CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS SERVICE

“GOD’S LOVE AT CHRISTMAS”

PRESERVICE MUSIC

PROCESSIONAL HYMN “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” CW 19(Chancel/Cherub Choirs straight up on risers)St. 1 Cong. St. 2 Chancel/Cherub ChoirsSt. 3,4,5 ALL

1. O Lord, how shall I meet you, How welcome you aright? Your people long to greet you, My Hope, my heart’s Delight. O Jesus, let your Word be A lamp to light my way. To show me how to please you, To guide me ev’ry day.

(Chancel/Cherub Choirs) 2. Love caused your incarnation; Love brought you down to me. Your thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty.

Oh, love beyond all telling That led you to embrace In love, all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race!

3. Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted, Who sit in deepest gloom, Who mourn o’er joys departed And tremble at your doom.

Despair not; he is near you, He’s standing at the door Who best can help and cheer you And bids you weep no more.

4. Sin’s debt, that fearful burden, Let not your souls distress; Your guild the Lord will pardon And cover by his grace.

He comes, for you procuring The peace of sin forgiv’n, His children thus securing A heritage in heav’n.

5. He comes to judge the nations, A terror to his foes, A light of consolations, And blessed hope to those Who love the Lord’s appearing, O glorious Sun, now come,

Send forth your beams most cheering, And guide us safely home.

P: O Lord, open my lips.C: And my mouth shall declare your praise.P: It is good to give thanks to the Lord,C: To sing praise to your name, O Most High;P: To herald your love in the morning,C: Your truth at the close of day.P: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.C: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

PRAYER

P. Let us pray. Almighty God, who by the mouth of Your holy prophets did proclaim the coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Hope of Israel and Savior of the Nations, help us we pray to see Him rightly as our own Lord and Savior, and by true faith rejoice in Your salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C. Amen.

PLEASE SIT

Psalm 98 (in hymn form) “Joy to the World” CW 62Chancel/Cherub Choirs:Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing . . .

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let us our songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy . . .

ALL: He rules the world with truth and grace,and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love . . .

(Choirs to chairs)

PART I GOD LOVED ME BY MAKING A PROMISE

Narrator: God has loved mankind since the beginning. In six days, He created the universe to give us a place to live. (Display image of the world.)

Narrator: God wasn’t stingy, was He? He created everything we would need plus much more. Then after making such a beautiful home for us, God made Adam. He formed Adam out of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life. Adam was perfect, in body and in soul. God loved Adam and gave him a wife, Eve. God dearly loved Adam and Eve. (Place image of heart on the world.)They loved Him. Narrator: The Lord put Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden, where they had plenty of delicious fruit to eat all the time. He even gave them two special trees. The tree of life would keep them alive forever. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil would bring death. Every time Adam and Eve did not eat from that tree they were telling God, “We love You. We trust You.” The world was in perfect harmony. (Lift the heart and place white rose between heart and the world.)

Narrator: But an angel named Satan rebelled against God. Satan hated God and hated the people God had made. So Satan sought to trick Adam and Eve into disobeying God too. He lied, “God doesn’t want you to have everything good. He’s withholding good things from you. Eat fruit from the tree God has forbidden. Then you’ll be like God.” Narrator: Adam and Eve ate. Suddenly, they were terribly ashamed. They hid from each other with fig-leaf clothes. When they heard God coming, they were afraid, and so they hid from Him. They didn’t love God. They only loved themselves. (Cover entire image with black circle.)

