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Christmas Day Worship December 25, 2024

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Sahuarita, AZ

Welcome to Grace! Our mission at Grace is to teach the inspired and inerrant Word of God, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the cruciﬁed and risen Savior of the world, and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service. Check out the GRACE WEBSITE at GraceLutheranSAZ.org WELCOME! We are glad that you have joined us to celebrate the birth of the Christ-child. The worship service is printed in its entirety in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people. Those wishing to leave an oﬀering can do so at the exit today or give online at GraceLutheranSAZ.org/give. (You can also scan the QR code to the right to access the online giving page.)

SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS Our worship this morning is an adaptation of the Lessons and Carols service traditionally held at King's College, Cambridge, England, on December 24th every year. Lessons and Carols was ﬁrst held on Christmas Eve, 1918. It was planned by Eric Milner-White, who at the age of thirty-four had just been appointed Dean of King’s College after experience as an army chaplain.

WORSHIP THEME Welcome to worship this Christmas Day. We trust that God will bless you in this service of lessons and carols. Our focus, “The Gift of God,” is found in every lesson and song. The progression of lessons and songs gradually reveals more and more about this great gift. Imagine yourself as someone who over centuries is trying to ﬁgure out the nature of God’s gift. Or, if the readings are not familiar to you, let the meaning of God’s gift become clearer and clearer to you as you hear each lesson and sing each song. Today we see God’s gift, in the words of the ﬁrst hymn, “in that poor, lowly stable, with the oxen standing by.” By trusting what God’s gift means for us, we look forward to seeing that gift in heaven where God’s “praise will sound” for all eternity!

+ A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS + WELCOME

HYMN—Once in Royal David’s City

Christian Worship 343

Text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1818–1895, abr., alt. Tune: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805–1876. Text and tune: Public domain.

Please stand

EXHORTATION AND PRAYER Beloved in Christ: In this Christmas season it is our duty and delight to hear again the message of the angels and, in heart and mind, to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us, the Christ-child, lying in a manger. Let us read and learn in Holy Scripture the story of God’s loving purposes from the ﬁrst days after our fall and into the birth and glorious redemption brought to us by this Holy Child. Let us hear how peace was lost and how peace is restored. But ﬁrst, let us pray, for this is good and right. Heavenly Father, we pray for ourselves and all people who worship you and your Son this holy night. By your holy Word, lead us to say with the angels, Glory to God in the highest! We pray for your blessing upon the people of our city, our state, our nation, and our world. Glory to God in the highest! We pray for the poor and helpless, the cold and hungry, the sick and sad, that you would give them the joy of your salvation and the comfort of your presence. Glory to God in the highest!

We pray for unbelievers and enemies of the Church, that through your Law and Gospel you would lead them to recognize your Son as their only hope for eternal life. Glory to God in the highest! Finally, we remember before you all those in heaven who rejoice with us, who live in greater light and beauty than we, that multitude which no one can number, who died in faith and now praise you in your heavenly temple. We confess that we are united with them and with one another. Glory to God in the highest!

We humbly oﬀer up these prayers and praises in the words that Christ himself taught us. 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.

Please be seated

SERMON

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the undeserved gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

+ GOD PROMISES A NEEDED GIFT + FIRST LESSON

Genesis 3:8-15

Humanity’s separation from God dates to the beginning of time, to the fall into sin by the ﬁrst humans, Adam and Eve. As tragic as this was, the account of it ends with God’s promise of rescue: that the woman’s oﬀspring, Christ, would ultimately defeat Satan and the rebellion of sin. 8

They heard the voice of the L God, who was walking around in the garden during the cooler part of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the L God among the trees of the garden. 9

The L

God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11

God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 12

The man said, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13

The L

God said to the woman, “What have you done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14

The L

God said to the serpent:

Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the livestock, and more than every wild animal. You shall crawl on your belly, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel.

HYMN—Now Sing We, Now Rejoice

Christian Worship 363

Stanza 3 speaks of the need for God’s gift and the ultimate “opening” of that gift: “Death was reigning o’er us … till he opened for us a bright eternity.”

Text: tr. Arthur T. Russell, 1806–1874, alt.; Latin and German, 14th cent. Tune: German, 14th cent., alt. Text and tune: Public domain.

+ GOD’S GIFT IS DESCRIBED + SECOND LESSON

Isaiah 11:1-9

Striking symbolic language describes the gift more than 700 years before it was given. 1

A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the L will rest on him: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the L . 3 He will be delighted with the fear of the L . He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, nor will he render decisions based on what he hears with his ears, 4 but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and he will render fair decisions in favor of the oppressed on the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath from his lips he will put the wicked to death. 5 Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his hips. 6 The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together, and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow and the bear will graze together, and their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the cattle. 8 The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole, and the weaned child will put his hand into a viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the L , as the waters cover the sea.

HYMN—Behold, a Branch Is Growing

Christian Worship 360

Text: German, 16th cent.; (sts. 1–3): tr. Harriet R. K. Spaeth, 1845–1925; (st. 4): John C. Mattes, 1876–1948, alt. Tune: Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengeseng, Köln, 1599. Text and tune: Public domain.

