St Stephen Lutheran Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

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Prisoner’s Madonna, Kurt Reuber, 1943

‘Christmas 1943: Light, Love, Life’

OPENING MUSIC

All Hail to You, O Blessed Morn I. J.C. Bach

II. Paul Manz

Choir

Where Shepherds Lately Knelt

Text/ Jaroslav J. Vajda; Music/ Carl Schalk

Where shepherds lately knelt and kept the angel’s word,

I come in half-belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred;

But there is room and welcome there for me.

In that unlikely place I find him as they said:

Sweet, newborn Babe, and in a manger bed:

A still small Voice to cry one day for me.

How should I not have known Isaiah would be there,

His prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart, I stare:

A Child, a Son, the Prince of Peace, for me.

Can I, will I forget how Love was born

And burned its way into my heart: unasked, unforced, unearned,

To live and die, and not alone for me.

Stand

HYMN All Hail to You, O Blessed Morn! Green LBW 73

1 All hail to you, O blessed morn!

To tidings long by prophets borne

fulfillment you have given.

Oh, greatest and most blessed day

when unto earth in glorious ray

shone out the grace of heaven!

Young and old their voices blending,

praises sending unto heaven

for this noblest of earth’s children!

2 True God, the Father’s Son, is he;

yet truly one of us, that we

might find in him a brother.

He comes with peace and love to live

on earth, our erring race to give

such help as could no other,

seeking, caring for the loveless

and the hopeless, all the lost ones

thirsting for unfailing fountains.

3 He will, like us, shed bitter tears,

will know our needs, yet still our fears

and send his Spirit’s power.

He will reveal his Father’s will,

our cup of woe with mercy fill

to sweeten sorrow’s hour.

Struggling, suff’ring, he, by dying,

dearly buying our salvation,

opens wide the gates of heaven!

4 For our redemption still he comes.

In him shines, like a thousand suns,

God’s mercy, clouded never!

Now all who will on him believe,

who follow him, he will receive

and as his flock will gather.

He will guide us, walk beside us,

and uphold us, till in heaven

we shall be like him forever!

APOSTOLIC GREETING

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets;

But in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion

of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

KYRIE ELEISON

A In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

A For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

A For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

A For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

A Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen

HYMN OF PRAISE Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Green LBW 60

1 Hark! The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn king;

peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled."

Joyful, all you nations, rise;

join the triumph of the skies;

with angelic hosts proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain

Hark! The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn king!"

2 Christ, by highest heav'n adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord,

late in time behold him come,

offspring of a virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!

Hail, incarnate deity!

Pleased as man with us to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel! Refrain

3 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 we no more may die,

born to raise each child of earth,

born to give us second birth. Refrain

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, alt.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. . . .

Almighty God, you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ who came to share our humanity, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Sit

First Reading Isaiah 52: 7-10

⁷How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
⁸Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the LORD to Zion.
⁹Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰The LORD has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

X HYMN Joy to the World! Green LBW 39

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her king;

let ev'ry heart prepare him room

and heav'n and nature sing,

and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 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, repeat the sounding joy.

3 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, far as the curse is found.

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, wonders of his love.

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Second Reading Hebrews 1:1–12

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. ³He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

⁵For to which of the angels did God ever say,

"You are my Son; today I have begotten you"?

Or again,

"I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?

⁶And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

"Let all God's angels worship him."

⁷Of the angels he says,

"He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire."

⁸But of the Son he says,

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.

⁹You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."

¹⁰And,

"In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

¹¹they will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like clothing;

¹²like a cloak you will roll them up,

and like clothing they will be changed.

But you are the same, and your years will never end."

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

VERSE Psalm 2:7 Setting by Robert Wetzler

Sung by the choir

Alleluia. The Lord said to me, “You are my son, today have I begotten you.” Alleluia.

GOspel: John 1:1–14

The Holy Gospel according to St. John.

C Glory to you, O Lord.

