by Pastor David Johnson, Copyright 2006
[The sections and divisions of this liturgy are designed to allow a variety of participants to lead the service as readers while others are involved in placement of Advent decorations. “Parts” may be assigned as appropriate. This service may comprise an “adult Christmas program” where there are few children in a congregation. Links to several websites relating to the ethnic background and flavor of our Silverhill community are embedded within this web rendition of our service as reference sources to some material within this service.]
Welcome, Offering, and Invocation.
Welcome to worship at Zion Lutheran Church this First Sunday of Advent and to our “Hanging of the Greens” Sunday. It is unusual, but to facilitate the flow of our service, we will begin with our offering for just a moment before we continue.
Action: Offering received and NOT taken to the altar, but retired from the congregation.
Do you wonder how Scandinavians a hundred years ago ended up in Silverhill, Alabama? How about the Czechs and the Slavs of Bohemia--how did they get here? Do you wonder how they brought Christmas with them and that we celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus now a hundred years later? Join us now as we remember the founders of our town of Silverhill and of this little Lutheran Church begun in the Christmas Season in 1905. Let us begin by seeking the Lord’s blessing on our time this morning and on our special worship service.
Father God, Son of God, Holy Spirit--Help us laud and magnify Your Holy Name and raise up the Name of Jesus as we begin the Advent Season of the Church Year. Bless our keeping of Christmas this season. Bless our desires to honor our Lord and Savior Whose birth we remember and Whose life we treasure. Bless our storytelling and our remembering of the blessed events that brought the Savior of the world to the little town of Bethlehem and to our little town of Silverhill. Amen
Where Did We Come From?
Our church comes from the “Old Country.” For some of us, that means Norway or Finland or Bohemia or elsewhere. For Oscar Johnson and the developers of Silverhill in 1896, it meant Sweden. We can even name specific places in Sweden from which our first Zion church members came. We know that places in a variety of Old Countries were left because of poverty and a poor economy. For example, about one in five Swedes did not live in Sweden by 1900. We think sixteen of them ended up here in Silverhill wanting to be Lutheran Christians. Augustana Lutheran Pastor Hedberg from Thorsby began coming to Silverhill in 1897. But Hedberg’s successor, Pastor Hartelius, was to make Zion’s first Christmas in 1905 very special. He agreed to come every other month to bring Swedish Lutheran worship here to Silverhill beginning in 1906. Those Zion Swedes were excited that Christmas in 1905, because that decision and commitment from Pastor Hartelius was made on December 18, 1905. Over the years we know that Norwegians and Finns and Czechs immigrated to Baldwin County, each bringing with them their Christmas traditions. We remember the desire of all who came to Silverhill for a new life with a desire to establish a new home.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #326)
(congregation stands)
O give us homes built firm upon the Savior,
Where Christ is Head and Counselor and Guide;
Where ev’ry child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho’ his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!
O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho days be dark and grim.
O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where pray'r comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to evr'y tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.
Action During Music: Finnish, Bohemian, Norwegian, and Swedish flags or clothing may be draped over the altar rail.
(congregation seated)
What About a Bible Connection?
We trace our Zion Lutheran Church to that decision at Christmas time in 1905. But do you ever wonder about what came before that? We could talk about the Lutheran Church of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, or Finland and the Reformation. We could look at the coming of Christianity to the Nordic peoples at the end of the Dark Ages or early Middle Ages. But you know, how did those people end up on the Scandinavian Peninsula--where did they come from?
Here it comes, the Bible Connection! There are those who are convinced that these peoples actually originated near the Black Sea. They were displaced before the Greeks and the Romans began recording of history. This group had already migrated and were living in the Baltic and North Sea area by then, a region called “Thule” by the Romans and “Scandia” by the Greeks. There are those who proclaim the Northern Europeans as descendants of Noah, the grandson named “Ashkenaz.”
