Christmas Eve - Online Worship - December 24, 2021

Our Service will begin at 4:00pm, December 24, 2021
As a reminder, masks as required for in-person worship.

Drive Through Communion is available from 3:00pm-3:30pm!
Communion is available during worship for those worshiping with us in-person!

Join us on facebook for Lord of Life LIVE! Stream will load at approximately 3:50pm with Christmas Carols and Prelude.

vs 1
Oh come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
Oh come ye oh come ye
To Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of angels

refrain:
Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him
Oh come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

vs 2
The highest most holy
Light of light eternal
Born of a virgin
A mortal he comes
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

(refrain)

vs 4
Yea Lord we greet thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to thee be
Glory giv’n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

(refrain)

The wonders of God’s love come to us this holy night when heaven and nature sing! His light breaks into our darkness, so let us come with all the faithful to The One who faithfully first came to us, so come, let us adore him, as we worship in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; though we have lived in a land and time of deep darkness, on all of us Light now shines.

People of God: On this holy night, let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins and those times we have failed to adore every gift of God’s grace in Emmanuel, The One who comes to us, bringing the hope and light of Christ in Christmas.

(silence for reflection)

Friends in Christ: Jesus, the Son of God, born this day, Jesus, saves you; Jesus, forgives you all your sins. This will be a sign for you, This Light comes first to you, increases your joy, breaks the yoke of your burdens. Come and worship, Christ, the newborn King!

Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o’er all the earth
Once you sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth
Come and worship
Come and worship
Worship Christ The newborn King

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; and all authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Friends of The Christ Child: The authority of The Lord continues to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will establish it and uphold it, with justice and righteousness from this time onward, forevermore. Come and worship the newborn King!

Shepherds in the fields abiding
Watching o’er your flocks by night
God with us is now residing
Yonder shines the infant light
Come and worship
Come and worship
Worship Christ The newborn King

Get up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, herald of good tidings. Do not fear, but say to the cities, “Here is my God!”

Friends of the newborn Savior: The Lord comes with might, and his recompense is before him. He will feed his flock; gather and carry the lambs, gently lead the mother sheep. The Lord is come! Open anew, all the gifts of God’s grace; sing God’s joy to the world!

vs 1
Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let earth receive its 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

vs 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

Almighty God, your Light and the wonders of your love shine this holy night. As you broke into our world in Jesus’ birth, open our hearts to hear heaven and nature sing.  As you come to be with us, blessed Emmanuel, we come and adore you.  As you rule the world with truth and grace, we give all glory to the newborn King.  By your Holy Spirit, bless us during these holy days, and always, to live in your Light, The Light no darkness can overcome, and we will forever hold fast to The Christ, your greatest joy to the world, as we await Jesus’ promised return.  In the grace and hope of the newborn Christ, we pray. Amen.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And Gabriel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” The angel said to 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

(New Revised Standard Version)

vs 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

Pastor:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.

Men:
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city 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 enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Women:
And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

(New Revised Standard Version)

vs 1
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

Pastor:
And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Voice:
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to 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 babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

All:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among all with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

(New Revised Standard Version)

vs 1
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

refrain:
Gloria
In excelsis Deo
Gloria
In excelsis Deo

vs 2
Shepherds why this jubilee
Why your joyous strains prolong
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song

(refrain)

Children:
And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Pastor:
And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

(RSV)

Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down his sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

LUKE 1:26-38; LUKE 2:1-20

Have you ever been opening gifts at Christmas, and you find another gift inside a gift, then another, and another?  This is a blessed wonder to receive more gifts than you first thought.  Have you ever opened a gift, looked at it, appreciated it, set it aside, and then later went back to it, and upon taking a closer look, you see there is even more to the gift than you first saw, than you first were amazed by?  Seeing that a gift has even more to offer than you first notice, adds to the wonder of the gift indeed.  “For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ The Lord!”  Long ago, this was the day, the first night, heaven and nature sing in a new way, God breaks forth with the best gifts, God ushers in joy to the world, showering us with gift upon gift, gift inside gift, in the wonders of His love!  May one and all this day, every day in new ways, be awed by, though not surprised by, the wonders of His love, in the presence and grace of Emmanuel, God with us!

1. The wonders of His love come to us again and again, in the awe and presence and grace of God’s joy to the world!  Do not miss a single wonder of His love; open the gifts of God’s grace again and again!

A. Open again, the wonder of His love is in hope, and even in the midst of uncertainty, “Be not afraid,” as heaven and nature sing!
Luke 1:30-33,37; 2:9-10

i. The world is full of things that can make us tremble.

ii. The awe-ness of this night, the power of the promise, the command invoked upon us, may cause us to tremble.

iii. “Be not afraid!”  The wonders of His love calm and quiet us; Emmanuel is in the midst of it all, of us all! 

B. Open again, the wonder of His love is in peace, even in the midst of all that is unsettling, violent, tragic; trust “Peace on earth, good will to all,” as heaven and nature sing!  Luke 2:14

i. We tend to fields, we watch over our flocks, making our way through violence and tragedy in this time and place.

ii. “Peace on earth!’  The wonders of His love reassure us, overcoming all that overwhelms; Emmanuel is here!

