Welcome

Sharing the Peace

Song Angels from the Realms of Glory Music: Henry T. Smart; Text: James Montgomery

Angels, from the realms of glory,

wing your flight o'er all the earth;

once you sang creation's story,

now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Come and worship, come and worship,

worship Christ, the newborn king.

Shepherds, in the fields 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.

Sages, leave your contemplations,

brighter visions beam afar;

seek the great desire of nations,

you have seen his natal star.

Come and worship, come and worship,

worship Christ, the newborn king.

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.

© Public Domain

Confession

Steadfast God, in this Advent season, 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 the magnificence of 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 Matthew 2:13-23

Message

Song In the Bleak Midwinter Music: Gustav Holst; Text: Christina Georgina Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter,

frosty wind made moan,

earth stood hard as iron,

water like a stone;

snow had fallen, snow on snow,

snow on snow,

in the bleak midwinter,

long ago.

Heaven cannot hold him,

nor earth sustain;

heav'n and earth shall flee away

when he comes to reign;

in the bleak midwinter

a stable place sufficed

the Lord God almighty,

Jesus Christ.

What can I give him,

poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb;

if I were a wise man

I would do my part;

yet what I can I give him—

give my heart.

© Public Domain

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 Once in Royal David's City Music: Henry John Gauntlett; Text: Cecil Frances Alexander

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.

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 meek and lowly,

lived on earth our Savior holy.

And 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.

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;

there his children gather round,

bright like stars, with glory crowned.

© Public Domain

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