St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church  †  Bingen

11555 N. US Highway 27

Decatur, IN 46733

Website:   www.stjohnbingen.com

Worship:   8:00 am & 10:30 am / Wednesday 6:30 pm

Phone:  260-639-6178   churchoffice@stjohnbingen.com

 

_____________________

 

The Reverend John Dreyer, Pastor                  pastor@stjohnbingen.com

                                        Study:  260-639-6585      cell:  260-301-2131

The Reverend Peter Brock, Pastor         pastorbrock@stjohnbingen.com

                                                                               cell:  260-301-1640

Emergency Pastoral Line (rings both Pastors)  260-301-2118

_____________________

 

 

WELCOME TO WORSHIP at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church! We are glad that you have come to the Lord's house today to be fed and strengthened by God's holy Word. The Order of Service for today is printed in this worship folder.  Guests, we extend a special welcome to you this day and pray that your hearing of God's Word may be a blessing to your life and salvation. If you are visiting with us, please include your name and address in our guest book located in the entry of the church. We are privileged to have you as our guest today and encourage you to worship with us again soon.

 

OUR NURSERY AND RESTROOMS are located through the south doors (on the left as you leave the sanctuary) and to your left. The service can be heard and seen in the nursery through a live, closed-circuit television broadcast.

 

ASSISTED HEARING DEVICES are available for your use during the service. Please ask a Deacon to assist you if you would like to make use of one.

 

 

St. John Ev. Lutheran Church + Bingen

Christmas Day, 2010

 

Prelude

 

Opening Hymn                       Joy to the World                      LSB 387

 

1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

     Let earth receive her King;

     Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room

     And heav'n and nature sing,

     And heav'n and nature sing,

     And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

 

2. Joy to the earth, the Savior 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.

 

 

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow

     Nor thorns infest the ground;

     He comes to make His blessings flow

     Far as the curse is found,

     Far as the curse is found,

     Far as, far as the curse is found.

 

4.  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.

 

Stand

+Confession and Absolution+

Invocation

 

            P:  In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

            C: Amen

 

            P:  Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our       sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to             grant us forgiveness.

 

            P:  Our help is in the name of the Lord.

            C: who made heaven and earth.

            P:  I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.

            C: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

           

            P:  O almighty God, merciful Father,

            C: I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities            with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and         eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of          them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy,             innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be     gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

 

            P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained              servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead        and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you             all your sins in the          name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

            C: Amen

 

+Service of the Word+

 

Introit                                                                        Psalm 98:1-4; Antiphon: Isaiah 9:6

            For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

                        and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

            and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,

                        Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

            Oh 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 known his salvation;

                        he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

            He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.

                        All the ends of the earth  have seen the salvation of our God.

            Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

                        break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

            Glory be to the Father and to the Son

                        and to the Holy Spirit;

            as it was in the beginning,

                        is now, and will  be forever. Amen.

            For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

                        and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

            and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,

                        Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Gloria in Excelsis               Angels We Have Heard on High                     LSB 368

1.   Angels we have heard on high,

      Sweetly singing o'er the plains,

      And the mountains in reply,

      Echoing their joyous strains.

      Gloria in excelsis Deo.

      Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

2.   Shepherds, why this jubilee?

      Why your joyous strains prolong?

      What the gladsome tidings be,

      Which inspire your heav'nly song?

      Gloria in excelsis Deo.

      Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Come to Bethlehem and see

     Him whose birth the angels sing;

     Come, adore on bended knee,

     Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

     Gloria in excel sis Deo.

     Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

Salutation and Collect

            P:  The Lord be with you.

            C: And with thy spirit.

            P:  Let us pray. Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in             the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son,           our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and        forever.

            C: Amen

 

Sit

 

Old Testament Reading                 Isaiah 52:7-10

            He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

 

            P:  This is the Word of the Lord.

            C: Thanks be to God.

 

Choir       "Christmas Hymn"

 

Epistle Reading                   Hebrews 1:1-12

            Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God’s angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire." But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." And, "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end."

 

            P:  This is the Word of the Lord.

            C: Thanks be to God

 

Stand

 

Holy Gospel               John 1:1-18

 

            P:  The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 1st chapter.

            C: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

 

            In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

 

P:  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

 

Nicene Creed

            I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again accord ing to the Scriptures and ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Fa ther and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

 

Sit

Hymn of the Day                  We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth                LSB 382

 

1.  We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth;

      Clothed in flesh You came to earth.

