communion at 8:00 AM *No adult, teen or youth Bible classes. Living Praise with Communion at 10:30 AM Resume regular schedule: Thursday, January 5, 2017 Divine Worship at 6:30 PM Sunday, January 8, 2017 Divine Worship at 8:00 AM Bible Study at 9:15 AM Living Praise at 10:30 AM Website: stjohnsoakcreek.org Facebook: St. John's Lutheran Church Oak Creek Sermon Download: stjohnsoakcreek.org St. John s Lutheran Church 6700 South Howell Avenue Oak Creek, WI 53154 (414) 762-3950 Worship Services Thursday 6:30 PM Sunday 8:00; 10:30 AM Adult and Youth Bible Study: 9:15 AM on Sunday The Mission Statement of St. John s Ev. Lutheran Church Jesus told His disciples, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you (John 20:21). Therefore, we, the members of St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church, welcome his gospel mission for us. God created each of us and our congregation to make all people lifelong disciples of Christ. We 8 will use the power of God s Word and Sacraments to nurture believers for spiritual growth and service, and to evangelize our community and world, all to the glory of God.