WELCOME TO WORSHIP
In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we welcome you to St. Paul’s. We especially welcome our guests who have joined us today. We pray that your soul will be strengthened by the good news of God’s forgiveness through Jesus.
PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY’S WORSHIP
God in heaven, the day is here. Today we praise you for the day the Word became flesh. We thank you for prophesying his identity, his work, the uniqueness of his birth, and even the town where it all would be fulfilled. We especially thank you for fulfilling it all that Jesus could be our Savior. Bless us as we let our voices ring out in praise to you for sending the exact Savior we needed—both God and man. We ask this in the One who is both the Son of God and son of Mary. Amen.
A SERVICE OF WORD AND SONG
The service for today is a special service that guides us in our worship of Christ as the One who fulfilled God’s promises of a Savior born for the world.
CHOIR A Sequence of Christmas Carols
OPENING HYMN Of the Father’s Love Begotten | 35
INVOCATION
DIALOGUE OF PRAISE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
THE SAVIOR’S DIVINE CHARACTERISTICS
PROPHECY Isaiah 9:2,6,7 | Isaiah 11:1,2
FULFILLMENT John 1:1,14
CHOIR On This Holy Night
THE SAVIOR BORN OF A VIRGIN
PROPHECY Isaiah 7:14
FULFILLMENT Matthew 1:18-23 | Luke 1:30-35
HYMN What Child Is This? | 67
THE SAVIOR BORN IN BETHLEHEM
PROPHECY Micah 5:2
FULFILLMENT Luke 2:1-14
CHOIR Born in Bethlehem
APOSTLES’ CREED
OFFERING
HYMN Away in a Manger | 68
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | 61
PRAYER
BLESSING CLOSING HYMN Joy to the World | 62