Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2020
Prelude Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming Hand Chimes & Organ
Welcome & Announcements
Carol Sing: “What Child Is This”
1 “The First Noel” Verses 1—2
Assembly
2 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
3 Greeting and Prayer of the Day The grace and peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, be with you all. And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus' presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Christmas Story
Luke 1:26-38: Angel Gabriel Announces Jesus’ Birth 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Hymn “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came” (page 8)
Luke 2:1-5: Joseph and Mary Go to Bethlehem 1In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
Hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (verses 1—2) (page 9)
4 Luke 2:6-14: Jesus is Born 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Duet Gesù Bambino Sarah Fagan, Jacqueline Mims
Luke 2:8-14: Jesus is Born 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’
Hymn “Angels We Have Heard on High” (page 10)
Luke 2:15-20: The Shepherds Go to Bethlehem 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Hymn “Go Tell It On the Mountain” (page 11)
Christmas Message
Hymn “Love Has Come” (page 12)
Prayers of the People On this most holy night, we offer our prayers to God for the church, for the world, and for all who are in need. We invite you to bring your own concerns to God, as well, knowing that God hears even what is deepest in our hearts. As each request ends with Lord, in your mercy, we respond with, Hear our prayer.
Receive our prayers, gracious God, in the name of your Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen.
5 The Lord’s Prayer 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.
Candle Lighting Ceremony
As our this time of worship draws to a close, let us remember the reason for our hope: that Jesus was born. The Light of the world has come. Let us follow him! We light our candles from the Christ candle. We invite you to light a candle and perhaps to turn the lights down low as you share this moment together across both time and distance.
Reading: John 1:1-14 The Word Became Flesh In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Candle Carol “Silent Night” (page 13)
Blessing May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.
Sending Hymn “Joy to the World” (page 14)
6 Dismissal Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people! To you is born this day a Savior who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God!
Postlude O Come All Ye Faithful Hand Chimes
Acknowledgments Liturgical texts reprinted from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2007 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Except where noted, all texts and hymn music printed by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20396.
We are very grateful for all who contribute generously to the work of God at Good Shepherd. Online giving is available for those who are interested. Visit us online at www.goodshepherdvb.org to find out more, or TEXT TO GIVE at 1-844-970-2662. You may also send your gift by regular mail to: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1489 Laskin Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23451.
7 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
8 O Little Town of Bethlehem Verses 1-2
9 Angels We Have Heard on High
10 Go Tell It On the Mountain
11 Love Has Come
12 Silent Night
13 Joy to the World
14 Your donation given to the glory of God to enhance our sanctuary is greatly appreciated. You may take your poinsettias after the 9 pm Christmas Eve service or after Sunday, December 27th service.
Shirley Ammon In honor of family Naomi Augustus To the glory of God Marilyn & Chuck Berge In memory of Larry Berge, In honor of Adrien Mary Cobb In memory of Diana L. King Janie & Greg Colegate To the glory of God Jackie Ferguson In memory of her parents Daniel E. Guest In memory of Charles F. Cullum Audrey & Tom Hill To the glory of God Sunny Hollenbach In memory of her parents Bob & Diane Hudkins To the glory of God Mazzie Jackson In memory of Travis Waldon Kevin Jones & Karin Lundgren To the glory to God Sondra Lindstrom To the glory of God Patricia Morgan In honor of Pastor Scott & Steve Sunderland Eilene Roth In honor of James Roth Frances Sunderland To the glory of God Gwyne & Jim Van Slyke To the glory to God
Thank you for your donation toward piglets which will be given to poor families in developing countries. In a few months, a piglet can help support a family and provide for them in a time of financial need.
Naomi Augustus To the glory of God Shirley Ammon In honor of great grandson, Bennett Warren Chandler Linda Barclay To the glory of God Marilyn & Chuck Berge In memory of Larry Berge; In honor of Adrien Mary Cobb In memory of Diana L. King Jackie Ferguson In memory of her parents Audrey & Tom Hill To the glory of God Bob & Diane Hudkins To the glory of God Kevin Jones & Karin Lundgren To the glory of God Sondra Lindstrom In memory of loved ones Don Paske To the glory of God Sylvia & Mike Solhaug To the glory of God Brad & Cheryl Tennant In celebration of Bennett Chandler’s birth In celebration of Shirley Ammon’s 90th birthday Gwyne & Jim Van Slyke To the glory to God Welch Family In honor of Finn & Waylon Donna & Roger White In honor of Alexander Jerlin
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