Nativity of Our Lord

SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

CHRISTMAS DAY

DIALOGUE

Jesus, the bright Morning Star, shines light in the world.

By day and night he shines for all to see.

Jesus was born in the midst of injustice and poverty

that the world may see the justice and richness of God.

God so loved the world that God sent Jesus,

so that all who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is the light of the world.

Jesus is the light of our lives.

Sing to God a new song!

A song of hope, joy, and peace around the world.

OPENING PRAYER

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Let us pray. Gracious God of heaven and earth,

you have thrown a lifeline to us in our darkness—

a beam of light that shines through Jesus.

Though born in a manger, he is the firstborn of all creation.

Though crucified on a cross, he is the Lord of life.

Fill us with the wonder and joy of his presence in the world

and in our hearts. Amen.

CREATION: Genesis 1:1-5, 14-18

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

CAROL “Angels We Have Heard on High” ELW #289

PROMISE: Micah 5:2–5a

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;

and he shall be the one of peace.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

CAROL “The First Noel” (Stanzas 1, 2 &5) ELW #300

ANGEL - EMMANUEL: Matthew 1:18–25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God

CAROL “O Little Town of Bethelhem” ELW #279

ANGEL - GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY: Luke 2:8–20

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; You shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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.

When the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us."

And they went with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

CAROL “What Child is This?” ELW #296

THE WORD : John 1:1–14

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.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

CAROL: “Silent Night” ELW #281

CHRISTMAS REFLECTION “Incarnation” Pastor Phil Wold

Lessons and Sermon

CAROL: “Hark the Herald” (Stanzas 1 & 3) ELW #270

NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*

who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

OFFERING AND OFFERTORY “Mary’s Little Boy Child” BASICS

OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

RESPONSIVE PRAYER

It is you, loving God, who lights our path with truth.

Your Word, Jesus, is truth.

In his light, draw all to the manger

to gather in wonder with the shepherds.

In his light, draw all to the manger

to kneel in reverence with the wise ones.

In his light, draw all to the manger

to sing for joy with the angels.

In the brightness of his life

cast away the darkness of injustice, poverty,

and hunger in the world.

It is you, loving God, who meets us on our way.

In the light of Jesus, show the world the way of life. Amen.

PRAYER FOR HEALING

O God, our refuge and our strength, you made us in your own image, and redeemed us through Jesus your Son. Look with compassion on the whole human family, and heal us of the arrogance and hatred that infects our hearts. Break down the walls that divide, and heal our communities.

O Jesus, we long to reach out and touch even the fringe of your cloak, reach out to us, dear Jesus, and call us to walk in faith, that we might be made well.

O Spirit of God, by the power of the resurrection, comfort all who mourn give hope to all who wonder, give healing to all who hurt and give your peace to all the world.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you

NOISY OFFERING

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

BLESSING

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Praise God, all creatures here below!

You are the shepherds telling the story.

We tell it in the streets and across the land.

You are the wise ones worshiping with thanksgiving.

We worship with gifts of song and service, talents and treasures.

You are the angels announcing peace.

We live with joy and go now in peace.

Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless you now and forever. Amen.

SENDING SONG “Go Tell it On the Mountain” #290

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Welcome the stranger. Thanks be to God.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserve