Christmas Prelude
Hymn 145
Hymn 132
Hymn 119
What Child Is This
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
GREENSLEEVES
IN DULCI JUBILO
MENDELSSOHN
Christmas Prayer
Gracious God, keep this eternal truth before us: that in your majesty you breathed
life into the world, placed the stars in the heavens, and gave us beauty, sound, and wonder;
and that, in ancient days, you humbly entrusted your own life to the care of ordinary
people, becoming vulnerable that we might know how strong is the power of your love.
Thank you, O God for Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
The Christ Candle is Lighted
Christmas Hymn of Preparation and Approach
Hymn 140
Once in Royal David’s City
Old Testament Reading for Christmas Day (Responsive)
IRBY
Isaiah 52:7-10
How Beautiful is the Good News of the Lord’s Coming!
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news,
Breaking the news that all’s well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling
Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Voices! Listen! Your scouts are shouting, thunderclap shouts, shouting in joyful unison.
They see with their own eyes GOD coming back to Zion.
Break into song! Boom it out, ruins of Jerusalem: “GOD has comforted his people!
He’s redeemed Jerusalem!”
GOD has rolled up his sleeves.
All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm. Everyone, from one end of the earth to the
other, sees him at work, doing his salvation work.
Gospel Reading for Christmas Day
Matthew 1:17-25
An Angel Appears to Joseph in a Dream
There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, another fourteen from David to the
Babylonian exile, and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ.
The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.
Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy
Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things
quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream:
“Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived.
God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you,
Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.”
This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get
pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).
Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married
Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
Joseph Tries “Mansplaining” What Happened
Reflecting on Christmas in Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymns
Hymn 545
Hymn 543
Lord, Let Your Servant Go in Peace
God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me
LAND OF REST
GREEN TYLER
Benediction
Go in Peace to Serve the Lord
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