CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

December 24, 2016 ~ 5:30 p.m.

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church & School

Fairmont, MN

Rev. Anthony T. Bertram ~ Rev. Thomas E. Fast Director of Music: Michael Kutch ~ Flute: Melissa Kutch

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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

5:30 p.m., December 24, 2016

Prelude

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel LSB 357 (Sts. 1, 4) 1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! 4 O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, Free them from Satan’s tyranny

That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Invocation P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen. Bidding Prayer P 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 the loving purposes of

God from the first days after our fall into sin to the glorious redemption

brought to us by this Holy Child. But first, let us pray for people all over the world, who would delight with

us to know the good news of Jesus Christ and who would join with us in

singing his praises. Let us pray for the people of this city and for all those

in our own congregation. And because this would please our Lord, let us remember, in his name, the

poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and

those who are sad, the lonely and the unloved, the elderly and the little

children. We especially remember all those who do not know the Lord

Jesus, or who do not love him, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love. Finally, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us in

heaven, who live in greater light than we, that multitude which no one can

number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, who died in faith, and

who live before the throne of God and praise him each day in his temple.

We confess that we are united with them as we are united with one another. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven in

the words Christ himself taught us:

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Lord's Prayer 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. Lesson One: Genesis 3:8–16 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Let Our Gladness Have No End LSB 381

1 Let our gladness have no end, alleluia!

For to earth did Christ descend, alleluia! ref On this day God gave us

Christ, His Son, to save us;

Christ, His Son, to save us. 2 Prophesied in days of old, alleluia!

God has sent Him as foretold, alleluia! Refrain 3 See, the loveliest blooming rose, alleluia!

From the branch of Jesse grows, alleluia! Refrain 4 Into flesh is made the Word, alleluia!

He, our refuge and our Lord, alleluia! Refrain

Lesson Two: Isaiah 7:10–14 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come LSB 332 sts. 1–3, 8 1 ALL Savior of the nations, come,

Virgin’s Son, make here Your home!

Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,

That the Lord chose such a birth. 2 MEN Not by human flesh and blood,

By the Spirit of our God,

Was the Word of God made flesh—

Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

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3 WOMEN Here a maid was found with child,

and Yet remained a virgin mild.

CHILDREN In her womb this truth was shown:

God was there upon His throne.

8 ALL Glory to the Father sing,

Glory to the Son, our king,

Glory to the Spirit be

Now and through eternity.

Lesson Three: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Comfort, Comfort Ye My People LSB 347, st. 1 1 “Comfort, comfort ye My people,

Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;

“Comfort those who sit in darkness,

Mourning ’neath their sorrows’ load.

Speak ye to Jerusalem

Of the peace that waits for them;

Tell her that her sins I cover

And her warfare now is over.”

Lesson Four: Isaiah 60:1–6 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: It Came upon the Midnight Clear LSB 366, st. 1-3, 4 1 It came upon the 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 all,

From heav’n’s all-gracious king.”

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.

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3 All you, beneath your heavy load,

By care and guilt bent low,

Who toil along a dreary way

With painful steps and slow:

Look up, for golden is the hour,

Come swiftly on the wing,

The Prince was born to bring you peace;

Of Him the angels sing. 4 For lo, the days have come to pass

By prophets seen of old,

When down into the circling years

Came Christ as was foretold.

His word of peace shall to the earth

God’s ancient promise bring,

And all who take this gift will hear

The song the angels sing.

Lesson Five: Luke 1:26–35, 38 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming LSB 359 1 ALL Lo, how a rose e’er blooming

From tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse’s lineage coming

As prophets long have sung,

It came, a flow’ret bright,

Amid the cold of winter,

When half-spent was the night. 2 MEN Isaiah ’twas foretold it,

The rose I have in mind;

With Mary we behold it,

The virgin mother kind.

To show God’s love aright,

She bore to us a Savior,

When half-spent was the night.

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3 WOMEN This flow’r, whose fragrance tender

and With sweetness fills the air,

CHILDREN Dispels with glorious splendor

The darkness ev’rywhere.

True man, yet very God,

From sin and death He saves us

And lightens ev’ry load.

4 ALL O Savior, child of Mary,

Who felt our human woe;

O Savior, King of glory,

Who dost our weakness know:

Bring us at length we pray

To the bright courts of heaven,

And to the endless day.

Lesson Six: Luke 2:1–7 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God. Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem LSB 361 sts. 1, 4

1 O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light.

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight. 4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in,

Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Immanuel!

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Lesson Seven: Luke 2:8–14 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Angels We Have Heard on High LSB 368 1 Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply,

Echoing their joyous strains. ref Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo. 2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heav’nly song? Refrain 3 Come to Bethlehem and see

Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain

Lesson Eight: Luke 2:15–20 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Go Tell It on the Mountain LSB 388 ref Go tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and ev’rywhere;

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born! 1 While shepherds kept their watching

O’er silent flocks by night,

Behold, throughout the heavens

There shone a holy light. Refrain 2 The shepherds feared and trembled

When lo, above the earth

Rang out the angel chorus

That hailed our Savior’s birth. Refrain 3 Down in a lonely manger

The humble Christ was born;

And God sent us salvation

That blessèd Christmas morn. Refrain

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Lesson Nine: John 1:1–14 P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Hymn: Let All Together Praise Our God LSB 389, sts. 1, 4, 6, 7 1 ALL Let all together praise our God

Before His glorious throne;

Today He opens heav’n again

To give us His own Son,

To give us His own Son. 4 MEN He undertakes a great exchange,

Puts on our human frame,

And in return gives us His realm,

His glory, and His name,

His glory, and His name. 6 WOMEN He is the key and He the door

and To blessèd paradise;

CHILDREN The angel bars the way no more.

