Christmas Eve Worship 2023 † 3:00 PM
Nativity of Our Lord
Holy Communion
Nativity by Joseph Mulambe-Mandangi 2001
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
The Rev. Jeffrey Goodrich
The Rev. Cassandra Hartnett
Whether this is your first time with us or your one thousand and first, we are glad that the Spirit has drawn you here today! Visitors are invited to sign the Guest Book near the front doors of the church and take home a welcome brochure to learn more about us.
PRELUDE Christmas Day Chris Tomlin
CCLI#7139126 Key of F
Light of the World Lauren Daigle
CCLI#7023299 Key of G
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP Liam Grant
People of Good Shepherd, come and see what is happening
as the stars are shining over Bethlehem.
To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
How should we know him? What will be the sign?
You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.
How should we find him? Where should we go?
Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.
Let us praise and worship with the angels saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!”
GATHERING SONG Away in a Manger/It’s Christmas
CCLI#7050424 Key of F
CCLI#7050425 Key of F
Verse 1:
Away in a Manger no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
Verse 2:
The cattle are lowing the baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes
I love Thee Lord Jesus look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh.
Chorus:
It’s Christmas, the angels are singing
And I know the reason, the Savior is born
It’s Christmas, the bells are ringing
And I feel like shouting joy to the world.
Verse 3:
Be near me Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me I pray
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.
(chorus X2)
Joy to the world, Joy to the world!
CANDLE LIGHTING The Proia family
… On this long, dark night of the birth of Jesus, we have watched and waited for a sign of the joy to come. We have lit the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love in anticipation of the birth of Jesus.
The good news is here. The child has come.
A child has been born for us,
a son given to us; he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We light the final candle because the light of the world has come to dwell among us.
Behold, Christ is born.
Light the Christ candle.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
God, we have come together to celebrate the birth of your child, Jesus.
You sent Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, on a dark night, full of bright stars.
Jesus came so we might know the love, grace, and mercy of you, God.
And whether we find ourselves in the coolness of night or the warmth of day,
we thank you for the gift of Christmas! Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC He is Born arr. Michael Burkhardt
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 Jeff
HYMN OF THE DAY Love Has Come ELW 292
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Nolan Grant
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.
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!
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 (Gifts may be made online via debit or credit card using the QR code at the end of this bulletin)
OFFERING ANTHEM Little Drummer Boy King & Country
CCLI#7210044 Key of D
PRESENTATION
OF GIFTS ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime ELW 284
Sing verse 1 only.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Gracious God, on this holy day, you gave us the greatest gift of all time.
You sent us Jesus, to live among us and show us the way of love and justice.
We are filled with joy and we respond with generosity, giving what we have so that this community can continue the work of love and justice in the world.
Bless our offering and help us to use it wisely. 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 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 confronted bullies, welcomed children,
encouraged poor people,
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
Jesus is born for you! Come now to this table and celebrate his birth!
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 SONGS Somewhere in Your Silent Night Casting Crowns
CCLI#7101254 Key of C
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
Almighty God,
who sent the Holy Spirit to Mary,
proclaimed joy through the angels,
sent the shepherds with good news,
and led the magi by a star,
bless you this day ☩ through the Word made flesh. Amen.
SENDING SONG Go Tell It on the Mountain In the style of Maverick City
Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born
Verse 1:
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light
(chorus)
Verse 2:
The shepherds feared and trembled when lo above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth
(chorus)
Verse 3:
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
(chorus)
Dismissal
Christ the Savior is born!
Go in peace. Proclaim this good news!
Thanks be to God!
We are grateful for all who participate in leading our 3 pm Worship.
Ushering Lucy P & Judy F
Readers Liam Grant, The Proia family, & Nolan Grant
Communion Presenters Aubrey & Dustin Z
Music Director Kirby Stalley
New Direction Praise Team Randy Gomez, Lawrence & Michelle Kati, Matt Overholt
Joyful Noise Directors Julie Hamilton Grant & Julie Schwingbeck
Joyful Noise Singers Adlyn A, Avelyn A, Emma P,
Grady Z, & Hattie Z
Announcements – Christmas Eve Edition
Help us plan ahead for Lent 2024!
It may be Advent and Christmas, but the Lent season will arrive quickly in February 2024. Do you feel called to help shape what Lent will look like at Good Shepherd this year? Your input will have a direct influence on how we choose to observe this season of the church year and prepare our hearts for the good news of Easter. In past years, this has included deciding on a theme, making a plan for sharing Lent devotions, planning our Wednesday evening Lent gatherings, and more. Join us for the Lent planning meeting on Thursday January 4th at 7pm, either in person or by zoom. Everyone is welcome!
