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December 24, 1999
JESUS CHRIST
IS THE SAME YESTERDAY,
TODAY, AND FOREVER
CHOIR AND CHILDREN:
Come and sing the Christmas story this holy night!
Christ is born: the hope of glory dawns on our sight.
Alleluia! Earth is ringing with a thousand angels singing --
Hear the message they are bringing this holy night.
Words copyright 1982 Jubilate Hymns. Administered by Hope Publishing Company,
Carol Stream, IL 60188. Reprinted under License No. 51770.
O come, little children, O come, one and all;
To Bethlehem haste, to the manger so small;
God's Son for a gift has been sent you this night
To be your Redeemer, your Joy and Delight.
See Mary and Joseph with love-beaming eyes,
Are gazing upon the rude bed where He lies;
The shepherds are kneeling with hearts full of love,
While angels sing loud alleluias above.
He's born in a stable for you and for me;
Draw near by the bright beaming starlight to see:
In swaddling clothes lying, so meek and so mild;
And purer than angels, the heavenly Child.
DESCANT:
All ye people, all rejoice ye, praise our God and sing!
For today is born Christ Jesus, our long-promised King!
Raise your hearts in adoration, wide the portals fling,
Peace and joy and free salvation, God's dear Son doth bring!
WELCOME ....................................................................... Preschool
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
Listen! Listen! Hear God say: I will be with you today.
Believe these words I say to you, for My promises are true.
Listen! Listen! Hear God say: I will be with you today.
Listen! Listen! Hear God say: I will hear you when you pray.
Listen! Listen! Hear God say: I have taken your sins away.
Listen! Listen! Hear God say: I will love you every day.
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:
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;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
The highest, most holy, Light of light eternal,
Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes;
Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above;
Glory to God in the Highest!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be glory giv'n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
RECITATION ........... Selected Scriptures ........... GRADES 7 AND 8
The Son of God was present at the creation of the world. John tells us that:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
Today, few people believe a basic truth that is necessary to understand God's love for us. In Genesis, God wrote:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)
This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. (Genesis 2: 4-6)
But the crown of God's creation was man.
Then God said, Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26,27)
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
The creation of the world tells us something about the glory we have inherited in heaven. God made His creation perfectly.
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)
We sing the almighty power of God
Who bade the mountains rise,
Who spread the flowing seas abroad
And built the lofty skies.
We sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines, too, at His command,
And all the stars obey.
We sing the goodness of the Lord
Who fills the earth with food,
Who formed His creatures by a word
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed
Where'er we turn our eyes,
Whene'er we view the ground we tread
Or gaze upon the skies.
CONGREGATION:
Hosanna in the highest!
That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer,
The Lord of heaven our King.
Oh, may we ever praise Him
With heart and life and voice,
And in His blissful presence
Eternally rejoice.
RECITATION ............ Selected Scriptures ........... GRADES 5 AND 6
Jesus felt the same about His brothers and sisters at creation that He feels about us now. He loved them and gave them opportunity to show their love to Him.
...the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree in the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:16,17)
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree in the garden? And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die. And the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate it. She also gave it to her husband, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:16)
What man had done destroyed his relation to God. But God's love is eternal, and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. In that love, God made a way so His justice could be fulfilled, and man could again live with God. So the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:14,15)
If Thy beloved Son, O God,
Had not to earth descended,
And in our mortal flesh and blood
Had not sin's power ended.
Then this poor, wretched soul of mine
In hell eternally would pine
Because of its transgression.
Fast bound in Satan's chains I lay,
Death brooded darkly o'er me;
Sin was my torment night and day,
In sin my mother bore me;
Yea, deep and deeper still I fell,
Life had become a living hell,
So firmly sin possessed me.
But God beheld my wretched state,
Before the world's foundation,
And, mindful of His mercies great,
He planned my soul's salvation.
A father's heart He turned to me,
Sought my redemption fervently:
He gave His dearest Treasure.
CONGREGATION:
All glory be to God on high
Who has our race befriended;
To us no harm shall now come nigh,
The strife at last is ended.
God showeth His good will to men
And peace shall reign on earth again;
O thank Him for His goodness!
RECITATION ................... Luke 2:1-7 ................... GRADES 3 AND 4
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Cyrenius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)
See in yonder manger low, Born for us on earth below,
See the gentle Lamb appears, promised from eternal years.
Hail the ever-blessed morn; Hail, redemption's happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Low within a stable lies He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime, sits amid the cherubim.
Sacred Infant, all divine, what a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss down to such a world as this.
CONGREGATION:
Teach, oh, teach us, Holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee
In Thy sweet humility.
Hail! The ever-blessed morn;
Hail, redemption's happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem:
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
RECITATION ................. Luke 2: 8-14 .................. GRADES 1 AND 2
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. 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, good will toward men! (Luke 2:8-14)
From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to ev'ry home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:
To you this night is born a Child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
Who in all need shall aid afford;
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.
CONGREGATION:
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains: Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear? Gloria in excelsis Deo!
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love. Gloria in excelsis Deo!
RECITATION ................. Luke 2:15-20 .................... KINDERGARTEN
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:15-20)
Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Go with the shepherds and draw near
To see the precious gift of God
Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
CHOIRS:
To Thee my heart I offer,
O Christ Child sweet and dear.
