Pastor: Wayne C. Eichstadt

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Have you heard?!

Has anyone told you the good news?!

Jesus, your Savior from sin, is born!!

Pre-service meditation: Psalm 96

[TLH #88, st. 4]

Have you heard?!

Has anyone told you the good news?!

Unto us a child is born and unto us a son is given!

Let the Earth now praise the Lord Who has truly kept His Word

Oh Come! let us worship and fall down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker and offer praise to our newborn Redeemer! Good Christians, REJOICE! TODAY your Savior is BORN!

Hymn: 136 ~ Angels from the Realms of Glory

Pastor: O Lord, our transgressions are multiplied before You,

P: For our transgressions are with us,

P: We are all like an unclean thing,

P: We all fade as a leaf,

P: Do not be furious, O Lord,

Pastor: REJOICE! The baby whose birth we celebrate today is named "Jesus" because He came to "save" His people from their sins. His name is Immanuel for He is "God with us." He became a man like us so that He might die for us, rise in victory, and then live again forever with us now in time and hereafter in eternity. REJOICE this Christmas morning! Your sins are all forgiven!

Pastor: Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

Cong: For He has done marvelous things;

P: The Lord has made known His salvation;

P: He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;

P: Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

P: Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

This Little Light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…

Hark to the bells, sweet silver bells telling us all Jesus is King! Strongly they chime, sounding with a rhyme, Christmas is here bringing good cheer! Ding, dong…that is their song, with joyful ring, all caroling.

One seems to hear words of good cheer from everywhere filling the air; Oh, how they pound, raising the sound o’er hill and dale, telling their tale, gaily they ring, while people sing, songs of good cheer, Christmas is here!

Merry, merry, merry Christmas…On, on they send, without end their joyful tone to every home.

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.

I. In Eternity – John 1:1-5, 14, 16-18

Hymn: 98, st. 1,3 ~ Of the Father’s Love Begotten

II. In Prophesy – Isaiah 11:1-10

Hymn: 645, st. 1,2,4 ~ Behold! A Branch is Growing

III. In Fulfillment – Galatians 4:4-5; Luke 2:1-7

Hymn: 711, st. 1,3 ~ See in Yonder Manger Low

IV. In Proclamation – Luke 2:8-20

Hymn: 706 ~ Go tell it on the Mountain

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.

He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.

He did this that I should be His very own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and joy; just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns in eternity.

This is most certainly true!

Church Choir: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Said the Father to His only Son,

"Do you see what I see?

Down upon the earth, Precious Son?

Do you see what I see?"

A world, a world trapped within sin’s night,

Now go, My Son, give them Light!"

Holy Prophets spoke to the sinners all,

"Do you hear what I hear?

Promises to you sinners all:

Do you hear what I hear?

He’ll come! He’ll come! vic’try on His arm

He will save you from sin’s alarm."

Said the angel to men near Bethlehem,

"Do you know what I know?

Tidings of great joy to all men.

Do you know what I know?

A Child, a Child, God’s own Son come down."

And the glory shone all around.

Shepherds spoke to the people everywhere,

"Listen to what I say:

Christ is born! See Him lying there!

Listen to what I say:

The Child, the Child sleeping in the night

He has brought us mercy and light,

He has brought us mercy and light…..Brought us Light!!

Do you see what I see? I see a world stricken with fear,

A world in which evil exists and sin’s effects are very clear.

I see a world in turmoil, its people running to and fro

Using all their time and energy, but for what? They really do not know.

I see a world of sorrow. Surely we all have times in which we weep

For the failures we face, the hurts we feel, and the loss of what we cannot keep.

Yet even more then this is the sorrow in the world that knows no end,

The deep, unquenchable sorrow of living life and having no one upon whom to depend.

We live in a world in which one human being takes the life of another—

A stranger in a back alley, an angry employee, and many times each day even the victim’s own mother.

It is a world in which we lock our doors and take every precaution to remain safe and sound.

And yet no matter what we do, we’ll hear of tragedy and atrocity the whole world ‘round.

I see a world with it citizens dissatisfied no matter how much they have and put in store

Who strive for the pleasures and treasures of this life and are not happy because they have nothing more.

People of the world who in their lives make what God says is "white" into "black," and "black" into "white,"

They’ll laugh and they’ll thrill to mock God’s will with how they live both day and night.

