In Him was life,and that Life was the

Light of men!A Divine Christmass Candlelight Service

This service ends in candlelight to signifythat the Light of the world, the Light of Life, ourSavior, and King, has come. And so we assembletonight with all the saints and angels tocontemplate and celebrate the mystery of theChrist’s Incarnation.

THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN “Of The Father's Love Begotten”

Of the Father's love begotten Ere the worlds began to be,

He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, 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 heav'n-taught singers Sang of old with one accord;

Whom the Scriptures of the prophets Promised in their faithful word.

Now he shines, the long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord

Evermore and evermore.

THE BLESSING OF THE CRECHEP: Let us pray.

O almighty God, merciful Father, on this night You caused Your only-begotten Son to beborn of the blessed virgin Mary for our salvation. Bless @ this créche, which shows forththe wonders of the Holy Incarnation of *Jesus Christ our Lord and the miracle of Hissacred birth, that all who behold it may faithfully and prayerfully meditate on the mysteryof His becoming Flesh, and may through the hearing of the Gospel, joyfully partake in Hisdivine grace unto everlasting life; through the same *Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, wholives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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THE INVOCATION

P: In the name of the Father, and of the @ Son and of the Holy Spirit.C: Amen.P: The highest, most holy Light of light eternal, born of a virgin, a mortal He comes; Son of

the Father, now in flesh appearing! “The people walking in darkness have seen a greatLight; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a Light has dawned…

C: Arise, shine for your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

P: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,C: For He has visited and redeemed His people!

*Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its King.Let ev'ry heart prepare him room And heav'n and nature sing ...

*Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ,While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy ...

*No more let sin and sorrow grow Or thorns infest the ground.He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found ...

*He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations proveThe glories of his righteousness And wonders of his love ...

THE CONFESSION OF SINS

P: Our @ help is in the Name of the Lord, The Word made Flesh, our Savior and King,Immanuel.

C: God’s own Son, born of a virgin, the Redemptive Lamb and the Atoning Goat ofSacrifice, who fulfills His promise.

P: Let us confess our sins in the presence of God and of one another.C: I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven, and to you, my

brothers and sisters, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed by my fault, bymy own fault, by my own grievous fault; wherefore I pray God Almighty to havemercy on me, forgive me all my sins, and bring me to everlasting life.

P: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to herthat her warfare is over, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's handdouble for all her sins.” God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has givenHis only Son, the Word made Flesh, the Light of Life, to be the atoning sacrifice for oursins. For by the mercy of God we are redeemed by Christ, and in Him we are forgiven andrestored unto salvation. To all who are led to believe on His name He gives power tobecome the children of God, and gives them His promised Holy Spirit. He that believes and

is baptized will be saved.

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THE PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, Who of Your great goodness and mercy caused Youronly-begotten Son to become incarnate that we might be redeemed from sin and everlastingdeath, enlighten our hearts that we may be truly thankful for His holy nativity, becomforted by His birth in all time of tribulation and temptation, and in the end be saved byHis gracious incarnation; through the same *Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who livesand reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

*Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

*Oh, come, O Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS

P: This day you will know that the Lord will come and save us; and in the morning you willsee His glory.

THE OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 7:13,14; 9:2, 6-7

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Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience ofmen? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you asign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of theshadow of death a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and thegovernment will be on His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, MightyGod, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peacethere will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishingand upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal ofthe LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

P: The Word of the Lord.C: Thanks be to God.

*"From heav'n above to earth I comeTo bear good news to ev'ry home;Glad tidings of great joy I bring,Whereof I now will say and sing:

"To you this night is born a childOf Mary, chosen virgin mild;This little child of lowly birthShall be the joy of all the earth.

"This is the Christ, our God most high,Who hears your sad and bitter cry;He will himself your Savior beFrom all your sins to set you free.

Glory to God in highest heaven,Who unto us his Son has given!While angels sing with pious mirthA joyous birth to all the earth.

THE EPISTLE Romans 1:1-6

Paul, a servant of Christ *Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regardinghis Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spiritof holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from thedead: *Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace andapostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes fromfaith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to *Jesus Christ.

P: The Word of the Lord.C: Thanks be to God.

P: Alleluia, Alleluia. Tomorrow will the wickedness of the earth be abolished; and the Saviorof the world shall reign over us. Alleluia.

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*How lovely shines the Morning Star! The nations see and hail afarThe light in Judah shining.O David's Son of Jacob's race, My Bridegroom and my King of graceFor you my heart is pining.Lowly, Holy, Great and glorious, O victorious Prince of graces,Filling all the heav'nly places.

*O highest joy by mortals won, True Son of God and Mary's Son,The highborn King of ages!In your blest body let me be, E'en as the branch is in the tree,Your life my life supplying.Sighing, Crying For the savor Of your favor Resting never Till I rest in you forever.