Upon Thy love relying,
Oh, be Thou ever near!
Take Thou my heart and give me Thine
And let it be forever mine,
O Jesus, holy, undefiled,
my Savior meek and mild.
What brought Thee to the manger,
O Christ-child sweet and dear?
Thy love for me, a stranger -
Oh, be Thou ever near!
O Lord, how great is this Thy love
That reaches down from heaven above,
Thy love for us, by sin defiled,
that made Thee, God, a child!
Let me be Thine forever,
O Christ-child sweet and dear;
Uphold me with Thy mercy
And be Thou ever near.
From Thee I gladly all receive
And what is mine to Thee I give,
My heart, my soul, and all I own.
Let these be Thine alone.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL: (Please rise)
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.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
CHOIR:
Peace, peace, peace on earth and goodwill to all.
This is a time for joy, this is a time for love.
Now let us all sing together of peace, peace, peace on earth.
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.
OFFERING
CHURCH CHOIR: The Heavens Are Telling
PRAYERS
RECITATION ........... Selected Scriptures ............ GRADES 7 AND 8
Jesus spread the Gospel to all before He died on the cross. He continues that message to us today and promises that He will be with us. While Jesus is away preparing a place for us in heaven, He wants us to act as brothers. Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (II Corinthians 13:11)
We meet at church to worship and be with our brother Jesus. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus, Alpha and Omega,
God before the world began,
First and last, beginning, ending,
Mighty Word and Son of Man,
Great Creator, Liberator,
Author of salvation's plan!
You have loved us! You have saved us!
Made of us a chosen race,
Royal priesthood, holy nation,
Your own people, born of grace!
Ever living, King forgiving,
Soon we'll see You face to face!
CONGREGATION:
With the clouds return in glory;
You have sworn to come and stay!
God who is and was and will be,
Strengthen us to watch and pray!
Find us steady, faithful, ready!
Hasten, Jesus! Speed that Day!
Words Copyright 1992 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL
Reprinted under License No. 51760.
CHORAL READING .............. Revelation 22 ............. ALL GRADES
Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of his book. Worship God.
And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
I Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
CONGREGATION:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
CLOSING CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:
Come and sing the Christmas story this holy night!
Christ is born: the hope of glory dawns on our sight.
Alleluia! Earth is ringing a thousand angels singing --
Hear the message they are bringing this holy night.
Jesus, Savior, Child of Mary, this holy night,
In a world confused and weary You are our Light.
God is in a manger lying, manhood taking, self-denying;
Life embracing, death-defying, this holy night.
Lord of all! Let us acclaim Him this holy night;
King of our salvation name Him, throned in the height.
Son of Man -- let us adore Him, all the earth is waiting for Him;
Son of God, we bow before Him this holy night.
Words copyright 1982 Jubilate Hymns. Administered by Hope Publishing Company,
Carol Stream, IL 60188. Reprinted under License No. 51770.
RECESSIONAL
You are invited to return for our Christmas Day Worship at 9:30 a.m.
SERVANTS FOR THIS SERVICE
Pastor: Paul D. NoltingSUNDAY SCHOOL STAFF
David Busse ..................................................................... Superintendent
Vickie Schreyer ......................................................................... Preschool
Laura Hulke .............................................................................. Preschool
Jennifer Brenner .................................................................... Kindergarten
Lisa Busse .............................................................................. Grades 1 & 2
Heidi Libby ........................................................................... Grades 3 & 4
Matthew Busch ..................................................................... Grades 5 & 6
Russell Schmitt ..................................................................... Grades 7 & 8
Douglas Libby ....................................................................... Youth Forum
IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
P.D. Nolting .................................................................................... Pastor
W.C. Eichstadt .............................................................................. Pastor
Sara Nolting ................................................................. Church Secretary
Paul Matzke ........................................................... Church Choir Director
John Paulson ....................................................................School Custodian
Charles and Linda Bode ............................................... Church Custodians
Church and School Offices ........................................................... 345-3027
Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery ............................................................... 388-4009
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Kevin Hulke ........................................................... Principal, Grades 7-12
Kathleen Olmanson .............................................................. Kindergarten
Michael Wheaton ............................................................... Grades 1 and 2
Lane Fischer ...................................................................... Grades 3 and 4
Donna Klammer ..................................................... Grades 5 and 6, Phy Ed
Karla Olmanson ....................................................... Grades 5 and 6, Music
Leif Olmanson ....................... Grades 7 and 8, Keyboarding, Administrator
Pastor Wayne Eichstadt .................................. 7th and 8th Grade Doctrine
Tom and Lisa Earle ................................................................ School Cooks
Laila Fleischer ..................................................................... High School
Anita Kruse .................................................................... School Secretary
Mark Lentz .................................................................... Athletic Director
Douglas Libby ......................................................... Grades 7-12, Counselor
Paul Matzke ..................................................................................... Band
Tom Earle and Lisa McLouth-Earle ....................................... School Cooks
Pastor Paul Nolting ..................................................................... Religion
Karl Olmanson ...................................................................... High School
Craig Owings .......................................................................... Grades 7-12
Gene Schreyer ....................................................................... High School
Grace Schreyer ................................................................................. Aide