Commemoration of Martin Luther—Birth
November 10, 2016
Observed: November 13, 2016

Confession and Absolution

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord	 LSB 497
1	Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord,
With all Your graces now outpoured
    On each believer’s mind and heart;
    Your fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Your light
In holy faith Your Church unite;
    From ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue
    This to Your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung:
        Alleluia, alleluia!

2	Come, holy Light, guide divine,
Now cause the Word of life to shine.
    Teach us to know our God aright
    And call Him Father with delight.
From ev’ry error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our master be
    That we in living faith abide,
    In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.
        Alleluia, alleluia!

3	Come, holy Fire, comfort true,
Grant us the will Your work to do
    And in Your service to abide;
    Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by Your pow’r prepare each heart,
And to our weakness strength impart
    That bravely here we may contend,
    Through life and death to You, our Lord, ascend.
        Alleluia, alleluia!

Stand

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

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

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.

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.

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

Service of the Word

Introit	 Psalm 78:4–7; antiphon: Psalm 111:2
Great are the works | of the Lord,*
   studied by all who de- | light in them.

We will not hide them from their children, 
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, | and His might,* 
   and the wonders that | He has done.

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in | Israel,* 
   which He commanded our fathers 
   to teach to their | children,

that the next generation might know them, 
the children | yet unborn,* 
   and arise and tell them to their | children,

so that they should set their | hope in God* 
   and not forget the works of God, 
   but keep His com- | mandments.

Great are the works | of the Lord,*
   studied by all who de- | light in them.

Kyrie	 LSB 152
P	In peace let us pray to the Lord.
C	Lord, have mercy.
P	For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
C	Lord, have mercy.
P	For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
C	Lord, have mercy.
P	For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
C	Lord, have mercy.
P	Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C	Amen.

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in Excelsis	 LSB 154
A	Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.
C	Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Salutation and Collect of the Day	
P	The Lord be with you.
C	And also with you.

P	Let us pray.

Almighty God, merciful Father, who made the light to shine out of the darkness, we thank You that You have shown mercy to us and our fathers, and by means of Your servant Martin Luther have restored the pure light of Your Gospel. Keep us, we ask You, in sound doctrine, that we may steadfastly believe and worthily follow Your saving Word, and finally, by its holy comfort, depart in peace and joy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C	Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading	 Isaiah 46:1–11
1Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
as burdens on weary beasts.
2They stoop; they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden,
but themselves go into captivity.
3“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
4even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
5“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?
6Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
then they fall down and worship!
7They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
or save him from his trouble.
8“Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.
 
A	This is the Word of the Lord.
C	Thanks be to God.

Psalm	 Psalm 31:1–24 [See service downloads for festival setting.]
1In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be | put to shame;*
in your righteousness de- | liver me!
2Incline your ear to me;
rescue me | speedily!*
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to | save me!
3For you are my rock and my | fortress;*
and for your name’s sake you lead me and | guide me;
4you take me out of the net they have hidden | for me,*
for you are my | refuge.
5Into your hand I commit my | spirit;*
you have redeemed me, O Lord, | faithful God.
6I hate those who pay regard to worthless | idols,*
but I trust | in the Lord.
7I will rejoice and be glad in your | steadfast love,*
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress | of my soul,
8and you have not delivered me into the hand of the | enemy;*
you have set my feet in a | broad place.
9Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am | in distress;*
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body | also.
10For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with | sighing;*
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones | waste away.
11Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my ac- | quaintances;*
those who see me in the street | flee from me.
12I have been forgotten like one | who is dead;*
I have become like a broken | vessel.
13For I hear the whispering of many—
terror on | every side!—*
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to | take my life.
14But I trust in you, | O Lord;*
I say, “You | are my God.”
15My times are | in your hand;*
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my perse- | cutors!
16Make your face shine on your | servant;*
save me in your | steadfast love!
17O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
for I call up- | on you;*
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go silently | to Sheol.
18Let the lying | lips be mute,*
which speak insolently against the righteous
in pride | and contempt.
19Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who | fear you*
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of | mankind!
20In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the | plots of men;*
you store them in your shelter
from the | strife of tongues.
21Blesséd | be the Lord,*
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in a besieged | city.
22I had said in my alarm,
“I am cut off | from your sight.”*
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to | you for help.
23Love the Lord, all | you his saints!*
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who | acts in pride.
24Be strong, and let your heart take | courage,*
all you who wait | for the Lord!
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.

Epistle	 Romans 8:31–39
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
A	This is the Word of the Lord.
C	Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse	[See service downloads for festival setting.]

Verse of the Day	
Alleluia. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel	 John 16:25–33
P	The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the sixteenth chapter.
C	Glory to You, O Lord.
 
