The Nativity of Our LordChristmas Eve

December 24, 2019

SERVICE THEME:God So Loved the World

WELCOME — We are so glad that you have joined us for worship today! If you are a guest with us, please sign our guest register, which is located in the center entryway of the church. We welcome and encourage children to join our worship services! Enclosed “cry rooms” are available in the back of the church near the restrooms, if your child becomes restless. Pictorial children’s Bibles are available for children to use, on the table in the back of church. Please let us know if there is any other way we can be of service to you. Again, welcome! OUR MISSION — The mission of St. Andrew Lutheran Church is to guide people to know Jesus as their Savior, to grow in their faith, and to show Jesus to others. OUR BELIEF — We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the only source of all Christian doctrine and teaching. We believe that the only true God is the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that we are saved not by anything we do, but only through faith in Jesus Christ, who gave his life for our sins. We will be happy to tell you more about what we believe! OUR HISTORY — St. Andrew Lutheran Church was established in 1888 and is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a confessional Lutheran church body with over 1,200 congregations in North America and with more than 30 sister church bodies worldwide.

Church Office: 3650 S. Honore St., Chicago, IL 60609 (next door to church)Website: www.standrewchicago.org Office Phone: 773-376-5370Office Email: churchsecretary@standrewchicago.orgFacebook Page: www.facebook.com/standrewchicago/ Pastor: Adam Gawel, pastor@standrewchicago.org, cell: 773-383-2395

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Welcome to worship this Christmas Eve. Our worship theme, “God so loved the world,” is found in every Bible reading and song in the service. Christmas is not about a sentimental, warm, and fuzzy kind of love. The heart of Christmas is about God’s redeeming love—God’s rescue plan for  people who were alienated from him, despite all claims of reform, goodness, or morality. The human condition of sin separates people from God, and only his action could have solved that problem. The life, death, and resurrection of his Son has solved the problem. By trusting what Jesus has done for us, heaven awaits us, and we live life this side of heaven in loyal thanks for his rescue.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO TODAY’S SERVICE

OPENING HYMN – 52 – On Christmas Night All Christians Sing

Stand

EXHORTATION AND PRAYER

M: Beloved in Christ: In this Christmas season it is our duty and delight to hear again the message of the angels and, in heart and mind, to go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about, the Christ-child, lying in a manger.

Let us read and learn in Holy Scripture the story of the loving purposes of God from the first days after our fall into sin, to the glorious redemption brought to us by this holy child. Let us hear how peace was lost, and how peace is restored.

As we begin our worship, let us pray to God for his blessing:

Heavenly Father, we pray for ourselves and all people who worship you and your Son this holy night. By your holy Word, lead us to say with the angels:

C: Glory to God in the highest!

M: We pray for your blessing upon the people of our city, our state, our nation, and our world.

C: Glory to God in the highest!

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M: We pray for the poor and helpless, the cold and hungry, the sick and sad, that you would give them the joy of your salvation and the comfort of your presence.

C: Glory to God in the highest!

M: We pray for those who do not yet know or believe in you, that through your law and gospel you would lead them to recognize your Son, Jesus, as their only hope for eternal life.

C: Glory to God in the highest!

M: Finally, we give thanks to you for all those who rejoice with us in heaven, who live in greater light than we, that multitude that no one can count, who died in faith and now praise you in your heavenly temple. We confess that we are united with them and with one another.

C: Glory to God in the highest!

M: We humbly offer these prayers and praises in the words you're your Son, Jesus, himself taught us:

C: 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.

Be seated

FIRST LESSON – Genesis 3:8-15 – The Tragic Need for God’s LoveHumanity’s separation from God dates back to the fall into sin by the first humans, Adam and Eve. As tragic as this event was, the account of this event ends with God’s promise of rescue: one  special descendant of Eve, Jesus, the Savior, would ultimately defeat the devil and save people from sin, death, and hell.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

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10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

HYMN – 28 – Let the Earth Now Praise the LordStanza 1 speaks of God fulfilling his plan to send the Savior to rescue us from Eden’s curse.  Stanza 5 refers specifically to the words of God’s promise, that the Savior would crush the serpent’s head.