      The virgin bears a sinless boy

      And all the angels sing for joy.

      Alleluia!

 

2.   Now in the manger we may see

      God's Son from eternity,

      The gift from God's eternal throne

      Here clothed in our poor flesh and bone.

      Alleluia!

 

3.    The virgin Mary's lullaby

       Calms the infant Lord Most High.

       Upon her lap content is He

       Who keeps the earth and sky and sea.

       Alleluia!

 

4.   The Light Eternal breaking through,

       Made the world to gleam anew;

      His beams have pierced the core of night,

      He makes us children of the light.  

      Alleluia!

 

 

 

 

 

5.    The very Son of God sublime

       Entered into earthly time

       To lead us from this world of cares

       To heaven's courts as blessed heirs.

       Alleluia!

 

6.    In poverty He came to earth

       Showing mercy by His birth;

       He makes us rich  in heav'nly ways

       As we, like angels, sing His praise.

       Alleluia!

 

7.    All this for us our God has done

       Granting love through His own Son.      

       Therefore, all Christendom, rejoice

       And sing His praise with endless           voice.  

       Alleluia!

 

Sermon          "Merry Christian, you are not alone!"

(Sermon Outline on page 14)

 

Stand

 

Prayer of the Church

 

P:  Almighty God, in the person of Your Son Jesus Christ, You reveal Your strength before the eyes of all nations. Grant that we may break forth in joyous song as we thank You for our redemption from sin, death, and the devil's power that has come down from heaven.  Jesus Christ--the one and only Light--has come into the world;
C:  Oh come, let us worship Him.

P:  Eternal God, in the mystery of Your holy incarnation and blessed nativity You took upon our human flesh. It is in the very flesh of Jesus that we behold Your glory, receive bountiful grace and understand manifold truth. Increase our faith that we may be bold witnesses concerning the complete revelation of Your Word. Jesus Christ--the one and only Light--has come into the world;
C:  Oh come, let us worship Him.

 

P:  With the shepherds, O Lord, we marvel at the miracle of Your nativity. Magnify the power of the Gospel in the hearts of Your faithful people so that, without reservation, we would spread the good news of salvation revealed to us through the Word made flesh. Jesus Christ--the one and only Light--has come into the world;
C:  Oh come, let us worship Him.

 

P:  O Lord, in humility, You who were rich became poor to redeem us from sin's curse. Comfort those who face economic challenges granting them courage to endure hardship; send them persons who would support and encourage them to look in trust to You. Jesus Christ--the one and only Light--has come into the world;
C:  Oh come, let us worship Him.

 

P:  Heavenly Father, look in mercy upon those persecuted for proclaiming and living a bold Christian confession. As Christians suffer unjustly, keep us mindful of the affliction, persecution, and scorn that You endured on our behalf. Grant all Christians unwavering confidence in confessing, proclaiming, and witnessing about the true Light. Jesus Christ--the one and only Light--has come into the world;
C:  Oh come, let us worship Him.

 

P:  Almighty God, grant Your blessing to those in need.  Banish their sadness, anxiety, and sorrow with the certainty of forgiveness and life everlasting. Cheer their weary spirits by Your gracious visitation. Keep us ever mindful that Your only begotten Son bears our burdens and grief.  Jesus Christ--the one and only Light--has come into the world;
C:  Oh come, let us worship Him.

 

P:  O Lord, in the Sacrament of Your body and blood You dwell with us and give us pardon from sin and peace everlasting. Make us ready to receive the most holy body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins that we may wholeheartedly give thanks to You.  Jesus Christ--the one and only Light--has come into the world;
C:  Oh come, let us worship Him.

 

P:  Through the gracious works of our Prince of Peace, graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor, and worship, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C:  Amen. 

Sit

Offering        (Hand-bell Choir - "Joy to the World")

 

Stand

 

 

+Service of the Sacrament+

 

Preface

            P:  The Lord be with you.

            C: And with thy spirit.

            P:  Lift up your hearts.

            C: We lift them up unto the Lord.

            P:  Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.

            C: It is meet and right so to do.

 

The Proper Preface for Christmas

 

Sanctus

            Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;

            heav'n and earth are full of Thy glory.

            Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is He, blessed is He,

blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.

            Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

 

The 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.

 

The Words of our Lord  (Words of Institution)

P:  Our Lord Jesus Christ...

 

Pax Domini  (The Peace of the Lord)

P:   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:  Amen

 

Agnus Dei

            O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy    upon us.

            O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy    upon us.

