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Meeting ID: 619 327 455
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GOD'S SON!! ... Christmas Eve at Mt. Olive Lutheran, Dallas, TX
LEGGETT House LIVE CAROL: 1) O Come All Ye Faithful (Lyrics in Video)
A) The JOSEPH Story
READER 1: Matthew 1:28-25
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
of the House of David, the Line of Jesse, the Tribe of Judah
BRUNING House CAROL: 2) Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
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 dark streets shineth, The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in thee tonight
How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given So God imparts to human hearts, The blessings of His heaven No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in
B) The INNKEEPER Story
and an invitation to ask God for Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness
KYRIE, led by Carlos Leggett
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
2) Isaiah 9:2 - The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
ALL: Those who walked in a land of deep darkness, on us light has shined.
3) Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder.
ALL: And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
2) 1 John 4:7-9 - Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
ALL: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him. (John 3:16 -17)
3) We take this moment to confess our sins: Do you confess that you are captive to sin and cannot free yourself from this trap of sin and death, at least not in this life? Do you confess that you have sinned against God in anger, rebellion, frustration, doubt and fear. Do you ask, with the help of Jesus Christ, Forgive us, Lord, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
WE DO. AMEN.
2) Brothers and sisters hear this grace: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you and for His sake, God forgives you all of your sins.
AMEN.
TANYA solo: i) In the Bleak Midwinter
LYRICS:
In the bleak mid-winter, Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter. Long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away, When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter, A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim, Worship night and day, A breastful of milk, And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels, Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel, Which adore.
Angels and archangels, May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim, Thronged the air, But only His motherm In her maiden bliss, Worshipped the Beloved, With a kiss.
What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man, I would do my part, Yet what I can I give Him, Give my heart.
C) The SHEPHERD Story
READER 4: Luke 2:6-12
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
announcing a Message of Good News to the Shepherds and Us
TODD & JAMIE duet: ii) Still, Still, Still or Child of the Poor
1) Still, still, still, His bright eyes softly close And Mary, breathless, Draws him sleeping To her heart, Made pure for keeping Still, still, still, His bright eyes softly close.
2) Sleep, sleep, sleep, He hears, and smiles so sweet. And kneeling Joseph, Joins in chorus With the angels, Bending o’er us Sleep, sleep, sleep, He hears, and smiles so sweet.
3) Hush, hush, hush, He breathes a tender sigh, For soon he’ll wake, The world from slumber Bringing life, And endless wonder Hush, hush, hush, He breathes a tender sigh
4) Sleep, sleep, sleep,
Holy Jesus, Go to sleep
D) The ANGEL Story
READER 5: Luke 2:6-12
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
WHITE is either the Absence of ANY Color
(as with Pigments) or the Presence of ALL Colors (as with Light)
DAVIS House LIVE CAROLS: 3, 4, & 5) Medly of Three ANGEL Songs:
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise; Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! the herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn King!
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH, Sweetly swinging o'er the plains, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains, Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?, Say what may the tidings be, Which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Gloria In Excelsis Deo
ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King.
All creation, join in praising, God, the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising, To th’eternal Three in One. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King.
E) The MARY Story
BLUE is the Color often associated with Mary,
the Mother of God, which signifies Purity, Sky and Water
CARLOS solo (Video) iii) Mary Did You Know
Mary, did you know that your baby boy, Would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy, Would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy, Has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you Mary, did you know that your baby boy, Would give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy, Would calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy, Has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, You kiss the face of God
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, The dead will live again The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know that your baby boy, Is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your baby boy, Would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy, Is heaven's perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you're, Holding is the great, I Am
F) The WISE Story of Gifts & Giving
READER 6: Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
After [the Magi) had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
GOLD is the Color carried by the Sages of the East,
reminding us of God's Gift of Healing and Redemption
BRYANT House CAROLS: 6) Away in a Manger,
1) Away in a manger, No crib for His bed The little Lord Jesus, Lay down His sweet head, The stars in the sky, Look down where He lay The little Lord Jesus, Asleep on the hay.
3) Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, And love me, I pray, Bless all the dear children, In Thy tender care And take us to Heaven, To live with Thee there.
(Chorus) Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere, Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born!
The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! Above the Earth, Rang out the angel chorus, That hailed our Savior's birth (Chorus)
Down in a lowly manger, Our humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation, That blessed Christmas morn (Chorus)
The COMMUNION Story, Led by READER #7
GREEN is the Liturgical Color for Ordinary Sundays
But how can any Sunday be Ordinary when we Gather at God's Table?
“Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night in which He was betrayed, took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying: ‘Take and eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.’
“In the same way also He took the cup after supper, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying: ‘Drink of it all of you; this cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is shed for you and for all people, for the remission of sins. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'”
When the disciples didn't know how to PRAY in the face of the challenges ahead of them, they asked Jesus for help. He said, "Pray this way!" Will you share with me the Lord's Prayer?
Please UNMute & RESPOND
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.
1) Lamb, Of God, led by Dolphene Davis
2) Sweet Little Jesus Child, led by by the Carlos Leggett,
BRUNING House CAROLS: 8) The First Noel
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel!
The First Noel, the Angels did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep ... Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel!
CANDLE LIGHTING #9 Silent Night
(First Verse in German in honor of Bishop Mark Herbener & Family)
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft; einsam wacht, Nur das traute hochheilige Paar., Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
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, Son of God, oh, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
DAVIS House LIVE CAROL: 10) Joy to World
Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
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.
Led by Brent & Todd Bruning
POSTLUDE 1: I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You, Led by Brent & Todd Bruning
My Brother, Brent, and his family, Kirsten, Leo, Finn, and Nele, live near Berlin (and Wittenberg), Germany. Singing as a family was always, not only a Christmas tradition, but an almost nightly gift. With an ocean and 7 time zones between us, our families have never clebrated Chritmas together, in the same room. Since Covid began in March of 2020 we have met at least monthly on Zoom. And while music together is still a challenge, when I mentioned this service, within 24 hours he had recorded this. And a few hours later, I had added this.
LYRICS:
I'll have a blue Christmas without you … I'll be so blue, blue, blue just thinking about you, Decorations of maroon, on a green Christmas tree, Won't mean a thing, my brother, if you're not here with me …
And when those BLUE snowflakes THEY start falling, That's when those BLUE, blue, blue memories start a-calling, They'll be doin' all right, with their Christmas of white, But I and you will have a blue, blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas
Now don’t you THINK that these BLUES they aren’t very IMPORTANT … When it feels like ALL of our loved ONES have all up and GONE … and went … With all the STRESSes this year, all my hopes have been spent … Until I get to SING, with my little, itty bitty brother Brent …
And yes these COLD Blue Days still happen … But that won’t KEEP these old HANDS from clappin’ … When you’re out of my SIGHT, You can still bring such LIGHT … And you and I can STILL, share a blue, blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas …
With you and you and you and you and you and you ... We’ll share a blue, a very blue, a holy blue, blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas!!