December 25 Christmas Day
Stand
PROCESSIONAL HYMN
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
1 Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the_angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
ref 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 the_incarnate Deity!
Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel!
3 Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Public domain
Stand
INVOCATION & CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Our help is in the name of the Lord,
C who made heaven and earth.
P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
HOLY BAPTISM
355 O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide
1 O Savior, rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down;
Unbar the way to heaven’s crown.
Public domain
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Dearly beloved, Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” In the last chapter of Mark
our Lord promises, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”
And the apostle Peter has written, “Baptism now saves you.”
The Word of God also teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and
are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would
be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation.
But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who
atoned for the sin of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have eternal life.
P How are you named?
R [Name]
P [Name], receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your
forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed
by Christ the crucified.
P Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment
You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet
according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah
and his family, eight souls in all. You drowned hard-hearted
Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people
Israel through the water on dry ground, foreshadowing this
washing of Your Holy Baptism. Through the Baptism in the
Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You
sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood and
a lavish washing away of sin.
We pray that You would behold [name(s)] according to Your
boundless mercy and bless [him/her/them] with true faith by
the Holy Spirit, that through this saving flood all sin in them,
which has been inherited from Adam and which they themselves
have committed since, would be drowned and die. Grant that
they be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church,
being separated from the multitude of unbelievers and serving
Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope, so that,
with all believers in Your promise, [he/she/they] would be declared
worthy of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P From ancient times the Church has observed the custom of
appointing sponsors for baptismal candidates and catechumens.
In the Evangelical Lutheran Church sponsors are to confess the
faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed and taught in the Small
Catechism. They are, whenever possible, to witness the Baptism
of those they sponsor. They are to pray for them, support them
in their ongoing instruction and nurture in the Christian faith,
and encourage them toward the faithful reception of the Lord’s
Supper. They are at all times to be examples to them of the holy
life of faith in Christ and love for the neighbor.
P Is it your intention to serve name of candidate(s) as sponsors in the Christian faith?
R Yes, with the help of God.
P God enable you both to will and to do this faithful and loving work and with His grace fulfill what we are unable to do.
C Amen.
P Hear the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.
They brought young children to [Jesus] that He might touch them;
but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus
saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little
children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the
kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And
He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
The pastor places his hands on the heads of the candidates.
Lord’s Prayer
C 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.
P The Lord preserve your coming in and your going out from this time forth and even evermore.
C Amen.
P [Name(s)], do you renounce the devil?
R Yes, I renounce him.
P Do you renounce all his works?
R Yes, I renounce them.
P Do you renounce all his ways?
R Yes, I renounce them.
P Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?
R Yes, I believe.
P Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead?
R Yes, I believe.
P Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?
R Yes, I believe.
P [Name,] do you desire to be baptized?
R Yes, I do.
The pastor pours water three times on the head of each candidate while saying:
P [Name,] I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
The pastor places his hands on the head of the newly baptized while saying:
P The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life T everlasting.
C Amen.
(A deacon lights a baptismal candle from the paschal candle and gives it to the newly baptized while saying:)
P Receive this burning light to show that you have received Christ
who is the Light of the world. Live always in the light of Christ, and
be ever watchful for His coming, that you may meet Him with joy
and enter with Him into the marriage feast of the Lamb in His
kingdom, which shall have no end.
A In Holy Baptism God the Father has made you members of His Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, and [an heir / heirs] with us of all the treasures
of heaven in the one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We receive
you in Jesus’ name as our [brother(s)/sister(s)] in Christ, that together
we might hear His Word, receive His gifts, and proclaim the praises of
Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
C Amen. We welcome you in the name of the Lord.
P Let us pray.
Almighty and most merciful God and Father, we thank and
praise You that You graciously preserve and enlarge Your
family and have granted [name(s)] the new birth in Holy Baptism
and made them members of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and
heirs of Your heavenly kingdom. We humbly implore You that, as
they have now become Your children, You would keep them in their
baptismal grace, that according to Your good pleasure they may
faithfully grow to lead a godly life to the praise and honor of Your holy
name and finally, with all Your saints, obtain the promised inheritance
in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Almighty and everlasting God, since You govern and sanctify
the whole Christian Church by Your Holy Spirit, hear our prayers
for all her members, and mercifully grant that by Your grace we
may serve You in true faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Peace be with you.
