St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve Service , December 24, 2003

(Photo by Jette or Tony Blair)

Altar Prepared for Christmas Eve

Pastor's Christmas Reflection

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.... (John 3:16)

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness of his faith. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy-white to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and the firmness of God's promises.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also be thought to represent the staff of the Good Shepherd with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, and by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. The candy became known as the candy cane-a decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there.

During this Christmas season, let us reflect on the real meaning of the season. It is one season we can use like no other to bring the focus on Christ. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us." Have a blessed and Merry Christmas.

The peace of Christ is a gift. It's Christmas! May the peace of Christ be yours this day!
Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year, Glædlig Jul og Godt Nytår,
Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!

(Photo by Jette or Tony Blair)

The New Advent Candle Holder

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE
December 24, 2003 - 4:00 P. M.

Handbells - Call to worship: “O come all ye Faithful”

Organ Prelude: ‘ From heaven Above to earth I come’ by J. Pachelbel

Oh, come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethelehem;
Come and behold him born the king of angels;
: Oh, come, let us adore him, oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

The highest, most holy, light of light eternal,
Born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;
Son of the Father now in flesh appearing! Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God in the highest: Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: Refrain

Welcome and Announcements

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!

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.

Childrens’ Time:

It came upon a midnight clear, That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heav’n’s all gracious king.”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heav’nly music floats o’er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hov’ring wing,
And ever o’er its babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

And you, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow:
Look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing;
Oh, rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing!

For lo! The days are hast’ning on, whose forms are bending low,
When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling,
And all the world give back the song which now the angels sing.

Scripture Reading: The Promise of a Just Ruler – Micah 5:2-5 (Reader: Roger)
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil, we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers.

En rose så jeg skyde, of 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.

Scripture Reading: The Birth of Jesus Foretold – Luke 1:26-33 (Reader: Jette)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

The first Noel the angel did say was to certain good shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Refrain

And by the light of that same star three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain

This star drew near to the north-west, o’er Bethelehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain

Then entered in those Wise Men three, full rev’rently upon their knee,
And offered there in his presence their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. Refrain

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, som 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 Davis by, som hedder Bethlehem, for at lade sig indskrive tillige med Maria, sin trolovede, som 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: “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”

Scripture Reading: The Birth Of Jesus – Luke 2:1-7 (Reader: Susan)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Hymn: “Dejlig er Jorden” (DDK # 37, LBW # 518)

Dejlig er jorden! Prægtig er Guds Himmel!
Skøn er sjælenes pilgrimsgang!
Gennem de favre riger på jorden
Går vi til Paradis med sang.

Beautiful Saviour, King of creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love thee, truly I’d serve thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.

Tider skal komme, tider skal henrulle,
Slægt skal følge slægters gang;
Aldrig forstummer tonen fra himlen
I sjælens glade pilgrimssang.

Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight,
Bright the flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels in the sky.

Englene sang den først for markens hyrder;
Skønt fra sjæl til sjæl det lød:
Fred over jorden! Menneske fryd dig:
Os er i dag en frelser fød!

Scripture Reading: The Angel Appears – Luke 2:8-14 (Reader: Anne)
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,"Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

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 proclain, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Refrain: Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn 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: Adoration Of The Shepherd – Luke 2:15-20 (Reader: Pr. Samuel King-Kabu)
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Special Music: Viola da Gamba ( part i Richard Sumarte, part ii Henry Butler, Thomas Jocks)

Hymn: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (LBW # 41)

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love;
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth!

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!

Pastor's Reflection:

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its King;
Let every heart prepare him room
Refrain: And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns! Let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Refrain: Repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sin and sorrow grow nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Refrain: Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
Refrain: And wonders of his love.

Closing remarks: (Vice President, Anne Jørgensen)

Benediction

Deacon's prayer:

Closing Hymn: “Silent Night” (LBW 65)

G. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja, Tönt es laut von fern und nah,
:. Christ, der Retter, ist da.:

F. 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 Jésus ravissant.

N. 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! .:

E. 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.:

Handbells: “Silent Night”

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

Our thanks to Julia Shantz, organist and music director. Special music by Thomas Jocks, St. Ansgar’s handbell choir, and St. Ansgar’s choir.

Many thanks to our lectors: Hanne, Jette, Anne, Roger, and Susan.

Thanks also to each and everyone of you for making this a festive evening. May the miracle and wonder of the Christ –child’s birth fill your hearts with peace, joy happiness and love, this Christmas and everyday of the coming year.

To all members and friends of St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church, thank you for your generous support and ministry in this parish in Montreal. May God continue to bless and use you as His hands, feet, and voice to reach out to others with grace, love, kindness, and acceptance.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA MEMORIALS - 2003

TO REMEMBER

Frederikke Smith
Kristensen Family
Tage Christensen
Poul Andresen
Bent B. Hylland
Alex Blair & Henning Stoffregen
Lorraine & Robert Kinnu
Anna & Marinus Christiansen
Knud Eriksen
Anna & Marinus Christiansen
Karen & Richard Baur,
Marguerite and Joe Jocks
Bourgeois Family and friends
Kris Krogh
Thomsen Family and friends
Anne-Marie & Niels Christoffersen

(Donor's names and comments have not been cited in this Web version, for confidentiality)