Well, good evening. If you'll go ahead and find your seat, please. We also want to make sure that you have a handout and a candle. We have some to my right and then also in the back. You want to make sure that you have both of those for our time together tonight. We want to welcome you to our Christmas Eve candlelight service. And as we begin, let's share a word of prayer together. Our Father in heaven, we pause tonight And we acknowledge that you are God and that there is no one like you. We acknowledge that you are holy, that you are the thrice holy God, that you are righteous and just in all of your ways, and that your mercy is over all of your works. And Father, as we gather on this Lord's Day evening, we thank you that you are a God of grace, a God of saving grace, that you are a saving God. And as we were reminded this morning, we thank you for your Son being our Savior. Father, I pray that you will help us to be absorbed in our mind with high and holy thoughts about you and our great salvation. I pray that you will help us to worship you in spirit and in truth. I pray that all that we think, do, and say this evening will abound to your glory and that you will receive our worship. We honor you as our God. We adore you. We love you. We thank you. Thank you for being so good and kind and gracious to us. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the gift of music. And I pray that as we read your word tonight and as we sing to you and about you, that you would fill our hearts with great joy. We need you and we depend upon you for all things. And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. I'd like to begin by reading Isaiah chapter 9. verses 6 and 7, and from there we will turn to Luke chapter 1 and read verses 26 to 38. Isaiah 9, 6 and 7. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, mighty God, eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace. On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. And now the Gospel of Luke, chapter one. Verses 26 to 38. Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. In coming in, he said to her, greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you. But she was very perplexed at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for that reason the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. And she who was called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said, behold, the bondslave of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. O come, O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel Shall ransom thee, O Israel O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel O come, desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind. Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease. Fill the whole world with heaven's peace. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 to 25. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which translated means God with us. And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife. But he kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a son, and he called his name Jesus. Who is this baby? Where did he come from? He's the son of a carpenter, the chosen one. He's the hope of the ages, a gift from above. Just a child in a manger, God's only son. Oh yeah Shepherds were watching out under the sky when a star over Bethlehem lit up the night. He's the light in the darkness, a gift of His love. He is filled with the Spirit, God's Holy Son. Luke chapter 2 verses 1 through 7. Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus. that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David. In order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Our hymn is 242. Stand as we sing. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in the dark streets shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above. While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wandering love. All morning stars together proclaim the Holy Word. Then praises sing to God the King and peace to heaven on earth. How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given. So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His hands. Though we may hear His calling, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will precede Him still, the dear Christ enters in. O Holy Child of Bethlehem, please send on us Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel. 231, 231. Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. Oh come ye, oh come ye, O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him In Christ the Lord God of gods Light of light eternal Though he abhors not the Virgin's womb We are being gotten, not created O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Christ Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above. ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Glory in the highest ♪ ♪ O come let us adore him ♪ ♪ O come let us adore him ♪ ♪ O come let us adore him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n. Now in flesh appearing O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Luke chapter 2 verses 8 through 20. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased. When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, The shepherds began saying to one another, let us go straight to Bethlehem then and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby as he lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this child. And all who heard it wondered. at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. ¦ ¦ you ¶¶ ¶¶ ¶ ¶ ♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Luke chapter 2, verses 21 through 38. And when eight days had passed before his circumcision, his name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord, every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to carry out for him the custom of the law, then he took him into his arms and blessed God and said, Now, Lord, you are releasing your bondservant to depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. And his father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel. for a sign to be opposed, and a sword will pierce even your own soul, to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of 84. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began giving thanks to God and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. We're singing 237. 237, let's stand again. Joy has dawned upon the world From a strong creation God's salvation now unfurled Hope for every nation Not with banners from above Not with scenes of glory Brought upon the gift of love, Jesus, Lord of Mary. Sounds of wonder fill the sky, with the songs of angels, as the mighty Prince of Life shelters in a stay. Hands that set each star on pace Shaped the earth in darkness Cling now to a mother's breast Vulnerable and helpless Shepherds bow before the Lamb and the glory. Gifts of men from distant lands prophesy the story. For a king is born today, and since God is with us, Myrrh His death will make a way, And by His blood He'll win us. Son of Adam, Son of Heav'n, Given as a ransom, Reconciling God and man, Christ, our mighty champion, What a Savior, what a friend, what a glorious mystery. Once a lame in Bethlehem, now the Lord of history. Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 through 12. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, in Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet, and you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod secretly called the Magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the child. And when you have found him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship him. After hearing the king, they went their way. And the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother. and they fell to the ground and worshipped him. Then opening their treasures, they presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi left for their own country by another way. ♪ How low was our Redeemer brought ♪ The king who held the stars lay helpless in the maiden's arms and pressed against her heart. While sheep and cattle raised their voice, the babe could speak no words. The ever-flowing spring of joy had come to share our thirst. How low was our Redeemer brought, the one the world's obeyed. What stumble as He learned to walk upon the ground He made. The one the angels bowed before Would kneel to wash our feet And be at home among the poor Though he owned everything Gloria, Gloria In the highest Gloria, Gloria in the highest How low was our Redeemer brought To raise us from our shame And now the highest praise of all Belongs to Jesus' name The healer wounded on a tree To bear our grief and sin The king gave up his crown so we could ever reign with him. Gloria, Gloria, in the highest. Gloria, Gloria, in the highest. Gloria, Gloria, In the highest Gloria, Gloria In the highest Gloria in the highest. Gloria, Gloria in the highest. Gloria, Gloria in the highest. Gloria, Gloria in the highest. How low was our Redeemer brought To raise us from our shame And now the highest praise of all Belongs to Jesus' name When he was born in Bethlehem, he was gently laid in a wooden manger. But 33 years later, outside of the city of Jerusalem, he was violently nailed to a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus took upon himself our humanity so that in his body he could bear our sins on the tree and suffer and bleed and die. The night before Jesus was crucified, he instituted the Lord's Supper for us to remember and celebrate his great sacrifice on our behalf. And it is our joyful privilege to do this together tonight. The Lord's Supper is open for all Christians. If you are a Christian, the table is open for you. If you are not a Christian, we are thankful that you are here, but the Lord's Supper is not for you. So we would ask if you are not a Christian to not participate in the Lord's Supper. But for those of us who will eat and drink, let's do so in a manner that is worthy of the Lord by preparing our hearts and confessing any sin that we need to deal with tonight. So let's take a few moments, prepare our hearts to eat and drink in a manner that is worthy of Christ. You know our thoughts from afar. You judge the motives and intentions of the heart. You know everything that we do, in the dark and in secret. You know us better than we know ourselves. And yet you still love us. You love us with a sovereign love. that is not conditioned upon who we are, but upon who you are. Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son. We thank you that Jesus came to die, and that as he died for our sins, he satisfied your holy justice. You are a just God who will not allow the guilty to go unpunished. And yet you are also a merciful God, so that you took our sins and laid them upon Jesus and punished him in our place, satisfying your justice. And Father, we thank you that by simple faith in Christ, we are justified in the courts of heaven, that we have peace with you both now and forever. We thank you for the Lord's Supper and how it is a reminder to us of our Lord's great sacrifice for us. We thank you for the cup. We thank you for the bread. We thank you for how these symbolize the body of Jesus and the blood of Jesus. We thank you for the body of Jesus that was nailed to the tree. And we thank you for his blood that was shed violently in our place. Father, we thank you for so great a salvation, and I pray that as we eat and drink now, and as we celebrate now, that you will bring conviction of sin to us, that we will turn away from any and all known sin. and if there are sins of which we are not