THE VERSE OF THE DAY

P: The Lord has said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”. “I have set myKing on My holy hill of Zion.” All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of ourGod. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. The Lord has made known His salvation; Hisrighteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

THE GOSPEL Luke 2:4-20

P: 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city ofDavid, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 tobe registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that whilethey were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forthher firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger,because there was no room for them in the inn.

*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 wond'ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all the earth!

P: 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watchover their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and theglory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

*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 angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"'

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*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 we no more may die,Born to raise each child of earth, born to give us second birth.Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

P: 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings ofgreat joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of Davida Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babewrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angela multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest,And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

*Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plain,And the mountains in reply, echoing their glad refrain:Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

P: 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to oneanother, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which theLord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, andthe Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known thesaying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveledat those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these thingsand pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praisingGod for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

*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;Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!

THE SERMON

OUR CHRISTMASS EVE THANK- OFFERINGOffering Hymn: 67 “What Child Is This”

OUR OFFERING PRAYERP: Father of all mercies, accept, we implore You, our bodies and souls, our hearts and minds,

and all that we are and all that we bring to Your altar to be a holy, reasonable, and livelyoffering to You for the work of Your Church. May our offerings of praise be borne by thehand of Your holy angel to Your altar on high, in the same spirit as the gifts of the Magi tothe Babe of Bethlehem, *Jesus, the Word Incarnate, Who lives and reigns with You andthe Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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OUR CHRISTMASS PRAYERSTo us a Child is born, to us a Son is given:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, EverlastingFather, Prince of Peace. The Virgin hasconceived and borne a Son. Emmanuel has come.God is with us. As we celebrate the Nativity ofour Lord Jesus, this evening, we pray:

O, Lord *Jesus, because of Your birth, wewho have walked in darkness have seen Yourgreat light. Fill us with joy this holy night as wecelebrate that Your nativity, passion, andresurrection have lifted from us the burden of sinand broken the rod of Satan, our oppressor.Renew each of us in our baptismal faith so thatby Your Holy Spirit we might be led once againto renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,and live self-controlled, upright, and godly livesas we wait for Your return.

O, Emmanuel, as the shepherds spread theword concerning what had been told them aboutYou, so also overcome our fears and open ourmouths to all those we know how You came andgave Yourself to redeem us from our sins. Givegodly fervor and pure teaching to missionaries,chaplains, pastors, and everyone You have calledto preach Your Good News. Send Your HolySpirit to bring unbelievers to repentance andfaith, so that they, too, may rejoice in Yoursaving work.

O, Incarnate Christ, You made Yourselfpart of an earthly family when You arrived toredeem us. Be with mothers and fathers as theycare for their children. Comfort those who desirechildren but have none. Give to all fathers thewillingness that You gave to Joseph to providefor their families, to protect them, and to teachthem the Good News of great joy that is for allpeople. Give to mothers the nurturing care ofYour mother Mary. Watch over every expectantmother, and protect the unborn from those whowould end their lives.

O, Lord our Creator and Preserver, Youprotected Joseph and Your mother Mary as theytraveled before Your birth. Send Your angelsnow to watch over those who journey during thissacred season. Keep them safe, and provide for

all their needs until they return home. O, Lord God, King of kings, protect those

who protect us, especially those who must workon this holy night. Guard our police officers,firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and allemergency workers. Be with the members of ourmilitary, especially those who are spendingChristmas apart from their families. Strengtheneach of them for their tasks, and give them joy inknowing that as they serve us they are servingYou.

O, Lord, the great Physician of body andsoul, You came to save all people from their sins.Spare us also from the effects of our sins. Restorethe health of all who are sick, injured, suffering,or recovering and those who desire toremembered in our (including Linda, Marge,Pastor Grant, Mike, Dick Ingle, Dick Packard,Juanita, Terry, Pam, and Gene Pursell, Connie,Ruby, Evelyn Bolton, Sandy Frey, Chris Grant,Jean Hamilton, John Kenyon, Lynn Mischke, Mr.& Mrs. Albert / Barbara Moll, JarielleWinkleman --- and those we now name in ourhearts. . .). Deal graciously with all those whomourn the loss of their loved ones. Be with thosewho are lonely at Christmas or who feel like noone cares. Give us an awareness of their need anda willingness to help. Assure them of Your loveand mercy, and give to them a confident trust thatYou are always with them.

O, Lord *Jesus, our Infant High Priest, asYou once dwelt in a manger in order to save us,we rejoice that today You dwell in bread andwine with Your redeeming body and blood. Aswe come to Your Table, give us repentant heartsthat are led to change our sinful lives. Chaseaway our doubts, forgive our sins, renew ourfaith, and strengthen us by this Sacrament to liveas Your children.

Celebrating Your Nativity, O Lord, wecommend ourselves and all those for whom wepray into Your gracious hands; for You live andreign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, oneGod, now and forever. Amen.