+ GOD REVEALS WHERE HIS GIFT WILL APPEAR + THIRD LESSON

Micah 5:2-4

God wants there to be no doubt about his gift. Through prophesy he reveals the exact tiny village where Jesus would be born. The wonder of fulﬁlled prophesy continues to convince people about the validity of God’s gift even today. 2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel. His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.

Therefore the L will give them up, until the time when the woman who is in labor bears a child. Then the remaining survivors from his brothers will return to the people of Israel.

He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the L , in the majesty of the name of the L his God. They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.

HYMN—O Little Town of Bethlehem

Christian Worship 333

Not to a palace in a city does God send his gift, but to an obscure village. “How silently the wondrous gift is given”

Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835–1893, abr., alt. Tune: Lewis H. Redner, 1831–1908. Text and tune: Public domain.

+ GOD’S GIFT COMES THROUGH A MIRACLE + FOURTH LESSON

Luke 1:26-38

So many of God’s ways of intervening in our world are beyond our understanding. We are blessed to receive God’s gift when, like Mary, we humbly accept God’s plan and marvel at it. 26

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” 29

But she was greatly troubled by the statement and was wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. 31 Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” 34

Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Listen, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age even though she was called barren, and this is her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible for God.” 38

Then Mary said, “See, I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

HYMN—Of the Father’s Love Begotten

Christian Worship 358

God’s gift is born of the virgin Mary but begotten by the Father from eternity. Note how this hymn comments both on Mary (stanza 2) and the many prophecies from earlier centuries (stanza 3).

Text: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348–c. 413, abr.; (sts. 1–4): tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–1866, alt.; (st. 5): tr. Henry W. Baker, 1821–1877, alt. Tune: plainsong, 13th cent. Text and tune: Public domain.

+ THE GIFT IS “GOD WITH US” + FIFTH LESSON

Matthew 1:18-25

The ﬁrst lesson described the human race’s separation from God. God’s gift to end this separation is his Son, Immanuel—“God with us.” 18

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her. So he decided to divorce her privately. 20 But as he was considering these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22

All this happened to fulﬁll what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will name him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” 24

When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Mary home as his wife, 25 but he was not intimate with her until she gave birth to her ﬁrstborn son. And he named him Jesus. 10

CHOIR ANTHEM—Sing We The Song Of Emmanuel

Adult Choir

Please join the choir in singing the bolded words. Gloria. In excelsis Deo. Gloria. In excelsis Deo. Sing we the song of Emmanuel; this the Christ who was long foretold. Lo in the shadows of Bethlehem, promise of dawn now our eyes behold. God most high in a manger laid; life your voices and now proclaim: Great and glorious, love has come to us. Join now with the hosts of heaven. Come we to welcome Emmanuel; King who came with no crown or throne. Helpless he lay, the invincible, maker of Mary, now Mary’s son. O what wisdom to save us all, shepherds, sages before him fall. Grace and majesty, what humility. Come on bended knee, adore him. Go spread the news of Emmanuel; joy and peace for the weary heart. Lift up your heads, for your King has come; sing, for the light overwhelms the dark. Glory shining for all to see, hope alive, let the gospel ring. God has made a way, he will have the praise; tell the world his name is Jesus. Glory shining for all to see, hope alive, let the gospel ring. God has made a way, he will have the praise; tell the world his name is Jesus. Gloria, Gloria... Text and music: Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Stuart Townend, Keith Getty © 2015 Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Getty Music Publishing, Love Your Enemies Publishing, Messenger Hymns; admin. CapitolCMGPublishing.com/Townend Songs; admin. songsolutions.org. Used by permission: CCLI no. 3095236.

+ GOD’S GIFT ARRIVES + SIXTH LESSON

Luke 2:1-7

In a fulﬁllment of the prophecy in today’s third lesson, God uses the mighty powers of this world to accomplish his will and to deliver his gift to an otherwise doomed world. 1

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.

HYMN—Where Shepherds Lately Knelt

Christian Worship 345

+ GOD’S GIFT IS CELEBRATED + SEVENTH LESSON

Luke 2:8-20

The angels can’t help but celebrate God’s gift. The shepherds eagerly spread the word of this gift as announced by the angels. We join them, glorifying and praising God for all that we have come to know about God’s great gift. 8

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.” 16 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. 20 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.

HYMN—O Jesus Christ, Your Manger Is

Christian Worship 342

Please stand

CLOSING PRAYER O God, who makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your only Son, Jesus Christ; grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, so may we also behold him with sure conﬁdence when he shall come to be our judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

BLESSING May he who by his incarnation gathered things earthly and heavenly into one ﬁll us with such joy that comes with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And the blessing of God Almighty—the Father, the (+) Son, and the Holy Spirit—be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN—Joy Has Dawned

Christian Worship 352

The choir will sing stanza 1. Please join in singing the remaining stanzas.

THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP THIS MORNING Minister.......................................................................................................................... Vicar Noah Nordlie Accompanist........................................................................................................................... Laura Heiman Choir Director .......................................................................................................................... Jane Neujahr 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 © 2024 Concordia Publishing House. Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House.