WORSHIP THE KINGOrder of Service for Christmas Eve

PROCESSIONAL CAROL: HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING (Lutheran Hymnal 33)Children may enter in procession.

Hark! the herald angels singGlory to the new-born King;Peace on earth, and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled.Joyful, all ye nations, rise,Join the triumph of the skies;With the angelic host proclaim:Christ is born in Bethlehem.Hark! the herald angels sing,Glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,Christ, the everlasting Lord,Late in time behold him come,Offspring of a virgin's womb.Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;Hail, the incarnate Deity,Pleased as man with man to dwell,Jesus, our Immanuel!Hark! the herald angels sing,Glory to the new-born King.

PSALM 24:7-10 (NIV)P: Lift up your heads, O you gates;C: Be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.P: Who is this King of glory?C: The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.P: Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,C: That the King of glory may come in.P: Who is he, this King of glory?C: The Lord Almighty- he is the King of glory.P: Welcome to you all. We gather to celebrate the birthday of our King, Jesus Christ.In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,C: Amen.

CAROL: Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!Hail, the sun of righteousness!Light and life to all he brings,Risen with healing in his wings.Mild he lays his glory by,Born that man no more may die,Born to raise the sons of earth,Born to give them second birth.Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the new-born King.

PRAYER: We thank you, dear Lord Jesus, for coming to our world to save us from sin, death, and hell. Bless us tonight as we come to hear the Good News of your birth, and to worship you as our Saviour and King. Give us your Holy Spirit so that you will always live in our hearts by faith. Fill our lives with your love, so that others may see that you are the King of kings. Amen.

LESSON: May be read by on older child or adult.Matthew 2:1-6 or Titus 2:11-14

ADDRESS

CAROL: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL(Lutheran Hymnal 34: Sing to Jesus 97)

O come, all ye faithful,Joyful and triumphant,O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;Come and behold him,Born the king of angels:O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him,O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels,Sing in exultation,Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;Glory to GodIn the highest:O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

PART I: GOD'S PROMISE OF A KINGNARRATOR : The story of God's love began in eternity. Even before the world was made, God loved us with an everlasting love! Yes, even then God decided to send a Saviour King.

READER: 'All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning.' (Ephesians 1:11)

NARRATOR: God's promise to send a Saviour-King was first given to Adam and Eve. Later it was given to Abraham. But tonight we remember how this promise was given to King David. One day he said to the prophet Nathan:

DAVID: Nathan, the Lord has been very good to me, but here I am, living in a beautiful house of cedar, while the ark of God is kept in a tent. I want to build a special house for the Lord my God.

NATHAN: King David, do whatever you have in mind; the Lord is with you!

NARRATOR: But God had something better in mind. That night he spoke to Nathan and gave him a message to bring to David.

NATHAN: King David, I have a very special message from the Lord, just for you. You want to build a house for the Lord, but now this is what the Lord says, 'The Lord himself will establish a house for you. Your house and your kingdom will endure for ever before me, your throne will last forever.' (2 Samuel 7:11,16 NIV)

LIGHTING THE FIRST CANDLE-THE CANDLE OF PROMISEChild 2 holds a taper. Child 1 lights the taper and says his part.Child 2 lights the Candle of Promise while saying his part.

CHILD 1: God's promises are very precious to his people.

CHILD 2: They tell us that Jesus, the King, comes to rule in our dark world.

CAROL: JOY TO THE WORLD (Lutheran Hymnal 627: Sing to Jesus 95)

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

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns:Let men their songs employ,While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground,He comes to make his blessings flowFar as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of his righteousness,And wonders of his love.

NARRATOR: David wanted to build a house for God, but instead God said he would build a house for David that would never end. God meant that the royal line of David would last forever. One day a great descendant of David would be king over his people and his kingdom would last forever.David was a great king, but he was also weak and sinful.

READER: Many kings who followed David were wicked kings. They tried to rule without trusting God and his promises, and so they and God's people, too, fell away; their houses, their land, and their lives fell into ruin. As we remember their sins we see ourselves, for their sins remind us of our own.

Children hang up black hearts with the words SELFISH, GRUMBLING, and FIGHTING written on them.

CHILD 1: Many of God's people thought only of themselves; they became selfish. They grumbled against God and fought one another. Isaiah said of them:

READER: 'Every one of them does as he pleases...They are always rebelling against God, always lying, always refusing to listen to the Lord's teachings...They rely on violence and deceit.' (Is. 56:11; 30:9,12)

Children hang up black hearts with the words IMPATIENT, CRUEL and MEAN written on them.

CHILD 2: Many of God's people became impatient with God's promises; they became cruel and mean. God said to them:

READER: 'You put your trust in deceitful words. You steal, murder, commit adultery, tell lies under oath .. .' (Jer. 7:8-9)

Children hang up black hearts with the words UNFAITHFUL, PROUD and DISOBEDIENT written on them.

CHILD 3: Many of God's people worshipped other gods; they were unfaithful; they became proud and disobedient.

