In the Service of Christ...

St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church
December 24, 2002 Service Christmas Eve

(Please note that this was scanned in from the Bulletin, and so very likely contains a number of typographical errors, especially in the Danish)

 

 

Pastor's Christmas Reflection

 

"To You"

 

Imagine a gift, lying under the tree, with a tag that reads simply, "To you." No name on it, just "to you." Anyone who saw it, and bent down, and picked it up could say, "This one's for me." Anyone could unwrap the gift and claim it as his own. That's what the tag on this bundle wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in Bethlehem's manger reads. It says, "To you, from God." Here, lying in the manger, is God's unconditional love for you. Here, wrapped in swaddling cloths, is God's gift to you.

It is a gift that will outlast ail the others. This little Child in the manger will give to you when you need most to be given to. It is so difficult for us to be given to. We are so proud, so afraid of being humbled, so resistant to receiving. When we get that unexpected gift from someone, our joy is mixed with other feelings.

"Oh, you shouldn't have," we say. We mean it. Now I have to go out and get you something. We do the same with God. We don't want to be given to, we want to get for ourselves. We don't want to receive, we want to accept. But the baby in the manger pulls the plug on all that kind of talk. God came when no one asked for Him. He was born where there was no room for Him. Before He was invited, He came in the most humble of ways. Before we called on Him, He called on us. Before we let Him into our hearts, God took us into His own heart, and gave us His Child.

This little One, whose birth we remember this night, is a Savior born to us, to save us from our sins, to deliver us from our death, to redeem us. Do not be afraid, says the angel. Look on this child's face, and see the face of God come down to save us. The shepherds heard the preaching of the angel. They heard the "to you" of the angel's birth announcement and left their work and ran to Bethlehem worship at the manger. "Come to Bethlehem and see, Him whose birth the angels sing. Come, adore, on bended knee. Christ, the Lord, the newborn king." Receive through faith this gift from God, "To You".

 

May you be richly blessed by this wonderful gift of Christ.

 

Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year

 

GLædelig Jul og Godt Nytår

 

Frohe Weihnacht

 

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année

 

Pastor Samuel K. King‑Kabu

 

 

Handbells ‑ Call to worship:          "O Come, All Ye Faithful"

 

Organ Prelude: "From Heaven Above to Earth I come" ‑ F. W. Zachau

 

Christmas Dialogue:

 

P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy spirit.

 

C: Amen.

 

P: The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory.

 

C: Oh, come, let us worship Him.

 

P: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

 

C: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

 

P: Those who lived in a land of deep darkness ‑ on them light has shined.

 

C: We have seen Christ's glory, the glory as of a child, full of grace and truth.

 

P: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us.

 

C: What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the life of all people.

P: Tonight Christ is born; tonight salvation has appeared.

 

C: Glory to God in the highest! Alleluia!

 

Confession & Forgiveness:

 

P: Stir up Your Power, O Lord, and come. Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of Your birth, that we may receive You in joy and serve You always; For You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

 

C: Amen.

 

P. We remember the lights that we followed which we mistook for the true lights, we confess that we have blindly followed lights that led only to darkness, we remember the lights which promised to lead us to the true light which we have not followed.

 

C: Forgive us, Lord.

 

P. Our God, the true light, does indeed forgive us, renew us, and promise to lead us until we are safely in the light of His eternal glory.

 

Prayer of the day:      ,,.

 

Gracious and all‑loving God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus' presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus' presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of His glory, through this same Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

 

Opening Hymn:          "Hark, the Herald Angels"   (LBW 60)

 

Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled".

Joyful, all you nations rise; Join the triumph of the skies;

With angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain: Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newhorn King!"

 

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 God‑head see! Hail, incarnate deity!

Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Refrain:

               

 

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 we no more may die,

Born to raise each child of earth, Born to give us second birth.

Refrain:

 

 

Scripture Lesson: To Us a Child Is BornIsaiah 9:2‑7 (Anne)

 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: light has dawned upon them, dwellers in a land as dark as death. Thou hast increased their joy and given them great gladness; they rejoice in thy presence as men rejoice at harvest, or as they are glad when they share out the spoil; for thou hast shattered the yoke that burdened them, the collar that lay heavy on their shoulders, the driver's goad, as on the day of Midian's defeat. All the boots of trampling soldiers and the garments fouled with blood shall become a burning mass, fuel for fire. For a boy has been born for us, a son given to us to bear the symbol of dominion on his shoulder; and he shall be called in purpose wonderful, in battle God‑like, Father for all time, Prince of Peace. Great shall the dominion be, and boundless the peace bestowed on David's throne and on his kingdom, to establish it and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall do this.

 

Special music:            Christmas Duet              (Kirsten and Eric)

 

Hymn: "Mit Hjerte altid Vanker"      (# 198 DDK)

 

Mit hjerte altid vanker I Jesu føderum

Did samles mine tanker I deres hovedsum;

Der er min længsel hjemme, Der har min tro sin skat;

Jeg kan dig aldrig glemme, Du søde julenat!

 

But, oh, my heart is riven With grief and sore dismay

To see the Lord of Heaven Repose on straw and hay,

That He, whom angels offer Their worship and acclaim,

From sinful man must suffer Such scorn, neglect, and shame.     

 

En perle, der forgættes, Så nøje ledes op;

Den blanke demant sættes I gylden krones top;

Man kaster ej en drue Blandt tørre grene ned;

Skal jeg min Gud da skue I sådan usselhed?

 

The sparrow finds a gable Where it may build its nest,

The oxen know their stable For shelter, food, and rest.

Must then my Lord and Saviour A homeless stranger go,

Denied the simplest favour His lowly creatures know?

