Description
Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew, at the very beginning of his Gospel, recounts the genealogy of Jesus, the son of David, the son of Abraham. He then relates how the birth of Jesus came about, including Joseph’s struggle with his betrothed becoming pregnant and his plan to divorce her. Matthew tells of the angel’s appearance to Joseph and his explanation of who exactly it is that Mary is pregnant with, and ends up with a quotation of Isaiah’s prophecy of the virgin birth.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
Holy, Holy, Holy (God With Us)
John Bacchus Dykes, Matt Maher, & Reginald Heber, © Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Away In A Manger
James Ramsey Murray, John Thomas McFarland, & Martin Luther, © Public Domain
Available on www.PraiseCharts.com, www.LifewayWorship.com, www.MusicNotes.com
What a Glorious Night
Ben McDonald, Casey Brown, David Frey, & Jonathan Smith, © 2013 Dayspring Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) All Essential Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Jingram Music Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Not Just Another Song Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Pencil Prophet Publishing (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Run Run Milo (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.)
[Traditional Options]
Savior Of The Nations Come
EH 54; ELW 263; LBW 28; LSB 332; LW 13; PH 14; RS 480; WC 138; UMH 214; WAR 168
The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came
EH 265; ELW 265; HS 98 805; LSB 356; PH 16; WOV 632; WAR 169
O Little Town of Bethlehem
BH 75 85; BH 91 86; CH 250; CHH 144; EH 78,79; ELW 279; HWC 141; HFG 178; HLC 121; HGP 71; HSP 338; LBW 41; LSB 361; LW 59,60; NCH 133; PH 43,44; RH 128; RS 520; STTL 169; WC 154,155; UMH 230; WAR 180; WHM 143; WIS 174
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you, his servants; praise the name of the Lord.
Worshipers
Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
Worshipers
Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
Pastor / Worship Leader
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
Worshipers
Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, As we pray and ponder today the upcoming celebration of your birth, of your stepping from Heaven to be with sinful man, we can’t help but be in awe of the wonder of it all. The Incarnation! The virgin birth! Immanuel! God with us! Perhaps Lord, the most amazing miracle of all. God, you are a God of miracles, and we love the way you prophesied about them all. We look forward to celebrating your day of birth, not for the earthly gifts we will receive, but for the greatest gift of all- Jesus, the Messiah. We worship you Jesus, and we thank you. And we pray in Your Holy Name, Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess.
Worshipers
We acknowledge and confess that we have put ourselves first when considering Christmas day.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we have neglected you, our Savior, and focused more on presents and dinners and problems and earthly desires. We confess that at times even, we will be happy when the day is over.
Worshipers
We confess that our anticipation has not been to celebrate first, the coming of the Savior into the world, the coming of the One who would eventually die for our very souls, the coming of Immanuel, God with us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We repent of this Lord. And we humbly ask of your forgiveness.
Worshipers
Forgive us Lord for our sins.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 7:10-17
The Lord wants to give a sign to Ahaz, King of Judah, to encourage him to not be afraid and to be calm in the face of battle. Isaiah tells Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign but Ahaz refuses to test the Lord. Isaiah then prophecies that the Lord himself will give a sign- a prophecy of the virgin birth of a son, who will be called Immanuel (God with us).
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”
