(no audio) ♪ 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 ♪ (cheerful Christmas music) ♪ 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 through all His wondrous childhood ♪ ♪ He would honor and obey ♪ ♪ Love and watch the lowly maiden ♪ ♪ In whose gentle arms He lay ♪ ♪ Christian children all must be ♪ ♪ Mild, obedient, good as He ♪ ♪ For he is our childhood's pattern ♪ ♪ Day by day, like us He grew ♪ ♪ He was little, weak and helpless ♪ ♪ Tears and smiles like us He knew ♪ ♪ And He feeleth for our sadness ♪ ♪ And He shareth in our gladness ♪ ♪ And our eyes at last shall see Him ♪ ♪ Through His own redeeming love ♪ ♪ For that Child so dear and gentle ♪ ♪ Is our Lord in Heaven above ♪ ♪ And He leads His children on ♪ ♪ To the place where He is gone ♪ (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) ♪ 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 ♪ ♪ Where like stars His children crowned ♪ ♪ All in white shall wait around ♪ (singing continues) Beloved in Christ, this day let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels.

And to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass and the babe lying in the manger.

Therefore, let us hear again from holy scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days until the glorious redemption brought us by this holy child.

And let us make this house of prayer glad with our carols of praise.

But first, because this of all things, would rejoice Jesus' heart, let us pray to him for the needs of the whole world and all his people, for peace upon the Earth He came to save, for love and unity within the one church he did build, for goodwill among all peoples.

And particularly at this time, let us remember the poor, the cold, the hungry, the oppressed, the sick, and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged, and the little children and all who know not our Lord Jesus or who love him not or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light.

That multitude who no one can number, whose hope was in the word made flesh and with whom in this Lord Jesus, we forever are one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of Heaven in the words that Christ himself has taught us.

[Congregation] 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.

May the Almighty God bless us with divine grace.

May Christ give us the joy of everlasting life and unto the fellowship of the citizens above, may the spirit of love bring us all.

Amen.

(cheerful Christmas music) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) ♪ The angels sang to the shepherds three ♪ ♪ As they knelt on bended knee ♪ ♪ Christ is born this holy morn ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see ♪ ♪ The shepherds left the hillside bare ♪ ♪ Traveled over the meadows fair ♪ ♪ Till in awe the Child they saw ♪ ♪ Lying in a manger there ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) ♪ May we, like those three shepherds poor ♪ ♪ Come the Christ Child to adore ♪ ♪ May we here, every year ♪ ♪ Worship within the church's door ♪ ♪ Then may we, with joyful call ♪ ♪ Carry the news outside this hall ♪ ♪ Thus we'll share, everywhere ♪ ♪ God's great gift to one and all.

♪ (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpents head.

and they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

But the Lord God called the man and said to him, "Where are you?"

And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself."

He said, "Who told you that you were naked?

Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

The man said, "The woman whom though gave us to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree and I ate."

Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?"

The woman said, "the serpent beguiled me and I ate."

The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle and above all wild animals.

Upon your belly you shall go and dust you shall eat, all the days of your life.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed.

He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel."

And to the man he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, you shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you.

In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life, thorns and thistles, it shall bring forth for you.

And you shall eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread until you return to the ground.

For out of it you are taken.

You are dust, and to dust you shall return.

The Word of the Lord.

[Congregation] Thanks you, God.

(choir singing in foreign language) ♪ Adam lay ybounden ♪ ♪ Bounden in a bond ♪ ♪ Four thousand winter ♪ ♪ Thought he not too long ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) ♪ And all was for an apple ♪ ♪ An apple that he took ♪ ♪ As clerkes finden ♪ ♪ Written in their book ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) ♪ Ne had one apple taken been ♪ ♪ The apple taken been ♪ ♪ Ne had never Our Lady ♪ ♪ A been Heaven's Queen ♪ ♪ Blessed be the time ♪ ♪ That apple taken was ♪ ♪ Therefore we moun singen, we moun singen, we moun singen ♪ ♪ Singen singen singen ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) The Angel Gabriel salutes the Virgin Mary.

In the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.

And to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the virgin's name was Mary.

And he came to her and said, "hail, oh favored one.

The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at the saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.

And the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you'll conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the son of the most high.

And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

And of His kingdom there will be no end.

And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be since I have no husband?"

And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you.

Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the son of God."

And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

Let it be to me according to your word."

And the angel departed from her.

The Word of the Lord.

[Congregation] Thanks be to God.

