Everything you need for Christmas Eve 2023 online worship.
Preparations for Worship:
- Do your best to eliminate distractions like the phone, TV, etc.
- Worship actively! Whether you are by yourself or with others, try reading the parts of the service aloud (responses, lessons, and prayers).
- This service is for children too. Help them participate. Ask those who have that ability to read a prayer or lesson aloud. Take a moment to describe what’s happening. Ask questions. Encourage little ones to draw what they are hearing while you all listen. Unlike our more typical Sunday worship at church, you can pause at any time for questions and discussion.
- Before you begin, load each of the videos below. (You might first have to get past a distracting ad.)
- Pause for a moment of quiet meditation. Then pray:
“Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and speak your praise. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
INVOCATION
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest!
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Dear friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.
Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin.
For faithless worrying and selfish pride,
For sins of habit and sins of choice,
for the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do,
You should cast me away from your presence forever.
O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.
Glory to God in the highest!
In love that astounds us, the eternal God sent his one and only Son to live among us, to obey as we could not, and to suffer what we deserved.
In Christ there is indeed peace on earth
In him God extends his good will to all people. He was born to save us.
Because of Christ and by his authority, I say to you what God himself says:
In Christ your sins are forgiven!
Glory to God in the highest! Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true light. Grant that as we have known on earth the wonder of that light, we may also behold him in all his glory in the life to come; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
LESSON – ISAIAH 7:10-14
10The Lord spoke to Ahaz again. He said, 11“Ask for a sign from the Lord your God. Ask for it either in the depths below or in the heights above.”
12But Ahaz responded, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.”
13So Isaiah said:
Listen now, you house of David. Is it not enough for you to test the patience of men? Will you test the patience of my God as well? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give a sign for all of you. Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and name him Immanuel.
LESSON – TITUS 3:4-7
4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, 5he saved us—not by righteous works that we did ourselves, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs in keeping with the hope of eternal life.
DEVOTION – LUKE 2:10-11
OFFERING
Offerings may be given on-line at tithe.ly/risensavior, mailed to the church, or dropped off at the church.
Our members have joined together in faith and love to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Lord God Almighty, on this most holy night we come before You in awe at the wonder and majesty of the incarnation. The Savior of the nations has come, and with joy we greet our newborn King.
Let the proclamation of His birth sound forth throughout the world.
Heavenly Father, You sent an angel to reveal to Joseph that the Child in Mary’s womb was Your own, preserving their marriage and family. Preserve our homes also by Your Holy Word.
Fill them with Your grace, that husbands and wives, parents and children may live in peace and love with one another.
Almighty God, the One born in Bethlehem is the Son of David and the Lord of David, to whom every knee shall bow.
Look upon those You have placed in authority, and grant that they would govern in wisdom and justice.
Heavenly Father, You love us and sent Your Son to be the payment for our sins. Strengthen us to love one another.
As You have mercy upon all who are poor and troubled, so perfect Your love in us, that we would gladly be Your instruments of help in time of need.
Giver and Preserver of life, Your Son came to save us from sin and its curse. Hear the pleas of all who call to You for mercy.
Deliver them from affliction according to Your will, and work in them steadfast faith to cling to the life they have in Christ.
Almighty Father, guard in safety all emergency workers, military personnel, and all those whose vocations keep them from their families.
Be with them and grant them safety as they look after our well-being this evening.
Almighty God, You have given Your Son, born of Mary, to be the Savior of the world. Send Your Spirit and abide with us, that we may confess Him and remain in Your love until He comes again in glory; for He lives and reigns with You and the same Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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.
LORD’S BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
Amen.