December 24, 2023
Call to Worship
Luke 2:1-12
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
By Edmund Sears (1849); arr. Shane and Shane
It came upon a midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heaven’s all-gracious King”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong
And man, at war with man hears not
The love-song which they bring
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing!
For lo! the days are hastening on
By prophet bards foretold
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall cover all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing
Christmas Reading
Luke 2:13-20
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 among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Joy To the World
Arr. Chris Tomlin
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing, and Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
CHORUS:
Joy, unspeakable joy
An overflowing well, no tongue can tell
Joy, unspeakable joy
Rises in my soul, never lets me go
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
Confession of Our Sin
Luke 2:21-32
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
Silent Prayers
Assurance of God’s Forgiveness
Hebrews 9:8-12
Leader: By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
All: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
O Savior Rend the Heavens Wide
F. von Spee, 17th century, tr. Martin L. Seltz. Music by Nathan Partain, 2019
O Savior rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down
Unbar the way to heaven’s crown
O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,
When shall our hearts behold your dawn?
O Sun, arise; without your light
We grope in gloom and dark of night.
Sin’s dreadful doom upon us lies;
Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
Oh, come lead us, with mighty hand
Through exile to the promised land.
There shall we all our praises sing
Ever to you, our Savior King;
There shall we laud you and adore
Forever and forever more.
Pastoral Prayer - Thanksgiving and Intercession
Family Life and Offerings
† Tithes and offerings can be given at fieldspres.org/give or in the offering box.
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with song.
Sermon Passage
Jeremiah 31:31-33
31 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Homily
"Son of God"
Pastor Mike McBride
O Holy Night
Lyrics by Placide Cappeau; Music by Adolphe Adam (1847)
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free wafers are available at the front table. We will all eat and drink together.
Silent Night
By Josef Mohr (1816)
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
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing, “Alleluia”
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, loves pure light
Radiant, beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Luke 2:1-12
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
By Edmund Sears (1849); arr. Shane and Shane
It came upon a midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heaven’s all-gracious King”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong
And man, at war with man hears not
The love-song which they bring
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing!
For lo! the days are hastening on
By prophet bards foretold
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall cover all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing
Christmas Reading
Luke 2:13-20
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 among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Joy To the World
Arr. Chris Tomlin
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing, and Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
CHORUS:
Joy, unspeakable joy
An overflowing well, no tongue can tell
Joy, unspeakable joy
Rises in my soul, never lets me go
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
Confession of Our Sin
Luke 2:21-32
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
Silent Prayers
Assurance of God’s Forgiveness
Hebrews 9:8-12
Leader: By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
All: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
O Savior Rend the Heavens Wide
F. von Spee, 17th century, tr. Martin L. Seltz. Music by Nathan Partain, 2019
O Savior rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down
Unbar the way to heaven’s crown
O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,
When shall our hearts behold your dawn?
O Sun, arise; without your light
We grope in gloom and dark of night.
Sin’s dreadful doom upon us lies;
Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
Oh, come lead us, with mighty hand
Through exile to the promised land.
There shall we all our praises sing
Ever to you, our Savior King;
There shall we laud you and adore
Forever and forever more.
Pastoral Prayer - Thanksgiving and Intercession
Family Life and Offerings
† Tithes and offerings can be given at fieldspres.org/give or in the offering box.
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with song.
Sermon Passage
Jeremiah 31:31-33
31 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Homily
"Son of God"
Pastor Mike McBride
O Holy Night
Lyrics by Placide Cappeau; Music by Adolphe Adam (1847)
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free wafers are available at the front table. We will all eat and drink together.
Silent Night
By Josef Mohr (1816)
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
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing, “Alleluia”
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, loves pure light
Radiant, beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide