The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Day)

Today's Service Leader and Speaker - Rev. Michael Mohr

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting Three, LSB pages 184ff.

TLH - 99 Now Are the Days Fulfilled

Text: tr. Frederick W. Herzberger, 1930, alt.; author unknown, 1746
Tune: Ahasverus Fritsch, 1679
Text and tune: Public domain

Stand

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation LSB 184

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins LSB 184

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

Absolution LSB 185

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Introit Psalm 98:1–4; antiphon: Isaiah 9:6

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.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done | marvelous things!*
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salva- | tion for him.
The Lord has made known his sal- | vation;*
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the | nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of | Israel.*
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation | of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, | all the earth;*
break forth into joyous song and sing | praises!
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
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.

Gloria Patri LSB 186

Kyrie LSB 186

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sit

Catechesis - Evening Prayer

P Today's catechetical reading is from the daily prayers - Evening Prayer. How does Dr. Luther suggest we pray in the evening?

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night.  For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.  Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.  Amen. (4 & 5)

P What passages of Holy Scripture inform us in this regard?

C You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. –Psalm 65:8b (K)

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! –Psalm 141:2 (1)

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. –Psalm 42:8 (2)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night. –Psalm 92:1-2 (3)

Choir - Sweetest Song of This Bright Season

Old Testament Reading Exodus 40:17–21, 34–38

¹⁷In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. ¹⁸Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. ¹⁹And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁰He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. ²¹And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses. . . .

³⁴Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁶Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. ³⁷But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual Psalm 118:26a, 27a, 23

C Blessèd is he who comes in the name | of the Lord!*
The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine up- | on us.
This is the Lord’s | doing;*
it is marvelous | in our eyes.

Epistle Titus 3:4–7

⁴When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Congregation STANDS and faces the cross for the Gospel Procession.

Alleluia and Verse

LSB 190

Verse of the Day Liturgical Text

P A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, all you nations, and worship the Lord.

LSB 190

Holy Gospel John 1:1–18

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹²But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And 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. ¹⁵(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Remain facing the cross as the Gospel Procession concludes with the singing of the following Sequence Hymn.

391 Rejoice, Rejoice this Happy Morn

Text: Birgitte Katerine Boye, 1742–1824; tr. Carl Döving, 1867–1937
Tune: Philipp Nicolai, 1556–1608
Text and tune: Public domain

Athanasian Creed

L Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith.

C Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.

L And the catholic faith is this,

C that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.

L For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another.

C But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

L Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit:

C the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated;

L the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite;

C the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.

L And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal,

C just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite.

L In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;

C and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.

L So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God;

C and yet there are not three Gods, but one God.

L So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord;

C and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.

L Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords.

C The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone.

L The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone.

C The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.

L Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

C And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another;

L but the whole three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped.

C Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.

L But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.

L He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age:

C perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;

L equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.

C Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:

L one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God;

C one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

L For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ,

C who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead,

L ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

C At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.

L And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.

C This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.

Sit

384 Of the Father’s Love Begotten

Text: Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, 348–c. 413; (sts. 1–4): tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt.; (st. 5): tr. Henry W. Baker, 1821–77
Tune: Plainsong, 13th cent., mode V
Text and tune: Public domain

Sermon - Made Known by His Dwelling - John 1:1-18

Stand

Offertory LSB 192

Prayer of the Church

P Heavenly Father, we give You thanks that Your Son, the eternal Word, has become flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. Extend His praise into all the world, that with us many would come to hope in His steadfast love. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Gracious Lord, be pleased to bless all pastors and work through their proclamation of Your Son to bring the good news of happiness and salvation to all who hear them. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P As our families gather in this holy season, give us patience, that we may be slow to judge and quick to forgive. Comfort the lonely with Your presence, and help us extend the welcome of our homes and the friendship of Your grace. Make us mindful of those less fortunate, who celebrate this blessed feast in poverty and want, and teach us to be generous. Accept with our offerings the living sacrifice of our bodies to Your service and our voices in praise and thanksgiving. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Your Son upholds the universe by the word of His power. Grant our nation to walk humbly before You. Bless our soldiers who stand watch this day. Keep them in safety as they serve us, and uphold their families while they are apart. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Merciful Father, guard and keep all who are sick, lonely, overwhelmed by grief or poor in spirit, [especially _____________,] that they may be comforted and healed according to Your good and gracious will. Let them look to Jesus Christ and be reminded that He is the light no darkness can overcome. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Grant that we may come worthily to receive the body and blood of Jesus with faith in His bodily presence for us, that we may depart with grace upon grace from His fullness. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P We thank You, Lord God, for all Your people who have gone before us and now rest in Your presence. Keep us faithful with them until that day when You make all things new; for You live and reign with Christ and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

The offering is presented.

Preface LSB 194

Proper Preface

P It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for in the mystery of the Word made flesh You have given us a new revelation of Your glory that, seeing You in the person of Your Son, we may know and love those things which are not seen. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus LSB 195

Lord’s Prayer LSB 196

The Words of Our Lord LSB 197

Pax Domini LSB 197

Agnus Dei LSB 198

Sit

Distribution

364 Away in a Manger

Text (sts. 1–2): Little Children’s Book, 1885, Philadelphia; (st. 3): Vineyard Songs, 1892, Louisville, alt.
Tune: James R. Murray, 1841–1905
Text and tune: Public domain

624 The Infant Priest Was Holy Born

5 The veil is torn, our Priest we see,
As at the rail on bended knee
Our hungry mouths from Him receive
The bread of immortality.

6 The body of God’s Lamb we eat,
A priestly food and priestly meat;
On sin-parched lips the chalice pours
His quenching blood that life restores.

7 With cherubim and seraphim
Our voices join the endless hymn,
And “Holy, holy, holy” sing
To Christ, God’s Lamb, our Priest and King.

Text: Chad L. Bird, 1970
Tune: Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature, 1778, London; adapt. Edward Miller, 1731–1807
Text: © 1997, 2003 Chad L. Bird. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

ELH 126 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

Text and tune: Public domain

338 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707–88, alt.
Tune: Southern Harmony, 1835, New Haven
Text and tune: Public domain

Stand

Nunc Dimittis LSB 199

Thanksgiving LSB 200

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Salutation 201

Benedicamus LSB 202

Benediction LSB 202

386 Now Sing We, Now Rejoice

Text: Latin and German, 14th cent.; tr. Arthur T. Russell, 1806–74, alt.
Tune: German, 14th cent.
Text and tune: Public domain

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2022 Concordia Publishing House.