Christmas Eve 2021

Date
December 24, 2021
Author
Don Bennett
Category
Bulletins, Uncategorized

Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.

Nativity of our Lord
December 24, 2021 – 4:00 pm

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
901 East Stroop Road
Kettering, OH 45429-4688
(937) 298-0136

Introduction

In winter’s deepest night, we welcome the light of the Christ child. Isaiah declares that the light of the long-promised king will illumine the world and bring endless peace and justice. Paul reminds us that the grace of God through Jesus Christ brings salvation to all people. The angels declare that Jesus’ birth is good and joyful news for everyone, including lowly shepherds. Filled with the light that shines in our lives, we go forth to share the light of Christ with the whole world.
Unplanned, but Filled with Peace
Although many of us spend a great deal of time and energy preparing for Christmas, most of us have learned that things don’t always go according to plan. Whether due to a sick parent, a gift that cannot be found, or an unexpected guest, pivots of one kind or another often need to be made as Christmas draws near.
This reality directly relates to the Christmas story. In more than one way, the birth of Jesus did not go the way Mary and Joseph likely planned. Yet perhaps this is part of the point: after all, there is nothing routine about God coming to us as a baby. Similarly, it is nothing short of incredible that this one would come to dwell among us in order to show us God’s love, set us free from sin, and make possible a life that is whole and abundant.
On this Christmas Eve, we are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God made known to us in Jesus, Emmanuel. The birth of Jesus reveals that God has come not for perfect people or those who think they have it all figured out, but rather for people whose lives are messy and noisy, who do not always feel filled with hope, who have worked long hours, who feel the ever-present tension between the already and the not yet. The promise that endures is that the light of Jesus has come into the world for the sake of the whole world, and nothing can overcome it. This promise sustains us through the unexpected and sometimes surprising events that come our way. May the goodness of this truth fill us with both wonder and peace.

PRELUDE

All are invited to join in singing the carols.

Carol: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” ELW 272

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming
as seers of old have sung,
it came, a flow’r so bright,
amid the cold of winter,
when half-spent was the night.

Isaiah had foretold it,
the rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it,
the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright,
she bore to us a Savior,
when half-spent was the night.

This flow’r, whose fragrance tender
with sweetness fills the air,
dispels with glorious splendor
the darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God,
from sin and death he saves us
and lightens ev’ry load.

O Savior, child of Mary,
who felt our human woe;
O Savior, king of glory,
who dost our weakness know:
bring us at length, we pray,
to the bright courts of heaven
and into endless day.

Carol: “He Came Down” ELW 253

He came down that we may have love;
he came down that we may have love;
he came down that we may have love;
hallelujah forevermore.

He came down that we may have light;
he came down that we may have light;
he came down that we may have light;
hallelujah forevermore.

He came down that we may have peace;
he came down that we may have peace;
he came down that we may have peace;
hallelujah forevermore.

He came down that we may have joy;
he came down that we may have joy;
he came down that we may have joy;
hallelujah forevermore.

Carol: “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” ELW 270

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 angelic hosts 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, incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with us to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king!”

Hail the heav’n-born 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 each child of earth,
born to give us second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king!”

Carol: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” ELW 279

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king,
and peace to all the earth!

How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming;
but, in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
oh, come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Immanuel!

Solo: “Gesu Bambino” by Pietro Yan; sung by Lisa Donovan, mezzo-soprano

Carol: “Go Tell It On the Mountain” ELW 290

Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and ev’rywhere;
go tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!

While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.

Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and ev’rywhere;
go tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!

The shepherds feared and trembled
when, lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth.

Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and ev’rywhere;
go tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!

Down in a lonely manger
the humble Christ was born;
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.

Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and ev’rywhere;
go tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!

Carol: “Angels We Have Heard on High” ELW 289

Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply,
echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo;
gloria in excelsis Deo.

2Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heav’nly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo;
gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn king.

Gloria in excelsis Deo;
gloria in excelsis Deo.

Carol: “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” ELW 282

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heav’n’s all-gracious king.”
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heav’nly music floats
o’er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hov’ring wing,
and ever o’er its babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

And you, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow:
look now, for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing;
oh, rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing!

For lo! The days are hast’ning on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold,
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and all the world give back the song
which now the angels sing.

Carol: “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly’’ ELW 276

Infant holy, infant lowly,
for his bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing
Christ the child is Lord of all.
Swiftly winging, angels singing,
bells are ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the child is Lord of all!
Christ the child is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
vigil till the morning new
saw the glory, heard the story,
tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the child was born for you!
Christ the child was born for you!

Solo: “Away in a Manger” by James R. Murray; Don Bennett, soloist; Sam Bennett, piano

Carol: “The First Noel” ELW 300

The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.