            O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us          Thy peace.

            A-men.

 

Sit

 

 

The Distribution

 

 

Choir - "See Amid the Winter's Snow"

 

Hymn  -           Angels from the Realms of Glory                    LSB 367

1.   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.

 

2.   Shepherds in the field abiding,

      Watching o'er your flocks by night,

      God with us is now residing,

      Yonder shines the Infant Light.

      Come and worship, come and worship;

      Worship Christ, the newborn King.

 

3.   Sages, leave your contem-plations,

      Brighter visions beam afar;

      Seek the great Desire of nations,

      Ye have seen His natal star.

      Come and worship, come and worship;

      Worship Christ, the newborn King.

 

 

 

 

 

4.    Saints before the altar bending

       Watching long in hope and fear,

       Suddenly the Lord, descending,

       In His temple shall appear. 

       Come and worship, come and        worship;

      Worship Christ, the newborn King.

 

 Stand

5.     All creation, join in praising

        God the Father, Spirit, Son,

        Evermore your voices raising

        To the eternal Three in One.

        Come and worship, come and

             worship;

        Worship Christ, the newborn King.

 

 

Hymn  -           A Great and Mighty Wonder                          LSB 383

 

1.     A great and mighty wonder,

        A full and holy cure:

        The Virgin bears the infant

        With virgin honor pure!

 

Refrain:

     Proclaim the Savior's birth:

     "To God on high be glory,

     And peace to all the earth!"

 

2.    The Word becomes incarnate

       And yet remains on high,

       And cherubim sing anthems

       To shepherds from the sky! Refrain

 

 

 

3.   While thus they sing your Monarch,

      Those bright angelic bands,

      Rejoice, O vales and mountains,

     And oceans, clap your hands. Refrain

 

4.   Since all He comes to ransom,

      By all be He adored,

      The infant born in Bethl'em,

      The Savior and the Lord.  Refrain

 

5.   All idols then shall perish  

      And Satan's lying cease,

      And Christ shall raise His scepter,

      Decreeing endless peace.  Refrain

 

 

Hymn  -           Hark! The Herald Angels Sing                        LSB 380

1.    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 the angelic host proclaim,

       "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

       Hark! The herald angels sing,

        "Glory to the newborn King!"

 

2.     Christ, by highest heav'n adored,

        Christ, the everlasting Lord,

        Late in time behold Him come,

        Offspring of a virgin's womb.

        Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

           

                     

    Hail the incarnate Deity!

    Pleased as Man with man to dwell,

    Jesus, our Immanuel!

     Hark! The herald angels sing,

     "Glory to the newborn King!"

 

3.   Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

      Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!

      Light and life to all He brings,

      Ris'n with healing in His wings.

      Mild He lays His glory by,

      Born that man no more may die,

      Born to raise the sons of earth,

      Born to give them second birth.

      Hark! The herald angels sing,

      "Glory to the newborn King!"

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis

            Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word,

            for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.

                        Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it

             was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen

 

Post-Communion Collect

            P:   Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

            C:  Amen

 

Salutation and Benedicamus

            P:  The Lord be with you.

            C: And with thy spirit.

            P:  Bless we the Lord.

            C: Thanks be to God.

 

Benediction

            P:  The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and + give you peace.

            C:  Amen, amen, amen.

 

Closing Hymn                      Of the Father's Love Begotten                        LSB 384

 

1.     Of the Father's love begotten

        Ere the worlds began to be,  

        He is  Alpha and Omega,

        He the source, the ending He, 

        Of the things that are, that have been,

        And that future years shall see

        Evermore and evermore.

 

2.    Oh, that birth forever blessed,

       When the virgin, full of grace,

       By the Holy  Ghost conceiving,

       Bore the Savior of our race,

       And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,

       First revealed His sacred face

       Evermore and evermore.

 

3.    This is He whom seers in old time

       Chanted of with one accord

       Whom the voices of the prophets

       Promised in their faithful word.

       Now He shines, the long-expected;

       Let creation praise its Lord

       Evermore and evermore.

 

4.    O ye heights of heav'n, adore Him;

       Angel hosts, His praises sing.

       Pow’rs, dominions, bow before Him

      And extol our God and King.

      Let no tongue on earth be silent,

      Ev'ry voice in concert ring

      Evermore and evermore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stand

5.    Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,

       And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee

       Hymn  and chant and high thanksgiving

       And unending praises be,

       Honor, glory, and dominion,

       And eternal victory

       Evermore and evermore. Amen.