Silently Ponder the Mystery THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Christmas Eve December 24, 2016
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Port Hudson The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri Parsonage 573-459-6432 Church 573-459-6431 Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor Mary Sprick, Secretary ebenezerlutheran@hotmail.com ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com AS WE GATHER: From the Old Testament, we believe that God has spoken by His prophets. We also believe that God is speaking by His Spirit through the Means of Grace. But it is only because of Christmas that we can know this God of the prophets, this God the Holy Spirit. For it is only and solely through Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Mary, that anyone can come to know the one true God. As John said, No one has ever seen God, but the only God, who is at the Father s side, He has made Him known (John 1:18). Jesus made God known by His faithful teaching, but then especially by His work of salvation in His own holy life and sacred death and mighty resurrection. But knowing all that is to come, tonight we silently ponder the mystery of the Son of God, who took on our flesh by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, being born into the world for us and for our salvation. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP: O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your onlybegotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. OPENING SENTENCES Come, all who seek the truth. 2
People: People: People: People: You will find a little Babe lying in a manger. Come, all who hunger for justice. You will find a little Babe lying in a manger. Come, all who yearn for abundant life. You will find a little Babe lying in a manger. Come, all who labor and are heavy laden. You will find a little Babe lying in a manger. OPENING HYMN Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful LW 41 DIVINE SERVICE I, page 136 HYMNS: 47, 49, 50, 60 LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES (The light is passed from pastor to acolytes and assisting ministers who pass it to the congregation. Do NOT let small children hold candles unattended. For your safety and to prevent wax from dripping, please do NOT tip the lit candle. Tip only the unlighted candle. Hold the candles straight up and they will not drip. Blow them out gently.) As the light of these candles illumines our faces, it symbolizes the light of Christ, a child in the manger at Bethlehem, a Savior suffering our death on the cross, and soon to come from His throne on high as Judge of all. He is our Light here on earth and the eternal Light who enlightens heaven, where there is no need of candle or sun. Rejoice, for the Light of the world has come, who transforms us with the 3
brightness of His glory. This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaimed to you: that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. (The candlelight begins to be spread throughout the congregation.) People: If we say we have fellowship with Him but still walk in darkness, we lie, and do not live according to the truth. But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another People: And the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all our sins. (The candlelight is spread to the rest of the congregation.) You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and then cover its light. Instead they set the lamp on its stand, set it up high, and it lights everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before all people, that they may see your good works and give praise to your Father in heaven HYMN Silent Night LW 68 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. 4
Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly 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 People: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon You with favor + and give you peace. Amen! Glory to God in the Highest! And peace to His people on earth! The candles are extinguished. RECESSIONAL HYMN "Joy to the World LW 53 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Organist: Laura Nichols Duet: Mary Zastrow & Patty Kellmann Soloist: Wilbert Baumann O Holy Night Soloist: Mary Zastrow Bring a Torch Isabella OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY 5
We welcome our members and guests who are here with us today. May the Lord refresh you with peace and love during our worship services this Christmas Day. Please join us here at Ebenezer again soon! Please sign the guest register near the front entrance with your name, address and Church affiliation. We pray for safe travels for Pastor and Margaret as they travel to Minnesota this coming week to visit family and friends. They will return on Friday, December 30 th. For pastoral assistance at this time please call Pastor Brown at 573-484-3588 or his cell at 636-744-9044. New Year s Day Country Church Tour Our Church has been invited to participate in an open church tour of country churches in Franklin County. We will have our sanctuary open on New Year s Day from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM for people to tour and see our holiday decorations. The organizers of the tour are aware that we have a worship service on January 1, 2017 at 10:00 AM and it is open to the public. It is quite an honor for us to be included on this tour!! Circuit Epiphany Service - You are invited to the Circuit Epiphany Service on Friday, January 6th, 6 pm at Zion Lutheran Church Owensville, 211 East Madison Street. Holy communion will be celebrated. Pastor Landgraf of St John, Drake and Pilgrim, Freedom is preaching. Chili supper, King cake, and fun and games after service in the undercroft. The church is on the corner of Hickory and Madison. Follow highway 28 into town, go through the traffic light at McDonalds, and turn left at Hickory, then two blocks south to Madison. Or, turn left at the traffic light at McDonalds. The second right is Madison street, two blocks to the church. 6
Poinsettias If you donated a poinsettia to our Church this holiday, please feel free to leave it here to be used to decorate the sanctuary for the New Year s Day tour. Otherwise you may take it home to enjoy after our service on Christmas Day. Bulletins If you could not make it to Church here last Sunday, please be aware that there are extra bulletins from last Sunday s service on the table at the back of Church to take along home if you want to. Newsletter from Robin McCoy There are a number of December Newsletters from Robin on the table at the back of Church if you would like to have one to see what is going on in her life in Bangkok, Thailand. Christmas Cards Also, please take a look at the Christmas cards we have received on the bulletin board at the back of Church. Members, if you have not already done so, please pick up your 2017 offering envelopes on the table near the Church entrance. The accuracy of your contribution record depends on your envelope number being correct, so be sure to check it, both on the box s address label and the envelopes themselves. It should be the same as in 2016. Also, please report any address corrections to Mary Sprick. Those Serving Today Organist Saturday Jenny Huellinghoff Organist Sunday Ruth Marschel Choir Director Kathy Scheer Head Usher Saturday Tracey Bade Head Usher Sunday Wilbert Baumann Altar Guild Barb Kassebaum and Jennifer Huellinghoff Acolytes Confirmation Class Bell Ringer Jeff Hohlt 7
Offerings and Attendance Sunday Weekly Contributions $467.00 Plate 23.00 Sunday School 11.30 Advent Offering 5.00 New Year Offering 20.00 $526.30 Attendance: Saturday Worship 4 Sunday Worship 40 Sunday School Attendance: Children 5 Adults 12 Offerings and Attendance Advent Services Advent Offerings $85.00 Weekly Contributions 50.00 Plate 80.00 $215.00 Attendance: Wednesday evening Worship 24 Thursday morning Worship 17 Saturday This Week at Ebenezer New Year s Eve Service 3:00 PM 8