25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
 
P	This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C	Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

Children’s Message	[See service downloads for message resources.]

Built on the Rock	 LSB 645
1	Built on the Rock the Church shall stand
    Even when steeples are falling.
Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land;
    Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the souls distressed,
    Longing for rest everlasting.

2	Surely in temples made with hands
    God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands,
    All earthly temples excelling.
Yet He who dwells in heav’n above
Chooses to live with us in love,
    Making our bodies His temple.

3	We are God’s house of living stones,
    Built for His own habitation.
He through baptismal grace us owns
    Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell
    With all His grace and His favor.

4	Here stands the font before our eyes,
    Telling how God has received us.
The_altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
    And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
    And evermore, our Redeemer.

5	Grant, then, O God, Your will be done,
    That, when the church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
    Where Christ His message is bringing:
“I know My own; My own know Me.
You, not the world, My face shall see.
    My peace I leave with you. Amen.”

Sermon	[See service downloads for sermon resources.]

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 people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

We pray for the Church on earth, that You will rule, protect, and guide her. Deliver us from the works of the devil, and shelter Your flock with Your love. Give us grace that we may take part in extending Your kingdom in our time, keeping and preserving the treasure of the Gospel for generations to come. Lord, in Your mercy,
C	hear our prayer.

P	We pray for the nations of the world, that there may be a sense of security and well-being in every place, and we pray earnestly for our beloved nation. In mercy, send us peace in our time, for there is none on earth but You, Lord, to defend us and fight for us. Grant abiding peace and the blessings of freedom. Lord, in Your mercy,
C	hear our prayer.

P	We pray for our families and everyone in them. As we thankfully reflect on the life of Martin Luther, we bless You for the care that he received through his parents from the time of his birth. Grant that all of us may treasure the children in our lives and serve them with loving care, heeding Your call to bring the little ones to You for Your gracious blessing and directing them into paths of righteousness and every Christian virtue. Lord, in Your mercy,
C	hear our prayer.

P	We pray for all who minister to us through their callings. As we reflect on the birth and younger years of Martin Luther, we thank You for all who are employed in manual tasks, including miners, farmers, construction workers, and all those whose daily toil brings blessings to us. We thank You for the devotion of mothers and fathers and all family members who create loving homes in which children are raised. May their guidance direct us, their witness inspire us, and their love support us all our days. Lord, in Your mercy,
C	hear our prayer.

P	We pray for all those who serve in the armed forces who protect and defend us. Remembering St. Martin of Tours for whom Martin Luther was named, we ask for Your blessings on chaplains on active duty and those who serve with reserve units, that they may carry out their duties with integrity and witness to the power of the Gospel as the love of Christ in all things. Lord, in Your mercy, 
C	hear our prayer.

P	We pray for those with special concerns and needs this day: those who are ill, those who are grieving, the unemployed and underemployed, the chronically ill and shut-in, those who are facing challenges in life, and all others whose needs for God’s gracious visitation are known to us, [including . . .]. Lord, may Your holy angels be with them, that the evil foe may have no power over them and that, according to Your will, they may find restoration and wholeness. Lord, in Your mercy,
C	hear our prayer.

P	Merciful God, we bless You for the saints who have completed their earthly journeys and who now rejoice in the fullness of Your heavenly kingdom. On this day, we remember Your servant Martin Luther. Lead us to follow in the way of those faithful men and women who have gone before us, so that we may at last rejoice together eternally at Your throne. Hear us for the sake of Christ alone.
C	Amen.

Following the prayers, the people may greet one another in the name of the Lord, saying, “Peace be with you,” as a sign of reconciliation and of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Matt. 5:22–24; Eph. 4:1–3).

Sit

Offering

Stand

Offertory	 LSB 159
C	What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Service of the Sacrament

Preface	 LSB 160
P	The Lord be with you.
C	And also with you.
P	Lift up your hearts.
C	We lift them to the Lord.
P	Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C	It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

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, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. 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
C	Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Prayer of Thanksgiving	 LSB 161
P	Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.
 
Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C	Amen.

The Words of Our Lord	 LSB 162
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.”

P	As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
C	Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
 
P	O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

Lord’s Prayer	 LSB 162
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.

Pax Domini	 LSB 163
P	The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C	Amen.

Agnus Dei	 LSB 163
C	Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Sit

Distribution

The pastor and those who assist him receive the body and blood of Christ first and then distribute them to those who come to receive, saying:

Take, eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins.
Amen.
 
Take, drink; this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for the forgiveness of your sins.
Amen.

In dismissing the communicants, the following is said:

P	The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart T in peace.
C	Amen.

