Living Savior Lutheran Church 4616 Gharrett St Missoula, MT 59803 livingsaviormissoula.org 406.543.8222 Pastor Justin Cloute pastor@livingsaviormissoula.org December 24th, 2016 Christmas Eve WELCOME TO WORSHIP Welcome to everyone, especially our guests this evening. We are happy that you are here to worship with us on this holy night and pray that the Lord blesses you through his Word while you re here. If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to ask one of the greeters or anyone else who looks like they know what is going on. There are signs for the restrooms near the table in the back of the entryway. There is a small nursery room in the back of the church with an audio feed of worship. We invite you to join us again any Sunday at 10am to hear God s good news. If you are interested in learning more about Living Savior, leave your contact info in the guest register, or feel free to call or email Pastor Cloute. TONIGHT S WORSHIP THEME A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU 1
OPENING HYMN All: 1. Oh, come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, born the King of angels. Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful Refrain Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. 2. God from true God, and Light from Light eternal, Born of a virgin, to earth he comes, Only begotten Son of God the Father. Refrain 3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above. Glory to God, all glory in the highest. Refrain 4. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory giv'n, Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Refrain Please stand WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Pastor 2
CALL TO WORSHIP Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. Congregation: And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Let us pray: Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of your Son, the true Light. We ask that you help us marvel more and more at the wonder of this Light now and finally in all his glory in the life to come; we ask this through the name of your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. Please be seated NARRATION Ethan NARRATION Vicar THE PROMISE OF A SAVIOR The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:5,6) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:2) The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) 3
CHILDREN To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) CHOIR SONG Emmanuel by Lloyd Larson, Hal Leonard Corporation 2004 NARRATION Claire & Sophie THE ANNOUNCEMENT In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin? The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. I am the Lord s servant, Mary answered. May it be to me as you have said. Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-35,38) 4
SOLO The Magnificat Song of Mary arranged by Koiné A SAVIOR IS BORN NARRATION Matthew HYMN What Child Is This All: 1. 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! 2. 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! 3. 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! 5
NARRATION Children 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. 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. (Luke 2:1-5) 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. (Luke 2:6-7) SONG All Children (any children who would like to sing are invited to come up and sing): NARRATION Children 1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky look down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. 2. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care, And take us to heaven to live with you there. Away in a Manger 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. 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 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. 6
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. (Luke 2:8-14) HYMN All: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 1. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all you nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; With th angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! 2. 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 Godhead see, Hail th incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! 3. Hail, the heav nly 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 us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! NARRATION Ethan 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. 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. 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. (Luke 2:15-20) 7
CHOIR SONG God s Delight at Bethlehem by Francis Patrick O Brien, GIA publications 2002 MESSAGE The Word Changes Everything HYMN Peace Came to Earth 8
MUSICAL INTERLUDE SIGNING OF GUEST BOOKS We ask that you please sign our guest register and pass it to the person next to you. Thank you. THE OFFERING The ministry of Living Savior is supported by free will offerings given in response to God s love. THE CANDLE LIGHTING After the offering is gathered the ushers will light the candle of the person sitting nearest the center aisle. The light is passed along as each person in the row tips an unlighted candle toward a lighted one. The lighting of candles symbolizes the coming of Christ as the Light of the world. The passing of the flame symbolizes how we share the peace of Christmas with one another. CLOSING PRAYER P: Let us pray: O God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold him when he will come to be our judge, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. LORD S PRAYER C: 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. 9
THE BLESSING P: May he, who by his incarnation gathered things earthly and heavenly into one, fill us with such joy that comes with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And the blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always. C: Amen. CLOSING HYMN Silent Night All: 1. 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. 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! 3. 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. Carefully blow out the candles We invite you to join us again to worship our newborn King tomorrow and every Sunday at 10:00am. Merry Christmas: A Savior has been born to you! 10
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS SPECIAL THANKS To all those who used their gifts and talents to make our Christmas celebrations so special. CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP 10am You are welcome to join us again tomorrow morning as we focus on the meaning of Christ s Incarnation for us, or on Sundays at 10am. INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE GROWING IN HOPE Starts in January This class is designed for those who have never studied the Bible before and for those who are interested in refreshing their knowledge. This class is intended to help you grow closer to Jesus as you dig into his Word. This is also our membership class. Call (543-8222) or email (cloutejr@hotmail.com) Pastor Cloute for more info. PICTURES If you would like to get your picture taken for our Welcome board, please speak to Charlotte. LIVING SAVIOR ONLINE Like our Facebook page for recent photos and upcoming events. And check out livingsaviormissoula.org for more about us and to stream past sermons. If you d like to receive a weekly email with a short devotion and news, email pastor@livingsaviormissoula.org with the subject line: sign me up. Living Savior is a place where you can find hope through the message of Jesus Christ. We don t pretend to be perfect, and neither should you. The good news is that Jesus came to save sinners. He came for people like you and me, so that we could have peace with God and joy now and forever. This is what we are all about! 11