Christmas Eve Worship 2022
Nativity of Our Lord

Holy Communion

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
The Rev. Jeffrey Goodrich

The Rev. Cassandra Hartnett

 

PRELUDE

Once He Came in Blessing
Michael Burkhardt

O Come, Little Children
Jason D. Payne

I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve
Stephen Gabrielsen

Cradle Song
Malcolm Archer

Yeon Soh

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP Aelisha

Holy God, we admit that we don’t fully understand the Christmas story.
We are not familiar with angel choruses.

We have not walked many miles to be counted in a census.
We don’t always hear your voice in our dreams.

We don’t fully understand this story,
and sometimes we hesitate to share it.

Yet we are here because we have heard a promise of peace.
We have faith its day will come!

We have heard a rumor of justice.
We have faith its day will come!

We have heard a whisper of hope.
We have faith its day will come!

We have heard a hint of love.
We have faith its day will come!

We have heard of the birth of Jesus.
We have faith his day is here!

You gather us together with open hearts
to worship at the manger. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN

Get Ready

CANDLE LIGHTING

Over a hundred people, from the ages of two to eighty years old, were asked to fill in the blank for the statement: “My story is…” From the voices of different generations, hear their answers…

…Tonight we tell the story that we tell every year – the story of Christ’s birth, the story of love made flesh. It’s a story that weaves through every generation. It’s a story that picks up the bits and pieces of our narrative and braids us together. So tonight, we light the Christ candle, because from generation to generation, our story belongs to God. Thanks be to God for a love like that. Amen.

Light the Christ Candle.

PRAYER OF THE DAY Nolan 

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Let us pray. Holy God, we tell this story of your coming into the world over and over, but still we need to hear it anew. We need this story of ordinary people who were brave. We need this story of love that changed the world. We ask you to move among us. Draw close. Crack open our hearts and fill them with your goodness. Help us to hear with curiosity, joy, and hope what your story means among your people today. Gratefully we pray, Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC

Away in a Manger
Joyful Noise

GOSPEL LUKE 2:1–20

The Holy Gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴ Joseph 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. ⁵ He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷ And 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. ⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see– I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

¹³ And 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!” 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.” ¹⁶ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Pastor Cassie

HYMN OF THE DAY

What Child Is This

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Adlyn:

Let us pray.

Dear God,
you love us—all of us. You love us so much that you couldn’t stay away from us. You came to us as Jesus to be with us and to show us that you would stay with us forever.

You made the stars and the planets, the earth and the animals, and each one of us.
Help us to take loving care of all that you made.

You made the Church so that everybody might hear about your love.
Help us to tell everybody how much you love all of us.

You were laid in a manger because others had no room for you.
Help us to make more room so that everyone feels welcome.

Avelyn:

You came to bring happiness, peace, and joy.
Help us to care for the sick, the sad, and the worried.

You came to show us that it will be okay, that it will always be okay.
Help us to remember that you will always be with us, no matter what.

We are the ones you have come to:
Help us to trust your love!

We are the ones who have heard your good news:
Help us not to be afraid but to speak your love!

Josie:

We are the ones who have seen your star:
Help us to see your light in others!

We are the ones who hear your promise:
God With Us! Emmanuel!

Come Lord Jesus and be our light,
And be light for the world through us!
Amen.

PEACE

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

OFFERING INVITATION

OFFERING ANTHEM

In dulci jubilo
Marcel Dupre

Yeon Soh

PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
Sing verse 1 only.

OFFERING PRAYER Mason

Let us pray. God with us: You came as a baby to a manger. You slept on straw and greeted shepherds. You come again in bread and wine. Remind us how good you are at blessing ordinary things. And then, through these gifts, help us to bless the lives of others in the strength of your holy name. Amen.

DIALOGUE

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE

It is indeed right to give thanks and praise to God, especially on this night when God is born into our world, proclaiming that there is no place, person, or story where God cannot dwell. On this night, a girl in Bethlehem became the mother of God. On this night, angels told of the arrival of a Savior. We tell this story over and over and over again, because we need to be reminded that God has drawn close to this hurting world. We need to be reminded that God will never be separated from us. And with all the choirs of angels, with the shepherds in the fields and the animals in the stable, we join a never-ending hymn of thanksgiving for Jesus’ birth:

SANCTUS

GREAT THANKSGIVING

Holy God, creator and parent of all life, from the beginning of time your Spirit filled the night sky with shining stars to show the way. You built homes for your creatures, where there would always be room for your abundance. You made humankind in your image, and promised to walk with us in all our pathways. In the winter of our longing, your Holy Spirit came to Mary, growing within her your only Son, a part of yourself, to turn the broken world upside down.

Every time we gather at this table, we tell his story: the story of a Messiah who loved the lost and lonely and forsaken, the story of a Messiah who gathered his friends together for one last supper, showing them at that table how to live with courage and love.

On that night, before he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Show us your presence in this bread and cup, and make them the body and blood your Son, as we recall again the story of our faith:

Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, let this meal sustain us in our lives with you. Inspire us to be a part of the new story you are writing for this world, until the baby whose birth we celebrate comes among us again. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Let us pray as Jesus taught us, each in the words or language of our choice.

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.

or

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

COMMUNION INVITATION

Glory to God in the highest! Come now to the table of peace.

COMMUNION

At this table, Christ is both host and meal, and offers himself to all who hunger and thirst for his presence. We believe that he is truly present in this sacrament. Come to the front, where bread is placed in your hand (you can request a gluten-free wafer), and where you receive wine by taking a cup from the tray (the cups in the center contain white grape juice). If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing. If you need to receive communion in your seat, simply notify an usher. No one is too young to receive this sacrament, though some families wish to give their children some instruction before they take their first communion. If a young child accompanies you to the rail, please indicate to the pastor whether they should receive bread or a blessing.

AGNUS DEI

COMMUNION HYMNS

 O Little Town of Bethlehem

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

COMMUNION BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. Amen.

HYMN

Silent Night

BLESSING

From generation to generation, God has been by our side.
From generation to generation, we are not alone.
The God of yesterday and the God of tomorrow knows you by name, loves you, and sends you forth, in the name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

SENDING HYMN

Go Tell it on the Mountain

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Christ is with us! Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE

Christmas Medley
Yeon Soh

We are grateful for all who participate in leading our 3 pm Worship.

Acolyte & Crucifer
Nolan

Ushering
 Judy & Lisa 

Readers

Aelisha
Nolan
Adlyn
Avelyn
Josie
Mason

Communion Presenters
Sue

Music Director
Kirby 

Organist
Yeon

Joyful Noise Directors
Julie & Julie 

Joyful Noise Singers
Avelyn
Adlyn
Liam
Anthony
Emma
Aelisha

 

 

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #27028.
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 reserved. Used with permission.

Call to worship adapted from resources by A Sanctified Art and by Cheryl Lawrie’s work at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/11/christmas-call-to-worship-we-are-here.html

Prayer of the day, Candle Lighting, Prayers of the People, Preface and Great Thanksgiving are adapted from materials written by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org.