It is a world of self pleasure, of danger, unhappiness, and a place in which the mighty sometimes fall,

It is a world in which the unthinkable happens and then is played over and over again in front of us all.

When we look out to our world we grieve because it is such sorrow and trouble we see,

But God has seen this world in its sinful state and grieved much longer than we.

Why look out this window and view such things on what is to be a joyful day,

Why must we think of such things on Christmas? You might very well say.

Truly, today is not a day to dwell upon this world’s woe,

But if we do not see the real world in which we live, the full wonder of Christmas we cannot know.

For you see, it is to this very world that God’s own Son came down,

He didn’t try to avoid it, or take one look and then turn around.

The Son of God came to give rescue from all that you see,

He lived holy in this wickedness so that He might set us all free!

Do you see what I see? I see the Savior born in Bethlehem to change our world view.

Look and see the world for what it is, but thanks be to Jesus it no longer applies to you.

In the face of the world’s evil, we stand mightily by our Savior with victorious banner unfurled,

The curse is broken, my Savior is come! I see Jesus and sing: JOY TO THE WORLD!

Hymn: 87, st. 1,3,4 ~ Joy to the World!

Do you hear what I hear? Shhh…listen carefully and I think you can

It is the sound a baby boy crying, just like any newborn son of man.

We all cried as infants, but before this cry a great miracle took place

God Himself received flesh and blood—became man—to save the human race.

The Son of God born of Mary, one hundred percent true flesh and blood

A little baby, just like you and me, and still remained also fully true God.

In this baby’s cry we hear the eternal WORD now born under the law

So that He might redeem a world of sinners and buy them back from all their sin and every flaw.

Do you hear the baby crying? His infant sounds will grow in a natural way

Through the cooing, and the giggles, and then His first word on a memorable day.

All the way through a natural childhood this baby would live and grow

Of this we can be certain for the Bible says, though the details we do not know.

Do you hear a young boy speaking, in the temple to his mother?

When she worried, then scolded, He said, "Did you not know I must be about the work of my Father?"

Do you hear a young man preaching with words of authority and might?

Hear Him cast out demons, heal the sick, cure the lame, and to the blind man give sight.

People marveled at Christ’s preaching because it was so different from others they had heard.

The truth of God’s Word is what Jesus’ preached and that is what caused their hearts to be stirred.

The voice of Jesus moved His enemies to hate, and attempt to discredit all of his words.

But they were not able, for He spoke the truth; and those who listened, hailed Him as their Lord!

The baby’s voice you hear crying, would again weep as a man of thirty-three years.

When His close friend, Lazarus of Bethany died Jesus walked to the grave with tears.

Then after the tears: "Lazarus come forth!" Jesus cried with a shout.

That powerful word of our Savior raised Lazarus from the dead, and living, he came out.

When listening to Jesus’ voice, still greater things you are sure to hear,

For Jesus is your shepherd who gently calls to you and says, "Come near."

Come near my dear lamb, and listen to my voice, I am the baby who cried,

And I am your dying Lord who declared "IT IS FINISHED" when I was crucified.

"From those first cries in Bethlehem to my dying words upon the cross—all were spoken for you

I am the Son of God and Son of Man who has done all for your salvation—it is TRUE!

Through My Word, I am calling, speaking to you my precious lamb.

Oh hear, and be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven, and you are led by the great ‘I AM’"

Do you hear what I hear? It is our Shepherd’s voice calling to us, His sheep.

A voice that cries of salvation and promises us in eternal safety to keep.

The Son of God became our brother to lead from sin’s darkness to eternal light,

This was the message first heard from the angels TO SHEPHERDS AS THEY WATCHED BY NIGHT.

Hymn: 103, st. 1-4 ~ To Shepherds as They Watched by Night

Do you know what I know? Much of what we know could easily change tomorrow, or even today!

Human knowledge is fleeting, changes with the wind, and then often just blows away.

Some know science and others math, for still others languages are their skill,

Many seek their answers in human wisdom, but find them there, they never will.

True wisdom, and thus, true knowledge is only from above.

True wisdom is established, maintained, and given by the one true God whom we love.

The message of the manger and cross is foolishness to those of the world who are perishing

But to us, it is the power of God and the most precious knowledge we are cherishing.

If it is wonderful knowledge we seek, then to the simple faith of a child let us go,

And hear profound words of wisdom when he says, "Jesus loves me, this I KNOW."