In 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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

The Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit

SERMON

Stand

HYMN OF THE DAY

All Praise to You, Eternal Lord Green LBW 48

Stanzas 1 and 3, choir

1 All praise to you, eternal Lord,

clothed in garb of flesh and blood,

a manger choosing for a throne

while worlds on worlds are yours alone.

Hallelujah!

2 God’s Son to whom the heavens bow,

cradled by a virgin now,

we listen for your infant voice

while angels in your heav’n rejoice.

Hallelujah!

3 A little child, you came our guest,

all the weary to give rest!

Forlorn and lowly was your birth

that we might rise to heav’n from earth!

Hallelujah!

4 Your coming in the darkest night

makes us children of the light,

enabling us in realms divine

like all your angels bright to shine!

Hallelujah!

5 All this for us your love has done!

Thus our love for you is won!

for this with joy our songs we sing,

incessant praises echoing!

Hallelujah!

Text: German hymn, 1370, st. 1; Martin Luther, 1483-1546, sts. 2-5; tr. composite

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed.

X At the words ‘For us and for our salvation,’ and continuing through ‘and was made man,’

a solemn bow is appropriate to praise God for the incarnation of our Lord.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

X For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. X

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Rejoicing in the light of the Word made flesh, let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

We bless you, O God, for the Word who is before time and beyond time has stepped into time, full of grace and truth. We praise you for the Light of Jesus in this dark world. Help us to bear witness to the Light with joyful lips and renewed hearts. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We praise you, O God, for your holy Word descends to us today in the words of the Scripture, the proclamation of the Gospel, and the gifts of bread and wine. Just as shepherds knelt before Jesus in the manger, help us to receive him today with reverence and awe. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We thank you, O God, for the celebration of this feast in every culture around the world. We extol you for the rich diversity of music and song which lauds the incarnation of your Word. Give peace, we pray, to all nations, for you offer it to all in Jesus Christ. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We plead, O God, for the members of our armed forces far away from loved ones on this holy day; for those who grieve fresh losses amidst the festivity of the world; for those who toil and labor in hospitals, nursing homes, and as first responders; for those who are exiled from home; for those in prisons of their own or of others’ making; for those who are in need of body, mind, or spirit, and for those who do not know the joy of Christ’s birth. For the sake of your Son, whom you sent to share our life, speedily come to their aid. Hear now our prayers for those we name aloud or in the silence of our hearts…

The People may offer silent or spoken intercessions and thanksgivings.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We extol you, O God, for the great cloud of witnesses who have celebrated your Son’s birth in the past and who now behold him face to face in his kingly brightness. We bless you for those who in former years shared in this feast with us, and we trust that they rejoice today in your great love. Bring us with them to that feast which knows no end. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

Stand

OFFERTORY Psalm 2:7, Psalm 110:3 Setting by Robert Wetzler

Sung by the choir

The Lord said to me, “You are my son, today have I begotten you.” At birth you were endowed with princely gifts and resplendent in holiness. You have shone with the dew of youth since your mother bore you.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Hear us, O Lord Jesus Christ, from your dwelling place,

from the glorious throne of your kingdom, and come and cleanse us.

You are seated on high with the Father,

and you dwell also with us here, although unseen.

By your mighty hand render us worthy to receive in holy communion

your spotless body and your precious blood.

Amen

GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, Father,

through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son,

whom you sent in this end of the ages

to save and redeem us and to proclaim to us your will.

He is your Word,

inseparable from you.

Through him you created all things,

and in him you take delight.

He is your Word,

sent from heaven to a virgin's womb.

He there took on our nature and our lot

and was shown forth as your Son,

born of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary.

It is he, our Lord Jesus, who fulfilled all your will

and won for you a holy people;

he stretched out his hands in suffering

in order to free from suffering those who trust you.

It is he who, handed over to a death he freely accepted,

in order to destroy death, to break the bonds of the evil one,

to crush hell underfoot, to give light to the righteous,

to establish his covenant, and to show forth the resurrection,

taking bread and giving thanks to you, said:

Take and eat; this is my body, broken for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

In the same way he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This is my blood poured out for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection,

we lift this bread and cup before you,

giving you thanks that you have made us worthy

to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.

And we ask you:

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your Church;

gather into one all who share this bread and wine;

fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth,

that we may praise and glorify you

through your Son Jesus Christ.

Through him all glory and honor are yours,

Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit,

in your holy Church both now and forever.

Amen

Christ is in our midst.

By the power of the Spirit,

we pray to his Father, saying:

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

The mystery hidden for the ages

is revealed for us in this meal.

Come, behold and receive your God.

Thanks be to God.

We adore Christ with the words of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

C Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13

Sit

DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated.

When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine. Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.

COMMUNION HYMNS

Choir ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

Text/ Jean de Brebeuf; tr. Jesse Middleton;

Music/ French folk tune; arr. Robert Hobby

’Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled

That God, the Lord of all the earth, sent angel choirs instead.

Before their light the stars grew dim,

and wond’ring hunters heard the hymn:

“Jesus your king is born! Jesus is born! Glory be to God on high!”

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair

As was the ring of glory around the infant there.

And when the shepherds then drew near the angel voices rang out clear:

“Jesus your king is born! Jesus is born! Glory be to God on high!”

O children of the forest free, the angels’ song is true.

The holy child of earth and heav’n is born today for you.

Come, kneel before the radiant boy,

who brings you beauty, peace, and joy.

“Jesus your king is born! Jesus is born! Glory be to God on high!’

Rob Dawe, Clarinet;

Mary Jane Snyder, Percussion

Of the Father’s Love Begotten Green LBW 42

Stanzas 1 and 3; choir

Stanzas 2, 4 and 5; All

1 Of the Father's love begotten

ere the worlds began to be,

he is Alpha and Omega,

he the source, the ending he,

of the things that are, that have been,

and that future years shall see,

evermore and evermore.

2 Oh, that birth forever blessed,

when the virgin, full of grace,

by the Holy Ghost conceiving,

bore the Savior of our race,

and the babe, the world's redeemer,

first revealed his sacred face,

evermore and evermore.

3 This is he whom seers in old time

chanted of with one accord,

whom the voices of the prophets

promised in their faithful word;

now he shines, the long-expected;

let creation praise its Lord

evermore and evermore.

4 Let the heights of heav'n adore him;

angel hosts, his praises sing;

pow'rs, dominions, bow before him

and extol our God and King;

let no tongue on earth be silent,

ev'ry voice in concert ring

evermore and evermore.

5 Christ, to thee, with God the Father,

and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,

hymn and chant and high thanksgiving

and unwearied praises be:

honor, glory, and dominion,

and eternal victory

evermore and evermore! Amen.

Text: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348-413; tr. composite

When all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

Amen

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

God our Father,

you have made known to us again

the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him

until the day dawns

and Christ the morning star rises in our hearts;

for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God: now and forever.

Amen

Silence for meditation.

BENEDICTION

May the Word who Mary brought to birth

carry you into new and abundant life.

Amen

May the Word who Joseph cradled in his arms

enfold you with love and strength.

Amen

May the Word who angels proclaimed in song

bring harmony to our world.

Amen

Almighty God, Father, X Son and Holy Spirit,

bless you now and forever.

Amen

CLOSING HYMN Let Our Gladness Have No End Green LBW 57

1 Let our gladness have no end, Hallelujah!

for to earth did Christ descend. Hallelujah!

Refrain

On this day God gave us

Christ, his Son, to save us;

Christ, his Son, to save us.

2 See the loveliest blooming rose, Hallelujah!

from the branch of Jesse grows. Hallelujah! Refrain

3 Into flesh is made the Word, Hallelujah!

he, our refuge and our Lord. Hallelujah! Refrain

Text: Bohemian carol, 15th cent.; tr. unknown

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this