SECOND LESSON – Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 – God in Love Promises a Rescue In love, God promised a rescue already to Adam and Eve. Through the prophets in the Old Testament, God repeated that promise many times over, centuries before the birth of Jesus.

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

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HYMN – 62 – Joy to the WorldBoth Isaiah’s prophecy and this hymn speak of Christ’s eternal power and rule, but the last stanza of the hymn emphasizes the wonders of his love.

THIRD LESSON – John 1:1-14 – Love’s Wondrous IncarnationThe incarnation—God becoming human—is a mystery and a wonder on so many levels: that the pre-incarnate Christ (“the Word”) is co-eternal with the God the Father; that the eternal, all-powerful God would become human; but especially why God did that: to rescue us and give us the status of “children of God” (v. 12).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7

He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

HYMN – All Praise to You, Eternal God – printed on the following page – sung to the tune of CW 38; text from CW 33

We sing the words of this less-familiar hymn by Martin Luther to the tune of a well-known Luther hymn, “From Heaven Above to 

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Earth I Come.” The Christmas story is full of paradoxes. For example, the creator of the universe (stanza 2, John 1:3, 10) is born of a humble virgin. Note also how stanza 4 echoes the darkness/light imagery from John 1:5, 9.

FOURTH LESSON AND SERMON – John 3:16-18 – God So Loved the WorldWe become God’s children through faith — by trusting in God’s rescue plan, which cancels our alienation from him that was caused by our sin. 

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

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APOSTLES’ CREEDI believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

HYMN – 18 – O Lord, How Shall I Meet YouStanza 2 of this hymn emphasizes that it was the love of Jesus for us that caused him to take on human flesh and blood, and to  die and rise from the dead, in order to rescue “our lost and fallen race.”

FIFTH LESSON AND SONGS – Luke 2:1-20 – Love’s BirthWith John 3:16 and the thoughts from tonight’s sermon as context, we now hear the account of Jesus’ birth, read and recited by children of our Sunday school.

Luke 2:1-5In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

HYMN – 50 – Once in Royal David’s City

Luke 2:6-76 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and

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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.

CHILDREN SING – In a Little StableIn a little stableFar across the seaWas a little BabyJust like you and me.

Luke 2:8-128 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

DUET – The First Noel“Noel” is a French word meaning “Christmas” or “Christmas carol.” In this song, it refers to the announcement by the angels to the shepherds about the birth of the Savior, Jesus.

The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.

Luke 2:13-1413 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

HYMN – 63 – Angels We Have Heard on High – Sunday school children sing stanza 1; congregation sings stanzas 2 & 3

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Luke 2:15-2015 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

HYMN – 40 – O Jesus Christ, Your Manger IsSince Jesus’ manger “is my paradise” (that is, the source of true peace and joy), we joyfully depend on him in good times and bad (stanzas 3 and 4). Even in the face of all the wealth the world can offer (stanza 5), we “keep Christ as our true treasure.”

OFFERINGMembers of St. Andrew Lutheran Church use this time to respond to God’s goodness with gifts of thanks and love.  Our giving is guided by this Word of God: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, NIV).  If you are a guest with us today, please do not feel obligated to participate.  Online giving is also available to use; please see the announcement on page 15 of this service folder for more information.

SOLO – O Holy NightO holy night! The stars are brightly shining;It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.Long lay the world in sin and error pining,Till he appears and the soul felt its worth.A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

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Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices!O night divine, O night when Christ was born!O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand.So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,Here came the wise men from Orient land.The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,In all our trials born to be our friend.Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices!O night divine, O night when Christ was born!O night, O holy night, O night divine!