 

Ak, kom, jeg vil oplukke Mit hjerte, sjæl og sind

Med tusind længselssukke, Kom, Jesus, kom herind!

Det er ej fremmed bolig, Du har den dyre købt,

Her skal du blive trolig I kærligheden svøbt.

 

 

Scripture Lesson: God's Grace Has Appeared ‑ Titus 2:11‑14 (Rendell)

 

For the grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all mankind; and by it we are disciplined to renounce godless ways and worldly desires, and to love a life of temperance, honesty, and godliness in the present age, looking forward to the happy fulfillment of our hope when the splendour of our great God and Saviour

Christ Jesus will appear. He is it who sacrifices himself for us, to set us free from all wickedness and to make us a pure people marked out for his own, eager to do good.

 

Hymn:  "Good Christian Friends Rejoice"       (LBW 55)

 

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 !

 

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 ! .:

 

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 his everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save ! .:

 

 

Sunday School:           O Tannenbaum ! O Christmas Tree

Away in a Manger ­

 

Scripture Lesson: The Birth Of Jesus ‑ Luke 2:1‑12  (Danish) (Hanne)

 

Men det skete i de dage at der udgik en befaling fra kejser Augustus, at al verden skulle skrives i mandtal. (Det var den første indskrivning, sour skete, mens Kvirinius var landshøvding i Syrien). Og alle gik hen for at lade sig indskrive, hver til sin by. Og fordi Josef var af Davids hus og slægt, drog også han op fra Galilæa, fra byen Nazaret, til Judæa til Davids by, sour hedder Bethlehem, for at lade sig indskrive tillige med Maria, sin trolovede, sour var frugtsommelig. Og det skete, medens de var der, kom tiden, da hun skulle føde. Og hun fødte sin søn, den førstefødte, og svøbte ham og lagde ham i en krybbe, thi der var ikke plads til dem i herberget. I den samme egn var der hyrder, som lå ude på marken og holdt nattevagt over deres hjord. Og en Herrens engel stod for dem, og Herrens herlighed strålede over dem, og de blev grebet af stor frygt. Men engelen sagde til dem: "Frygt ikke; thi se, jeg forkynder eder en stor glæde, som skal være til hele folket. Thi eder er i dag en frelser født i Davids by; han er Jesus Kristus, Herren! Og dette skal være jer et tegn: I skal finde et barn svøbt og liggende i en krybbe."

 

Choir Anthem:            "This Peaceful Night"

 

Scripture Lesson: Adoration Of The Shepherd Luke 2:15‑20  (Samuel)

 

After the angels had left them and gone into heaven the shepherds said to one another, "Come, we must go straight to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with all speed and found their way to Mary and Joseph; and the baby was lying in the manger. When they saw him, they recounted what they had been told about this child; and all who heard were astonished at what the shepherds said. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered over them. Meanwhile the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for what they had heard and seen; it all happened as they had been told.

 

Choir Anthem:            "Ding‑Dong! Merrily on High"

 

Christmas Offering

 

Hymn: " Once in Royal David's City "        

 

Once in Royal David's city stood a lowly cattle shed,

When a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed;

Mary was the Mother mild, Jesus Christ the little Child.

 

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 Saviour holy.

 

And through all his wondrous childhood he would honour and obey,

Love and watch the lowly maiden in whose gentle arms he lay;

Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as he.

 

For he is our childhood's pattern: day by day like us he grew;

He was little, weak, and helpless; tears and smiles like us he knew;

And he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness.

           

Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by,

We shall see him; but in heaven, set at God's right hand on high,

When like stars his children crowned all in white shall wait around.

 

Reflection:      " Grace to You "

 

Hymn: "En rose så jeg skyde ‑ Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming"

 

En rose jeg skyde, op af den frosne jord.

Alt som os fordum spåde, profetens trøsteord.

Den rose spired frem

 Midt i den kolde vinter om nat ved Bethlehem.

 

Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind, ~,             `

With Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.                      

To show God's love aright,'

She bore to men a Saviour, when half spent was the night.

           

For rosen nu jeg kvæder om kap med Himlens hær;

En jomfru var hans moder, Maria ren og skær.

I ham brød lyset frem

Midt i den mørke vinter om nat ved Bethlehem.

 

O Saviour, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe;

O Saviour, King of Glory, who dost our weakness know,

Bring us at length we pray To the bright courts of heaven, and to the endless day.

 

Prayer:            Our Father/ Fader Vor

 

Closing remarks:       Chairperson: Don Findlay

 

 

Closing Hymn:           "Silent Night"

 

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,

 

Fred på jord, fryd på jord, Jesus‑barnet blandt os bor!

Engle    sjunge om barnet så smukt, Han har Himmerigs dør oplukt,

Salig er englenes sang.

 

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Hirten erst kundgemacht

Durch der Engel Halleluja, Tont es laut von fern and nah,

Christ, der Retter, ist da.:

 

O nuit d'amour! Sainte nuit! Dans l’étable, aucun bruit;

Sur la paille est couché l'enfant, Que la vierge endort chantant;

Il repose en ses langes, Son Jesus ravissant.

 

Salig fred, himmelsk fred Toner julenatt her ned.

Engler   bringer til store og små Bud om ham som i krybben lå

Fryd dig hver sjel han har frelst! .:

 

Silent night, Holy night! Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from your holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at your birth.:

 

Benediction

 

Deacon's prayer

 

Handbells:                    "Silent Night"

 

Organ Postlude:            "In Thee is Gladness" ‑            J. S. Bach


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Last Updated: 2003/01/20
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Chruch - Montreal