Star Stories Needed! Do you remember Epiphany Sunday from the last few years? In service, we each took a star with a word printed on it and were tasked with putting it up in our homes and letting that word guide our year. We plan to do the same thing on the coming Epiphany Sunday, January 7th but would like to have people share stories of what their word for 2023 has meant to them, and how it has impacted them. If you would be willing to share a story in a worship service on January 7th, please speak with one of the pastors.
Save-The-Dates
December 26th Office Closed
December 27-28th Abbreviated Office Hours
December 29th Office Closed
December 31st 1st Sunday of Christmas
10 am Combined Festival Worship – livestreamed
January 1st Office Closed
January 3rd New Direction Rehearsal
730pm—Sanctuary
January 4th Adult Choir
6pm —Sanctuary
Lent planning meeting
7pm—KOB Library
January 5th Parkinson’s Support Group
1030am—Fellowship Hall
January 6th Council Retreat
9 am—Fellowship Hall
January 7th Epiphany with Star Stories
9 am Hymn-based Worship – livestreamed
10:15am Bag Lunch Packing for Cathedral in the Night
11am Band-led Worship
Cathedral in the Night 2:00 pm—Meet at GSLC, depart by 2:30pm for Northampton, MA
Thank you to all those who gave poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary
for the 2023 Christmas Season.
Marilyn & Lou Banderet
To the Glory of God
Bert & Diana Barton
To the glory of God
Kristin Tichnor
Peter Bigwood
In memory of Lydia Schoeck,
Ernest Bigwood and
Tante Frieda & Uncle Carl.
Ellen Cloutier
In memory of Roland,
Michael, Toby, and Joshua
and to the glory of God.
Carie & Stan Corbett
To the glory of God
Kay Devaprasad,
Emily & Family
In memory of my beloved niece
Kavitha Samuel
Judy Fallon
In memory of my parents
& to the Glory of God
Caryn Francese
Dominic & Michael Hanna
In memory of
Susan & Paul Francese
Pamila Francis
In memory of Meera Silas &
Gnanam Selvaraj Nadar
Linda & Bob Frederico
In memory of Dorothea Frederico,
Roland & Barbara Bousquet
Debra George
In memory of my father Arthur George III
and in honor of my mother Doris Johansson
Betsy & Bruce Grams
In celebration of our family
near and far
The Gillin Family
In celebration of God’s gift of Jesus
Linda, Janet & Sue Hartke
and families
In memory of Marilyn & Jerry Hartke
George Herz
In memory of
Colleen & Mark Herz
Bobbie & Bill Hendrick
To the glory of God
for his abundant blessings
H Heusmann
In memory of Carolyn Heusmann
Margaret Holst
In memory of
Frederick & Phyllis Holst
Hazel Johnson
In memory of Eddie Johnson
Stephanie Leclair
In memory of my mother Jean Wilderoter
In celebration of my four grandchildren
John & Elaine Martin
In memory of Alfred Russo & Lillian Tartaglia
The McCordick Family
In memory of our loved ones
The Merrow Family
To the glory of God.
Sue & Carl Miett
To the glory of God
Anneliese & Bernie Mieth
In honor of our parents
Jennifer Morazes
In memory of Richard Weber
Pat Olson
In memory of my loving husband Roger
Thomas & Joan Olson
In memory of Mary Walsh
In honor of our 50th wedding anniversary
Matt & Mary Overholt
In memory of Gordon & Iva Miller
Joshua & Lauren Pajak
In memory of Linda Squillace
& Mark Pajak
The Pavlak Family
In memory of Ray Pavlak, Sr.
William & Emarine Sharon,
(Holly’s parents)
Sharon & Mark Proia
In memory of loved ones
Elizabeth & Anthony Putnam
In memory of Claude Papp
Trudy Roybal
In memory of Mercedes Roybal
In honor of George Roybal
Salfeld Wang Family
In memory of loved ones
James Scanlon
In memory of Sylvia Scanlon
Kristin Sheehan
In memory of loved ones
Shirley Soderlund
In memory of Martin Soderlund
Sottolano Family
In memory of Stephen Sottolano
Ryan Spring
In memory of Kathy & Ray Spring
Jamie & Dawn Sutherland
In memory of
Linda Bistany & Tripp Sutherland
Joe Taxiera
In memory of Phyllis Taxiera
The Veiby Family
In memory of
David & Jackie Herath
Katie & Ernie Zimmermann
In celebration of our granddaughter, Emma
Grady & Hattie Zitzmann
In honor of our grandfathers
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