CHRISTMAS EVE 2019

11:00 PM

“Living a Legacy of Faith.” 150 Years: 1869-2019

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5

December 24, 2019 11:00 p.m.

AS WE GATHER The days and weeks preceding Christmas are full of hustle and bustle for many. Between parties and shopping, cooking and baking, wrapping and card writing, along with many more things, we are occupied and busy as we anticipate this night and the assured joy to come celebrating the Savior born for us. Over two thousand years ago, though, that wasn’t the case. Nobody was prepared for what was to take place. Yet everything soon changed in that little town of Bethlehem. Quietly, unexpectedly, even “like a thief in the night” was born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, our Lord. Tonight we gather amid the busyness to reflect, rejoice, and ponder anew the joy of our Savior born and to prepare our hearts to receive the greatest gifts ever given and received by and through Him—hope, forgiveness, newness, and an assured promise of eternal life through faith in Him.

A Few FYI'S as You Worship with Us.  Attendance/Prayer cards, please fill out and give to an elder/usher or place in the offering plate so that we may be better equipped to serve you.  Busy Bags are available in the Narthex for those with little busy hands. Please help yourself.  Children bulletins are available from the ushers.  Assisted Listening Devices are also available from an Elder or Usher.  Grace Space is available up by the pulpit for little children. Please supervise your children when they are using Grace Space.  If you do not wish to receive Holy Communion but would like a blessing, simply come forward during the distribution, cross your arms when Pastor approaches you and he will speak a blessing.  Holy Communion is offered to those who have been instructed in what the Scriptures teach about Communion. We believe the Bible teaches: 1) Jesus Christ is our only Lord and Savior from all sin, death, and the power of evil; 2) The Risen Christ is really present in the Sacrament and that with the bread and wine we receive His Body and Blood; and 3) We resolve to dedicate our lives to the service of our Lord in His Body, the Church, through worship, sacrificial giving, and thankful living.  The center of the individual cup trays contains non-alcoholic wine for those who prefer this substitute. Gluten-free communion wafers are available.      2   PREPARATION 

WELCOME

HYMN “O Come, All Ye Faithful” LSB 379 Stz. 1–3

INVOCATION

OPENING SENTENCES John 1:1, 4–5; Isaiah 9:6 Pastor: In the beginning was the Word, People: and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Pastor: In Him was life, People: and the life was the light of men. Pastor: The light shines in the darkness, People: and the darkness has not overcome it.

 WORD 

FIRST READING Isaiah 7:10–14 (p. 486, ESV) (p. 681, NIV) (The sign of Immanuel)

SECOND READING 1 John 4:7–16 (p. 879, ESV) (p. 1209, NIV) (God is love.)

ANTHEM “In Excelsis Gloria” Immanuel Choir (Callahan)

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 2:1–20 (p. 732, ESV) (p.1014, NIV) (The birth of Jesus Christ)

3 Pastor: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. People: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to 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, who was with child.

HYMN “O Little Town of Bethlehem” LSB 361 Stz. 1, 3

Pastor: And while they were there, Women: the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

HYMN “Away in a Manger” LSB 364 St. 1

Pastor: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, People: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Pastor: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, People: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

HYMN “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” LSB 380 Stz. 1, 3

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Pastor: When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Men: “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

HYMN “Angels We Have Heard on High” LSB 368

Pastor: And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. People: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

MESSAGE “Sit Back and Rejoice” Pastor Donald Antor

OFFERING (Gifts for the Mission and Ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School are received.) (Want to give online? Text IMMANUELGIVE to #77977) (Download Our Mobile App – God With Us)

OFFERING SONG “In the Bleak Midwinter” Immanuel Choir arr. Joel Raney

APOSTLES’ CREED

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

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CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Hebrews 9:26 Pastor: As we prepare to celebrate our Lord’s birth and receive Him as He still comes to us today, let us also remember the reason Jesus was born: “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” He has come to bring peace, yet not always in ways we can see in this world. He has come to bring peace, yet not always in ways we can see in ourselves in our thoughts, words, and actions. He has come to bring peace that is forgiveness of sins and peace with our Father in heaven. People: We confess that we have sinned against God and against one another. We yearn for peace with God and reconciliation with one another, yet we cannot accomplish it ourselves. Forgive us, Lord, and restore our souls, that our lives reflect not our sin, but the joy of the birth of Your only Son into the world. Pastor: Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” What we are powerless to do, He has done for us. His name is Jesus, the name that means He has “come to save us from our sins.” Know the peace He has come to bring; live it with others and share it with all. As a called and ordained servant of the Word, and in the stead and by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the  Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

 SACRAMENT 

THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–25

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13

COMMUNION HYMNS Grayson Walther, soloist “What Child Is This” LSB 370 “See Amid the Winter’s Snow” LSB 373

6 THE SHARING OF LIGHT Leader: Let us pray. Almighty God, You made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. You have filled us with the Light of the World who became human and lived among us. Let the light of our faith in the Christ-Child shine in all we do and say. In His name we pray, live, and reflect His light. People: Amen

Representatives of Immanuel will approach the altar to receive the light. The light is carried to the congregation. Please dip your unlit candle into the flame of a burning candle.

Leader: Arise, shine, for Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon You. (Isaiah 60:1)

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6)

No longer will the sun be your light by day or the moon be your light by night; I, the Lord will be your eternal light; the light of My glory will shine on you (Isaiah 60:19)

HYMN “Once In Royal David’s City” LSB 376 stz. 1-4 (Soloist, st. 1; Choir, stz.2 & 3: Congregation st. 4)

HYMN "Silent Night” LSB 363 (Luke Fisher, guitar; April Berkowski, violin)

BENEDICTION Pastor: Christmas peace and joy through Christ, His only-begotten Son, be yours. The blessing of God almighty—Father,  Son, and Holy Spirit—be and abide with you forever. People: Amen.

HYMN "Joy to the World” LSB 387 7

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP AT IMMANUEL

CHRISTMAS DAY December 25 @ 10:00 a.m.

NEW YEAR'S EVE December 31 @ 5:00 p.m.

All copyrighted material projected and in this bulletin is used by permission. Immanuel Lutheran Church is a member of Christian Copyright License, Inc. License #46427. All Hymns are from the Lutheran Service Book unless otherwise noted. All Scriptures are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Quarter 1. Copyright © 2019 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Immanuel Lutheran Church  200 N. Plum Grove Rd, Palatine, IL 60067 Church: 847.359.1549 School: 847.359.1936 immanuelpalatine.org

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