IMMANUEL
LUTHERAN CHURCH
THE
LUTHERAN CHURCH - MISSOURI SYNOD
R.R. 1, Box 179
Shobonier, IL 62885-9739
Church
Office: 618-846-8383
Sunday School: 9:00am
Parsonage:
618-846-8282
Sunday Worship: 10:00am
Pastor: Rev. Bruce Milash
http://www.augsburgchurch.com/
augsburg@augsburgchurch.com
Immanuel Lutheran Augsburg Church
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
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Welcome in the Most Holy and Blessed Name of Jesus
Christ! We are privileged this evening to gather around His Word and
Sacrament as we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord. Jesus is the
Immanuel (God with us) who sets aside His divine glory to be born of
a virgin in the humblest of circumstances. Jesus had come to serve,
not to be served. He would give His life as a ransom for many. Out
of God’s great love for His fallen creation, Jesus gives His life
for you! He would be crucified for us, and by faith in that Christ
child who came in fulfillment of the prophets, we are redeemed by
His precious blood. On this evening, we celebrate the birth of He
whose cradle rested in the shadow of the cross. In the blood of
Christ, we have a Hope that does not disappoint us. Jesus is the
Way, the Truth and the Life, and Jesus alone! Thanks be to God!
The Service of the
Sacrament will be celebrated on this evening. In this Holy Supper,
our Savior gives to us His true Body and His
true Blood for the strengthening of our faith. Those who
approach the Lord’s Table on this evening give public witness to our
confessional unity of faith. On the Scriptural basis of this unity,
we ask that only those who are members of a congregation in the
Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod commune with us. If you have not
communed here before, please ask to speak with the Pastor or one of
our Elders before the service.
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Opening Hymn
“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
LSB 379
Old
Testament Responsive Reading (Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7)
P: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
C: On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has
dawned.
P:
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
C: They rejoice before You as
people rejoice at the harvest.
P:
For to us a Child is born,
C: To us a Son is given, and the
government will be on His shoulders.
P:
And He will be called:
C: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
P:
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no
end.
C: He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
forever.
First Christmas Reading
Luke 2:1-5
Hymn
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
LSB 361
Second
Christmas Reading
Luke 2:6-7
Hymn
“Away in a Manger”
LSB 364
Third
Christmas Reading
Luke 2:8-14
Hymn
“Angels We
Have Heard On High”
LSB 368
Fourth
Christmas Reading
Luke 2:15-20
Hymn
“What Child is This”
LSB 370
Sermon “The
Perfect Gift”
Luke 2:1-14
Offering
(Tonight’s offering will benefit Lutheran Child &
Family Services of Illinois.)
Hymn of
Response
“Oh, Come,
Oh, Come, Emmanuel” LSB 357 vs. 1-4
Service of the Sacrament
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Communion
Liturgy
LSB 194-197
Agnus Dei
(Lamb of God)
LSB 198
The Distribution
Distribution
Hymns
“It Came
Upon a Midnight Clear”
LSB 366
“Joy to the World”
LSB 387
“Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”
LSB 380
Litany
Prayer
P: Long
ago in Bethlehem, Pure Light from heaven came down.
C: That Light
was Christ; His Light was brighter than the stars.
P: Jesus,
Lord, at Your birth, love's pure light beams from Your holy face.
C: The
Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
P: Long
ago in Bethlehem, Glorious Light from heaven came down.
C: That Light
was Christ; His Light was greeted by choirs of angels.
P: By
Your birth in Bethlehem, You brought to light the Father's love.
C: Guide our
lives with the Light of Your Truth.
P: Long
ago in Bethlehem, Pure Light from heaven came down.
C: That Light
was Christ; His Light was Immanuel, God with us.
P: Jesus,
Lord, at Your birth, love's pure light beams from Your holy face.
C:
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it.
P: Long
ago in Bethlehem, Glorious Light from heaven came down.
C: That Light was Christ; His Light took away the darkness of sin and death.
P: By
Your birth in Bethlehem, You brought to light the Father's love.
C: Let us
rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World!
After your
candle has been lit, you are welcome to come forward and stand
around the Christmas tree. When all the candles have been lit,
we will join together in
the singing of "Silent Night"
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, 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.
The Celebration
of our Savior’s Birth
continues tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. We gather on
Christmas morning to offer our sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise
for the eternal hope that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Please join us as we gather around those most perfect gifts that our
Lord has especially prepared for us in Word and Sacrament.
Serving You on this Eve of Our Lord’s Nativity
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Celebrant
Pastor Bruce Milash
Organist
Dana Myers