Glory to God in the Highest

The Nativity of Our Lord—Christmas Day December 25, 2013

Grace Lutheran Church Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

and Preschool

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WELCOME TO GRACE God’s grace welcomes you, no matter who you are or where you are from—and so do we. We

believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior of all people. By his perfect life, innocent death, and

triumphant resurrection he saves all lost sinners even without our help. Jesus Christ makes us

special people, right with God and ready for life! We learn this from the Bible, God’s authentic

message of grace and guidance for us. Whether you are a first time visitor or a returning

guest, we are delighted to share our worship with you. You are always welcome here. If there

is anything we can do to make your visit more comfortable, please let us know. The restrooms

are located down the hall opposite the sanctuary, and there is also a cry room with toys across

from the coat racks. Please worship with us again soon!

God’s grace… it’s the heart of it all

1515 South 15th Street Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin 53821

Church Office: 608-326-4899 gracepdc@gracepdc.net

www.gracepdc.net

Daniel Naumann, Pastor pastornaumann.gracepdc@gmail.com

Cell Phone: 608-306-1011

Debi Bahlmann, Preschool Director and Teacher bahlmann@centurytel.net Cell Phone: 608-485-2396

and Preschool

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OPENING HYMN Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful Christian Worship 55

INVOCATION

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

C: Amen.

CONFESSION OF SINS

P: Children of God, we have gathered together on this special day to worship our King born

long ago in Bethlehem. Yet we have sinned and are not worthy even to come into his presence. Therefore let us acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness.

C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For faithless worrying and selfish pride, For sins of habit and sins of choice, For the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, You should cast me away from your presence forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.

P: When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to

redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. As sons of God and those receiving an inheritance, hear God’s forgiveness spoken through his servant: I forgive

you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

Please stand.

Festival of Christmas

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THE WORD OF GOD

FIRST LESSON Isaiah 52:7-10

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. 9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Please be seated.

P: Behold, to us the Christ is born. O come, let us worship him!

HYMN OF PRAISE Joy to the World Christian Worship 62, stanzas 1 and 2

SALUTATION

P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Let us pray: Almighty God, grant that the birth of your one and only Son in the flesh may set us free

from our old bondage under the yoke of sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

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PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 98 Christian Worship Supplement

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SECOND LESSON Hebrews 1:1-9 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?

Or again,

“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”

8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

VERSE OF THE DAY (Galatians 4:4,5a) P: Alleluia. When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under

law, to redeem those under law. Alleluia. Please stand for the reading of the Gospel.

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HYMN OF THE DAY Of the Father’s Love Begotten Christian Worship 35

Please be seated.

GOSPEL John 1:1-14 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 men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He

came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

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 received 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, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise be to you, O Christ!

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SERMON Luke 2:8-15 The Angels’ Song Gloria in Excelsis Deo

SERMON TEXT Luke 2:8-15

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to 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. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into

heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

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Please stand.

* Public confession is faith’s response to God’s saving Word. Christians composed the Athanasian Creed in the fourth century to defend against the error that denied that Jesus Christ is true God and true man in one person. We proclaim a portion of the Creed here.

Please be seated.

THE ATHENASIAN CREED* C: It is furthermore necessary for eternal salvation truly to believe

that our Lord Jesus Christ also took on human flesh. Now this is the true Christian faith: We believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is

both God and man. He is God, eternally begotten from the nature of the Father, and he

is man, born in time from the nature of his mother, fully God, fully man, with rational soul and human flesh, equal to the Father as to his deity, less than the Father as to his humanity; and though he is both God and man, Christ is not two persons but one,

one, not by changing the deity into flesh, but by taking the humanity into God; one, indeed, not by mixture of the natures, but by unity in one person; for just as the

rational soul and flesh are one human being, so God and man are one Christ. He suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose the third day from the dead.

He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty, and from there will come to judge the living and the dead.

At his coming all people will rise with their own bodies to answer for their personal deeds. Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into eternal fire.

This is the true Christian faith. Whoever does not faithfully and firmly believe this cannot be saved.

OFFERING†

†The members of Grace Lutheran Church have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry.

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Please stand.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS DAY P: On this holy day, dear Father, we rejoice to hear the good news of great joy that a Savior

has been born for us. For fulfilling your prophecies and in the fullness of time sending your Son to be our Savior, we give you our heartfelt thanks and praise.

C: Unto us a child is born! Unto us a Son is given! P: What a great mystery of our faith this is: that God has become fully human for our

salvation! Even though he is the all-powerful Lord of all, he is wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.