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLESThe pastor will light his candle from a candle on the altar. The ushers will light their candles from the pastor’s. The ushers will then light the candle of the worshipper at the end of each pew. Please light your candle from the person next to you, keeping the lit candles upright and only tipping the unlit candles.

HYMN – 60 – Silent Night! Holy Night – Sunday school children sing stanza 1 in English; soloist sings stanza 1 in German; congregation sings stanzas 2 & 3 in English

Sunday school children: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,Sleep in heavenly peace.

Solo:Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das heilege Eltern Paar, Das im Stalle zu Bethlehem war, Bei dem himmlischen Kind,

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Bei dem himmlischen Kind.All:Silent night! Holy night!Shepherds quake at the sight.Glories stream from heaven afar;Heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia;Christ, the Savior, is born!Christ, the Savior, is born!

Silent night! Holy night!Son of God, love’s pure lightRadiant beams from thy holy faceWith the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

PRAYERM: Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true light. Grant that as we have known on earth the wonder of that light, we may also behold him in all glory in the life to come; through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

Please blow out your candle at this time, and keep it upright for a minute to let the wax dry.

BLESSINGM: May he who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill us with such joy that comes with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And the blessing of God Almighty – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – be upon you and remain with you alwaysC: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN – 61 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AT ST. ANDREWDecember 24-31, 2019

Today 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship Service

Wednesday 9:30 AM Christmas Day Worship Service 7:00 PM 中文圣诞节敬拜 (Chinese

Christmas worship service)

Sunday 9:30 AM Worship Service10:45 AM Sunday School & Bible Study

Tuesday 12/31 7:00 PM New Year’s Eve Worship Servicew. Lord’s Supper

The paraments are white for the Christmas season. White is the color of purity and completeness. This color assists in bearing the message that "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah  1:18). Christ's purity before his Father becomes our purity. White reinforces that message of joy.

WELCOME, GUESTS! – We are happy to have you with us today! Please sign the guest register in the center church entryway so that we have a record of your visit. Our pastor, Adam Gawel, would be happy to meet with you if you would like. Please join us for worship or Bible study again soon!

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S WORSHIP SCHEDULE; CHINESE SERVICEOn Christmas Day (Wed., Dec. 25) at 9:30 a.m., we will have a festival worship service. On New Year’s Eve (Tue., Dec. 31) at 7:00 p.m., we will have a worship service with Lord’s Supper. Please mark your calendars and invite your friends to join us for these special worship services! Also, new this year is a Chinese worship service on Christmas Day at 7:00 p.m. Although the whole worship service will be in Mandarin Chinese, you are welcome to join to share the joy of Christmas with our Chinese brothers and sisters, and to witness the baptism of five individuals in that service: Guan Fengyong, Yang Shuang, Jin Qian, Jin Hong, and Qiu Zhi. Please pray for God’s blessing on them! If you wish to invite a Chinese friend to join that worship service, you may show

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them the following: 欢迎您参加我们教会的圣诞节中文敬拜！12 月25 日晚上 7:00 在圣安得烈基督教会之教堂（地址是 3658 S. Honore St.，在麦金利公园区）进行敬拜。欢迎您参加！若有问题，请联系高乐仁牧师；他的电话号码是 773-383-2395。ADVENT/CHRISTMAS DEVOTION BOOKLETS AVAILABLEIf you haven’t received one yet, please pick up a copy of the Advent/Christmas devotion booklet entitled “Christ Is the World’s Light,” from one of the church entryways. Though Advent is now over, the meditations are suitable for devotional use throughout the Christmas season.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE BAKE-SALEThank you to all who baked, packed, and purchased cookies for the St. Andrew Mission Society Christmas cookie bake sale. Between sale of the cookies and a matching donation, over $600 was raised, which will be used to support mission work affiliated with our church body.

DID YOU LOSE YOUR APPLE AIRPODS CHARGER CASE?An Apple AirPods charger case was found in front of the church building on Sunday (Dec. 8). If it is yours, please speak with an usher or Pastor Gawel to retrieve it.

