St. John’s Sunday School
Christmas Service
December 22, 2019
PRE-PROCESSIONAL “Joyful Good News”. . . . . . . Children
Good news! Good news! The Savior’s born
Good news! Good news! Our wait is o’er
Good news! Good news! We’re saved eternally.
That’s wonderful, joyful good news!
PROCESSIONAL “Oh, How Joyfully”. . . . . . . . . Congregation
- Oh, how joyfully, Oh, how merrily Christmas comes with its grace divine! Grace again is beaming, Christ the world redeeming: Hail, ye Christians, hail the joyous Christmastime!
- Oh, how joyfully, Oh, how merrily Christmas comes with its peace divine! Peace on earth is reigning, Christ our peace regaining: Hail, ye Christians, hail the joyous Christmastime!
- Oh, how joyfully, Oh, how merrily Christmas comes with its life divine! Angels high in glory Chant the Christmas story: Hail, ye Christians, hail the joyous Christmastime!
Please stand.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
Please be seated.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: Behold I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy, which shall be to all people: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Congregational Response: (sung)
Once in royal David’s city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed; Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
Pastor: Oh, come, let us sing unto the Lord: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Congregation:
He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor and mean and lowly Lived on earth our Savior holy.
Pastor: Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. And make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
Congregation:
But our eyes at last shall see him Through his own redeeming love, For that child, so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heav’n above, And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone.
Pastor: Oh, come let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
Congregation:
Not in that poor, lowly stable With the oxen standing by Shall we see him, but in heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high. Then like stars his children crowned, All in white, his praise will sound.
Pastor: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
RECITATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children
Christmas is a time of joy,
Mary had a little boy.
Though he was a baby small,
Still he is the King of all.
Worship him with heart and voice.
The King is born; let us rejoice!
SONG “The King of Glory Comes” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children
- The King of glory comes; the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him; lift up your voices.
Who is the King of glory? How shall we call him?
He is Immanuel, the promised of ages.
- The King of glory comes; the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him; lift up your voices.
He gave his life for us, the lamb of salvation;
He took upon himself the sin of the nations.
The King of glory comes; the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him; lift up your voices.
Please stand.
CHRISTMAS PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor
Gracious Father in Heaven, you have told us to come to you like a little child. In that innocence, we give thanks for the child born to us in Bethlehem so many years ago. Help us always to approach the Christmas season with the joy and wonder of a child. And so today, we “come our hearts and voices raising” to worship the ChristChild, our Savior King, and to “sing his love amazing.” Through this Babe you grant us the peace of forgiveness and the joy of salvation.—What joyful good news you’ve given us to share! Amen.
Please be seated.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE BY PASTOR
OFFERING, GREETINGS, FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS
JOYFUL GOOD NEWS
TO OUR FIRST PARENTS
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Wachholz
ADAM/Ethan Cox and EVE/Annalyse Van Treeck
Children: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
Congregation: “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Wachholz
JOYFUL GOOD NEWS
SPOKEN BY THE PROPHETS
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Brown
CHOIR ANTHEM “Prophets Knew”
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Cox
MICAH/Wally Wolsdorf: “But you, Bethlehem Ephratha, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
Congregation: “Out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Cox
ISAIAH/Blake Walker: “The Lord himself will give you a sign;
Congregation: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Cox
ISAIAH/Blake Walker: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
Congregation: And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Brown
BALAAM/ Nolan Van Treeck: “A star will come out of Jacob;
Congregation: “A scepter will rise out of Israel.”
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Brown
JEREMIAH/BrodyHenke: The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch
Congregation: a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land . . . He will be called: The LORD our Righteousness.
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Wachholz
HYMN “Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel” . . . . . Congregation
- Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
- Oh, come, o Root of Jesse, free Your own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell your people save, And bring them vict’ry o’er the grace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
- Oh, come, O Key of David, come, And open wide our heav’nly home. Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
JOYFUL GOOD NEWS
ON THE FIRST CHRISTMAS
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Wachholz
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Cox
ANGEL/Easton Wegner SPEAKING TO MARY/Rilyn Henke: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
SONG “We’ll Call Him Jesus” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children
We’ll call him Jesus, the name the angel whispered
We’ll call him Jesus, come from heav’n to be our friend.
We’ll call him Jesus, the sweetest name in all the world
We’ll call him Jesus, He’ll save us from our sins.
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Cox
ANGEL/Easton Wegner SPEAKING TO JOSEPH/Trenton Jahr: “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.”
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Cox
THE CHRISTMAS STORY, Part 1, Luke 2:1-7
SONG “In Those Days Caesar Augustus” . . . . . . . . . . . Children
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 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 room for them in the inn.”
RECITATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Younger Children
Fear not, everyone!
There’s good news for all!
Go look for the Baby
Who sleeps in a stall!
SONG “Christmas News” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Younger Children
Hear us sing; News we bring;
Jesus the Savior is born!
Hear the bells; News they tell:
Jesus the Savior is born!
HYMNS “Away in A Manger” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children
“Gentle Mary” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Congregation
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
Congregation:
Gentle Mary laid her child Lowly in a manger; There he lay, the undefiled, To the world a stranger. Such a babe in such a place—Can he be the Savior? Ask the saved of all the race Who have found his favor.
Children:
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky, And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Congregation:
Angels sang about his birth; Wise men sought and found him. Heaven’s star shone brightly forth, Glory all around them. Shepherds saw the wondrous sight. Heard the angels singing. All the plains were lit that night; All the hills were ringing.
Children:
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care, And take us to heaven to live with you there.
Congregation:
Gentle Mary laid her child Lowly in a manger; He is still the undefiled, But no more a stranger. Son of God, of humble birth, Beautiful the story; Praise his name in all the earth, Hail the King of glory!