C Amen.
592 Dearest Jesus, We Are Here st. 5
5 Now into Your heart we pour
Prayers that from our hearts proceeded.
Our petitions heav’nward soar;
May our hearts’ desires be heeded!
Write the name we now have given;
Write it in the book of heaven!
Public domain
Stand
INTROIT Ps. 98:1– 4; antiphon: Is. 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 salva- | tion for him.
The Lord has made known his sal- | vation;*
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 be- | ginning,*
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
C Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS LSB 204
C To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth;
Goodwill from God in heaven
Proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!
We praise and bless You, Father;
Your holy name we sing—
Our thanks for Your great glory,
Lord God, our heav’nly King.
To You, O sole-begotten,
The Father’s Son, we pray;
O Lamb of God, our Savior,
You take our sins away.
Have mercy on us, Jesus;
Receive our heartfelt cry,
Where You in pow’r are seated
At God’s right hand on high—
For You alone are holy,
You only are the Lord.
Forever and forever,
Be worshiped and adored;
You with the Holy Spirit
Alone are Lord Most High,
In God the Father’s glory.
“Amen!” our glad reply.
SALUTATION & COLLECT OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten
Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin;
through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
OLD TESTAMENT READING
Isaiah 52:7–10
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.
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL Is. 9:6; Ps. 98:1a
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.
Sing to the Lord a | new song,*
for he has done | marvelous things!
EPISTLE Hebrews 1:1–6
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.”
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
ALLELUIA & VERSE
C Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
C These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
C Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Holy Gospel John 1:1–14
P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things
were made through him, and without him was not any thing made
that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came
as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe
through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the
world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did
not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his
name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born,
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And 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.
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to You, O Christ.
Sit
HYMN OF THE DAY
Away in a Manger
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.
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 till morning is nigh.
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 take us to heaven to live with Thee there.
Public domain
SERMON
Stand
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Sit
OFFERING
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
Stand
PREFACE LSB 208
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P 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, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. 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 LSB 208
C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;
Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.
Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;
Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
P Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
In Your boundless mercy You sent Your servant, John the Baptist, to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of heaven draws near.
With thankful hearts we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” confident that in His body and blood, given us to eat and drink, we receive the forgiveness of sins and so proclaim His death until He comes again in glory.
Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:
LORD’S PRAYER LSB 209
C 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 WORD’S OF OUR LORD
P 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 T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
P 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.”
PAX DOMINI LSB 209
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 210
C O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away;
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away;
Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ, And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray.
Sit
Distribution
Communion Hymns
O Come, All Ye Faithful
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: Refrain
ref O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
2 Highest, most holy,
Light of Light eternal,
Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes;
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing! Refrain
3 Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest: Refrain
4 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory giv’n!
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing! Refrain
Public domain
370 What Child Is This LSB 370
1 What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary!
2 Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!
3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
Come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary!
Public domain
Stand
NUNC DIMITIS LSB 211
C O Lord, now let Your servant
Depart in heav’nly peace,
For I have seen the glory
Of Your redeeming grace:
A light to lead the Gentiles
Unto Your holy hill,
The glory of Your people,
Your chosen Israel.
All glory to the Father,
All glory to the Son,
All glory to the Spirit,
Forever Three in One;
For as in the beginning,
Is now, shall ever be,
God’s triune name resounding
Through all eternity.
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT
A 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 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.
C Amen.
BENEDICAMUS & BENEDICTION
A Let us bless the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
P 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.
C Amen.
CLOSING HYMN
Silent Prayer
Following the prayers, the people may greet one another in the name of the Lord, saying, “Peace be with you,” as a sign of reconciliation and of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Matt. 5:22–24; Eph. 4:1–3).
Find us Facebook
