Worship Service for Christmas Day 2020
Rev. Gregory Mech | December 25, 2020 | The Nativity of Our Lord with Holy Communion | Immanuel Lutheran Church ONLINE and IN-PERSON – Joplin, Missouri | 10:00 am
Thank you for supporting Immanuel Lutheran financially. Learn more at immanueljoplin.com/GIVE.
Special thanks to all who helped to make this broadcast possible today:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, the COVID Committee, Altar Guild and Board of Elders.
AS WE GATHER
“In Him was life” (John 1:4). If you have ever had the opportunity to witness the birth of a child, it’s difficult to not be in awe of a new life entering the world. A newborn baby is full of life! Yet the Christ Child born that first Christmas is full of life in an even greater way. This child, the Word made flesh, is born, lives, dies, and rises to give life to the world. “In Him was life.” In Jesus is life for Mary, life for Joseph, life for the shepherds, life for those in Bethlehem, life for the Jews, life for the Gentiles, life for all, life for you. This Christmas, when you see the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, rejoice that “in Him was life”!
The Nativity of Our Lord 2020
Jesus, the First-fruit of Jesse’s Tree
Friday, December 25, 2020 — Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion
HYMN 379 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” vs. 4,2
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given!
Word of the Father Now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Highest, most holy,
Light of Light eternal,
Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes.
Son of the Father Now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
INVOCATION and OPENING SENTENCES
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us,
and we have seen His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION John 1:9–13
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
As we gather together this Christmas, let us confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
By virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE “Angels from the Realms of Glory” LSB 367: 1,5
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight over all the earth;
You who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To the eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
INTROIT Psalm 98:1–4; antiphon: Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!
His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.
The Lord has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
KYRIE
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
SALUTATION and PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Father in heaven, You sent Your only-begotten Son as a descendent of Jesse as You fulfilled Your promise of a Messiah;
grant that we joyfully receive Him as our Savior, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 52:7–10
The Old Testament Reading for the Nativity of Our Lord is from Isaiah, the fifty-second chapter.
7How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
8The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
9Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem,|
for the Lord has comforted His people;
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10The Lord has bared His holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against His anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then He will speak to them in His wrath,
and terrify them in His fury, saying,
“As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to Me, “You are My Son;
today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage,
and the ends of the earth Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way,
for His wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessèd are all who take refuge in Him.
“As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.”
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
EPISTLE Hebrews 1:1–6
The Epistle is from Hebrews, the first chapter.
1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are My Son,
today I have begotten You”?
Or again,
“I will be to Him a father,
and He shall be to Me a son”?
6And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
“Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
HYMN 386 “Now Sing We, Now Rejoice”
Now sing we, now rejoice,
Now raise to heav’n our voice;
He from whom joy streameth
Poor in a manger lies;
Not so brightly beameth
The sun in yonder skies.
Thou my Savior art! Thou my Savior art!
Come from on high to me;
I cannot rise to Thee.
Cheer my wearied spirit,
O pure and holy Child;
Through Thy grace and merit,
Blest Jesus, Lord most mild,
Draw me unto Thee! Draw me unto Thee!
Now through His Son doth shine
The Father’s grace divine.
Death was reigning o’er us
Through sin and vanity
Till He opened for us
A bright eternity.
May we praise Him there! May we praise Him there!
HOLY GOSPEL John 1:1–14
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
(read responsively)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY “A Great and Mighty Wonder” LSB 383
A great and mighty wonder,
A full and holy cure:
The virgin bears the infant
With virgin honor pure!
Proclaim the Savior’s birth:
“To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!”
The Word becomes incarnate
And yet remains on high,
And cherubim sing anthems
To shepherds from the sky.
Proclaim the Savior’s birth:
“To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!”
While thus they sing your Monarch,
Those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, O vales and mountains,
And oceans, clap your hands.
Proclaim the Savior’s birth:
“To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!”
Since all He came to ransom,
By all be He adored,
The infant born in Bethlehem,
The Savior and the Lord.
Proclaim the Savior’s birth:
“To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!”
All idols then shall perish
And Satan’s lying cease,
And Christ shall raise His scepter,
Decreeing endless peace.
Proclaim the Savior’s birth:
“To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!”
SERMON “Jesus, the First-Fruits of Jesse’s Tree”
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH John 1:1, 3–5, 12, 14
We come before our Lord in prayer in the name of the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We come before You, eternal Lord, rejoicing that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever with mercies new each morning. In the name of the Word, who became flesh
and dwelt among us.
“All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” We give You thanks for this world You have created. Empower us to be faithful stewards of Your creation. In the name of the Word, who became flesh
and dwelt among us.
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” We are grateful that You sent Your Son to shine in our lives darkened by sin, bringing forgiveness. Grant that we shine as lights in this dark world, always bearing witness to Christ. In the name of the Word, who became flesh
and dwelt among us.
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Have mercy on us as Your children. Bless with healing and restoration those who cry out to You for aid. In the name of the Word, who became flesh
and dwelt among us.
“We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As we celebrate the birth of Your Son, we are thankful for Your glory that has been revealed in Him. In the name of the Word, who became flesh
and dwelt among us. Amen.
PREFACE
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 Him thanks and praise.
PROPER PREFACE
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for You have been faithful in keeping Your promises of a Savior from the line of Jesse, revealing Him to us in the person of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Isaiah 6:3
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:9
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You sent Your Son to be the fulfillment of Your Old Testament prophecies of a Savior, revealing Him to us as the Word made flesh, our rescuer from all sin and death. Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
THE PEACE OF THE LORD
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “O Little Town of Bethlehem” LSB 361
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 wondering 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 given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
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;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “Once in Royal David’s City” LSB 376: 1,2,4,5
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed;
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor, lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
Shall we see Him, but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high,
Then like stars His children, crowned,
All in white, His praise shall sound!
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” LSB 384
Of the Father’s live begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the start, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
Oh, that birth forever blessed,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving
Bore the Savior of our race,
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.
This is He whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.
O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing.
Powers, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.
Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore. Amen.
POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING
Let us pray.We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
BENEDICTION John 1:14
And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us,
and we have seen His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.
Amen.
HYMN 387 “Joy to the World”
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.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows 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.
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.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
IMMANUEL’S MISSION PRAYER
Heavenly Father, We pray to see the future as You see it, so we may live the present as You will it. We pray we may be grounded in Christ as a Lutheran congregation, and guided by Your grace as we walk in forgiveness. We pray we are growing continually in faith as servants in Christ’s Kingdom proclaiming the Gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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