How technical should we get? Japheth was one of three sons on Noah’s ark. Japheth had a son named Gomer who had a son named Ashkenaz. But Japheth also had a son named Tiras. Their offspring amalgamated into the Nordic peoples. It is an interesting story, and it connects this church with Noah in a way.
In 79 AD Plinius the Elder wrote about an island peninsula in the north populated by a variety of names we associate with the Baltic. In 98 AD Tacitus wrote about northern Europe where a people lived off the ocean using fleets of boats with a prow at each end. They used no sail, only paddles, and the sailors were strong and well-armed. There are archaeological records of these longships from about the 4th century BC. About 120 AD Ptolemy of Alexandria created the first map of the northland and identified the "Gotarne", "Heruls", "Sviar" and "Finnar" as living on the Scandinavian peninsula islands. We know those same boat people were plying the rivers of Eastern Europe.
By the time we get to the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, and the Modern Age, there is lots more history, but we don’t need to go there. You and I are here at Zion Lutheran Church and we are celebrating the coming of Christ because of the faithfulness of Noah and his family, no matter how we trace our lineage. As we sing our next hymn, we see our Bible opened to the story of Noah. Click here to learn more.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #4)
(congregation stands)
Rejoice, all ye believers, and let your lights appear.
The evening is advancing, and darker night is near.
The Bridegroom is arising, and soon He draweth nigh.
Up, pray, and watch, and wrestle: At midnight comes the cry.
Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear!
Arise, Thou Sun so longed for, over this benighted sphere!
With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth’s redemption that brings us unto Thee.
Action During Music: Opening of the Bible to the story of Noah.
Responsive Reading
Leader: Advent is a time of expectation and looking forward to the Christ of Christmas. We remember what God has done to bring salvation to our lost and sinful world.
Congregation: We remember the events of our fall into sin in the Garden of Eden and the giving of the promise that there would be restoration through God’s own plan.
Leader: We remember the saints of the Old Testament through whom the prophecies and renewed promises of our Heavenly Father were given. We remember prophets and Holy Parents and shepherds in fields and wise men and trips into Egypt and to Nazareth.
Congregation: And we look with expectation to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His first coming to Bethlehem and to His final coming to the Mount of Olives on the Last Day. We remember God’s goodness and kindness to us and we seek to honor Him this First Sunday of Advent.
(congregation seated)
What Advent Is All About
The Holy Season of Advent begins the Church Year. Literally the word “Advent” is composed of two parts, The root components are “ad” meaning “to” and “vent” meaning "coming." The Advent Season looks for the Christ that will be “coming to” us at Christmas. It is a time to get ready for that coming.
Today the Christmas Season seems to start before Halloween when the first Christmas trees and ornaments begin to pop up in the stores. Decorations and presents are not the way that we get ready for Jesus’ birth, however. For the last 2000 years people have looked in expectation of the Savior at Christmas. The church has looked for clues in God’s Word for that actual birth. People have searched the Bible to find the plan of Salvation, the joyful plan of Redemption that begins with the birth of a little baby, Baby Jesus.
So today with this Advent, we are going to join the church of history and find the meaning of Christmas by remembering especially our Biblical traditions. Yes, we will see God's love in Christ's birth in a barn. We will look past that stable to His sacrificial death on the cross, and on to His resurrection, and we will close our Advent worship this morning with the Holy Eucharist, Christ’s gift to us the night in which He was betrayed. Promise, Birth, Death, Resurrection--all Seasons of the church year direct us to the hope of Christ's coming again as the King of kings and Lord of Lords. His Holy Supper reminds us that our Lord does not forget His promises.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #5)
(congregation stands)
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Action During Music: The Communion Setting is placed on the altar.