C: Help us always believe that this precious child was born as our substitute to be our

Savior. P: In the midst of our joy, we grieve for the many people in our world who do not know that

Jesus has come to bring them forgiveness and healing. As the shepherds spread abroad the good news of the birth of the Savior born for all the world, may we also make use of the unique opportunities this holiday presents to tell others of what we have seen and heard concerning the child.

C: Grant that the true peace between God and fallen mankind may comfort all people. Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

P: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer.

P: As the angels sang out their praise, move us also to sing out our praise to you, today and

every day, as the joy of Christmas remains in our hearts. C: Glory to God in the highest! Amen. P: We join to pray: C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by 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

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THE SACRAMENT

PREFACE P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is good and right so to do. P: Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love he has blessed us with

every spiritual blessing. When the time had fully come, he sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ. To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory forever and ever.

HYMN OF PRAISE From Heav’n Above to Earth I Come

7: Come here, my friends, lift up your eyes, 8: Welcome to earth, O noble Guest, And see what in the manger lies. Through whom the sinful world is blest! Who is this child, so young and fair? You came to share my misery It is the Christchild lying there. That you might share your joy with me.

those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

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Please be seated.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given

thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE

From Heav’n Above to Earth I Come

10: Were earth a thousand times as fair 11: Instead of soft and silken stuff And set with gold and jewels rare, You have but hay and straw so rough It would be far too poor and small On which as King, so rich and great, A cradle for the Lord of all. To be enthroned in royal state.

12: And so it pleases you to see This simple truth revealed to me: That all the world’s wealth, honor, might Are weak and worthless in your sight.

DISTRIBUTION

Grace Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Our Church and our Church body practice member communion. Out of respect for our beliefs we please ask that non-members not come forward to receive communion. If you have questions about what Scripture teaches concerning participation in the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the Pastor before or after the service.

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Following the distribution, please stand to sing:

HYMN OF PRAISE From Heav’n Above to Earth I Come

13: Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child 14: My heart for very joy must leap; Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled My lips no more can silence keep. Within my heart, made clean and new, I, too, must sing with joyful tongue A quiet chamber kept for you. That sweetest ancient cradle song.

15: Glory to God in highest heav’n, Who unto us his Son has giv’n! While angels sing with pious mirth A glad new year to all the earth.

P: Lord Jesus, as You once came to win our salvation wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying

in a manger, You promise to come to us now wrapped in bread and wine to give us that same salvation. As we receive your body and blood, give us faith-filled and joyful hearts. Strengthen us by this holy meal to live lives that glorify and praise God for all that we have heard and seen.

C: Amen.

BLESSING P: May the blessing of the eternal God be upon us: his light to guide us, his presence to

shelter us, his peace to unite us. C: Amen. Please be seated.

CLOSING HYMN Christ the Lord to Us Is Born Christian Worship 59

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The music in this service folder is covered under Onelicense.net, license # A-722539, and CCLI, license # 1222450. All artwork in this folder is a product of Paramentics. © 2013 Ian M. Welch. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved. paramentics.com Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, The New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica Inc. TM

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Altar Care—There are still open months to sign up for altar care for 2014. Please see the sign-up sheet in the back of church if you’d like to volunteer. Thank you for your help! Volunteer Sheets—Please find the 2014 church volunteer duties lists in your mailboxes in the back of church. There are also extra copies on the back table. Thank you for your service in helping our church run smoothly. New Year’s Eve Service—We will have a New Year’s Eve service to thank the Lord for the past year and ask his blessing on the coming year at 7:00 p.m. on December 31. This service will include the Lord’s Supper.

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SERVING TODAY, 12/25 Accompanist: Ruth Jacoby Communion Assistant: Tom Burow Altar Care for the month of December: June Sutton and Judy Huebner

SERVING THIS COMING WEEK, 12/23-12/29 Cleaners: Classroom side—Kaufman Fellowship side—Sutton Ushers: Jay White and Asa White Greeter: Elizabeth Naumann Offering Counters: Dennis Riebe and Harold Miller Fellowship Server: No one signed up Altar Care for the month of December: June Sutton and Judy Huebner Communion Assistant for 12/31 New Year’s Eve: Jim Boldt

THIS WEEK IN OUR MINISTRY Wednesday 12/25 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Festival Service with Communion Sunday 12/29 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Fellowship 10:15 a.m. Bible Class and Sunday School Tuesday 12/31 7:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Service with Communion Wednesday 1/5 9:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion 10:00 a.m. Fellowship 10:15 a.m. Bible Class and Sunday School