Author: Julie Raffa

Introit Psalm 24:1, 3–5; antiphon: Psalm 2:7
I will tell of | the decree:* The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have be- | gotten you.” The earth is the Lord’s and the full- | ness thereof,* the world and those who | dwell therein. Who shall ascend the hill | of the Lord?* And who shall stand in his | holy place? He who has clean hands and a | pure heart,* who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear de- | ceitfully. He will receive blessing | from the Lord* and righteousness from the God of his sal- | vation. 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. I will tell of | the decree:* The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have be- | gotten you.”
Collect of the Day
O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 7:10–14
10Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11“Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
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 1John 4:7–16
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Holy Gospel Luke 2:1–20
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Announcements
Holiday Services are as listed:
Friday, December 24: 10:00 p.m. Service of Lessons & Carols
Saturday, December 25: 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Divine Service
Sunday December 26: 8 & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
Thursday, December 30: No Services
Friday, December 31: 6:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Divine Service
Saturday, January 1, 2022: 9:00 a.m. New Year’s Day Divine Service
Sunday, January 2: 8 & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
Please remember that there will not be a 7:00 p.m. midweek service on Thursday, December 30.
Catechism resumes on Wednesday January 5, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
Pilgrim Ladies Guild/LWML:
We always give thanks to God for our Pilgrim family. We were able to sell all 89 boxes of cookies and a Ginger bread House with a profit of $800.
We are so pleased to continue supporting Seminarian Austin Meier and Missionary Micah Wildauer. Thank you Pilgrim for you financial support.
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

Christmas Eve
Divine Service
Lutheran Service Book: Page:
Liturgy: Setting 4 203
Hymns:
Once in David’s Royal City 376
O Come All Ye Faithful 379
Communion Hymns:
Away in a Manger 364
What Child is This 370
Hark the Herald Angels 380
O Little Town of Bethlehem 361 It Came Upon a Midnight 366 Angels We Have Heard on 368
Silent Night 363
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-14
Epistle: 1 John 4:7-16
Gospel: Luke 2:1-20
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 isolated from family and friends,
X those struggling with health issues:
Judy Frank, Sheryl Pajewski, Bob Mayer, Jess Doughty, Carl Pritzlaff, Janet Meisenheimer, Mark Selzler, Paul Lierman, Sherry Cullen, Judy Clark, Carolyn Bren, Ron & Joyce Virchow Sr., Louise Kreis, Betty Steely, Inez Schwoch, Sue Zell, Ruth Mertz, Jerry & Gert Sullivan, Kandie Darmody, June Fry, 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.
Preacher: Rev. Christopher Raffa
Liturgist: Rev. Joseph Fisher
Elder: Bob Knuth
Organists: Sam Grosskreuz

Coming Up at Pilgrim
Saturday, December 25:
9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Divine Service
Sunday, December 26:
8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
9:30 a.m. Adult Class: Life of Christ
Monday, December 27:
10:30 a.m. Chapel @ Jackson Crossing
Tuesday, December 28:
2:00 p.m. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court
Wednesday, December 29:
6:30 p.m. Adult Class: Lutheran Difference
On Worship
Thursday, December 30:
NO Evening Divine Service
Friday, December 31: Office Closed
6:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Divine Service
Saturday, January 1, 2022:
9:00 a.m. New Year’s Day Divine Worship

Christmas Eve
December 24, 2021
14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:14
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