(cheerful Christmas music) ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ ♪ O, the rising of the sun ♪ ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ ♪ The playing of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ (cheerful Christmas music continues) ♪ The holly bears a blossom ♪ ♪ As white as lily flower ♪ ♪ And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ To be our dear Savior ♪ ♪ The rising of the sun ♪ ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ ♪ The playing of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ (cheerful Christmas music continues) ♪ The holly bears a berry ♪ ♪ As red as any blood ♪ ♪ And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ To do poor sinners good ♪ (cheerful Christmas music continues) ♪ The rising of the sun ♪ ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ ♪ The playing of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ (singing continues) Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered and she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Word of the Lord.

[Congregation] Thanks be to God.

(choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) ♪ Come and hear the angels sing ♪ ♪ Glory to the newborn king ♪ ♪ Hear them tell about his birth ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord has come to Earth ♪ ♪ Come and see the baby boy ♪ ♪ Born to bring us peace and joy ♪ ♪ See him sleeping in a stall ♪ ♪ Baby Jesus, Lord of all ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) ♪ Come and worship Him, rejoice ♪ ♪ To the Savoir lift your voice ♪ ♪ Worship Him and sing Noel ♪ ♪ He is born, Emmanuel ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) The shepherds go to the manger.

And in that region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear.

And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people.

For to you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord.

and this will be a sign for you.

You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest.

And on Earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased."

When the angels went away from them into Heaven, the shepherd said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

The Word of the Lord.

[Congregation] Thanks be to God.

(cheerful Christmas music) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (cheerful Christmas music continues) (cheerful Christmas music) ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Joseph, Mary, with their humble son ♪ ♪ Hurry, hurry, day is almost done ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Falling fast asleep, do not make a sound ♪ ♪ Hurry, hurry, come and gather 'round ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Joseph, Mary, see the babe so small ♪ ♪ Hurry, hurry, Jesus set them all ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Little gray donkey ♪ ♪ Clip clop, clip clop, on the way to Bethlehem ♪ (audience applauds) (cheerful Christmas music) ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ While shepherds kept their watching ♪ ♪ Over silent flocks by night ♪ ♪ Behold throughout the heavens ♪ ♪ There shone a Holy light ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ The shepherds feared and trembled ♪ ♪ When, lo above the Earth ♪ ♪ Rang out the angel chorus ♪ ♪ That hailed our Savior's birth ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ Down in a lowly manger ♪ ♪ Our humble Christ was born ♪ ♪ And brought to us salvation ♪ ♪ That blessed Christmas morn ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ (audience applauds) The Wise Men are led by the star of Jesus.

Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King, behold, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.

And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet.

and you, o Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah.

For from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel."

Then Herod summoned the Wise Men secretly and ascertained from them what time the store appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem saying, "Go and search diligently for the child and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.

When they had heard the king, they went their way and lo the star which they had seen in the east went before them till it came to rest over the place where the child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy and going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myr.

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The word of the Lord.

[Congregation] Thanks be to God.

(cheerful Christmas music) ♪ Sing this night for a boy is born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Christ our Lord in a lowly manger lies ♪ ♪ Bring your gifts come and worship at his cradle ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ Angels bright come from Heaven's highest glory ♪ ♪ Bear the news with its message of good cheer ♪ ♪ Sing, rejoice for a King is come to save us ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See, he lies in his mother's tender keeping ♪ ♪ Jesus Christ in her loving arms asleep ♪ ♪ Shepherds poor, come to worship and adore him ♪ ♪ Offer their humble gifts before the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ Let us pay our homage at the manger ♪ ♪ Sing his praise on this joyful Christmas Night ♪ ♪ Christ is come, bringing promises of salvation ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.

In Him was life and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

He came for testimony to bear witness to the light that all might believe through Him.

He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light, the true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not.

He came to His own home and His own people received Him not, but to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth.

We have beheld His glory.

Glory is of the only Son from the Father.

The Word of the Lord.

[Congregation] Thanks be to God.

(cheerful Christmas music) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) The Lord be with you.

[Congregation] And also with you.

Let us pray.

Oh God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only son, Jesus Christ.

Grant that we who joyfully receive him as our redeemer may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our judge.

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

Amen.

(cheerful Christmas music) ♪ O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining ♪ ♪ It is the night of our dear Savior's birth ♪ ♪ Long lay the world in sin and error pining ♪ ♪ 'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth ♪ ♪ A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices ♪ ♪ For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn ♪ ♪ Fall on your knees ♪ ♪ O hear the Angel voices ♪ ♪ O night divine, O night ♪ ♪ When Christ was born ♪ ♪ O night divine, O night ♪ ♪ When Christ was born ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) May He who by his incarnation gathered into one all things earthly and heavenly grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always.

Amen.

♪ O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant ♪ ♪ O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ O 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 ♪ ♪ God of God, light of light ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) ♪ 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 ♪