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PREFACE

P: The Lord be with you.

P: Lift up your hearts.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.

P: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give You thanks, OLord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through *Jesus Christ, our Lord, . . .

PROPER PREFACE

for in the wonder and mystery of His birth You have opened our eyes to the glory of Your graceand renewed in our hearts the fervor of Your love.

Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise Your holy name and jointheir glorious song:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLYSanctus

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EUCHARISTIC PRAYER / PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

P: Blessed are You, O Lord of heaven and earth. Almighty God, heavenly Father, we praiseand thank You for Your tender mercy. You sent Your only Son, *Jesus Christ to us, and weremember the great acts of love through which He has ransomed us from sin, death and the devil’spower.

By His incarnation, He became one with us. By His perfect and obedient life, He fulfilledYour holy will. By His innocent suffering and death upon the cross, He redeemed us. He madethere a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world andovercame the power of hell. By His rising from the grave, and His glorious ascension, He restoresus as Your children and opens heaven that we may commune with You eternally.

In His Holy Gospel, *Jesus instituted and commanded us to celebrate a perpetualremembrance of His precious death until He comes again. Thus invited by Your grace, we nowapproach Your table with repentant and joyful hearts.

EPICLESIS

P: O merciful Father, King of all creation, every good and perfect gift comes down from You,the Father of heavenly lights. Send down Your Holy Spirit upon Your gifts of bread and wine,and bless them and hallow them; that we might be led by *Jesus’ words of institution to proclaimthat in, with, and under the bread and wine that this bread is the precious Body of Our Lord andSavior *Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh; and this cup is the precious Blood of our Lord andGod and Savior *Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, which was shed for the life of the world.

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WORDS OF INSTITUTION

P: Our Lord *Jesus Christ, on the night He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had giventhanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is My @ body, which isgiven 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 gaveit to them, saying: “Drink from it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My @ blood which isshed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PRAYER FOR COMMUNICANTSIn His word, God makes it clear that Holy Communion is to be shared by people of a common confession of faith;agreement in teaching and belief (1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Corinthians 10:16). So without judging anyone’s hearts, or faith,we invite those who share in this confession by their membership in our congregation or one of our sister congregations,and who are properly prepared (1 Corinthians 11:27-29), to receive the Sacrament.

P: Earnestly desiring Your Fatherly goodness, to mercifully accept our offering of praise andthanksgiving: we most humbly implore You to grant that, by the merits and death of Your Son*Jesus Christ, and through faith in His blood, we and Your whole church may obtain remission ofour sins and all other benefits of His Passion.

We humbly implore You that all who partake of this Holy Communion may worthilyreceive the most precious Body and Blood of Your Son *Jesus Christ, and be filled with Yourgrace and heavenly benediction, and being made one body with Him, may dwell in Him, even asHe dwells in us.

Strengthen us now through Christ’s body and blood, and preserve us in the true faith untilwe feast with Him and all His ransomed people in glory everlasting.

Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor areYours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER P: Taught by our Lord and trusting His promise, we are bold to pray:

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.

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THE PEACE OF THE LORD

P: The peace @ of our Lord *Jesus Christ,@ the Lamb of God, be with you @ always!

O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION HYMN53 “To Shepherds As They Watched By Night”

47 “Behold, A Branch Is Growing” (if needed)

SONG OF SIMEON

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P: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

P: We give thanks, almighty God, that You have refreshed us with this holy supper. We praythat through it You will strengthen our faith in You and increase our love for one another.We ask this in the name of *Jesus Christ, our Lord, Whose birth we celebrate, and Wholives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

BLESSING

M: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and @ give you His peace.

CLOSING HYMN “Silent Night! Holy Night”

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The lighting of candles is to symbolize the coming of the Christ as the Light of the world. The passing of the flame is to symbolize how we are to share the peace that Christ brings not onlyduring this Christmas season, but all through the year. The pastor carries the flame from theChrist candle, lighting the candles of the ushers. They, in turn, pass the light to the candles of thefirst worshiper in each row.

(Worshipers are cautioned to tip only unlit candles to receive flame from those candles already lit!)

WHEN ALL THE CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, The Pastor will say: As the light of these candles shine before us, may it symbolize the Light of theGospel which shines on us from the face of *Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, the Light of Life, andwho one day will shine on us directly from His throne on high in the Kingdom that needs no candles orsun.

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 thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

4. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar. Holder Knab' im lockigten Haar, Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!

Organist - Ms. Jennifer Cook

“For unto you is born this day in the city of Davida Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

A Blessed Christmass to One and All!!

Pastor Cary Grant Office Phone / Church Phone: 269 - 986 - 2059Pastor’s email: cgrant2@hotmail.com WEB Site: http://www.stjohnsbc.net

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St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church - WELS26 Arbor St. Battle Creek, MI 49015

WELS is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Christmass Day Service 9:30 AM

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