christmas candlelight service

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CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE CHRIST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH DECEMBER 24, 2014 PRELUDE Christmas Fantasy Brass Quartet Christmas Bell Suite Bells Manger Carols Randi Smarsh & Brenda Crout ANNOUNCEMENTS & WELCOME O Holy Night

Pastor Steeber Randi Smarsh & Brenda Crout

PROCESSIONAL: Angels We Have Heard On High

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Brass Quartet: Linnea & Ellard Stolze, Evan & Dave Paine

Verse 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. Verse 2 Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav’nly song? Refrain Verse 3 Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king. Refrain

Text: French carol; tr. H.F. Hemy, The Crown of Jesus Music, 1864 Music: French carol; arr. Edward S. Barnes, 1887-1958 OneLicense.net, License #A-700000

CHRISTMAS DIALOG: P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Word made flesh, the Lord and giver of life. C: Amen. P: Let us come into the light of Christ, confessing our need for God's mercy. Silence is kept for reflection. P: God of peace, C: We confess that we are not at peace—with others or with ourselves. We bring to you all that tears us apart: discord in our families, violence in our world, our own conflicted hearts. In your mercy, mend us. Reconnect us to one another and to you. Let peace reign over all the earth, through the Prince of peace, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. P: In the Word who has come to dwell with us, God has given us grace upon grace: forgiveness that is stronger than our sins, love that can heal every broken heart. Hear this word of God's pardon and peace: in the name of + Jesus our Savior, you are free from all your sins. Rise, shine, for your light has come. C: Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus' presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14 SONG: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Brass Quartet: Linnea & Ellard Stolze, Evan & Dave Paine

Verse 1 It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heav’n’s all gracious king.” The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

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Verse 2 Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heav’nly music floats o’er all the weary world. Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hov’ring wing, And ever o’er its babel sounds the blessed angels sing. Verse 3 And you, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow: Look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: Oh, rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing! Verse 4 For lo! The days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old, When with the ever circling years shall come the time foretold, When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, And all the world give back the song which now the angels sing. GOSPEL READING: Luke 2:1-14 SONG: Welcome to Our World Tears are falling Hearts are breaking How we need to hear from God You’ve been promised We’ve been waiting Welcome holy Child Welcome holy child Hope that you don’t mind our manager How I wish we would have known Long awaiting Holy stranger Make yourself at home Please make yourself at home Bring your peace into our violence Bid our hungry souls be filled Word now breaking heaven’s silence Welcome to our world

Praise Band

Welcome to our world Fragile finger sent to heal us Tender brow prepared for thorn Tiny heart whose blood will save us Unto us is born Unto us is born So wrap our injured flesh around you Breathe our air and walk our sod Rob our sin and make us holy Perfect son of God Perfect son of God Welcome to our world GOSPEL READING: Luke 2:15-20 SONG: Jesus is Born

Senior Choir

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE SERMON HYMN OF THE DAY: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL Brass Quartet: Linnea & Ellard Stolze, Evan & Dave Paine

Verse 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; Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! Verse 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! Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Pastor Steeber ELW 283

Verse 3 Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, In the highest: Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! APOSTLES’ CREED C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. PRAYERS SHARING OF THE PEACE OFFERING: I Saw Three Ships

Bell Choir

OFFERING SONG: O Little Town of Bethlehem

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Brass: Dave Paine

Verse 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 darkness streets shineth the ever lasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. Verse 2 For Christ is born of Mary, and, gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth!

Verse 3 How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n. No ear may hear his coming; but, in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. Verse 4 O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel! GREAT THANKSGIVING ~ LORD'S PRAYER COMMUNION HYMNS: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Let All Together Praise Our God Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming The First Noel

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LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES The pastor lights a candle from the altar candles and lights the Assisting Minister’s candle. After lighting a candle for the Senior & Bell Choirs, the Pastor and Assisting Minister will walk back the center aisle and light the candle of each person nearest the aisle and they in turn, light the candle of the person next to them. Lighted candles should not be dipped to avoid wax dripping on the floor. The unlighted candle should be dipped when lighting it from a neighbor's candle. 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 your holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at your birth, Jesus, Lord, at your birth.

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BENEDICTION (candles extinguished following the blessing) SENDING HYMN:

JOY TO THE WORLD

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Brass Quartet: Linnea & Ellard Stolze, Evan & Dave Paine with a Bells Accompaniment

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. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sin and sorrow grow nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. 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. WELCOME to all of you who are celebrating Christ’s birth this evening and a special welcome is extended to those here for the first time, visiting with us, or in response to an invitation from a parishioner. Peace and blessings to you on this Christmas Eve. CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS received tonight will be donated to the benevolences that Christ Lutheran supports. In 2014 the following organizations will be supported financially: Northeast Ohio Synod of the ELCA; Lutheran World Relief; LOVE, INC; Family Promise of Lorain County, and Community Resource Services. Your contributions help feed the hungry, clothe the needy and offer assistance to those facing challenges. Thank you for your continued support. Your generous gifts will bring blessings during these challenging times and inspire many to give thanks to God. Special THANK YOU to all who have participated in this worship service. Have a blessed Christmas!

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Welcome to Christ Lutheran. May the good news of Christ’s birth give you joy as you open your hearts to the Savior! The poinsettias in the sanctuary are Given by:

In memory of:

Quella Columbaro Rory Connors Marilyn & Paul Culler Charles & Brenda Crout Charles & Jamie Crout Bob & Anita Hlava

Mario Columbaro Richard Barnick & Evalin Connors-Mitzak Loved Ones Our Parents Family & Friends Deceased Family Members Judy Divita Great Grandparents Marilyn Pressnell Loved Ones Jason Meiners & Lane Meiners Susan Cicerchi & Eloise Mason Loved Ones Loved Ones Loved Ones

Johanna & Lizzy Markko Howard Pressnell George & Gisela McFarland Carol Meiners Ryan Smarsh Ron & Randi Smarsh Harold & Karen Wagner Jan Wunderle

To the glory of God: Bob & Anita Hlava Ken & Gwen Hogrefe Sue Jagoda Laura Musat Polacok Family