Family Worship Guide: Christmas 2021
Merry Christmas! You and/or your family are welcome to use this liturgy at home designed to guide you through the Christmas story on Christmas Day. We recommend allowing members of the family take turns reading, but really, you are free to use this however you think is best.
➤ CALL TO WORSHIP
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 – The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone… For 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. Of 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.
➤ SONG: JOY TO THE WORLD
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings known
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
Let heaven and nature sing
Let heaven and nature sing
Let heaven, and heaven and nature sing
➤ CONFESSION & ASSURANCE
Nehemiah 9:32-33 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.”
Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who 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.”
➤ SCRIPTURE READINGS
Matthew 1:18-25 - Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Luke 2:8-14 - And in the same 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 great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto 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 baby 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 those with whom he is pleased!”
➤ SONG: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
Unto us a Son is given
Unto us a Son is given
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace
The Everlasting Father
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
Unto us a Son is given
Unto us a Son is given
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace
The Everlasting Father
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace
The Everlasting Father
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light
Those who dwell in the land of deep darkness
On them has light shown
For unto us a child is born
Unto 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
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace
The Everlasting Father
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace
The Everlasting Father
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
For unto us a Child is born
➤ CLOSING PRAYER
God of all grace, you who have sent your Son to be our Redeemer, to give light in our darkness, pardon for our sins, and hope in our turmoil. We thank you for your Word. We have met our Savior here; we know your promises are true, and our hearts have been nourished. Send us forth to live obediently until we gather again in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.