IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH December 24, 2016 421 North Second Street Mankato, MN 56001 Volume 79, Number 67 - Savior of the Nations, Come - IMMANUEL YOUTH BAND: Joy to the World BELLS OPENING ANTHEM Climb to the top of the highest mountain, joyous tidings proclaim to the world. Lift up your voice, shout the good news: Behold, your Lord comes to you. He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will carry the lambs in His arms, He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you. He who made the stars in the heavens, He who fashioned the earth and the sea, From time eternal He was God, The Alpha and Omega, He. He will come in power and glory, He will rule with mercy and truth, Hope of the nations, Light of the world, Light of all. He will love the little children, He will hold them in His arms. Love Him and trust Him as a child, Behold, your Lord, comes to you. Love Him, trust Him as a child.
ENTRANCE HYMN O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come, ye, O come, ye, to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels; O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. (Please stand.) 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 heav n above; glory to God in the Highest! O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. REFRAIN Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be glory giv n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! REFRAIN (Please be seated.) WELCOME... Preschool We welcome you in the name of Jesus Christ, our newborn Savior and King! Once again it s Christmas over all the earth and we join to tell of our dear Savior s birth. 2
MATTHEW 1: 18-25. Grades 5 and 6 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: after His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. Now all this was done that is might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us. Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her until she brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Branch of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan s tyranny. From depths of hell Thy people save and give them vict ry o er the grave. ALL: O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav nly home; make safe the way that leads on high and close the path to tyranny. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. LUKE 2:1-7...Grades 3 and 4 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 3
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim His holy birth, and praises sing to God the King and peace to all on earth. ALL: O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel! LUKE 2:8-14... Grades 1 and 2 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men! 4
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o er the plains, and the mountains, in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav nly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo! ALL: Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing. Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo! ANTIPHONAL HYMN (Please stand.) STUDENTS: While by my sheep I watched at night, glad tidings brought an angel bright. How great my joy! ALL: Great my joy! STUDENTS: Joy, joy, joy! ALL: Joy! Joy! Joy! STUDENTS: Praise we the Lord in heav n on high! ALL: Praise we the Lord in heav n on high! CONGREGATION: There shall be born, so he did say in Bethlehem, a Child today. How great my joy! STUDENTS: Great my joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! STUDENTS: Joy! Joy! Joy! Praise we the Lord in heav n on high! STUDENTS: Praise we the Lord in heav n on high! 5
ALL: There shall a Child lie in a stall, This Child who shall redeem us all! How great our joy! MEN AND BOYS: Great our joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! WOMEN AND GIRLS: Joy! Joy! Joy! Praise we the Lord in heav n on high! PRAISE WE THE LORD IN HEAV N ON HIGH! (Please be seated.) LUKE 2:15-20... Kindergarten So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes; I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. ALL: 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 take us to heaven to live with Thee there. 6
ALL: (Please stand.) 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. Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia, 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. (Please be seated.) THE OFFERING MATTHEW 2:1-12... Grades 7 and 8 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel. Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me that I may come and worship Him also. 7
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. We the kings of Orient are, bearing gifts, we traverse afar; field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to your perfect Light. Born a King on Bethlehem s plain, gold I bring to crown Him again. King forever, ceasing never,over us all to reign. Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh; Prayer and praising, all men raising; worship Him, God most high. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. ALL: Glorious now, behold Him arise: King and God and Sacrifice! Heav n sings Alleluia! Alleluia! the earth replies. O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to your perfect Light. 8
