Christmas Eve 4:00 pm - Dec. 24, 2020

Worship video for Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Service

Peace’s Choir singing the prelude
PRELUDE: God's Son has come

Travis Hoying, Pastor Morris, Ben Dahlke, and Jeff Horvath lead the assembly in song..
CAROL:  O Come, All Ye Faithful (ELW 283)

1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold him, born the king of angels: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

3 Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God in the highest: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!



Wreath lighting this afternoon will be by the Handley Family
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH & CHRISTMAS PROCLAMATION
Many ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and woman in his own image; long after the great flood, when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant; twenty-one centuries from the time the promise was given to Abraham and Sarah; thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt and Miriam danced in freedom; eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the judges; one thousand years from the anointing of David as king, in fulfillment of the times and years and months and days discerned by the prophets; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome; the forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus; while the whole world enjoyed a span of peace, Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and nine months of growth in the womb of his mother—now in our own times is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, God made flesh.

Pastor Daniel leads the Prayer of the Day. 
PRAYER OF THE DAY  
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Jeff Horvath will lead the assembly in our Carol.
CAROL: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (ELW 270)

1 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!"

2 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!"

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians lead us in welcoming the good news. 
CAROL: Angels We Have Heard on High (ELW 289)

1 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.

2 Shepherds, 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.

Pastor Daniel
CHRISTMAS STORY AND MESSAGE

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians lead us in concluding the good news.
CAROL: Angels We Have Heard on High (ELW 289)

3 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.

Stan Sanderson will lead the assembly in our Carol.
CAROL: O Little Town of Bethlehem(ELW 279)

1 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.

2 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!

Jason Fralish leads us in prayer. 
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Joining our voices with the song of the angels, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

A brief silence.

The shepherds sing, “Jesus Christ is born!” Let your church throughout the world proclaim this good news, over the hills and everywhere. Unite the voices of all your faithful people in songs of praise and rejoicing. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

Heaven and nature sing, “Joy to the world!” Give respite to flocks, fields, and those who tend them. Come near to us in the beauty of nighttime, the shining of the stars, and the hush of a world at rest. May our wonder at your creation rouse our care for all the earth. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

The angels sing, “Peace on earth!” Come quickly to still the strife of this world. Hush the noise of war and violence in places of unrest. Inspire leaders of nations to seek lasting peace and sustainable provision for all in their care. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

Mary sings melodies of comfort to her newborn child. Bring rest and reassurance to those facing struggles this night. Shelter travelers and those without homes. Console those who lie awake due to pain or anxiety. Heal those who are sick or hurting.
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

Love sings through the sound of a new baby’s cry. Bless new parents and expectant parents. Comfort those who long for children, especially those running out of hope or options. Surround families of every shape and size with your love and care. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

God of mercy, come quickly to us with grace upon grace as we lift these and all our prayers to you, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

Pastor
PEACE:
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

Pastor
GREAT THANKSGIVING 
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.

Pastor
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heav’n and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Pastor
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE  
In the night in which 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 for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Pastor
LORD’S PRAYER  
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.

Pastor
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The Word is revealed in a manger, in simple bread and wine.
Come meet Christ in this meal.

Pastor
COMMUNION  
During the communion song, you may distribute the bread to the members of your household saying, “The body of Christ given for you.” After all have eaten, you may distribute the cup to the members of your household saying, "The blood of Christ shed for you.” If you are alone you may say, “The body of Christ,” as you receive the bread and, “The blood of Christ,” as you receive the juice. If you or another member of your household is not taking communion, you may make the sign of the cross on your/their forehead and say, “The Lord Jesus keep me/you in the promise of my/your baptism.” 

Joan Precillio (instrumental only)
COMMUNION SONG Love Has Come (ELW 292)

2 Love is born! Come, share in the wonder. Love is God now asleep in the hay.
See the glow in the eyes of his mother; what is the name her heart is saying?
Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers; Love! Love! Jesus, Immanuel.

3 Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas; Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!

Jason Fralish  leads us in candle lighting. 
CANDLE LIGHTING (Christmas)
At this time, we invite you to dim the lights in your home. You may light one candle and have each member of your household light their candle from the one that is lit. When all candles are lit, we welcome the light of the newborn Christ as we sing Silent Night. 

Andy Heroff leads us in our carol. 
CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night!:  (ELW 281)

1 Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

2 Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight; glories stream from heaven afar, heav'nly hosts sing, alleluia! Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!

3 Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love's pure light radiant beams from your holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at your birth, Jesus, Lord, at your birth.

Pastor
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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cathy Malloy and Travis Hoying lead us in our sending song. 
SENDING SONG: Joy to the World (ELW 267)

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king; let ev'ry heart prepare him room and heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sin and sorrow grow nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.

DISMISSAL  Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

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