MEMBER INFORMATION UPDATE FORMIf you have not done so yet, please fill out a member information update form for yourself, your spouse, and your children under 18 / other dependents, so that we can update our records and be able to contact you when needed. Forms and pens are available in the church entryways, and completed forms can be returned to an usher or church secretary Margie Hendricks. Thank you!

“EVERY MEMBER VISITS” WITH PASTOR GAWELPastor Gawel would like to meet individually with all the adult members of St. Andrew (or with married couples together), so that he can get to know everyone better and to see if there is any way that he or the church can serve you better spiritually. Pastor Gawel is willing to meet with you at your home, at a coffee shop or other venue near your home or workplace, or at our ministry center (next door to church). Please

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speak with Pastor Gawel, or call or text him at 773-383-2395, to schedule a time for a visit.

MEDITATIONS DEVOTION BOOKLETS AVAILABLEMeditations daily devotion booklets are available in the information rack in the center entryway. Feel free to take one for use in your personal devotions.

ONLINE GIVING AVAILABLESt. Andrew Lutheran Church is set up to receive online donations. There are a number of ways to do that. Step-by-step instructions with screen-shots are available in the center church entryway, for both the mobile app “Give+” (from Vanco) and the giving page through our church website (go to standrewchicago.org and click on the “Giving” tab). Or, scan this QR code with your smartphone. Please contact St. Andrew’s elder for stewardship, Sam DeLaurentis delaurentis.sam@gmail.com, with any questions.

SERMONS AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING, DOWNLOAD, AND PODCASTINGIf you miss the Sunday sermon, would like to listen to it again, or would like to share it with a friend, audio recordings of the sermons are archived on our church website, posted weekly to our church Facebook page, and are available for podcasting (quick links and instructions available on our website). Go to http://standrewchicago.org/sermons/ to listen! Service folders are also available for download on our church website: http://standrewchicago.org/bulletins

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHINESE GROUP BIBLE STUDYOn Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm in the ministry center (the house next door to church), there is a Chinese group Bible study. New friends are always welcome to join! Please invite any Chinese friends or neighbors. You may share with them the following invitation: 每周三晚上 7:00，圣安得烈基督教路德宗教会之福音事工中心（教堂隔壁的房子）有成人中文圣经学习。欢迎您参加！事工中心楼上设有活动间供儿童使用；欢迎小孩跟家长一起来！地址是 3650 S. Honore St.（在麦金利公园区）。高乐仁牧师的电话号码是 773-383-2395。

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BIBLE INFORMATION CLASSIn Bible Information Class, we study the main teachings of the Christian faith. Adults and teens who would like to become members of St. Andrew are encouraged to attend this class to learn what St. Andrew teaches according to God’s Word. This class is also open to anyone who is interested in learning more about what the Bible teaches and what Christians believe, with no requirement to join the church after the course is finished. Pastor Gawel is able to teach the class in English and Chinese, and course materials are also available in Spanish and other languages, as an aid for those whose first language is not English or Chinese. If you or someone you know are interested in starting this class, please contact Pastor Gawel to set up a time.

Income needed each month Offerings received in November$11,840.00 $8,508.84

Offerings received last Sunday: $1,292.32(needed each week: $2,732.31)

Offerings received so far this month: $9,669.76

December head usher: Dale TaylorAssistant ushers: Tom Pindelski & George LawsonPianist: Liz FonsecaSoloists: Sylvia Fonseca & Sophia Gawel; Tom Pindelski; Mike Starr Jr.Readers: Matt & Ryan Evans; Hailey Taylor; Ian & Keira Nichols; children of St. Andrew’s Sunday schoolMusic and liturgy printed under OneLicense # A-714339Scripture readings are from the Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2018 by the Wartburg Project, www.wartburgproject.org

Please take this service folder with you and continue to meditate on the good news of God’s love for you contained in the Bible readings!

A very blessed Christmas to you!

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