(congregation seated)
Christmas Back Then
Swedish Webmaster Ingegerd Ivarsson on her website (Click here to learn more) connects the past with the present this way: “The old ... Christmas celebrations is most clearly visible when you look at the food, the Christmas Smorgasbord, all the dishes made of pork, but the Christmas Eve food in Sweden has some ... ‘lutfisk’ and other fish dishes. The housewives have a hectic time before Christmas to prepare all the traditional dishes and make all the baking of the coarser bread for the ‘smorgasbord’ and baking for the sumptuous coffee table. There you traditionally can find saffron buns, fruit cakes, Christmas ginger biscuits and a lot of other biscuits and cookies. Every family has their own specialties. But nowadays in many homes you don't prepare such a lot of food and cookies as you did before.” In Silverhill they no doubt had dried “boards of lutefish” that the Swedes bought at the grocery--they had to soak them in water for days to get the lye out before they were turned into a Christmas feast of Lutefisk. The Bohemians had their “Christmas Carp” tradition, but we do not know how that might have come to Baldwin County. Click here to learn more.
Kind of makes you think of the sanity and value of the Finnish Christmas Salmon tradition, doesn’t it? Click here to learn more.
Today in Silverhill we think of a clear starry sky at Christmas and we may remember carols and candles and wreaths and mistletoe and poinsettias. Our first Swedes in Silverhill had some of these things, but the foods of Christmas is probably what they would remember, and they would have tried to replicate them, memories of “the old folks at home.” We know that our present Christmas traditions like poinsettias probably didn’t even show up in Silverhill until they could be bought at Hammond’s in Robertsdale in the 1950s in that old “Space Way Shopping Center”! We remember our past with the placing of the carriage lantern that was used to light the evening Christmas church service before electricity.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #38)
(congregation stands)
Behold, a Branch is growing
Of loveliest form and grace;
As prophets sung, foreknowing,
It springs from Jesse's race,
And bears one little Flow’r
In midst of coldest winter,
At deepest midnight hour.
Isaiah hath foretold it
In words of promise sure,
And Mary’s arms enfold it,
A Virgin meek and pure.
Through God’s eternal will
This Child to her is given,
At midnight calm and still.
The shepherds heard the story
Proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory,
Was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped;
And in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.
This Flow’r, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness ev’rywhere.
True Man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us
And lightens ev’ry load.
Action During Music: The carriage lantern from the Museum is placed on the wall in its antique parking spot.
(congregation seated)
Reminders of Christmas
Flowers--the smells of Christmas! Foods--the tastes of breads and candies and cookies and dainties of Christmas! Our images of Christmas often are disconnected from the events of 2000 years ago. Let’s remember again the events that surround the coming of the Messiah, God’s Savior for the world. As we remember the prophets, the Holy parents, the shepherds of Bethlehem, the wise men from the east, and all of God’s people that looked forward to Baby Jesus and all of us who look back to that blessed event, let us welcome the Baby who came at Christmas according to the Scriptures.
Responsive Reading Drawing on Isaiah 9, Luke 1, and John 1 [NKJV]
(congregation stands)
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. That Word was the preincarnate Jesus Christ.
Congregation: All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and His life (the life of Jesus Christ) was the light of men.
Leader: The light of Christ shined in the darkness 2700 years ago when the Prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the darkness did not comprehend it. Yet the promise of his prophecy was that the people who walked in darkness would see a great light. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them the light would shine.
Congregation: Isaiah proclaimed, “You, O Father, have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.
Leader: “And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Congregation: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Leader: There was in the days of Herod, 700 years later, a certain priest named Zacharias serving according to the custom of the priesthood, to burn incense in the temple of the Lord. The whole multitude of the people was praying outside.
Congregation: An angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Leader: “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
Congregation: “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” That preparation would be for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Leader: Just 6 months later the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Congregation: The angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
Leader: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
Congregation: “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” This was the fulfilling of the Old Testament prophecy.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #20)
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’ incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Refrain
Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Refrain
Action During Music: A golden crown, symbol of the coming King, is placed on the altar.
