The Nativity of Our Lord

December 25th, 2019 9:30 am

Trinity Lutheran Church – Rantoul, WI

+ Confession and Absolution + Stand

Processional Hymn #387 – “Joy to the World”

P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. P: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant

song with music. C: Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous

things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.

P: The Lord has made His salvation known. He has revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness.

C: 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.

Christmas Prayer P: Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten

Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. P: Lord God, we celebrate today the birth of Your one and only

Son, Jesus. Prepare our hearts to receive the message of His incarnation with renewed joy.

C: We give You thanks, Father, that You sought us out even when we were lost in our sin and rebellion. We know that we deserve to be deserted for what we have done, yet we rejoice in what You chose to accomplish on our behalf.

P: Receive our praises, Jesus, for You are our joy and salvation. You are our Emmanuel.

C: God, be with us now in this place. Amen.

Isaiah 62:10–12 10Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples. 11Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” 12And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

Confession P: Listen to the words of Isaiah once again, “Prepare the

highway for My people to return.” On this Christmas Day, we prepare our hearts for Jesus by humbly confessing our sins to Him. Therefore we confess our sins together:

C: we rejoice, heavenly Father, in the gift of Your Son, Jesus, our Emmanuel, God with us. Yet, even on this day of joy, we cannot escape the truth that it was because of our sin that You had to send Your Son to our broken and sinful world to suffer and die in our place on the cross. Without Your faithful love we would be lost forever because we have failed to do the things we should have done and for doing the things we should not have done. Forgive us not because we deserve this but because Jesus was born for our salvation and took our place on the cross.

P: Look, your Savior has come! You are not deserted nor are you forsaken. Your God has sought you out. He has found you and redeemed you. With His blood He has bought you back from darkness and has made you His own. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

+ Service of the Word + PSALM Psalm 2:7-12 P: I will tell of the decree: C: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have

begotten you. P: Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, C: and the ends of the earth your possession. P: You shall break them with a rod of iron C: and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” P: Now therefore, O kings, be wise; C: Be warned, O rulers of the earth. P: Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. C: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, P: and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. C: Blessed are all who take refuge in him

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 OF PRAISE #380 – “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”

SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Let us pray. Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-

begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Sit

OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 52:7-10 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

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

EPISTLE Hebrews 1:1-6 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.

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

Stand

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 2:1-14 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

Hymn – “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” Choir 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.

Choir 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.

Choir This is he whom seers in old time Chanted of with one accord, Whom the voices of the prophets Promised in their faithful word; Now he shines, the long expected; Let creation praise its Lord Evermore and evermore.

Cong. Let the heights of heaven adore him;

Angel hosts, his praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before him And extol our God and King; Let no tongue on earth be silent, Every voice in concert ring Evermore and evermore.

(Stand) Choir Christ, to you, with God the Father and And the Spirit, there shall be Cong. Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving

And the shout of jubilee: Honor, glory, and dominion And eternal victory Evermore and evermore.

SERMON “It’s A Boy!” Luke 2:7

Stand

NICENE CREED C: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,maker of heaven

and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds,God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heavenand was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man;and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heavenand sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the deadand the life + of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Sit

OFFERING

+ Service of the Sacrament + Stand PREFACE P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise. P: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times

and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Grant us Your Spirit, gracious Father, that we may give heed to the testament of Your Son in true faith and, above all, firmly take to heart the words with which Christ gives to us His body and blood for our forgiveness. By Your grace, lead us to remember and give thanks for the boundless love which He manifested to us when, by pouring out His precious blood, He saved us from Your righteous wrath and from sin, death, and hell. Grant that we may receive the bread and wine, that is, His body and blood, as a gift, guarantee, and pledge of His salvation. Graciously, receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER P: Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us 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.

THE WORDS OF OUR LORD P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed,

took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given 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 gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PAX DOMINI P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen.

Sit

DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION HYMNS

#374 – “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” #368 – “Angels We Have Heard on High” #388 – “Go Tell it On the Mountain”

Stand

POST-COMMUNION COLLECT P: Let us pray. We give thanks to You, Almighty God, that You

have refreshed us through this gift of salvation, and we ask You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You, and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. BENEDICTION P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face

shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C: Amen. Recessional Hymn #379 – “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Christmas Blessings and Greetings

Thank you for your prayers and remembrances during this

season. Our prayers and remembrances are with you this season

and throughout the year. As we celebrate our Lord’s birth, may

the joy of the season be with you and your families. May our

Lord Jesus Christ shower you with His blessings and grant you

His peace that surpasses all understanding.

—Pastor Wilkens and family