Author: Julie Raffa

Introit Psalm 98:1–4; antiphon: Isaiah 9:6
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. Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done | marvelous things!* His right hand and his holy arm have worked salva- | tion for him. The Lord has made known his sal- | vation;* he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the | nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of | Israel.* All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation | of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, | all the earth;* break forth into joyous song and sing | praises! 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. 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.
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 52:7–10
7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. 9Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Gradual Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 98:1a
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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
Epistle Hebrews 1:1–12
1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
6And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
Holy Gospel John 1:1–18
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Announcements
CBI Presents: Dr. Brian German’s Heaven on Earth A Study of the Book of Revelation. It is an online course through Concordia University. If you follow the link you will be able to join in.
https://contiuninged.cuw.edu/offerings.html?area=christianministry
The 2023 Envelopes are now available for pick up.
They are in the Narthex as you enter or leave. We all have new numbers for next year, Please make note of this on your checks. PLEASE do not use them until January 1, 2023. Thank you.
Cable Worship Schedule Pilgrim’s Sunday 8:00 a.m. Divine Service is broadcast on WB 987 and AT&T Uverse 99 multiple times during the week: Sundays: 6:00 a.m. Mondays: 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. Wednesdays: 4:00 p.m. Bible Study, Thursdays: 4:00 p.m. This service is also live streamed and archived on the church’s YouTube channel:
Pilgrim Lutheran Church- West Bend, WI
We are wishing everyone a very Merry and Blessed
Christmas!

Christmas Day
Divine Service
Lutheran Service Book: Page:
Liturgy: Setting 1 Nicene Creed 151
Hymns:
O Come, All Ye Faithful 379
We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth 382
Communion Hymns:
Angels from the Realms of Glory 367
Away in a Manger 364
Hark the Herald Angels Sing 380
A Great and Mighty Wonder 383
Angels We Have Heard on High 368
Joy to the World 387
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah 52:7-10
Epistle: Hebrews 1:1-12
Gospel: John 1:1-18
X X X
In our prayers, we remember:
X all who live under the flag of our nation,
X our government and judicial officials,
X law enforcement officers, military personnel, and their families,
X those struggling with health issues:
Rev. John Wille, Phyllis Laabs-Darkow, Suzanne Stadelmayer, George Muth, Rev. Joel Kotila, Joyce Virchow, Rev Donald & Carolyn Bren, Jerry Sullivan, Russell & Jeanette Guillaume, Richard Lewandowski, Mark Selzler, Ethan Tinlin, Sheryl Pajewski, Paul Lierman, Judy Clark Louise Kreis, Betty Steely, Inez Schwoch, Ruth Mertz, Elaine Kuenzel, Diane Behrens
X pastors, missionaries, and those who serve God’s people with the gifts of Christ,
X Christians persecuted for the confession of the faith, and especially we remember
X all who have forsaken the faith, that they may be restored to gladness of heart and be made wise to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
X X X
Preacher: Rev. Joseph Fisher
Liturgist: Rev. Christopher Raffa
Elder: Dave Fellenz
Cantor: Tanner Schmidt
Organist: Ben Grosskreuz

Coming Up at Pilgrim
Sunday, December 25:
9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Divine Service
Monday, December 26:
10:30 a.m. Chapel @ Jackson Crossing
Tuesday, December 27:
2:00 p.m. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court
Wednesday, December 28:
Thursday, December 29:
NO Divine Service
Friday, December 30: Office Closed
Saturday, December 31:
6:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Divine Service
Sunday, January 1, 2023
9:00 a.m. New Year’s Day Divine Service

Christmas Day
December 25, 2022
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Welcome and blessings to you through our Lord Jesus Christ!
We welcome all who gather with us around the Altar and Pulpit to hear the Word of God. If you are visiting, we are happy that you could join us today. Please sign the guest book in the narthex and fill out one of the pew cards and pass it in with the offering plate to leave a record of your visit.
Communion Statement: By the design and specific warning of our Lord Jesus Christ in His Word, the precious gift of the Lord’s Body and Blood is to be shared with His blessing only with those prepared to take it rightly. (1 Cor 11:23-32) At the first communion our Lord did not commune all believers, but only those who had been instructed by Him daily for three years. The custom of our church is to offer the Sacrament only to confirmed members of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. So that our pastors would faithfully fulfill their obligations, (1 Cor 4:1; Heb 13:17; 1 Cor 11:27), all first-time visitors should speak to one of the pastors prior to communing. Our pastors are eager and available to provide instruction leading to a right and salutary reception our Lord’s holy Body and Blood, so that in the future you may join us in the blessing of this sacrament.

Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 334-0375 www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org