CONGREGATION HYMN: “In Adam We Have All Been One” (Gr. 3-4 go up) CW 396

Narrator: That’s how each of us started out, also. Adam and Eve passed their sinfulness on to their children and their children’s children. Our par-ents started out in sin, and so have we. As St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2: Gr. 3-4: “You were dead in your transgressions and sins . . . you followed the ways of this world and . . . the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient . . . gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature. . . Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” Narrator: Like Adam and Eve, we all were dead in our sins, under Satan’s power. We rebelled against God in many ways. We did not love God, but He still loved us. The Lord came to Adam and Eve, but not to kill them as they feared. He was coming to tell them how He would rescue them. He still loved them, even though they had not loved Him. God said these words to Satan, but in them is a wonderful promise for us:Gr. 3-4: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Narrator: Satan would be defeated by the offspring of a woman. This was fulfilled when Jesus, born of Mary, died for us on the cross and defeated Satan.(Remove black heart cut-out shape from the circle to reveal the red heart beneath. Place image of black cross on red heart. Black circle remains.)

HYMN God Loves Me Dearly LAPPY 93 (5K-Gr. 2, Gr. 5-8 stand and turn to sing)

(4K goes up during singing)1. God loves me dearly,

Grants me salvation, God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

Refrain: Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly, God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

2.  I was in slav’ry, Sin, death, and darkness; God’s love was working To make me free. Refrain

4K RECITATION:Satan, Satan, cruel foe, (Pound fist into hand.)Eve and all he led to woe. (Shade eyes, lower head.)Yet to the serpent God did say, (Shake finger as if scolding or hand cupped at ear.)“I will rescue them this way”: (Cross one index finger over the other to make shape of a cross.)Jesus, Jesus was His plan; (Sign language for Jesus.)Born of Mary—God and man. (Hold baby in arms.)Though Satan bit—God’s Son lay dead;(Close fingers on thumb quickly.)Christ would crush the serpent’s head. (Stomp heel on floor.)

Father, Father, loves us so! (Cross arms.)Joyful news we gladly know. (Point index finger at side of forehead.)To rescue sinners—me and you— (Point at self, then congregation.)

He sent Jesus, Savior true. (Hold baby in arms or make sign of the cross.)

CONGREGATION HYMN “Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel” CW 23(4K goes down, Gr. 5-6 go up)

Gr. 3-8: Luther’s Explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles’ CreedI believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil.

(Gr. 3-4,7-8 sit)

* * *PART II GOD LOVED ME BY SENDING JESUS

Narrator: God promised Adam and Eve that a Savior would be born. For a long time, God’s people waited. Many people did not believe a Savior would ever come, but always there were some who believed. During the flood, only Noah and his family, eight people in all, believed and waited.

Gr. 5-6 sings:“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Narrator: The Son of God became a man in this way. Gr. 5-6: In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said,“ ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” (Remove black circle from rose.)

Narrator: Nine months later, Jesus was born. St. Luke tells us: Gr. 5-6 sings:In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galiliee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

(Gr. 5-6 goes down; 4K-Gr. 2 go up)

Kdg: “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and 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.”

4K-Gr. 2 “Still, Still, Still” LAPPY 289

1. Still, still still, Your heart with joy I’d fill.I’d sing you a song and watch by your manger,Guard you from harm and keep you from danger.Still, still, still, Your heart with joy I’d fill.

2. Sleep, sleep, sleep, ‘Mid the oxen and the sheep. The shepherds come to see your glory; Angels bend low to tell the story. Sleep, sleep, sleep, ‘Mid the oxen and the sheep.

3. Still, still, still, Within your holy will.To you, great God, my voice I’ll raise,With awe and wonder sing your praise.Still, still, still, Within your holy will.

Gr. 1: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”Gr. 2: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,” Gr. 1-2: “ ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Gr. 1-2 Sings: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Gr. 1-2: This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,4K-Gr. 2: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth to men on whom his favor rest.’

HYMN Angels We Have Heard on High CW 63

Gr. 1-2: 1. Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains.

4K- Gr. 2 Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.