Jesus Came a Babe among Us	[See service downloads for music.]
1	Jesus came a babe among us,
   Born to heed the Father’s call.
God’s own Word, who spoke creation,
   Cried for mercy for us all.
Jesus served us by the Gospel
   In His life and in His death,
And proclaimed His full forgiveness
   With His final dying breath.

2	With our first breath, we as infants
   Greet a strange and wondrous place,
Crying out against the darkness,
   Helpless children needing grace.
God, in mercy ever-living,
   Formed our bodies in the womb;
At the font He has re-formed us
   By the cross and empty tomb.

3	You have called us, blessed Father,
   By Your name so strong and true.
You give ev’ry generation
   Tongues to speak Your Word anew.
Give us boldness to confess You
   In our life and in our death,
That, by grace, we trust Your promise
   With our final dying breath.

4	Glory be to God the Father,
   Son, and Spirit: Three in One.
We, with saints who came before us,
   Sing the vict’ry You have won.
In Your Word our hope is founded,
   And a people yet to be
Shall sing praises to Your glory
   With Your Church eternally.

Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior	 LSB 640
1	Thee we adore, O hidden Savior, Thee,
Who in Thy Sacrament art pleased to be;
Both flesh and spirit in Thy presence fail,
Yet here Thy presence we devoutly hail.

2	In this memorial of Thy death, O Lord,
Thou dost Thy body and Thy blood afford:
Oh, may our souls forever feed on Thee,
And Thou, O Christ, forever precious be.

3	Thou, like the pelican to feed her brood,
Didst pierce Thyself to give us living food;
Thy blood, O Lord, one drop has pow’r to win
Forgiveness for our world and all its sin.

4	Fountain of goodness, Jesus, Lord and God:
Cleanse us, unclean, with Thy most cleansing blood;
Increase our faith and love, that we may know
The hope and peace which from Thy presence flow.

5	O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see,
May what we thirst for soon our portion be:
To gaze on Thee unveiled and see Thy face,
The vision of Thy glory, and Thy grace. Amen.

O Jesus, King Most Wonderful	 LSB 554
1	O Jesus, King most wonderful!
    O Conqueror renowned!
O Source of peace ineffable, 
    In whom all joys are found:

2	When once You visit darkened hearts,
    Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanity departs,
    Then kindles love divine.

3	O Jesus, light of all below,
    The fount of life and fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
    All that we can desire:

4	May ev’ry heart confess Your name,
    Forever You adore,
And, seeking You, itself inflame 
    To seek You more and more!

5	Oh, may our tongues forever bless,
    May we love You alone
And ever in our lives express
    The image of Your own!

O Lord, We Praise Thee	 LSB 617
1	O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee,
In thanksgiving bow before Thee.
Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish
Our weak souls that they may flourish:
    O Lord, have mercy!
May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary,
That our sins and sorrows did carry,
And Thy blood for us plead
In all trial, fear, and need:
    O Lord, have mercy!

2	Thy holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven.
No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;
May this feast thereof remind us!
    O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee
That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.
All our debt Thou hast paid;
Peace with God once more is made:
    O Lord, have mercy!

3	May God bestow on us His grace and favor
That we follow Christ our Savior
And live together here in love and union
Nor despise this blest Communion!
    O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heav’nly-minded He make us;
Give Thy Church, Lord, to see
Days of peace and unity:
    O Lord, have mercy!

Stand

Post-Communion Canticle

Thank the Lord	 LSB 164
C	Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell ev’ryone what He has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy
with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.
C	Amen.

Benediction	 LSB 166
P	The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you
     and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.
C	Amen.

To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray	 LSB 768
1	To God the Holy Spirit let us pray
For the true faith needed on our way
That He may defend us when life is ending
And from exile home we are wending.
    Lord, have mercy!

2	O sweetest Love, Your grace on us bestow;
Set our hearts with sacred fire aglow
That with hearts united we love each other,
Ev’ry stranger, sister, and brother.
    Lord, have mercy!

3	Transcendent Comfort in our ev’ry need,
Help us neither scorn nor death to heed
That we may not falter nor courage fail us
When the foe shall taunt and assail us.
    Lord, have mercy!

4	Shine in our hearts, O Spirit, precious light;
Teach us Jesus Christ to know aright
That we may abide in the Lord who bought us,
Till to our true home He has brought us.
    Lord, have mercy!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Published by Concordia Publishing House
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Copyright © 2015 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Some liturgical material taken from Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service: Setting One, copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Service author	Gregory J. Wismar
“Jesus Came a Babe among Us” (text)	Kelly Klages
“Jesus Came a Babe among Us” (music)	Stephen R. Johnson
Psalm, Verse, and Hymn of the Day settings	Jacob B. Weber