To God our praises rise,

To God our praises rise. 7 ALL Your grace in lowliness revealed,

Lord Jesus, we adore

And praise to God the Father yield

And Spirit evermore;

We praise You evermore. Sermon Votum P The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and

minds in Christ Jesus.

C Amen.

Offering The ushers will come down and light their candles from the pastor’s candle.

They will then light members of the congregation’s candles. Please tip the unlighted wick to the flame so that the wax does not spill on the floor.

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Hymn: Silent Night, Holy Night LSB 363 sts. 1–3, 1g 1g Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!

Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur das traute, hochheilige Paar.

Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,

Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh. 1 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 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 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.

Collect

O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of

Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive

Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He

comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives

and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Benediction P The grace of the Lord T Jesus Christ and the love of God and the

fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C Amen.

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Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Cross-way Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

The Pastors, Faculty, and Staff of St. Paul Lutheran Church & School would like to express our deepest gratitude for all of your acts of kindness expressed to us throughout the year, and especially for all the Christmas greetings, cards, gifts, and hospitality this Christmas season. We are truly blessed by your thoughtfulness. God’s blessings to you!

Hymn: Joy to the World LSB 387 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 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ,

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 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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The Pink Poinsettias are sponsored

to the Glory of God and...

in memory of wife Virginia and son Martin by Marty Krause;

in memory of Velva & Torger Winterton by Lois Willard and family;

in memory of Elmer & Loretta Luedtke by Russ & Joan Luedtke;

in memory of Bennie & Alice Blom by church friends;

in memory of our parents Herman & Alma Brinkman and Roydal & Alice

Stough by Merle & Bev Brinkman;

in memory of parents Donald & Gladys Spee and Ray Maday by Larry &

Donna Maday;

in memory of sisters and brothers by Harold & Avis Wagner;

in thanksgiving for family and friends by Dave & Kathy, Ben & Briana Gratz;

in memory of Melanie’s mother Paula Mart by Justin & Melanie Preuss.

The White Poinsettias are sponsored

to the Glory of God and...

in memory of Donald & Gladys Spee by Russ & Joan Luedtke;

in memory of Charles Sauder by Rob & Ruth True;

in memory of parents Earl & Irene Senne, Leonard Milbrandt & Edna Johnson,

and brother Ivan Senne by Kent & Erlene Milbrandt;

in memory of Werner & Esther Glienke by Jim & Lois Glienke and Sharon

Crysler;

in memory of loved ones by Dave & Kathy, Ben & Briana Gratz;

in memory of Ed Hinrichs by Ruth Hinrichs;

in memory of Norman Preuss by the Preuss family.

The Two Large Poinsettias are

sponsored to the Glory of God and...

in remembrance of Harlan Janzen, by Odette & Bob Fast and Jon & LaNette

Janzen.

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The Red Poinsettias are sponsored

to the Glory of God and... in memory of George Benck by Renata Benck and family;

in memory of Harry & Lydia Miller, Ernest & Clara Mau, and sisters and

brothers by Leo & Pauline Mau;

in memory of parents Bill & Carolyn Goemann and Charles & Eunice

Whitaker by Delmer & Karen Whitaker;

in memory of mother Dorothy Schmitt by Mary Schmitt;

in memory of John & Hertha Schultz and Irvin & Helen Haertel by Richard &

Kathryn Schultz;

in memory of Roger Sanders by Sue, Rhonda, Brent, Stephanie, Eric, Nick

and Ella;

in memory of Wayne L. Schroeder and Nancy Kay Schroeder by family;

in memory of loved ones and in thankfulness for five generations of family by

Duane & Lisa Rosburg;

in memory of our parents Richard & Elda Leiding and Leslie & Geralda

Hilgemeier by Darrel & Karen Leiding;

in thankfulness for Florence Eyerly by Richard & Kathy Eyerly;

in memory of parents Donald & Berdie Bremer and Bill Eyerly by Richard &

Kathy Eyerly;

in memory of Rev. E. W. & Ruth Wuggazer and Norman & Dorothy

Sundholm by Paul & Judi Sundholm;

in memory of Larry Willard by Lois Willard and family;

in memory of our parents, Roger Sanders and Charles & Esther Langhofer by

Eric & Stephanie Langhofer;

in memory of Vernon Nolte by Floriene Nolte;

in memory of parents and grandparents by the Northwick family;

in memory of Emil & Etta Zanter by John & Emily Johnson;

in memory of John & Bessie Johnson by John & Emily Johnson;

in memory of deceased loved ones by Ruth Engelby;

in memory of Emil Lemke by the Lemke & Preuss families;

in memory of Dave & Karen Garrison by Stephanie Rosburg;