Description

Isaiah 52:7-10 

Merry Christmas!  What a wonderful day it is to gather in the name of the Lord!  Today we will explore what makes this day so joyous and how, even before Christ was born, people were celebrating this day.  Scripture doesn’t shy away from laying out the struggles and messes that man has found itself in throughout the years.  Sometimes the prophets in the Old Testament seem to only proclaim doom and despair in response to those messes.  Today though, we hear the voice of Isaiah, proclaiming the works of the Lord, the work realized in Jesus Christ, that redeems and comforts the whole world even when we find ourselves in the worst of circumstances.  Rejoice, for Christ has come, the fulfillment of God’s promises!

 

 

… We Lift Our Hearts in Worship …

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]

 

Time of Praise and Worship

Joy  To The World (Unspeakable Joy)

Chris Tomlin| Ed Cash| George Frederic Handel|Isaac Watts|Matt Gilder, © worshiptogether.com songs|sixsteps Music|Vamos Publishing|Alletrop Music|Ryan House Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)| (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)|(Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

 

It’s Christmas (w/Away in a Manger)

Chris Tomlin & Ed Cash, © 2015 S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

A Christmas Alleluia

Jonas Myrin, Chris Tomlin, ©2015 Omega Songs, Worship Together Music, sixsteps Songs, Capitol CMG Paragon, S.D.G. Publishing (Admin Capitol CMG)

[Traditional Options]

Joy To The World       

BH 75 88; BH 91 87; CH 270; CHH 143; EH 100; ELW 267; HWC 125; HPW 22; HFG 171; HLC 120; HGP 80; HSP 331; LBW 39; LSB 387; LW 53; NCH 132; PH 40; RH 118; RS 524; STTL 173; WC 146; UMH 246; WAR 179; WHM 135; WIS 172

Let All Together Praise Our God

ELW 287; LBW 47; LSB 389; LW 44

Angels We Have Heard On High

BH 75 95; BH 91 100; CH 278; CHH 155; EH 96; HWC 132; HPW 23; HFG 192; HLC 133; HGP 79; HSP 334; LBW 71; LSB 368; LW 55; NCH 125; PH 23; RH 134; RS 504; STTL 190; WC 152; UMH 238; WAR 188; WHM 132; WIS 180

 

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

Adapted from Psalm 96

 

Pastor              Oh sing to the LORD a new song;

ALL                  sing to the LORD, all the earth!

Pastor              Sing to the LORD, bless his name;

ALL                  tell of his salvation from day to day!

 

Pastor              Declare his glory among the nations,

ALL                  his marvelous works among all the peoples!

Pastor             For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

ALL                  he is to be feared above all gods.

 

Pastor              Proclaim to all people, “The LORD reigns!”

ALL                   Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

                           let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

                           let the field exult, and everything in it!

 

Pastor              We begin this holy celebration in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!

ALL                  Amen. Oh, sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the                                    LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day!

 

 

Opening Prayer

 

Pastor              Come Lord Jesus Christ and dwell among Your people, for You have fulfilled the promises of God                                     and saved us.         

 

ALL                  Amen. Come Lord Jesus, redeem and comfort us.  Amen!

 

 

Time of Greeting

 

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message] 

Pastor              The Christ has been born! He is here to save us!

 

ALL                  Lord Jesus Christ, save us from our sins!

 

Pastor              God has had mercy on His people and has rescued us!

 

ALL                  Lord God, protect us from our own evil ways, direct us and care for us.

 

Pastor              Jesus Christ is our Savior, nothing will remove His perfect love from us.

 

ALL                  Amen!  Bless us Jesus Christ, keep us now and forever.  Amen!

  

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading          Isaiah 52:7–10

 

As Israel was in despair over their captivity and the loss of their nation, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah proclaiming the victory that God will bring.  These verses have provided hope to God’s people no matter the trial.

 

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. 9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

 

Reader             The word of the Lord.

ALL                  Thanks be to God.