JOHN 1:1-5, 14
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
People: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Leader: In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
People: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him, born the King of angels!
Refrain: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest! Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! Refrain
GENESIS 3:8-15
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
O COME, O COME EMMANUEL
O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Refrain
O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go. Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease; fill all the world with heaven’s peace. Refrain 2x
FROM ISAIAH 7 AND 9
Leader: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
People: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Leader: Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
People: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
HE WHO IS MIGHTY
Oh, the mercy our God has shown to those who sit in death’s shadow.
The sun on high pierced the night; born was the Cornerstone.
Unto us a Son is given, unto us a Child is born.
Chorus: He who is mighty has done a great thing; taken on flesh, conquered death’s sting,
Shattered the darkness and lifted our shame. Holy is his name.
Oh, the freedom our Savior won; the yoke of sin has been broken.
Once a slave, now by grace no more condemnation.
Unto us a Son is given, unto us a Child is born. Chorus
Holy is his name.
Bridge: Now my soul magnifies the Lord. I rejoice in the God who saves.
I will trust his unfailing love. I will sing his praises all my days. (repeat) Chorus 2x
Holy is his name. Holy is his name.
LUKE 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of ev’ry nation, joy of ev’ry longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high, appear;
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse, of thy birth we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing news, glad tidings of a birth:
“Go to him, your praises bringing; Christ the Lord has come to earth.”
Come to earth to taste our sadness, he whose glories knew no end;
By his life he brings us gladness, our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
MATTHEW 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
EMMANUEL (GLORY IN THE HIGHEST)
The Light of Life descended to the world he made. The ageless Rock of Ages in a manger laid.
Behold the Word that bore our flesh. The heart of God inside an infant’s chest.
The Infinite incarnate in a virgin’s hands. The radiance of the Father in the Son of Man.
Behold the peace that pierced the night. The hope of nations in a baby’s cry.
Chorus 1: Emmanuel, glory in the highest. Emmanuel, Heaven here beside us.
God himself, with us now to dwell, Emmanuel.
The sinless King of Heaven crowned with guilt and shame.
The Cornerstone was fastened to a wooden frame.
Behold Lamb that crushed our curse and died to pay the price of our rebirth. Chorus 1
Bridge: Light in darkness, might for meekness. All the glory be to Jesus.
Love has sought us, grace has reached us. All the glory be to Jesus. (Repeat) Chorus 1
Chorus 2: Glory in the highest. Emmanuel, Heaven here beside us.
God himself, with us now to dwell, God himself, with us now to dwell,
God himself, with us now to dwell, Emmanuel.
LUKE 2:1-7
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.
WHAT CHILD IS THIS
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spears, shall pierce him through; the cross be born for me, for you:
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary.
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, peasant, king, to own him;
The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary.
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
LUKE 2:8-14
Leader: 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 great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear
not, for behold, I bring you good news of 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.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying,
People: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Refrain
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Refrain
AN IRISH CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Now may the fragrance of his peace soar through your heart like the dove released.
Hide in his wings, O weary, distant soul, he’ll guide your spirit home.
And may his love poured from on high flow to the depths of your deepest sigh.
O come and drink from the only living stream and on his shoulder lean.
And may the hope that will not deceive through every pain, bring eternal ease.
There is no night that can steal the promises his coming brings to us.
All out of darkness we have light which made the angels sing this night.
Glory to God and peace to all, now and forevermore.
So may his joy rush over you, delight in the path he has called you to.
May all your steps walk in heaven’s endless light beyond this Christmas night.
GOD WITH US
6. The Manger
BEHOLD THE SAVIOR
Oh, what innocence sleeping in a manger under dreamless skies.
See the newborn King trading ev’ry glory for a silent night.
Here is the promise we have waited for. He will not leave us in the dark.
Chorus: He will bear our weight. He will wear our shame. Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior.
Jesus Christ, law of love and light. Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior.
Veiled deity, praise of ev’ry angel, shepherds bowing low.
Sweet humility, mercy as a baby, God in flesh and bone.
Here is the promise we have waited for. He will not leave us in the dark. Chorus
Here is the promise we have waited for. He will not leave us in the dark.
He is the promise we have waited for. The cry of ev’ry searching heart. Chorus
Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior. Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior.
REVELATION 21:1-4
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
SILENT NIGHT! HOLY 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, heav’nly 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.
Silent night! Holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing alleluia to our King;
Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14
Leader: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
People: Amen. Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
