Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 10:00 am Worship Service December 25, 2016 Nativity of Our Lord ELW Setting 3 On this Christmas morning the people of God gather to celebrate the birth of the Word made flesh, Christ our Lord. Luke recounts the familiar story of shepherds and angels; John s gospel tells of the Word that dwells among us, full of grace and truth. The meaning of Christmas is made clear: the light shines in the darkness. It is in the liturgy that we encounter the Word made flesh in the people of God gathered together as the body of Christ, and in the meal around the holy table. We go forth to be bearers of light as we proclaim this good news to all the ends of the earth.
Welcome members and guests to our worship service today. If you are visiting, we encourage you to sign the guest register located in the narthex. Please include your home address, email address and phone number. Each pew contains cards that you may fill out if you wish to consult with the pastor or provide additional information about yourself. Parents are invited to bring children for Holy Communion to receive a blessing. If children become restless or noisy during worship, parents are encouraged to take them in to and out of the sanctuary as necessary. Trinity offers an induction loop for the benefit of hearing impaired worshippers. To use, please switch your hearing aid to T. If you are unsure if your hearing aid is compatible, please contact your audiologist. The Reverend Tina Melusky, Pastor Rob Keene, Organist and Director of Music Congregation of Trinity Lutheran, Ministers of the Word 6812 River Road, Newport News, VA 23607 Church office: (757) 245-7861 Pastor's cell: (734) 239-4013 www.trinitylutheran-nn.com Trinity Lutheran is a partner church with Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center. Cover image by JoAnne Rawls.
Prelude Quiet preparation is encouraged at this time. Gathering The assembly stands and faces the processional cross. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Confession and Forgiveness Blessed be the Holy One of Israel, the Word made flesh, the Power of the Most High, + one God, now and forever. Amen. Gathered in the name of Jesus, let us confess our sin against God and our neighbor. Gracious God, in Christ Jesus you come among us as light shining in darkness. We confess our failure to welcome this light. Forgive us and renew our hope, so that we may live in the light of your grace, and welcome the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen. Silence is kept for refl ection. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: To you is born a Savior, Christ the Lord. Your sins are forgiven in + Jesus name. Amen. Gathering Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful ELW 283 The Greeting Kyrie 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.
Hymn of Praise Angels We Have Heard on High ELW 289 Prayer of the Day Almighty God, you gave us your only Son to take on our human nature and to illumine the world with your light. By your grace adopt us as your children and enlighten us with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The assembly is seated. Word First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10 Pew Bible Old Testament Page 642 Let us rejoice at the unfolding of salvation. Thanks be to God. Psalm 98 Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous things, whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory. O Lord, you have made known your victory, you have revealed your righteousness in the sight of the nations. You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; lift up your voice, re- joice, and sing. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the voice of song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy before the king, the Lord. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the world and those who dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands, and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord, who comes to judge the earth.
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness and the peo- ples with equity. Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-12 Pew Bible New Testament Page 192 Let us rejoice at the unfolding of salvation. Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation The assembly stands. Gospel Lesson: John 1:1-14 The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 1st chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. The prologue to the Gospel of John describes Jesus as the Word of God made fl esh, the one who reveals God to be full of grace and truth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Time with the Children Sermon The assembly is seated. Silence is kept for refl ection after the sermon. The assembly stands. Pastor Tina Hymn of the Day It Came upon the Midnight Clear ELW 282 The Nicene Creed 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 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 Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Sharing of the Peace The peace, which enables people to live in unity and in the spirit of mutual forgiveness, comes from Christ whose word has been proclaimed. The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Announcements Receiving of Tithes and Offerings Offertory The assembly is seated. Offertory Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old (stanza 3) ELW 302 Offertory Prayer God with us: You came as a baby to a manger. You slept on straw and greeted shepherds. You come again in bread and wine. Remind us how good you are at blessing ordinary things. And then, through these gifts, help us to bless the lives of others in the strength of your holy name. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving Meal Proper Preface It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Sanctus "Holy, Holy, Holy" echoes the heavenly chorus in Isaiah 6:3 and the crowds of Mark 11:9 as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. This reminds us that we are in the presence of a God identifi ed both by holiness and humility. Thanksgiving at the Table Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: Blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets hopes and dreams. Blessed are you for Mary s openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection. We look with hope for his coming. Come, Lord Jesus. Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth. Come, Holy Spirit. All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever. Amen. 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. Agnus Dei The assembly is seated. This canticle echoes John the Baptist's pronouncement in John 1:29 that Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God's people and the Savior of the world.
Communion As you receive the bread in your hand, you may commune by intinction using the silver chalice, or you may consume the bread and then drink from the pewter chalice. Music During the Distribution O Little Town of Bethlehem ELW 279 In the Bleak Midwinter ELW 294 Table Blessing The assembly stands. Sending The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. Post Communion Canticle Love Has Come (stanza 1) ELW 292 Post Communion Prayer 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. Blessing May Christ, who by his incarnation has filled us with grace and truth, give you peace this Christmas and always. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. Sending Hymn Joy to the World ELW 267 Dismissal Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God s people on earth! Go in peace. Share the gift of Jesus. Thanks be to God. Postlude
Crucifer Acolytes Lector Usher Captain Ushers Altar Guild Building Lockup Serving Today Sounthone Mynoymany Garrett Mynoymany Matthew Mynoymany Laura Davis Dick Davis Laura Davis David and Judy Hunt Karoline Ardis Dick Davis
Today s Music Prelude In dulci jubilo Marcel Dupré (1886-1971) Offertory Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen, Op. posth. 122, No. 8 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Music During the Distribution The Holy Boy: A Carol of the Nativity John Ireland (1879-1962) Postlude Greensleeves Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)