Scripture Reading and Meditation by Pastor Schwartz
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The Carols of Christmas A Children’s Christmas Service by Jeffrey L. Schallert & Jaimie Roland Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, School, and Preschool 525 63 rd Street – Downers Grove, IL 60516 Telephone - 630-852-1519; Website - www.gsdg.org December 24 th , 2013 David N. Rutschow & Matthew E. Schwartz, Pastors Welcome! For centuries God’s people have joined the angels in singing “Glory to God in the Highest” at Christmastime. But the angels were not the only ones who sang for joy at the birth of Jesus. Many believers spoke and wrote songs of praise in response to the good news they were told. These saints of God joined the angels of heaven in proclaiming the birth of the Savior of the world. We’re glad that you’ve joined us this evening to celebrate the birth of our Savior along with us! Please take a moment to fill out the Friendship Register located in your pew. Pre-Service Music Prior to the start of the service, the congregation is invited to join in singing the following hymns of praise to our newborn king. Gentle Mary Laid Her Child ( Hymn 56 ) Gentle Mary laid her child Lowly in a manger; There he lay, the undefiled, To the world a stranger. Such a babe in such a place -- Can he be the Savior? Ask the saved of all the race Who have found his favor. Angels sang about his birth; Wise men sought and found him. Heaven's star shone brightly forth, Glory all around them. Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, Heard the angels singing. All the plains were lit that night; All the hills were ringing. Gentle Mary laid her child Lowly in a manger; He is still the undefiled, But no more a stranger. Son of God, of humble birth, Beautiful the story; Praise his name in all the earth, Hail the King of glory! What Child Is This ( Hymn 67 ) 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! 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! 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! Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ( Hymn 61 ) 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!" 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!" 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!" Processional Hymn - “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful ” (Hymn 55) (The congregation sings verses 1 - 3, the children sing verse 4 ) 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, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. God from true God, and Light from Light eternal, Born of a virgin, to earth he comes, Only begotten Son of God the Father. Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above. Glory to God, All glory in the highest. Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. 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. Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Invocation and Litany M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. M: Unto us the Christ is born. Oh, come, let us worship him. Let us worship with musicians and singers throughout the years as they tell the story of Christmas: C: O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. M: Let us worship with the angels and sing praise to the Lord who came to save us: C: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to men. M: Let us worship with the shepherds who told everyone they met about the child, our Savior. C: Christ the Lord, our Savior, everlasting God and Mary’s son, we praise you forever. M: O gracious Holy Spirit, enrich us as we hear the story of our Savior’s birth. Open our hearts to hear and believe the story we know so well and to share the good tidings of great joy with people everywhere. C: Hear our prayer, O Lord, for Jesus’ sake, whose birth we now celebrate. Amen. Scripture Reading and Meditation by Pastor Schwartz Introduction Narration: No hymnal could be large enough to contain all the hymns that have ever been composed. Perhaps no greater number of songs, hymns, and carols has been composed than those for Christmas. They all center on the same grand and beautiful theme, the theme that John put into such simple yet profound words in the first chapter of his gospel: Scripture Reading: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5,14) Narration: The story of Christmas is the story of a child. The message that the God of Israel, the Creator of all things, should become a helpless child has captured the imagination of thousands. And it is a message that is found in many Christmas carols. People often think of Christmas as a holiday for children. They think of little eyes lighting up like the lights on the Christmas tree and eager fingers ripping the wrapping off the presents. For many, Christmas is toys and parties and little ones lying restless in bed on Christmas Eve, waiting for the coming of dawn. While we know that Christmas is for all people of all ages, we still set aside a special place in the holiday for the children. Here they learn about the great love God has for them and that his Son entered the world, even as they did, and became one of them. Song - "I Am So Glad When Christmas Comes" ( Hymn 51 ) ( The children sing verses 1 & 2; The congregation sings verses 3-5 ) I am so glad when Christmas comes, The night of Jesus’ birth, When Bethl’em’s star shone as the sun, And angels sang on earth. The little child of Bethlehem, He was a king indeed! For he came down from heav’n above To help a world in need. He lives again in heaven’s realm, The Son of God today; And still he loves his little ones And hears them when they pray. I, too, shall sing my Savior’s praise, My joy, my crown, my Lord; For he has made me his own child By water and the Word. And so I love each Christmas Eve, And I love Jesus, too; And that he loves me ev’ry day I know so well is true. The Savior Is Foretold Narration: “I bring you good news of great joy,” the angel told the shepherds. And it is this joy—which is for all people—that provides the theme for many Christmas carols. There is a certain spirit of this season, a spirit of anticipation and delight that affects almost everyone as Christmas approaches. The joy God’s people feel at Christmas is contagious. “God rest you merry, gentlemen,” our next carol sings out. Today we would say, “God send you joy and peace, good gentlemen!” When this song was written, people sang it with the same sense of Christmas cheer that the prophet of ancient Israel felt when he wrote these words: Scripture Reading: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.