All2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav’nly song? Refrain

3. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king. Refrain

(4K-Gr. 2 down, Gr. 3-4 up)

Gr. 3-4 girls: “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another: Gr. 3-4 boys: ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

Gr. 3-4 girls: “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, Gr. 3-4 boys: “And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”Gr. 3-4 all: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Gr. 3-4 “Gesu Bambino” with CONGREGATION “O Come, All Ye Faithful” CW 55

Gr. 3-4: When blossoms flowered ‘mid the snows Upon a winter night Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light. The angels sang, the shepherds sang, The grateful earth rejoiced, And at His blessed birth the stars Their exultation voiced: O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Again the heart with rapture glows To greet the holy night That gave the world its Christmas Rose, Its King of Love and Light. Let ev’ry voice acclaim His name, The grateful chorus swell, From Paradise to earth He came That we with Him might dwell: O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

All: God from true God, and Light from Light eternal, Born of a virgin, to earth he comes, Only begotten Son of God the Father.Refrain: 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 God, all glory in the highest: Refrain

(Gr. 3-4 down, Gr. 7-8 up)

* * *PART III GOD LOVED ME BY DYING AND RISING FOR ME

Narrator: Jesus loved us, so He came to save us. Those perfect little hands and feet would one day be pierced by nails to pay our debt of sin and die on the cross. That’s why He was named Jesus, as the angel said, “because He will save His people from their sins.” The Apostles John and Paul wrote:Gr. 7:  “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus himself said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”Narrator: St. John tells us that Jesus came and died for us that we might live forever: Gr. 8: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

(4K – Gr. 6 stand and turn)

4K-Gr. 2: With what did Jesus redeem you?Gr. 3-8: Not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.

HYMN God Loves Me Dearly LAPPY 93

3.  He sent forth Jesus, My dear Redeemer, He sent forth Jesus And set me free.

Refrain: Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly, God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

4.  Jesus, my Savior, Himself did offer; Jesus, my Savior, Paid all I owed. Refrain (4K-Gr. 6 sit)

* * *PART IV GOD LOVES ME BY GIVING ME LIFE FOREVER

Narrator: God gave Jesus’ new life to me in my Baptism. St. Paul tells us, Gr. 7: “We were therefore buried therefore with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection.”  (Remove black circle from blue portion.)

Narrator: God has still more promises for us. Because Jesus came, paid for all our sins, and rose from dead, all who believe in Him will rise from the dead too. Jesus said, Gr. 8: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” Narrator: Christians’ bodies will die, if Jesus doesn’t return first. But when Jesus returns, their bodies will rise from the dead. They will be made whole and good. Though our bodies will die, souls that trust in Jesus will never die. So believers will praise Jesus, our Savior, forever. As Psalm 146 declares, Gr. 8: “I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Narrator: Jesus has opened the way back to the tree of life, back to paradise, back to complete harmony and love with God. In Christ, we will praise God forever.(Add gold ring around entire image.) (4K-Gr. 6 stand, turn)

HYMN God Loves Me Dearly LAPPY 93

Congregation:5.  Now I will praise You,

O Love Eternal;Now I will praise You All my life long.

Refrain: Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly,

God loves me dearly, Loves even me. (Gr. 7-8 goes down, 4K-6 sit)

Offering “He Is Born, the Child Divine” LAPPY #102 JR. HANDBELLS

(4K-Gr. 8 stand)4K-Gr. 2: Why did Jesus redeem you?Gr. 3-8: That I should be His own and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

HYMN “Silent Night” German St. 1: 4K-Gr. 8 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schlaeft, einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar Schlaf’ in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf’ in himmlischer Ruh!

English St. 2,3: 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 light Radiant beams from thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at the birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Prayer/ Blessing

RECESSIONAL HYMN “Once in Royal David’s City” CW 50

All: 1.  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.

2. 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 mean and lowly Lived on earth our Savior holy.

Gr. 1-8 (from behind chairs at back of gym):3. But 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.

ALL:4. Not in that poor, lowly stable

With the oxen standing byShall we see Him, but in heaven,Set at God’s right hand on high.Then like stars His children, crowned,All in white, His praise will sound!

God’s Love at ChristmasA Christmas Service for School-Age ChildrenNote to the user: This copyright information is legally required to be included with any printed copies of this service.

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