Christmas Midnight ~ 2025 (11PM)

 

Today's Liturgist Rev. Michael W. Mohr, Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church & CID President

Today's Speaker Rev. Brett Cornelius, Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church

 

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting One, LSB pages 151ff.

 

380 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707–88, alt.
Tune: Felix Mendelssohn, 1809–47
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Exhortation LSB 151

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Kneel/Stand

 

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

 

Confession of Sins LSB 151

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

 

Absolution LSB 151

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Stand

 

Introit Psalm 2:1–2, 4–6; antiphon: Liturgical Text

When all was still, and it was | midnight,*
your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the | royal throne.
Why do the | nations rage*
and the peoples | plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel to- | gether,*
against the Lord and against his a- | nointed.
He who sits in the | heavens laughs;*
the Lord holds them in de- | rision.
Then he will speak to them | in his wrath,*
and terrify them in his fury, | saying,
“As for me, I have | set my King*
on Zion, my | holy hill.”
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
When all was still, and it was | midnight,*
your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the | royal throne.

 

Kyrie LSB 152

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 154

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.

O God, You make this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Sit

 

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 9:2–7

² The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
³You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
⁴For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual Psalm 98:3b–4a, 2

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation | of our God.*
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, | all the earth.
The Lord has made known his sal- | vation;*
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the | nations.

 

Epistle Titus 2:11–14

¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia and Verse LSB 156

 

Holy Gospel Luke 2:1–14

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter.

¹In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And 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.

⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sit

 

358 From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

 

5 “These are the signs that you shall mark:
The swaddling clothes and manger dark.
There you will find the infant laid
By whom the heav’ns and earth were made.”

 

6 How glad we’ll be to find it so!
Then with the shepherds let us go
To see what God for us has done
In sending us His own dear Son.

 

15 Glory to God in highest heav’n,
Who unto us His Son has giv’n!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the earth.

Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.
Tune: Geistliche lieder, Leipzig, 1539, ed. Valten Schumann
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Sermon ~ "The Angel Song" ~ Rev. Brett Cornelius, Pastor

 

Stand

 

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Church

P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Almighty God, by the incarnation of Your eternal Son, You revealed that You are love. Give us true faith in Christ and His promise that by His conception, virgin birth, holy life, sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, our sins are forgiven and we are Yours. Fill us with joy, and lead us to proclaim Your glad tidings to all people. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, by the gift of Your Holy Spirit we testify that Your Son is the Savior of the world. Pour out Your Spirit continually upon Your people. Bless pastors as they proclaim Jesus who became flesh to save us by dying and rising again, and open our mouths to praise the name of the One born in Bethlehem. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Remember all families, Lord. Make each household a place of prayer and devotion to Your Word. Bless parents of young children with patience. Give comfort to the childless. Abide with the fatherless, widows and orphans, the lonely, and those separated from their families. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P King of Israel, the One born in Bethlehem is the Son of David and the Lord of David, to whom every knee shall bow. Look upon those You have placed in authority, and grant that they would govern in wisdom and justice. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, in the birth of Your Son You have visited and redeemed Your people. Continue to visit those who are lonely, sick, recovering or near death [including _____________]. Let Your presence be a comfort to them, and give them perseverance until that time You grant healing, relief, deliverance and peace. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who feeds us in body and soul, give true faith in Your promises to all who will receive Your Son’s body and blood this night. Sustain Your people in humble repentance and godly living. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Remember the bereaved, O Lord. Give comfort to [_____________ and] all who grieve this night, that they might find, through the celebration of our Lord’s nativity, hope in the midst of sorrow, knowing that Christ was born to conquer death and give eternal life to all believers. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P All these things we pray, O Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, Your own Son, whom You have made known to us in the mystery of the Word made flesh, who has fulfilled all the Law and the prophets and delivered us to You as Your own people through the blood of the everlasting covenant, that we may do what is good and right and pleasing in Your sight. To You be all glory and honor, worship and praise, now and forevermore.

C Amen.

 

Sit

 

Offering

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 159

 

Preface LSB 160

 

Proper Preface

 

Proper Preface (Full)

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for in the mystery of the Word made flesh You have given us a new revelation of Your glory that, seeing You in the person of Your Son, we may know and love those things which are not seen. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

 

Sanctus LSB 161

 

Lord’s Prayer LSB 162

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C 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.

 

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

Pax Domini LSB 163

 

Agnus Dei LSB 163

 

Sit

 

372 O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

 

5 Remember thou
    What glory now
The Lord prepared thee for all earthly sadness.
    The angel host
    Can never boast
Of greater glory, greater bliss or gladness.

 

6 The world may hold
    Her wealth and gold;
But thou, my heart, keep Christ as thy true treasure.
    To Him hold fast
    Until at last
A crown be thine and honor in full measure.

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941
Tune: Kenneth T. Kosche, 1947
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: © 1996 Kenneth T. Kosche. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

 

366 It Came upon the Midnight Clear

Text: Edmund H. Sears, 1810–76, alt.
Tune: Richard S. Willis, 1819–1900
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 165

 

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Benediction LSB 166

 

363 Silent Night, Holy Night

Text: Franz Joseph Mohr, 1792–1848; tr. John F. Young, 1820–85
Tune: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1787–1863
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting One from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.