THE CHRISTMAS STORY, Luke 2:8-14 . . . . . . . . . . Children
& Congregation
Children: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
Congregation: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Children: But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Congregation: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
SHEPHERDS/Bruchs Wegner/Landon McGwin/Wesley Jahr
SONG “Hear All You Shepherds” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children
- Hear, all you shepherds, In fields abiding, Leave your sheep, (Leave your sheep) Go to the manger, Kneel there before Him, Christ is born, (Christ is born) Christ is born (Christ is born)
- There shall you find him In cradle lowly, Gloria (Gloria) O’er her bless’d son sweet Mary is watching, Christ is born, (Christ is born), Christ is born (Christ is born).
Children: This will be a sign to you:
Congregation: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Children: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
Congregation: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
ANGELS/Aiden McGwin/Milo Henke/Jaxon Wolsdorf
SONG “Angel Voices, Sweetly Singing” . . . . . . . . . . . . Children
Angel voices, sweetly singing
To the shepherds long ago,
Still resound while bells are ringing;
Joy is reigning high and low.
“Glory in the highest heaven,”
Sing it o’er and o’er again!
God to us His Son has giv’n,
“Peace on earth, good will to men.”
HYMN “Angels We Have Heard on High” . . . . . . Congregation
- Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strain, Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.
- 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.
- Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing. Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.
JOYFUL GOOD NEWS
FOR ALL GENERATIONS
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Brown
Trenton Jahr: Jesus lifts us up when sorrow has us down.
Molly Utke: Jesus showers us every day with blessings that make our hearts glad.
Annalyse Van Treeck: Over and over again, Jesus says: “your sins are forgiven.
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Brown
Congregation/Children: “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
All Children: Our joy in Jesus stays with us!
SONG “I Have the Joy!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart;
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
I have the joy of Jesus, joy of Jesus, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart;
I have the joy of Jesus, joy of Jesus, down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
HYMN “Oh Jesus, King Most Wonderful” . . . . . . . Congregation
- O Jesus, King most wonderful, O Majesty renowned, O Conqueror invincible, In whom all joys are found!
- When once you visit darkened hearts, Then truth begins to shine, Then early vanity departs, Then kindles love divine.
- O Jesus, Light of all below, O Fount of life and fire, Surpassing all the joys we know, All that we can desire.
- Oh, may our tongues forever bless And honor you alone, And may we in our lives express The image of your own!
NARRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Wachholz
ANTHEM “Go Tell the Good News!” . . . . . . Choir & Children
Please stand.
THE CHRISTMAS CREED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Congregation
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, who sent
His Son as my Savior on Christmas Day;
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
announced by the angels,
worshipped by the shepherds,
adored by the Wise Men,
who lived to suffer, die, and rise again,
to free us from sin, death, and the power of the devil;
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
who has brought me to faith in the Christ of Christmas
and by whose continuous work in my heart
I am ever led to lay before the feet of Christ
the treasures of my love
and live under Him as my King,
both now and forevermore. Amen.
PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER (sung) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Congregation
(Melody: Away in a Manger)
Our Father in heaven, all praise to your name! Your kingdom among us, your will done the same By mortals and angels. Come, Lord reign alone: Oh, hear us and bless us from heaven’s high throne.
The bread that we yearn for provide us each day; As we forgive others, our sins take away; In times of temptation, to lead us be near; From evil deliver your children most dear.
For yours is the kingdom; o’er all things you reign. And yours is the power; all things you maintain. To you be the glory, resounding again From all of creation, forever. Amen.
Please be seated.
RECITATIONS
Trenton Jahr: C – The Christ Child in the manger lay,
Molly Utke: H – In swaddling clothes upon the hay.
Nolan Van Treeck: R – There, our Redeemer came to earth,
Rilyn Henke: I – An infant born of lowly birth.
Brody Henke: S – The shepherds heard the angels sing,
Blake Walker: T – And traveled to the newborn King,
Bruchs Wegner: M – Where Mary and Joseph joined their praise.
Landon McGwin: A – Now, we our Alleluias raise.
Wally Wolsdorf: S – From heaven above came a Savior Boy
Easton Wegner: JOY – God’s Christmas gift of endless joy!
THE BENEDICTION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECESSIONAL “Joy to the World” . . . . . . . . . . . Congregation
- 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.
- Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
- 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.
- 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.
THANK YOU to Mrs. Erica Cox for substituting for SS Teacher Tabitha Stelter who could not be with us today.
Announcements
Activities for the week of December 22 – December 28
| Sun. | 8:00 A.M. | Emmanuel Worship |
| 8:30 A.M. | St. John’s Sunday School Christmas service practice | |
| 10:00 A.M. | St. John’s Sunday School Christmas Service | |
| Mon. | 10:00 A.M. | St. John’s School/Little Lambs Final Christmas Service Rehearsal |
| 6:30 P.M. | Emmanuel Children’s Christmas Service | |
| Tues. | CHRISTMAS EVE | |
| 4:00 P.M. | St. John’s School/Little Lambs Christmas Service | |
| Wed. | CHRISTMAS DAY | |
| 9:00 A.M. | Emmanuel Christmas Service | |
| NO ST. JOHN’S 6:30 P.M. WORSHIP | ||
| Thurs. | 10:00 A.M. | Montello Care Center Devotion with communion |
| Fri. | ||
| Sat. | ||
| Theme for Next Sunday December 29 , 2019“Redeemed by God, We are Now His Children” | ||
| 8:00 A.M. | Emmanuel Worship | |
| 8:30 A.M. | St. John’s Sunday School | |
| 10:00 A.M. | St. John’s Worship with communion |