In a world that prides itself in advancement and new knowledge it’s always demanding,

A simple faith in what God says is what brings the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Do you know what I know? YES you do! The knowledge of our Savior God is something we share.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one hope of our calling, one joy in "baby Jesus" lying there.

But you say, "Doubts arise and I’m unsure at times." I am too. How can we be sure of what we know?

Oh, dear fellow Christians, when doubts arise we can be confident in the truth "for the Bible tells us so!"

It is certain that the Devil will try to shake from our hearts what we have come to know;

And when—not if, but when—that happens, then to the Scriptures let us go!

To drink deeply from the Gospel as if a worn and thirsty man who drinks from a well

Knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God—not life, not death, nor created thing, not even all the powers of hell.

Go forth dear Christian secure in the knowledge that God has sent His Son

Who absolutely, positively, has lived, died, lives again, and for you, heaven has won.

Our greatest hopes, most blessed dreams, our faith, peace, and salvation’s certainty

Are all founded and grounded upon the events that first unfolded ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY.

Hymn: 710 ~ Once in Royal David’s City

"Listen to what I say." Did your child speak these words last night as you came to worship the Lord?

"Mommy…Daddy…listen to what I say. I’ve worked so hard and I want you to hear every word."

Did you sit and hear the children’s voices as they echoed the Christmas story in word and song?

For at least one hour, did the hardness of the world melt away? Did you forget all that is wrong?

As you listened on Christmas Eve to voices united in Gospel proclamation strong

You saw and heard the children, but it was really God to whom you were listening all along.

"He who hears you, hears Me" said Jesus to His disciples one day,

And so it is God who is speaking when we use His Word with one another along life’s way.

Whether it be pastor, teacher, family member, or Christian friend who speaks God’s Word true,

Know that it is your Lord Himself who through them is bringing HIS message to you.

And YOU do not be afraid to speak and share God’s Word with friend and stranger

Knowing that you are offering GOD’S Word and not your own, gives confidence even when in danger.

To us all, young and old, great and small, God says, "Listen to what I say

Not just in church, but for every part of your life, every minute of every day.

Listen to what I say, and not just the commands of what is right, though these are what you should heed,

But also listen daily to My promises, receive the strength I give, and follow…let ME lead.

"Listen while at your work and when you are at play.

Listen while you are laughing; and when you cry, hear what I have to say.

Listen when you are struggling and also when I grant you days of success.

Keep My word on your lips and in your hearts and you can be sure that I will bless.

"My dear children, listen to My Word for every decision and in every condition which you might see

The joy and peace you have today is not just for Christmas, but a DAILY gift for you, from Me.

Listen to what I say and in My words you’ll hear the promise true

That when you come and speak to Me in prayer, I will listen to you.

Cast your every care upon Me. I care for you and will surely provide

I will use my power and wisdom, and by My grace keep you safely at my side."

Dear Jesus, at Your Word, we come this Christmas with the highest praise and greatest joy there could be

Trusting your care and offering our prayer, ever so grateful that YOUR LITTLE ONES DEAR LORD ARE WE. Amen.

Hymn: 713 ~ Your Little Ones Dear Lord Are We

Let me by 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.

[TLH 89, st. 5]

Lord Jesus, bless us in faith as we stand in awe before your manger, contemplating the wonderful mystery of God made man and born a child. We thank You for taking our flesh and blood to yourself so that You might be our redeemer. We bow our heads in humble contrition confessing our sins before your cross which casts a shadow upon Your manger, for You were born to die. Thank You for your life and death which have forgiven our sins, redeemed us from everlasting death, and given us peace with God. Enlighten our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that we may ever be thankful for such grace; and with Your grace and Word, comfort ourselves in all tribulations, and temptation and at last obtain eternal salvation.

Pour out upon your whole church the spirit of lowliness and love, that we may never despise any child of yours, however weak. But honoring all others for Your Son’s sake, may we share with them the life and blessings which you have given for every sinner. Encourage and equip us as witnesses to bring the gospel to other people, beginning with our own families and neighborhoods.

Oh dearest Jesus, holy child, make a bed soft undefiled within our hearts and in our homes. Be the chief inhabitant and guardian of our dwellings, the Leader in our lives and let Your presence be our light and good cheer now and ever. Amen!

Closing Hymn: 85, st. 9-10, 13-15