The Nativity of Our Lord—Christmas Eve | Compline Service—6:30pm Hillsboro Campus

Families cherish their Christmas traditions. Year after year, they decorate the tree with the same ornaments, play the same music, bake the same Christmas cookies. Without asking, family members know when they will open presents. If you try to change your family’s Christmas traditions, you might be in trouble! When it comes to family Christmases, people generally don’t like things to change.

Because our celebration of Christmas has so many unchanging traditions, we might miss the fact that the birth of Christ the Savior meant radical change for the world. Would the change be an improvement or another step in decline? The angels answer the question. They don’t sing “Watch out for impending doom!” They sing “glory” and “peace,” praising God with alleluias!

Gospel—Luke 2:1–20

First Reading—Micah 5:2–5a

Second Reading—Titus 2:11–14

Psalm of the Day—Psalm 96

Hymn of the Day—All My Heart Again Rejoices (CW 329)

Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMlwSMgmGmWgxkcyJHaSkFpO&si=cp3a5lCZpC9xxe6C

Nativity of Our Lord—Christmas Day | 8:00am Hillsboro Campus, 10:30am Wonewoc Campus

Jesus has been God from eternity, holy and majestic. When we look tenderly at the holy infant, we are looking at the same God who once told the prophet Moses, “No one may see me and live.” Yet, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds all saw their holy God and survived. How? God became human, hiding his glory within flesh, so that he could come to us without instilling fear or dread. 

A famous theologian once said, “We are to think of the Lord’s birth, where the Word became flesh, not as a past event which we recall, but as a present reality on which we gaze.” It’s not that Christ the Savior was born. It’s that Christ the Savior is born.

Gospel—John 1:1–14

First Reading—Isaiah 52:7–10

Second Reading—Hebrews 1:1–9

Psalm of the Day—Psalm 98

Hymn of the Day—Of the Father's Love Begotten (CW 358)

Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMlc13pPxswwOSx-ibETw6qX&si=AKDZctHT1n3_ANeW

First Sunday after Christmas

Christmas holidays mean family time, often with extended family travel and visits. Meals are prepared, gifts are given, memories are made. But the memories might not all be good. Sometimes there are Christmas hurts or even tragedies. We live in a world still affected by sin.

The sinfulness of the world cannot rob us of the peace God intends to bring through his Son. Christ the Savior is born, and through his life, God gives us the rights of redeemed sons and daughters, members of his family with the privileges of heirs.

Gospel—Matthew 2:13–23

First Reading—Isaiah 63:7–9

Second Reading—Galatians 4:4–7

Psalm of the Day—Psalm 2

Hymn of the Day—All Hail! You Infant Martyr Flowers (CW 978)

Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMn1bsF1xD3zvxne2TiGCR8-&si=W_j3WvoCVZOLbf3H

Circumcision and Name of Jesus | 6:30pm Hillsboro Campus

We continue the Christmas celebration of the dawning of the light of all mankind. When the sun rises, we can see things that we haven’t seen before. When Christ the Savior is born, the light of new revelation breaks over the world. When the Son rises, we can clearly see the grace of God, our Redeemer.

Today commemorates an event recorded in a single verse of Scripture. Yet it is an event which points to all that the Son of God came to do. As he was circumcised according to the Law of Moses, our attention is drawn to his life of perfect obedience to God’s Law and the shedding of his blood for our forgiveness. As he was given the name “Jesus,” we are directed to the truth that he is the Lord who saves. As a New Year begins, we celebrate the dawn of redeeming grace.

Gospel—Luke 2:21

First Reading—Numbers 6:22–27

Second Reading—Galatians 3:23–29

Psalm of the Day—Psalm 8

Hymn of the Day—Now Greet the Swiftly Changing Year (CW 368)

Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMngJuoncNMcRvvhZQTJl3XI&si=-c2QFxb1VxkDSmYx

Epiphany of Our Lord

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days between Christmas Day and January 6. What is special about January 6? It is the day when the Christian Church celebrates the Festival of the Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning “reveal.” When the Savior was born, he was first revealed as love’s pure light to Israelites: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds. Today we see the Lord miraculously guiding foreigners across countless miles so the Savior’s holy face could be revealed to them as well. The Festival of Epiphany is sometimes known as Christmas for the Gentiles. We Gentiles (non-Jews) rejoice in the good news that this Jewish baby is a gift for all people, Christ the Savior of the world.

Gospel—Matthew 2:1–12

First Reading—Isaiah 60:1–6

Second Reading—Ephesians 3:2–12

Psalm of the Day—Psalm 72

Hymn of the Day—How Lovely Shines the Morning Star (CW 370)

Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMkq2nuFEJLT3SPvqfOWK-t2&si=-VxuoiiWdJA14NCz