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NATIVITY OF OUR LORD (Christmas Eve) God Come Among Us AS WE GATHER Christmas is many things and not just going to church. We sing carols, exchange greetings, attend family gatherings, and give and receive gifts. We have been doing this for years. Yet somehow we fail to learn that you cannot judge a gift by its wrapping. How many times are we shocked by what is or is not hidden away under paper and ribbons? Christmas is not a well-wrapped present but a humble one—as humble as a forgettable virgin heading to Bethlehem amid the crowds or a city asleep with no room for the holy family or a solitary baby’s cry in the night that signals the birth of the Savior. Tonight, we pray that we may not be deceived by appearances but recognize and receive the true treasure of Christmas in Jesus Christ our Lord. PRE-SERVICE MUSIC 11:00 PM Adult Bell Choir “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” WELCOME RINGING OF THE BELLS PREPARATION +

CHRISTMAS Eve Zion Lutheran Church

Marengo, IL

December 24, 2019 6:30 PM & 11:00 PM

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ENTRANCE HYMN “O Come, All Ye Faithful” LSB 379 INVOCATION and OPENING PRAYER P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, with joy we enter into the contemplation of the holy

mystery of your Son’s incarnation for us and our salvation. Open our minds to understand, our hearts to believe, and our mouths to proclaim the glory of Him who took our human flesh and blood through the blessed virgin in order to suffer and die in our place. Prepare our hearts to be fitting mangers to cradle Your Son that He may dwell in us and we in Him today and throughout all eternity; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION P: Let us confess our sins to God our Father. C: Merciful Father, we admit and confess our sinfulness. We have done the evil

You forbid and have not done the good You desire. We do repent and are truly sorry for these our sins. Have mercy on us for the sake of Jesus Christ, who paid for our sin with His own life on the cross. Forgive us for our past and grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may serve You in holiness and righteousness from this moment on. Set our feet upon the way of Christ that we do not depart from it but be found faithful when He comes again in His glory.

P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained

servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. P: If, when you bring your gift to the altar you remember that your brother has a

grievance against you, leave your gift before the altar and go and make peace with your brother. Then come back and offer your gift. Peace be with you. (Matthew 5:24, adapted)

C: And also with you. HYMN OF PRAISE “Angels from the Realms of Glory” LSB 367

(The Adult Choir will join in singing a descant.)

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WORD + CHRISTMAS PSALM Psalm 96 Pastor: Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the

Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day.

Women: Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!

Men: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

Pastor: Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Women: Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Men: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts!

Pastor: Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.”

Women: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!

Men: Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth.

Pastor: He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness.

ALL: 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. HYMN: 6:30 PM Morgan Hasa “O Holy Night”

11:00 PM Student Trio-v.1;Congregation v. 2-3 “What Child Is This” LSB 370 SALUTATION and COLLECT

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

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P: Let us pray. O God, We give You thanks for the treasure of Your grace in the gift of Your Son to be our Savior and Redeemer. Help us so that we may rejoice in the birth of Jesus, recognize the great riches of Your grace in His birth, believe in Him and trust in Him for our salvation. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 9:2–7 (The prophet proclaims the birth of Him who sits on David’s throne and who will be known as the Prince of Peace.) L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! RESPONSE HYMN: 6:30 PM “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” LSB 366, v. 1-2 11:00 PM “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” LSB 366 Children v. 1, cong. v. 2 EPISTLE Titus 3:4-8 (The grace found in the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.) L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! RESPONSE HYMN: 6:00 PM “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” LSB 366, v. 3-4

11:00 PM “ It Came upon the Midnight Clear” LSB 366, Children v. 3 & Cong. V 4 THE CHRISTMAS GOSPEL Luke 2:1–20 (The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.) P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord. (The Gospel is read.) 6:30 PM Children’s Message P: his is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ. HYMN OF THE DAY “Joy to the World” LSB 387

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SERMON “Prepare Him Room!” (Luke 2:7, 19) CREED Apostles’ Creed (as found inside the back cover of the hymnal) OFFERING OFFERTORY HYMN : 6:30 PM Kevin Williams “The First Noel; O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is” Adult Choir

11:00 PM Adult Choir ” Love Was Born In A Manger” PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. O blessed Lord and gift of God, open our eyes to behold, our minds to receive, and our hearts to believe the treasure of grace that is come to us in the birth of Your own Son in flesh and blood. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer. P: O gracious Giver and precious Gift, enlighten the darkness of our lives and bring

Your joy to our downcast hearts, that we may be renewed in body and soul and walk in Your light all our days. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer. P: O hidden God who has revealed to us Yourself in Your Son, keep us from

searching for another or seeking truth beyond the Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life for us and for all people. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer. P: O mighty Lord, bring an end to the war and violence that threaten nations and

people. Raise up good and honest leaders who will work for peace, justice, and freedom for all. Bless our own president, Congress, and state and local leaders. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer. P: O compassionate Lord, we are broken, wounded, and live in the shadow of death.

Give healing to the sick, comfort to the sorrowful, peace to the dying, that all who call upon Your name may be renewed in body and soul, sustained in the day of trouble, and kept by Your grace to eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

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P: O kind and giving Lord, teach us generosity of heart that we may return to You the tithes and offerings as grateful people and guide us to use the many resources You have entrusted to us on behalf of all the poor and those in need. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

[Additional petitions may be added here.]

P: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER (found inside the back cover of the hymnal) LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES

The pastor takes the light from the Christ candle and passes it to the acolytes and assisting ministers. They pass the light on to the congregation. Tip only the unlighted candle. Do not tip the lighted candle to avoid dripping the wax! Hold the candles straight up and the wax will not drip. Thank you.) As the light is spread throughout the church, the one passing the light says, “Jesus Christ is the light of the world!” to which the one receiving the light responds, “The light no darkness can overcome!” After the light has filled the church, the pastor says, “Hear once again the Good News: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world!” (Jn. 8:12) to which all respond, “The Light no darkness can overcome!” (Jn. 1:5) CAROL “Silent Night, Holy Night” LSB 363

(The Bell Choir will accompany the congregation as we sing.) CHRISTMAS BLESSING

P: The Almighty and merciful God, the Father, the + Son and the Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.

C: Amen! Glory to God in the Highest! And peace to His people on earth! RECESSIONAL HYMN “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” LSB 380 Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 1. Copyright © 2013 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Christmas Eve Readings

Isaiah 9:2–7

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has

dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the

harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used

in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child

is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful

Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there

will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice

and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Titus 3:4-8

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we

had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his

grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to

stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is

good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Luke 2:1–20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This

was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own

town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of

David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged

to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and

she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was

no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over

their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and

they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy

for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This

will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company

of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and

on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 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.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When

they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard

it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in

her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which

were just as they had been told.