(congregation seated)
The Sanctuary Evergreens
Remember Gomer, that offspring of Noah? The Celts, his offspring, are responsible for many of our evergreen traditions. But even the ancient Romans used evergreens to symbolize peace and joy. Early Christians placed them in their windows to indicate Christ--they are eternally green and alive, even in the middle of winter, just like our Father God who is unchanging from eternity or just like our eternally living Lord Christ Jesus or just like our ever present Counselor the Holy Spirit. Might there be a Biblical reason for such remembrance? Look to Isaiah 60:13 which reads,
“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious.” Those plants are evergreens, my friends.
We often give Martin Luther credit for the Christmas tree and the tradition of lights. The Norwegians were using Christmas trees pretty universally by 1900, so they carried their tradition to this country along with the Swedes and Danes. Click here to learn more.
We know that we have decorated our Advent Christmas tree at Zion for many years. We know that there were years when real holly decorated our windows and the red berries were real. We know that there were real wax candles nestled in that holly and that the candles were burning. People from those days tell us tales of the smells of the Sanctuary, the odors of worship and Advent celebration. Today we think of fire hazards in this old church of ours, but there was a time when the celebration of Christmas was more important than our fears. Today we celebrate again with evergreens, that Christmas tree and that holly.
A variety of decorations have been added to our evergreens over the years. Joyful red balls, strings of berries or lights, tinsel, garlands, and asundry other items grace our tree and our celebration items to beautify our church. The Chrismons used on our tree have been with us since 1976 when the ladies of the church first created them. Let us celebrate again as we decorate with the greens.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #28)
(congregation stands)
I am so glad each Christmas Eve,
The night of Jesus’ birth!
Then like the sun the Star shone forth,
And angels sang on earth.
The little Child in Bethlehem,
He was a King indeed!
For He came down from Heaven above
To help a world in need.
He dwells again in heaven’s realm,
The Son of God today;
And still He loves His little ones
And hears them when they pray.
I am so glad on Christmas Eve!
His praises then I sing;
He opens then for every child
The palace of the King.
When mother trims the Christmas tree
Which fills the room with light,
She tells me of the wondrous Star
That made the dark world bright.
She says the Star is shining still,
And never will grow dim;
And if it shines upon my way,
It leads me up to Him.
And so I love each Christmas Eve
And I love Jesus, too;
And that He loves me every day
I know so well is true.
Action: The tree is decorated as "I am so glad each Christmas Eve" is sung and other items are “adjusted.” The Christmas window candles are turned on. After the decorations have been placed on the tree, the lights are turned on.
(congregation seated)
The Christmas Poinsettia and the Paraments and Advent Colors
The poinsettia is named after Dr. Joel Robert Poinset. He brought this bright red flower from Mexico in 1828. This "Flower of the Holy Night" has been part of our Christmas and Advent tradition at Zion Lutheran Church since the 1950s. Its bright red color and greenery reminds us of the Christmas Season. Is it too bright? Well, in the early days of Christian worship, Advent and Christmas were seen as a somber time, much like Lent is today. Royal purple altar trappings were used to convey Christ’s Kingship and His coming reign.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #2)
(congregation stands)
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain
Action: Since this service is on the first Sunday of Advent, the purple paraments will already be in place, so simply draw attention to the coverings as appropriate. A poinsettia can be placed.
(congregation seated)
The Advent Candle
Candles have a connection with Advent and Sweden. The family looks forward to lighting the first candle in Advent on the first Sunday in the Season. Ingegerd Ivarsson on her website shares this way: “In our Swedish churches we sing the special hymns of Advent. They are very loved. The churches are filled to the limits of their capacity at the divine service on the Advent Sunday. Click here to learn more.
“In our homes we light the first candle in the advent candle holder. The tradition is to light one candle on the Advent Sunday, two candles on the next, three candles on the third, and four candles on the fourth Sunday of Advent. And at that time it is Christmas very soon!”
