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CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Worship services for Christmas Eve will be offered at Grace at 5:00 & 11:00 p.m.
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CHRISTMAS EVE 5 PM PROGRAM
PRINTABLE PDF: .PDF
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CHRISTMAS EVE 11 PM PROGRAM
THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24, 2024 – 11:00 p.m.
Grace Lutheran Church
1787 Klerner Lane, New Albany, Indiana 47150
Phone: (812) 944-1267
Rev. Bruce Kischnick, Senior Pastor
Rev. Matthew Woods, Associate Pastor
www.glcna.org
THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24, 2024 – 11:00 PM
+ + + SERVICE OF PREPARATION + + +
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
GREETINGS and PRAYER
CHOIR ANTHEM: Glory to God
Words & Music by: Dennis & Nan Allen | ©2004 Allen House Productions/ASCAP
Published by Worship Today Music Service | CCLI License #1672462
LITANY of PREPARATION:
Pastor: The Lord God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
People: He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen.3:15)
Pastor: “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, I will surely bless you and make your
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.”
People: “…through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed…” (Gen.22:16-18)
Pastor: “The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for
(David)…I will establish his kingdom.”
People: “Your house and your kingdom will endure before me; your throne will be established forever.” (II Sam.7:11,16)
Pastor: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
People: Kiss the Son, lest He be angry…blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
(Ps. 2:7, 12)
Pastor: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:
People: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him ‘Immanuel’.” (Is.7:14)
Pastor: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
People: On those living in the land of the shadow of death a Light has dawned.
Pastor: For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given,
People: And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Is.9:2, 6)
Pastor: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
People: From His roots a branch will bear fruit. (Is. 11:1)
Pastor: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
People: Out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel…” (Micah 5:2)
Pastor: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because
what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
People: She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name ‘Jesus’, because he will save his people from their sins.
Pastor: And so, we make our beginning in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
(Rise)
A CAROL HYMN: Song of Grace 31 Good Christian Men, Rejoice
(to the tune of LW 47)
CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION:
Pastor: Beloved in the Lord, in order to see real meaning and in order to find true joy in the birth of Jesus Christ, we must first fully understand who we are under the Law and confess that we have sinned. Let us together make such a confession and implore our Heavenly Father to forgive us for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ.
People: O Almighty God, merciful Father, I am a poor, miserable sinner and I confess to you all my sins and imperfections with which I have ever offended you. I know that it was because of my sins that your beloved son came into the world to be the sacrifice and my substitute to receive your wrath. But I am truly sorry for those sins, and I do also repent of them, and I pray that you will be gracious and merciful to me for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ, and his innocent sufferings and death. Forgive me, father, for I have sinned. Make me whole in Jesus’ name.
Pastor: Having heard your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the place of and by the command of Jesus himself, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen and Halleluia!
COLLECT:
Pastor: Let us pray together…
People: O God, because you once caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true light, grant that we who have known the mystery of that light
here on earth may come to the full measure of its joys in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
+ + + SERVICE OF THE WORD + + +
(Sit)
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Micah 5:2-5a [“But you, Bethlehem…”]
2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade
our land and march through our fortresses.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
The EPISTLE LESSON: Galatians 4:4-7 [At just the right time!]
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
(Rise)
The HOLY GOSPEL: John 1:1-5, 10-14 [The WORD became flesh!”]
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
(SIT)
SERMON HYMN: LSB 370 What Child Is This?
The CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: Pastor Bruce Kischnick
Theme: “Christ Was Love”
Text: John 1:1-5, 10-14
+ + + OUR RESPONSE + + +
A CHORAL RESPONSE: The Gift
Words & Music by: Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone
Arr. by Kris Crunk, Vocals Arr. David Wise | ©1958 (Renewed) EMI Mills Music, Inc. (ASCAP) | International Korwin Corp (ASCAP) | CCLI #1672462
(Rise)
The CHRISTMAS PRAYERS:
Pastor: Unto us a child is born!
People: Unto us a son is given! Halleluia!
Pastor: Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, all praise, honor, and glory be to you forever and ever! The news we have received once again tonight is most certainly good. In your great love for us you have sent us your only Son, that in Him we might have light and hope. He is our great joy!
People: O, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good!
Pastor: Dearest Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, to you we give all thanks and praise for putting aside your glory to take on our flesh. In your birth we see our salvation take form. You are our great joy!
People: O, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good!
Pastor: Holy Spirit, our true Comforter, we praise and bless you for having brought us the Good News. Keep us firmly in the true Faith, and grant that we may grow in our proclamation of that Good News to others. It is our great joy!
People: O, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good!
