CHRISTMAS TALES I

I think it must have been 1979. We were in Chicago. Lois' sister Anita was staying with us while she completed a degree at Concordia River Forest. We decided to stay for the Christmas Eve midnight service at Grace, I think because we were singing in choir. We figured that since we had 3 drivers, we could handle driving overnight to Concordia. Well, I started driving, & by the time we reached the south edge of Chicago, Lois & Anita were both sleeping, so I drove most of the way.

CHRISTMAS TALES II

We were at Lois' parents on Christmas Eve in 1982. Nathan was a baby. Their congregation didn't have Christmas Eve worship, since their pastor decided to spend Christmas with family out-of-town. So, we had our own service in their home. We sang Christmas hymns & read Christmas passages. 

CHRISTMAS TALES III

I don't remember the year. We were in Concordia. Mom was already in the Good Shepherd Home. My brother Mark & I & Dad went to the midnight service at St. Paul's. Although it was bittersweet, it's a memory I'll treasure.

CHRISTMAS IS FOR SINNERS

"You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

"Had there been no sin on earth, there would have been no need for Christmas. If there had been no sinners, there would have been no need for Jesus to come. Christmas is not for the boys & girls on the nice list. In fact, there is only one list:  sinners. Christmas is for sinners because Jesus comes only for sinners.

"Rejoice! God does not meet you & your sins with lumps of coal, twigs, or salt. He doesn't even meet you with His wrath. He meets you with the Righteous One--Jesus Christ--who came to save sinners from their sin. Lord, thank You that Christmas is for us. Grant us continual forgiveness of sins for Jesus' sake. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen." [Matthew Richard, Minute Messages]

TWO PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

From "My Prayer Book":  Almighty God, heavenly Father, I thank You for Your unspeakable gift to mankind in the birth of the Christ Child at Bethlehem, as announced by the angel this holy night. May the mystery of the Word made flesh fill my soul with wonderment & yearning that like the shepherds I may hurry to worship at His manger bed. Change my heart from a busy inn that has no room for Your Son, that it may be a quiet chamber kept for Him.

Help me in the spirit of true repentance to rejoice in my Savior's birth that in genuine faith I may join in the song of the angels, share the delight of the shepherds, & adore Him with the Wise Men. Grant that Christ may be born again to me this holy night that the truth, love, & redemption He brought may henceforth abide in my heart & life. Like Mary may I keep all these things & ponder the in my heart always. And as You have made me a partaker of His glory here, grant that I may share His glory there. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.

Lutheran Book of Prayer

O great & glorious Redeemer, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, we praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory. O Lord God, Lamb of God the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, King of kings & Lord of lords, Emmanuel, God with us! For You only are holy; You only are the Lord; You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are the most high in the glory of God the Father. But chiefly on this most holy of nights we adore You for leaving the glory that You had with the Father before the world began. We humbly ask You, by the holy mystery of Your incarnation & nativity, to deliver us, good Lord. You who came that we might have life & be saved from our sin, be gracious to us & save us. Let the glad tidings we commemorate this night be made known to all people. Amen.

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

All My Heart Again Rejoices (LSB #360, Sts. 1, 5, 6)

All my heart again rejoices As I hear Far & near Sweetest angel voices. "Christ is born!" their choirs are singing Till the air Ev'rywhere Now with joy is ringing.

Softly from His lowly manger Jesus calls One & all, "You are safe from danger. Children, from the sins that grieve you You are freed; All you need I will surely give you."

Come, then, banish all your sadness! One & all, Great & small, Come with songs of gladness. We shall live with Him fore'vr There on high In that Joy Which will vanish never.