At Zion we light an Advent Candle on each Sunday of the Season. The central candle in our Advent Wreath is the Christ candle, lit when Jesus comes to us at Christmas. Each candle has a name and a theme that we remember over the four Sundays of Advent: The purple Prophecy Candle for the first week has a theme of “Waiting.” We anticipate Christmas because of the promise of the coming Christ Child. The purple Bethlehem Candle for the second week has a theme of “Preparing.” We begin preparations to receive and cradle the Christ Child. The pink Shepherd's Candle for the third week honors those who were the first to share the good news. And the purple Angels' Candle is the candle of joy and love--a reminder of the grace that is given to all who accept the Christ Child. The white central candle is the Christ Candle, “the candle of Jesus' coming as a baby in Bethlehem.” Different traditions use different colors of the candles, in our case three purple, one pink, and one white, but some have used four red candles and one white.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #31)
(congregation stands)
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
Refrain
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
Refrain
When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
Action: Since this is the First Sunday of Advent, as the song is sung, one of the purple candles is lit.
(congregation seated)
The Nativity
The Christmas tree traditionally belongs at Christmas Eve when the trimmings are added. Ingegrid tells us: “In many homes you build a landscape of the stable in Bethlehem with the crib and the holy family and shepherds and their animals and angels and the three holy kings. Christmas Eve is the high point of the celebrating. At that day the Christmas Swedish Smorgasbord is served, even if the restaurants have had it for weeks before. There you can find herring dishes, a selection of cold pork dishes, meatballs, julskinka, (which is the Christmas decorated ham), red cabbage, dark bread flavored with wort, thin unleavened bread, cheeses, whey-cheese, and as hot food "lutfisk" and for dessert rice porridge.”
At Zion Lutheran Church we share our crèche scene weeks earlier as part of Advent. In years past the “Baby Jesus” was not part of the crèche until Jesus’ coming as the Babe of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. This white china crèche dates from the early 1979 when Martha and Charles Jolliff donated the crèche work of Pastor Jolliff's father, E. Crowith Jolliff, and the ceramic work of Miss Joy Mary Mills, a friend of Mrs. Jolliff. The paper or cardboard crèche in our Museum is the work of Lutheran Brotherhood of two generations ago.
Today we also display a Nativity outside in the front of our Fellowship Hall. It has been a loving task of Robert and Eleanor Nitteberg. One of our early traditions, the celebration of Julotta apparently ceased in 1960, its last mention in our church historical documents. We decorate our church grounds with lights and the trimmings of Christmas, continuing other traditions that have long endured.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #21)
(congregation stands)
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Action: As the song is sung the Nativity light is turned on. The paper crèche is adjusted on a table.
(congregation seated)
The Gifts of Christmas
Christmas has long had a history of giving associated with it. We think of wise men giving treasures, and the shepherds giving praise, and things like that. But the biggest gift is Jesus Christ Himself, God’s gift to the world. In the case of Zion Lutheran Church, we know that its first recorded Christmas gift was $5.07 to Pastor Swanlund in 1913. But oranges and apples were gifted to children in Christmas plays in Silverhill from the early days. We know that children got boxes of hard candies when they “said their pieces” in the Christmas programs. Those programs were held on different days by the three Swedish churches so that everybody could see the children. Those boxes were colorful and had little string handles of yarn that dressed them up. By the 1950s hard candy and a Delicious apple was the expectation in our church.
The Bells of Christmas
Since the fourth century bells have announced the birth of the Baby Jesus. We think that the first ringing of the bells originated with Bishop Paulinus of Nola in Campania, Italy, in the early 400s. In Silverhill our old bell, shared with the early Silverhill School, welcomed Christmas until 1928 when it was retired to Silverhill School. Our present bell first rang at Christmas beginning in 1929. Let us listen again to some peals of Christmas.