Pastor: Compassionate Lord, bless and protect your people everywhere that in You they may find refuge. Be with our shut-ins and our sick this night, protect those who travel, watch over our loved ones far from home, comfort our service men and women, and be the solace of those who are lonely, homeless, or hurt tonight. Make us the instruments of your mercy and grant us all your peace.
People: O, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. Amen.
(Sit)
OFFERTORY: Special Music: A Place for a King – Grace Lutheran Choir
Words & Music by: Chris Lovejoy & Joe Shoemake | © 2010 Big Blue Shoes Music/Big Blue Barry Music (ASCAP)
CCLI #1672462
+ + + THE LORD’S SUPPER + + +
(Rise)
The PREFACE:
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also, with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
The ADMONITION
Pastor: I exhort you in Christ that you give attention to the Testament of Christ in true faith, and above all take to heart the words with which Christ presents his body and blood to us for forgiveness; that you take note of and give thanks for the boundless love that he showed us when he saved us from the wrath of God, sin, death, and hell by his blood; and that you then externally receive the bread and wine, that is, his body and blood, as a guarantee and pledge. Let us then in his name, according to his command, and with his own words administer and receive the Testament.
The LORD’S PRAYER
The WORDS of INSTITUTION
Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
[The congregation may be seated. The ushers will direct communicants to the front of the chancel to receive Communion in a continuous line on either side of the sanctuary. Please be sure to prayerfully read and complete the Communion registration card before communing. Give the card to the usher who directs you from your seat. Children and others not yet confirmed may also come forward to receive a blessing. When all have communed, the Celebrant will make a common dismissal blessing.]
The DISTRIBUTION:
HYMNS: (please use your hymnals)
LSB 366 vs. 1, 4 It Came upon the Midnight Clear
LSB 367 vs. 1, 2, 4 Angels from the Realms of Glory
LSB 368 Angels We Have Heard on High
LSB 373 vs. 1, 3, 4 See amid the Winter’s Snow
LSB 379 vs. 1, 2, 3 O Come, All Ye Faithful
LSB 380 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
THE COMMON DISMISSAL BLESSING
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE: Special Music: It Was a Starry Night Grace Lutheran Choir
Words & Music by: David & Bonnie Huntsinger
© 2002 Huntsinger Music/BMI, a div. of DBH Creative Group, Inc. | CCLI #1672462
THE COLLECT OF THANKSGIVING
Pastor: Let us pray…
People: Amen.
+ + + THE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE + + +
(Sit)
HYMN: LSB 412 vs. 1, 3, 4 The People That in Darkness Sat
[As the final verse of the hymn is sung, the lights will be dimmed, and the ushers will gather before the altar with their candles to receive the light.]
[Instructions: The ushers will light their candles from those at the altar and then light the candles of those seated at the ends of the pews. Those in turn will pass the light to others. Please DO NOT tip lighted candles, but rather tip the unlit ones. Please be aware of those around you. Pull your candle down inside the guard to avoid accidents. Blow out your candle before you exit the sanctuary. Place your candle in the boxes provided in the narthex. Thank you.]
Pastor: Our lights are dimmed to symbolize the darkness of the world before the birth of
Christ. The candles about the altar symbolize the light of God, unapproachable by
humans lost in the darkness of sin.
The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize the light of prophecy proclaimed
down through the centuries, until in the fullness of time the light of redemption
came to us in Christ, represented by the white candle.
The true light came into the world when Christ was born. Christ is the light of the
world, and from Him the light has spread out to the whole world. This light was
spread by the first apostles, then by those who received the light from them. Today
it is our privilege to send the light which is Christ into men’s hearts. As your candle
is lighted, may it symbolize your faith in Jesus Christ and your sincere desire to
be a light-bearer to those who do not know Him as their Savior.
(Ushers candles are lit and they pass the light to others.)
Pastor: Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
People: Even as the lighted candles glow in the darkness, may the light of Christ glow in our hearts and show itself in the world by the life we live and the witness we make.
The GOSPEL: LUKE 2:1-14
RESPONSE: LSB 374 VS. 1, 2 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
The GOSPEL: LUKE 2:15-20
RESPONSE: LSB 388 Go Tell It on The Mountain
(RISE)
BENEDICTION
CLOSING HYMN: LSB 363 (vs. 1-3) Silent Night, Holy Night
(Organ will fade on vs. 3 – Keep singing!)
SILENT PRAYER
POSTLUDE
(Go in peace, go with God, and a Blessed Christmas to all!)
+ + + Soli Deo Gloria + + +
PRINTABLE PDF: WSChristEve11.PDF
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CHRISTMAS DAY 10 AM PROGRAM
PRINTABLE PDF: .PDF
TO WATCH A LIVE SERVICE:
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