READER: 'The Lord God said, "Why have you made me angry by worshipping your idols and by bowing down to your useless foreign gods?'" (Jer. 8:19)

NARRATOR: This is the sad story of people who had God's precious promises, but who also had wicked hearts. The sad story is repeated wherever Christ is not king in people's lives.

READER: It seems that the house of David lies in ruins.

READER: But wait! God has not forgotten his promises to David, even if the people are sinful!

READER: 'The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants. The Spirit of the Lord will give him wisdom, and the knowledge and skill to rule his people. He will know the Lord's will and honour him, and find pleasure in obeying him.' (Is. 11:1-3a)

CAROL: ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY (Lutheran Hymnal 632/ Sing to Jesus 99)Once in royal David's cityStood a lowly cattle shed,Where a mother laid her babyIn a manger for his bed:Mary was that mother mild,Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heavenWho is God and Lord of all,And his shelter was a stable,And his cradle was a stall;With the poor and mean and lowlyLived on earth our Saviour holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him,Through his own redeeming love,

For that child so dear and gentleIs our Lord in heaven above;And he leads his children onTo the place where he is gone.

PART IITHE KING BORN IN A STABLE

NARRATOR: God had promised to build a house that would never fall down- David's royal family. This promise was like a bright light to God's faithful people which kept their hopes alive, even when around them, others were rebelling against him. Finally David's great descendant was born. Here is how it happened:

READER: 'At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire.'

READER: 'Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own town.'

READER: 'Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David.'

READER: 'He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.'

READER: 'She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger- there was no room for them to stay in the inn.' (Luke 2:1-14)

RECITATION: (By little children)Baby Jesus, sleeping softly, I love you. (Rest head on hands)Mother Mary says to Jesus, I love you. (Hold arms to rock baby)Shepherds come to see their Saviour, I love you. (Arms reach down as towards the manger)Angels singing words from heaven, I love you. (Arms stretched out like wings)Jesus says to all the children, I love you. (Point to self)Tells the mothers and the fathers, I love you. (Point to congregation)Takes our sins away and helps us, I love you. (Point to self)Hear King Jesus tell the people, I love you. (Point to self)

READER: 'There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them:

ANGEL: "Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Saviour was born- Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."

READER: Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:ALL:"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!"'

CAROL: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH(Sing to Jesus 84/ Together at Christmas 7)Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing o'er the plains;And the mountains in replyEchoing their joyful strains:Gloria in excelsis Deo,Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherd, why this jubilee?Why these songs of happy cheer?What great brightness did you see?What glad tidings did you hear?:Gloria in excelsis Deo,Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and seeHim whose birth the angels sing;Come, adore on bended kneeChrist, the Lord, the new-born King:Gloria in excelsis Deo,Gloria in excelsis Deo.

LIGHTING THE SECOND CANDLE -THE CANDLE OF JESUSChild uses taper to light this candle from the Candle of Promise.

CHILD 1: Jesus is the King God promised to send.

CHILD 2: Jesus is our King - the King who reigns forever!

NARRATOR: Men from the east who studied the stars came to worship King Jesus and to bring him gifts. They asked:

WISE MAN 1: 'Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east and we have come to worship him.'

READER: 'In the town of Bethlehem in Judea', they were told.

READER: 'And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the east. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.'

READER: 'They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him.'

WISE MAN 1: Here is my gift - gold for the King!

WISE MAN 2: Here is my gift of frankincense - for the Son of the most High God.

WISE MAN 3: Here is my gift of myrrh - for the King who will die for his people.

CAROL: SILENT NIGHT (Lutheran Hymnal 629/ Sing to Jesus 100)

Silent night, holy night!All is calm, all is brightRound yon virgin mother and child.Holy infant, so tender and mild,Sleep in heavenly peace,Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!Shepherds quake at the sight.Glory streams from heaven afar,Heavenly hosts sing: Hallelujah!Christ the Saviour is born,Christ the Saviour is born.

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

NARRATOR: The men from the east brought their gifts to Jesus, the King. God's gift to us is Jesus himself. God wanted David's descendants and his people to serve and obey him, but the people of Israel were sinful and often rebellious. Jesus was everything God wanted his people to be. He did not sin. Instead he came to die for our sins and to cover them up with his own perfect life.

CHILD 1: Jesus came as a man of peace. He overcame the things that frighten people. He stopped a fierce storm, drove out demons, and made dead people alive again.

A child hangs a crown with PEACE written on it over the black heart with FIGHTING on it.

CHILD 2: When people were proud and cruel to a sinful woman, Jesus was gentle and kind. He said, 'Go and sin no more'.

Crowns with the words GENTLENESS and KINDNESS are hung over PROUD and CRUEL.

CHILD 3: Jesus was full of goodness. He healed the sick, the blind, and the lame.

A crown with the word GOODNESS is hung over MEAN.

CHILD 4: When Jesus knew that he had to die for us, he did not run away, but prayed, 'Father, your will be done'. Jesus is a faithful king.

A crown with the word FAITHFULNESS is hung over UNFAITHFUL.

