Encountering the Messiah - “The Birth of Jesus”
Christmas Eve
*Please stand in body or in spirit. Congregational responses are in bold and preceded by "All"
GATHERING
PRE-SERVICE CONCERT
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) Rejuvenate
Light of The Stable (Steve and Elizabeth Rhymer)
What Child Is This (LLoyd Larson) Piano Solo
Glad Noel (Mark Wilson and Jane Foster Knox) Chancel Choir
Cover Him Joseph (Gilbert Martin)
Welcome and Announcements
Invitation and Sharing of Peace
Peace be with you. And also with you.
Prelude Craig Nickerson, Organist
Lighting of the Altar Candles
Call to Worship (Clergy Stuff)
LEADER: Glory to God!
ALL: Tremble before God, all the earth!
LEADER: Our God has done a new thing,
ALL: And Jesus reigns over all the earth!
Advent Candle Lighting (Clergy Stuff)
LEADER: On this holy night, a savior is born. Jesus, you are that child, who redeems all of creation.
ALL: We lit the first candle in expectation of your coming. We lit the second candle in hope of new life in you. We lit the third candle in anticipation of your fulfillment of God’s word. We lit the fourth candle in wonder at your choice to become one of us. Now we light this candle in joyful praise and celebration that you are in our midst at last, now and forever. Amen
Opening Prayer (Clergy Stuff)
All: God of Love, On this holy night, when all of creation cries out with joy at the birth of Jesus, still there is suffering in the hearts of many. Still there is fear and grief nearby and far away. Breathe hope into the world, as small and humble as the tiny babe in the manger, and by this hope, transform reality, that all might know the eternal joy of your redeeming love. In the name of our newborn savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
*Opening Song O Come, All Ye Faithful (UMH 234}
1. O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
Refrain
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
2. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
lo, he shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
Refrain
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Refrain
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
4. See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
Refrain
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
5. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
we would embrace thee with love and awe.
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?
Refrain
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
6. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
Refrain
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
LISTENING
Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-14
This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Message for All Ages
Sermon “The Birth of Jesus” Rev. DV Yost
RESPONDING
*Sermon Song Angels from the Realms of Glory (UMH 220)
1. Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Refrain
Come and worship,
come and worship,
worship Christ,
the newborn King.
2. Shepherds, in the field abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
yonder shines the infant light:
Refrain
Come and worship,
come and worship,
worship Christ,
the newborn King.
3. Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
Refrain
Come and worship,
come and worship,
worship Christ,
the newborn King.
4. Saints, before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear;
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
Refrain
Come and worship,
come and worship,
worship Christ,
the newborn King
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Prayers of the People |
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God who was, and is, and is to come, we lift our prayers to you.
Offertory By Candlelight (Ruth Elaine Schram) Chancel Choir
*Offering Response Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH 94)
Prayer of Dedication (Clergy Stuff)
All: We cannot possibly match the gift you gave us in Jesus, O God. For his sake, accept these humble offerings and transform them by your power for your work of justice and reconciliation in all the earth. Amen.
Communion Sung Response TFWS 2257a-d
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
...
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord; God of power and might.
Heaven and heart are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Blest is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
...
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
...
The Lord’s Prayer (Spoken)
All: 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.
Sung: Amen, Amen, Amen.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Sharing the Bread and Cup
All are welcome to receive communion. We serve bread and individual juice cups or prepackaged wafers and juice. Gluten-free is also available. If you would like to be served in your seat, let the ushers know.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - UMH 211
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lowly exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
shall come to thee,
O Israel.
Love Came Down at Christmas - UMH 242
1. Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - UMH 218
1. It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth,
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
There’s a Song in the Air - UMH 249
1. There’s a song in the air!
There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer
and a baby’s low cry!
And the star rains its fire while the
beautiful sing, for the manger
of Bethlehem cradles a King!
In the Bleak Midwinter - UMH 221
1. In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow,snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter long ago.
O Little Town of Bethlehem - UMH 230
1. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears
of all the years are met in thee tonight.
CANDLE LIGHTING
The Ushers will light the first candle in each row. Please light the candle of the person next to you. Glowsticks are available for children.
*Carol Silent Night (UMH 239)
1. Silent night, holy night,
all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, holy night,
shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
3. Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
4. Silent night, holy night,
wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Pastor: The people who walked in shadows have seen a radiant light;
All: those who lived in a land of deep despair – on them hope has shined.
Pastor: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
All: authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Pastor: His authority shall grow continually and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his Kingdom.
All: He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
SENDING
*Closing Song Joy to the World (UMH 246 )
1. 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 nature sing,
(and heaven and nature sing,)
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
(repeat the sounding joy,)
repeat the sounding joy,
(repeat the sounding joy,)
repeat, repeat
the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
(far as the curse is found,)
far as the curse is found,
(far as the curse is found,)
far as, far as
the curse is found.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
(and wonders of his love,)
and wonders of his love,
(and wonders of his love,)
and wonders, wonders
of his love.
*Benediction
Benediction Response
Postlude From Heaven High to Earth I Come J. Pachelbel
While our staff enjoys some time with their family,
the church office will closeed
through January 4.
Voicemail will be checked daily.
Copyrights
Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen, (c) 1984 Sony/ATV Songs LLC, CCLI
Light of The Stable, by Steve Rhymer and Elizabeth Rhymer, (c) 1975, Renewed 2003 Tessa Publishing Company, CCLI
Used by Permission. CCLI Church Copyright License Number: 1684333 and Streaming License Number: 20155039.
O Come, All Ye Faithful - UMH 234 - Public Domain
Angels from the Realms of Glory - UMH 220 - Public Domain
Silent Night, Holy Night - UMH 239 - Public Domain
Joy to the World - UMH 246 - Public Domain
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel -verses 1-4 - UMH 211 – Public Domain
Love Came Down at Christmas - UMH 242 - Public Domain
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