C. Open again, the wonder of His love is in light, even in the midst of so much darkness; trust “The light no darkness can overcome,” as heaven and nature sing!
John 1:5

i. The streets we walk, the lives we live, the world we know, even our hearts, can be filled with darkness.

ii. `Go with haste like the shepherds,’ and reflect The Light!

iii. `Your light has come!’  The wonders of His love bring light, reflect light, shine bright; Emmanuel is here!

D. Open again, the wonder of His love is restoring an eternal relationship and oneness with you, even in a world of so much isolation and brokenness, trust “The Word became flesh to live among us,” as heaven and nature sing!
John 1:14

i. Our world and our relationships and our hearts are crying out for restoration and reconciliation.

ii. “The Word became flesh,” to be with us, to restore us, to be in relationship with us; Emmanuel is here!

E. Open again, the wonder of His love is personally given to you, “for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ The Lord,” as heaven and nature sing!
Luke 2:11

i. The best gifts are given to us by those who know us best!

ii. “For to you is born this day!”  The wonders of His love are given to you by The One who knows you best; Emmanuel is here!

Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.

vs 1
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O - tidings of comfort and joy

vs 2
From God our heav’nly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings to the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
O - tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O - tidings of comfort and joy

Holy Communion will take place after the closing Benediction. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.

In order to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.

In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

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.

vs 1
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
(Do you see what I see)
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see
(Do you see what I see)
A star a star Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

vs 2
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
(Do you hear what I hear)
Ringing thru the sky shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
(Do you hear what I hear)
A song a song High above the tree
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

vs 3
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
(Do you know what I know)
In your palace warm mighty king
Do you know what I know
(Do you know what I know)
A Child a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver & gold
Let us bring Him silver & gold

vs 4
Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
(Listen to what I say)
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say
(Listen to what I say)
The Child The Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light 
He will bring us goodness and light

vs 1
Still still still
To sleep is now His will
On Mary’s breast
He rests in slumber
While we pray
In endless number 
Still still still
To sleep is now His will

vs 2
Sleep sleep sleep
While we Thy vigil keep
And angels come
From Heaven singing
Songs of jubilation bringing
Sleep sleep sleep
While we Thy vigil keep

vs 1
The first Noel
The angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay
In fields where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night
That was so deep

refrain
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel

vs 2
They looked up
And saw a star
Shining in the east
Beyond them far
And to the earth
It gave great light
And so it continued
Both day and night

(refrain)

vs 3
And by the light
Of that same star
Three wise men came
From country far
To seek for a king
Was their intent
And to follow the star
Wherever it went

(refrain)

The body and blood of our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, come to you, be born anew in you, strengthen you and keep you in his grace this holy night and on into life everlasting.
Amen.

Let us pray.
Faithful God, on this holy night, heaven and nature sing as one; you sent Emmanuel, you came to be with us, giving your Son as a sacrifice for sin, a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive The Word become flesh always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. Amen.

From St. John we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. … The Word became flesh to live among us.” And from the prophet Isaiah we retell these words, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. We have beheld Christ’s glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

… as we pray to you, Jesus …

We adore all the wonders of your love, born anew in our hearts and world.

vs 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

vs 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

vs 3
Silent night
Holy night
Son of God
Love’s pure light
Radiant beams
From our holy face
With the dawn
Of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at your birth
Jesus Lord at your birth

Pastor: The Lord come to you and bless you on this silent night and give you His light. The Lord bless you with His presence and fill you with the warmth and quiet of the manger. The Lord bless you with every wonder of His love, for Christ is salvation and hope, grace and joy, love and peace. In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Let us go in the peace of Christ, in the presence of Emmanuel, celebrating the love of God, and serving the Lord of life.
Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth! Good will to all!
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

(you are invited to turn off your candles)

refrain:
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

vs 1
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light

(refrain)

vs 3
Down in a lonely manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

(refrain)

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Follow us on facebook to watch our services live on Lord of Life LIVE! Watch with us live at 9:30am on Sundays, or rewatch at your own convenience!

Thank you for being with us tonight as we celebrate The Birth Of Our Lord! A most merry and holy and blessed Christmas and New Year to one and all! Thank you to one and all for blessing our ministry and worship and the joy of the season!

Join us this Sunday, December 26, The First Sunday After Christmas, “Joy To The World!”

As we share worship in this way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!

All who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion is now offered once again during worship, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served!

For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.

For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving!

Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org

We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love, and grace!

Acknowledgments for today’s service include:

Litany of The Light Foretold written based on Isaiah 9:2-7 and Isaiah 40:9-11. “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” “Joy to the World” “O Little Town of Bethlehem” “What Child Is This?” “Angels We Have Heard on High” “Away In A Manger” “The First Noel” “Silent Night, Holy Night” “Go Tell It On the Mountain” © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” © 1980 Beam Me Up Music, CCLI #39441 “Do You Hear What I Hear?” © 1962 Regent Music Corp., renewed by Jewel Music Publishing Co., Inc. “Still, Still, Still” © 1970 Robbins Music Corp.All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.