CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
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24, 2025
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+ ORDER OF WORSHIP + WELCOME CHOIR ANTHEM & HYMN—Come Adore the Humble King/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: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 2. God from true God, and Light from Light eternal, born of a virgin, to earth he comes! Only-begotten Son of God the Father: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
SERMON and READING—Bustling Busy Little Town
Pastor Heiman Luke 2:1-7
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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 And everyone went to register, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. 6
And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
CHOIR ANTHEM & HYMN—To Shepherds as They Watched by Night 1 & 2 Choir 3. O then rejoice that through his Son God is with sinners now at one; made like yourselves of flesh and blood, your brother is th’ eternal God. 4 & 5 Choir 6. You shall and must at last prevail; God’s own you are, you cannot fail. To God forever sing your praise with joy and patience all your days. 1
DEVOTION and READING—Sheep Bleating Interrupted by an Angel Choir
Ingram Heiman Luke 2:8-15
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There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11 Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” 15
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
CHOIR ANTHEM & HYMN—He Made a Way in the Manger/Away in the Manger 1. Choir 2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky, and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
3. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care, and take us to heaven to live with you there.
DEVOTION and READING—Crying Baby and Rustling Animals
Emmitt Heiman Luke 2:16-19
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So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they told others the message they had been told about this child. 18 And all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
CHOIR ANTHEM & HYMN—Joy Has Dawned/Angels We Have Heard on High 1. Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo; gloria in excelsis Deo. 3. Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo; gloria in excelsis Deo.
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DEVOTION and READING—Shepherds Announcing in the Streets
Owen Heiman Luke 2:20
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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS EVE Gracious Father, when the time had fully come, you sent your Son to carry out your plan to save the world from the tyranny of sin, the threat of death, and the power of Satan. On this holy night, strengthen our faith as we ponder the depth of your divine love. Lead us to quiet awe as we remember your gracious compassion. Impress on us the poverty and pain your Son endured in our place, how he willingly set aside his power and place and assumed the weakness of an infant and the starkness of a stable. Lead us to acknowledge the sins which compelled his humiliation and the love which accepted his lowliness. Forgive us and move us to trust in his mission to save us. Take away our fears and fright and fill us with joy as we hear the message that Jesus was born for us and that he came to restore peace with you and mend the bond broken by sin. Move us to sing our carols and hymns not with passing pleasure but with the depth of praise for his extraordinary love. Let our songs and hymns reflect our faith in the redemption gained by Christ. Lead us to kneel at his manger with hearts of faith and to see there the God-man who takes away the sins of the world. Guide and guard us so that the happiness shared with family and friends does not delay or discourage our journey to his holy crib. Make the birth of Christ our highest priority and deepest pleasure. Fill us with an eager joy that moves us to share the good news with others, especially those who may have forgotten or dismissed the love of God in Christ. Give us faith-filled maturity to recognize that the best gift we can give to children is the story of Jesus who was born as a baby and died on a cross to save them for heaven. Move us to tell the good news we have seen and heard. Hear us, Lord, as we pray in silence. Silent prayer
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During this hectic holiday, provide us with quiet times to remember what the birth of Jesus really means for us and all people, that he came to free us from the evil forces that separated us from your love, that he lived and died to forgive our sins, and that he rose in triumph to prepare a place where we will live with you forever. Move us to sing with hearts of faith, “Glory to God in the highest!” Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES The pastor takes the light of the Christ candle to the ushers. They pass the light on to the congregation. Please tip only the unlighted candle to prevent wax from dripping.
CHOIR ANTHEM & HYMN—Prince of Peace/Silent Night 1. (Men) 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. (Women) 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. (All) 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.
Silence for meditation
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BLESSING
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 peace. Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM & HYMN—Joy to the World 1. 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. 2. Choir 3. 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. 4. 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.
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Thank you for joining us for worship this Christmas Eve. We pray that God will continue to strengthen you in your faith through his Word, during this blessed season and beyond. If you are a guest with us today and do not have a church home, we would consider it a special privilege to share God’s Word with you on a regular basis. To learn more about our congregation, please visit our website: GraceLutheranSAZ.org. We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings for worship at 10:00 AM!
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP Minister ........................................................................................................................ Pastor Ryan Heiman Devotions and Readings ................................................................. Owen, Emmitt, and Ingram Heiman Accompanist ............................................................................................................................. Jane Neujahr Choir Director ........................................................................................................................ Laura Heiman Acknowledgements: Scripture readings are taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. wartburgproject.org. Created by Christian Worship: Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House. Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House.
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One Church. Four Locations. Proclaiming the love of Jesus in Southern Arizona since 1911. Grace-Tucson and Central Office
Grace-Sahuarita
830 N. 1st Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719 (520)623-6633 office@gracelutheransaz.org
75 W. Sahuarita Rd, Sahuarita, AZ 85629 (520)578-3538
Pastor Ronald G. Koehler III revrgk3@gracelutheransaz.org
Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke revnpk@gracelutheransaz.org
Administrative Assistant—Debbie Koehler assistant@gracelutheransaz.org
Pastor Ryan A. Heiman
revrah@gracelutheransaz.org
Child Learning Center
(520)848-4630 receptionist@gracelutheransaz.org GraceLutheranSahuaritaCLC.com
Director—Laura Heiman
director@gracelutheransaz.org
Assistant Director—Jen Rickling jrickling@gracelutheransaz.org
Worship Coordinator—Beth Kassulke music@gracelutheransaz.org
Grace-Benson and Grace-Vail Benson
451 W. Duane St., Benson, AZ 85602
Vail
Child Learning Center Mission Teachers Caitlin Broehm, Toddlers
cbroehm@gracelutheransaz.org
Worshipping at Esmond Station Elementary 9400 S. Atterbury Wash Way, Tucson, AZ 85747
Vicki Smith, 3-Year Olds
Pastor Seth A. Scheuerlein
Theresa Pratt, Preschool
revsas@gracelutheransaz.org
tpratt@gracelutheransaz.org
Office at Civano
Chris Leathers, After School Care
10501 E. Seven Generations Way, Tucson, AZ 85747 (520)848-4631
vsmith@gracelutheransaz.org
cleathers@gracelutheransaz.org
Prayer Group—Laura Hodgson prayergroup@gracelutheransaz.org
Bible-Based Counselor—Cinda Drescher
Office Assistant—Cora Stuhr
cinda@gracelutheransaz.org (520)581-4714
office@gracelutheransaz.org
wels.net
Grace Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a group of nearly 400,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1,300 congregations across the United States and Canada united by a common faith in Christ's saving love. We are committed to a common calling—encouraging each other in our faith and sharing God's gift of a Savior with the rest of the world.