CHILD 5: When the nails were really hurting, Jesus did not hit back; he prayed, 'Father, forgive them'.

Crowns with the words PATIENCE and SELF-CONTROL are hung over IMPATIENT and SELFISHNESS.

CHILD 6: We are disobedient people, but Jesus loved us so much that he 'walked the path of obedience to God all the way to death- his death on the cross'. (Phil. 2:8)

A crown with the word LOVE is hung over DISOBEDIENT.

CHILD 7: Jesus did not grumble about his suffering. 'On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross.' (Heb. 12:2)

A crown with the word JOY is hung over GRUMBLING.

CAROL: AS EACH HAPPY CHRISTMAS(Lutheran Hymnal 631: Sing to Jesus 85)

As each happy ChristmasDawns on earth again,Comes the holy Christ-childTo the hearts of men.

Enters with his blessingInto every home,Guides and guards our footstepsAs we go and come.

PART IIIWHERE THE KING LIVES TODAY

NARRATOR: Jesus is the King! But is he King in our lives? Without Jesus there is no love, no joy, no peace. Jesus was born in a stable. Today he is born into the lives of all who believe in him as Lord and King.

READER: 'Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you.' (1 Cor. 6:19)

READER: 'In union with Christ you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through his Spirit.' (Eph. 2:22)

LIGHTING THE THIRD CANDLE - THE CANDLE OF FAITHChild uses taper to light this candle from the Candle of Christ.

CHILD 1: Jesus said, 'No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again'.

CHILD 2: Jesus said, 'Your light must shine before people (lights the Faith Candle) so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven'.

CAROL: O JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND KING(Tune: O Christmas Tree)

O Jesus Christ, our Lord and King,We come tonight to praise you!O Jesus Christ, our Lord and King,For all your gifts we thank you!You came to this poor world of sin,You came, God's love and peace to bring.O Jesus Christ, our Lord and king,We come to thank and praise you.

O Jesus Christ, our Lord and King,Teach us to love as you do.O Jesus Christ, our Lord and King,We cannot love without you.O make us humble, make us meek,To walk your way, your will to seek;O Jesus Christ, our Lord and King,Teach us to love as you do.

READER: John said of Jesus: 'Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another.'

Three large white hearts- LOVE, JOY, PEACE- are given to three children OR to some other worshippers

READER: Jesus wants us to love as he loves. When he rules in our hearts there is joy. He is the Prince of Peace. Through the Holy Spirit we receive the gifts of love, joy and peace.

Three large hearts- PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS- are given to three more children OR to other worshippers

READER: Jesus was patient with his disciples and with other people. He was kind to all and did only good to people. Through the Holy Spirit Jesus gives patience, kindness, and goodness to us.

Three large hearts - FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL- are given to three more children OR to other worshippers.

READER: Jesus obeyed his Father, was gentle, and never hit back at those who hurt him. Through the Holy Spirit he produces in us faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

NARRATOR: Jesus lives in everyone who believes in him as Saviour and King, and where he lives he brings his gifts. We worship our King for the new life and the gifts which he gives.

CAROL: AWAY IN A MANGER: (Lutheran Hymnal 634: Sing to Jesus 87)

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.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stayClose by me for ever, and love me, I pray.Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

Congregation stands

ELDER OR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER: We pray that Christ may make his home in your hearts through faith. May you have your roots and foundation in love, so that you may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep is Christ's love; and so may you be filled with all the fullness of God.

CONFESSION OF OUR CHRISTMAS FAITHP: Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,C: That the King of glory may come in.P: Who is he, this King of glory?C: The Lord Almighty- he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:9-10)

(Luther's explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed) I believe that Jesus Christ- true God, Son of the Fatherfrom eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary - ismy Lord. At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, alost and condemned person.He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil,not with silver or gold, but with his holy and preciousblood and his innocent suffering and death.All this he has done that I may be his own, live under him inhis kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness,innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from thedead and lives and rules eternally.This is most certainly true.

P: Pray that God will give you the power to live this confession in your lives. Christ is God's Christmas gift to us all. He rules in the hearts of all who believe in him. He brings his gifts to us. Let us respond by giving our lives to him in worship and service.

PRAYERCome, Lord Jesus Christ, and live in our hearts by faith.Give us the fruits of the Spirit, and help us to live our livesto the glory of God. We pray in your holy Name. Amen.

HYMN: LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING(Lutheran Hymnal 164)Congregation stands

Love divine, all loves excelling,Joy of heaven, to earth come down,Fix in us thy humble dwelling,All thy faithful mercies crown.Jesus, thou art all compassion,Pure unbounded love thou art;Visit us with thy salvation,Enter every trembling heart.

Finish then thy new creation,Pure and spotless let us be;Let us see thy great salvation,

Perfectly restored in thee;Changed from glory into glory,Till in heaven we take our place,Till we cast our crowns before thee,Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

P: To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God - to him be honour and glory forever and ever.C: All praise to Christ the King!

BENEDICTION:P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.All: Amen.

Originally prepared by the Board for Congregational Life of the Lutheran Church of Australia, 1986