aware, that even now you would bring it to our attention that you would convict us of those things, and that you would bring us to the place of confessing it and renouncing it. We thank you that when we do confess our sins to you that you do not condemn us, but you always meet us with fresh mercy and grace. Thank you that there is a fountain filled with blood the blood of the Lord Jesus that washes away all of our guilty stains. Help us now as we sing and as we eat. May we do so to the glory of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, amen. Let's turn to hymn number 221. Fulness of grace in man's human frailty, this is the wonder of Jesus. Laying aside his power and glory, humbly he entered our world. Chose the path of meanest worth, scandal of a virgin's birth. Born in a stable, cold and rejected, here lies the hope of the world. ♪ Fullness of grace, the love of the Father ♪ ♪ Shown in the face of Jesus ♪ ♪ Stooping to bear the weight of humanity ♪ ♪ Walking the Calvary road ♪ ♪ Christ, the Holy Innocent ♪ Took our sins and our punishment, Wholeness of God despised and rejected, Crushed for the sins of the world. Fullness of hope in Christ we had longed for, promise of God in Jesus. Through his obedience we are forgiven, opening the floodgates of hell. All our hopes and dreams we bring, gladly as an offering. Fullness of life and joy unspeakable, God's gift in love to the world. Fullness. Fullness of life and joy unspeakable, God's gift in love to the world. The Bible says while they were eating, Jesus took some bread and after a blessing, he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, take, eat, this is my body. Let's do this together. Number 343, 343. Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, slain for us. Read and remember the promise made that all who come in faith find forgiveness and the cross. So we share in the bread of life and we dream of His sacrifice as a sign of our bonds of peace around the table of the King. The body of our Savior, Jesus Christ, born for you. Eat and remember the wounds that heal, the death that brings us life. Pay the price to make us one. So we share in the bread of life, and we dream of His sad remise, as a sign of our bonds of love around the table of the King. The blood that cleanses every stain of sin shed for you. Drink and remember, he drained death's cup that all may enter in to receive the life of God. So we share in this bread of life and we drink of His sacrifice as a sign of our bonds of grace around the table of truth. And so with thankfulness and faith we rise to respond. And to remember our call to follow in the steps of Christ as his body here on earth. And as we share in His suffering, we proclaim Christ will come again and we'll join in the Feast of Heaven around the table of the King. The Bible says, and when he had taken a cup and given thanks, he gave it to them saying, drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Let's do this together. Our Father in heaven, we again thank you for the great sacrifice of Christ. We thank you for the new covenant in the blood of Jesus and that in that new covenant, all of our sins have been forgiven. All of our crimes have been pardoned. And we stand before you even tonight, holy and righteous in the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you that we are no longer condemned for our sins. because Jesus was condemned in our place. We fear you, O God. We stand in awe and wonder over what you have done for us. There is nothing in all of the world that comes even close to the glory and the weight and the beauty and the value of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that you will take these things and seal them upon our hearts and help us as we continue to sing and celebrate the life and the death of our dear Savior. And we pray this in His name. Amen. All right, let's stand together. Hymn number 240, O Holy Night. The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior's birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. O night! O holy night! O night divine! Led by the light of faith serene, By His cradle we stand. So let the light of a star sweetly gleaming, King of kings, laying a lowly measure In all our trials was born to be our friend He knows our need Through our weaknesses, those strangers We are. His law is love, and his gospel is peace. Change shall he bring, for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy, In rain of glorious rays weep, and all within us praise His holy name. His power and glory evermore proclaim. All on your knees. All on your knees. Oh hear the angel voices. You may be seated. All right, we're going to sing hymn number 236. As we light the candles, it's that time. Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin, mother and child The infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace 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! Christ the Savior is born! 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, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Let's sing that first verse one more time. 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 ♪ You can blow them out. All right, y'all, let's stand. We have one more song, 225. 225, this is our response, right? To this wonderful news. 225. Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watching for silent flocks by night, below throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. Yeah. ♪ 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 ♪ And hailed our Savior's birth Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born Down in a lowly manger The humble Christ was born And God sent us salvation That blessed Christmas morn ♪ Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere ♪ Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. so so so