The Christ Of Christmas
The greatest Gift of Christmas is the Gift of God in Christ Jesus. All that we do at this Holy Season points to that expression of Holy Love. Christ came as a Babe in Bethlehem, God's gift at Christmas. As Christians we seek to pass on our heritage to our children and to those who, by faith in Christ, become part of the Family of God. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and mine that the Gift goes on.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #43)
(congregation stands)
Action BEFORE Music: The church bell is rung and the hymn begins.
Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn,
A Savior unto us is born.
The Christ, the Lord of Glory;
His lowly birth in Bethlehem
The angels from on high proclaim,
And sing redemption's story.
My soul, extol Gods great favor,
Bless Him ever for salvation,
Give Him praise and adoration!
Words of Institution and Communion
Admonition. O God, it is truly meet, right, and salutary, that we should at all times, and in all places, but especially this Advent Sunday, give thanks to You for sending us Jesus Christ, our Lord. When the world was lost, it was You Who sought to comfort us with the promise of our Redeemer. It was You Who nurtured Him in His life in Israel. It was You Who permitted His death for our sins. And it was You Who raised Him to life and welcomed Him to heaven where He prepares a place for us. He Himself will renew all things when He shall come again to judge the world in righteousness. Your Holy Spirit reminds us of our sins and failures. Enable us to turn our hearts again to Christ Who has made full satisfaction for our sins through His saving work on the Cross of Calvary. Forgive us, O Lord, for all our sins, shortcomings, and transgressions and may we, together with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, laud and magnify Your glorious Name, and evermore praise You, for You are Holy, Almighty, and Merciful. You love us so much, O Father, that You sent Your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. As Christ came into the world to fulfill for us Your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation, even the sacrifice of His Body and Blood for our sake, may we be built up in Him as we receive Him, his real Body and Blood into our lives this day. Amen.
Words of Institution and Communion.
(congregation seated for communion)
The Benediction
(congregation stands)
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely this day and this Advent Season; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(congregation seated)
Announcements.
HYMN
(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #332)
(congregation stands)
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the 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 stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.
Copyright © 2006 , David Johnson, Zion Lutheran Church, Silverhill, AL. - All Rights Reserved.
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The name Zion Lutheran Church, the name of the author of the specific material (Pastor David Johnson), and the copyright notice Copyright © 2006 Pastor David Johnson appear on all copies made available publicly.
Exceptions are allowed for short excerpts used in services of worship or in church bulletins.
The maximum number of copies made roughly corresponds to the number of people at the particular service or meeting.
There is no fee charged or expected for participation in the service or meeting or for the material, the material is not included with any other material for which a fee is charged, nor is published in any form.
The material is not altered or edited in any way that substantially changes or misrepresents the basic position presented by the author.
While not required, we would appreciate you letting us know how the material here is being used. Links to Zion’s website are welcome. We would also appreciate knowing if you do link another web site to this one. While links from other sites to www.LutheransInSilverhill.com pages are welcomed, it is the policy of www.LutheransInSilverhill.com that pages from this site shall not be duplicated on other web sites, including both English and material in languages other than English.
This material may not be copied electronically or mechanically in any other way or for any other purpose than outlined above, including electronic publication on web sites, without prior written permission from Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill, AL. Zion Lutheran Church and Pastor David Johnson reserve the right for all other uses of this material, including publication in any form.
All copyright and ownership notices apply to all language versions of the same document in whatever format they might appear on this site. This includes material that is available for download in .pdf or .doc formats. Some of the material is also covered by copyright laws within the country of origin.
Bible texts used for Sunday readings are adapted from the
New King James Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All hymn lyrics are from the Public Domain and are detailed to authors and melodies in the Association Free Lutheran Congregations’
Ambassador Hymnal, copyright © 1994.
Use of all materials on this site is governed by the copyright and publication laws of the United States, as well as International Copyright Law.
Copyright © 2006, Pastor David Johnson, Zion Lutheran Church, Silverhill, AL. - All Rights Reserved.
