Order of Worship
Welcome
Sharing the Peace
Song Love Has Come Music: F. Seguin Recueil de noëls composés en langue provençale; Text: Ken Bible
Love has come—a light in the darkness!
Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;
hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love! Glory to God on high.
Love is born! Come, share in the wonder.
Love is God now asleep in the hay.
See the glow in the eyes of his mother;
what is the name her heart is saying?
Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers;
Love! Love! Jesus, Immanuel.
Love has come and never will leave us!
Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us.
Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas;
Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!
Text © 1996 Integrity's Hosanna! Music. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720899. All rights reserved.
Confession
Steadfast God, We seek the stability of your gift of faith. But, we confess that our trust is fragile. We are shaken by worry, distracted by hurry, and pulled away from the hope you deliver. Forgive us when we look for security in the wrong places. Forgive us when fear outweighs our faith, and when we forget that you enter our lives in quiet, steady love. Heal our restless hearts. By your mercy, anchor us in the ordinary places transformed by your presence and holy peace. Prepare us to welcome Christ, trusting that you are with us, sure and unfailing, now and always. Amen.
Words of Forgiveness
Song of Praise Good Christian Friends, Rejoice Music: German carol; Text: Medieval Latin carol
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven's door,
and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain the everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
© Public Domain
Prayer
Kid Talk
Scripture Song More Light by Christopher Grundy
More light, more truth
is breaking from your Word.
More light, more truth.
Holy Spirit, help us hear
what needs to be heard.
© Creative Commons License
Scripture Ephesians 1:3-14
Message
Song Word of God, Come Down on Earth Music: Johann R. Ahle; Text: James Quinn
Word of God, come down on earth,
living rain from heav'n descending;
touch our hearts and bring to birth
faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere you;
Word made flesh, we long to hear you.
Word eternal, throned on high,
Word that brought to life creation,
Word that came from heav'n to die,
crucified for our salvation,
saving Word, the world restoring,
speak to us, your love outpouring.
Word that speaks God's tender love,
one with God beyond all telling,
Word that sends us from above
God the Spirit, with us dwelling,
Word of truth, to all truth lead us;
Word of life, with one bread feed us.
Text © James Quinn, sj, admin. Selah Publishing Co., Inc.
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering Give online, in an offering basket, or on Venmo @westsidelutheran.
Prayers
Prayer Song In a Far-Off Place, Jesus Comes Music: Sally Ann Morris Text: Mary Louise Bringle
In a far-off place, Jesus comes to earth.
Sheep and cattle grace the site.
As the angel songs begin,
like the whisper of the wind,
nature's hope awakes again;
Jesus comes.
For the poor in heart, Jesus comes to earth.
Humble shepherds start the news.
For each homeless infant born,
for the meek and those who mourn,
for the weary and the worn,
Jesus comes.
In our deepest night, Jesus comes to earth:
radiant star to light our way.
Summer's heat or winter's chill,
with a warm and loving will,
to a world that needs him still,
Jesus comes.
© 2009 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720899 All rights reserved.
Lord's Prayer
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.
Holy Communion
Benediction by Kent Gustavson
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord's face shine on you.
May the Lord be gracious to you.
May the Lord look on you
and give you peace.
Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.
© 2004 Kent Gustavson
Announcements
Song Forevermore by Nate Houge
One night, one night, stars shining bright
shepherds and kings at your door
And oh what a sight, that glorious night
Earth is changed forevermore
Oh glory oh glory, that first Christmas story,
part innocent and part wild
And into that story, the king of glory,
Entering earth as a child
Come here, come near, no longer need we fear,
welcome all people gather 'round
Listen now and hear, God's promise has come near
Raise now to God our joyful sound
Tonight, tonight, stars shining bright,
oh lead us all to your door
And Christ be our light, on this Holy night
Shine in our lives forevermore
© 2006 Lutefist
Sending Words