READINGS AND HYMNS O holy night, the stars are brightly shining. GRADES 7 and 8 It is the night of our dear Savior s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope! The weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine! For the good of all humankind, Jesus Christ was born in a Bethlehem stable. Rejoice, O Christendom. Welcome to earth, O noble Guest KINDERGARTEN, GRADES 1 and 2 through whom this sinful world is blest! You turned not from our needs away! How can our thanks such love repay? All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD S, and He rules over the nations. Psalm 22:27,28 Come, Desire of nations, come, GRADES 3 and 4 Fix in us Thy humble home; Oh, to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart! Joyful, all ye nations, rise! Join the triumph of the skies! With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! 9
O King of the Nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay. O come, Desire of nations, bind GRADES 5 and 6 in one the hearts of all mankind; Lord, bid our sad divisions cease; Lord, be to all our King of Peace. As the Savior-God to us You came, of Virgin so poor to take our shame. All the earth was filled with wonder that You would stoop so low to conquer. Savior of the nations, come! GRADES 7 and 8 Virgin s Son, make here Your home! GRADES 5 and 6 Marvel now, o heav n and earth, GRADES 3 and 4 that the Lord chose such a birth. KINDERGARTEN, GRADES 1 and 2 Deep in the prophets sacred page, grand in the poets winged word, slowly in type, from age to age, nations beheld their coming Lord, till through the deep Judean night rang out the song Good will to men! Hymned by the first-born sons of light, re-echoed now, Good will! Amen. What the fathers most desired, PASTOR NAUMANN and STUDENTS what the prophets hearts inspired. What they longed for many a year, stands fulfilled in glory here. O sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name. Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among the peoples. Psalm 96:1-3 PASTOR NAUMANN and STUDENTS Let the earth now praise the Lord who has truly kept His Word, and at last to us did send Christ, the sinners Help and Friend. 10
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nations, O Thou of God and man the Son. Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor; Thou, my soul s glory, joy, and crown. ALL STUDENTS Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heav n can boast. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God, and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be Thine! PRAYER Lord God, You make this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light, Your Son Jesus Christ. Grant that as we ponder the mysteries of our Savior here on earth, we may also come to know the fullness of His joys in heaven, through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. THE LORD S PRAYER THE BENEDICTION 11
CLOSING HYMN Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing. (Please be seated.) Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains 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. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love. Please join us for our Christmas Day Festival Service at 9:30 a.m. WELCOME to Immanuel! All who worship with us tonight may feel free to speak with the Pastor after the service, or phone Pastor Nolting (387-7035), Pastor Naumann (920-266-5386) or the church office (345-3027) at your convenience. 12
SERVING US THIS EVENING Immanuel Lutheran School Students Immanuel Sunday School Students Pastor Joe Naumann Deacon Charles Olmanson Christmas Eve Director Michael Wheaton Accompanists Bonnie Cornish, Lane Fischer Immanuel Lutheran Church Choir Immanuel Lutheran High School Choir Sound: Craig Stelter Head Usher: Fred Friedrichs Assistant Usher: John Heinze 13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain text and tune by Carolyn Jennings Words and Music 1981 Neil A. Kjos Music Company OneLicense.net License #A-710933 O Come, All Ye Faithful John Wade (1711-82) Once Again It s Christmas WIlhelm Hey (1837) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel text from the Latin (1100); tune: plain-song melody (1200) O Little Town of Bethlehem text: Phillip Brooks (1935-93); tune: Lewis H. Redner (1831-1908) Angels We Have Heard on High French text (translated in 1862); French carol While By My Sheep/How Great Our Joy! text :Friedrich von Spee (1625) music: Hugo Jungst (1853-1923) arranged by John Rutter Away in a Manger text: John T. McFarland (1857-1913) tune: James Murray Silent Night text: Franz Joseph Mohr (1792-1848); tune: Franz Xaver Grüber (1787-1863) We the Kings of Orient Are text and tune by J.H. Hopkins (1820-91) O Holy Night text: John S. Dwight (1811-1893) music: Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856) For the good of all humankind Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945 ) Welcome to Earth, O Noble Guest text and tune: Martin Luther (1535) text 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, administered by Augsburg Fortress Publishers OneLicense.net License #A-710933 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788); tune: Felix Mendelssohn (1909-1947) O Come, Desire of Nations The Great O Antiphon for December 22 As the Savior-God to us You came Ambrose (397) Savior of the Nations, Come text: Ambrose (397); German version: Martin Luther (1524) translated by William M. Reynolds, 1860, alt What the Fathers most desired and Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord text: Heinrich Held (1659) translated by Catherine Winkworth (1893), alt. Deep in the prophet s sacred page text: John Julian, 1883 Fairest Lord Jesus text: Gesangbuch, Munster, 1677; tr. Joseph A Seiss, 1873 music: Derek Hakes 2003 Beckenhorst Press Inc. OneLicense.net License #A-710933 Silesian folk tune, 1842 Prayer: God, You Made... Collect for Christmas Eve Joy to the World text: Isaac Watts 1674-1748; tune: George Frideric Handel, 1685-1759, adapt.; setting: Lowell Mason 1792-1872 Cover Art: Nikolai Becker Cover Printing: Gale Bigbee and South Central College 14
15
16