Christmas Greetings!
Call to Worship (Responsive)
One: Jesus is born to change our darkness to light;
All: the light from the stable has become the Light of the World.
One: Jesus is born to change our sadness to joy;
All: the joy of the shepherds still echoes down the years.
One: Jesus is born to give hope to the oppressed;
All: Love within a persecuted family inspires us.
One: Jesus is born!
All: And we rejoice that on this night of all nights, we can come and worship!
Opening Prayer (Responsive)
One: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!
All: From the corners of this city, from the confusion of life, from the loneliness of our hearts. Let us gather together.
One: To feed our minds, to fire our imagination, to free our hearts.
All: Let us gather together and celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
The Christ Candle (Responsive)
One: During Advent we light four candles. The candle of hope, joy, peace and love. Tonight we light the Christ candle. Christ is the one whose example we follow in hope, joy, peace and love.
All: May we reflect the light of Christ in our lives everyday. Amen.
Hymn: Advent Candle Lighting Song
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright, a candle of hope in December's dark night. While angels sing blessings from heaven's starry sky, our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.
A candle is burning, a candle of joy, a candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy.
Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.
A candle is burning, a candle of peace, a candle to signal that conflict must cease:
for Jesus is coming to show us the way; a message of peace humbly laid in the hay.
A candle is burning, a candle of love, a candle to point us to heaven above.
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth, for Jesus is bringing God's love to our earth.
We honour Messiah with Christ Candle’s flame, our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim. O come, all you faithful rejoice in this night, as God comes among us, the Christians true light.
First Lesson: ISAIAH 9:2, 6-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. 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.
Hymn: The First Noel
The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star, shining in the east, beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. R
This star drew nigh to the northwest; o'er Bethlehem it took its rest, and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay. R
Second Lesson: TITUS 2:11-13
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem
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.
For Christ is born of Mary, and, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond'ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all the earth!
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!
Gospel: LUKE 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Hymn: What Child Is This
Offering: As part of our personal expressions of worship we take time to offer gifts to be used to spread the knowledge of the gift of the Christ child.
Offertory: “Shepherds’ Cradle Song”
As the offering is brought forward the congregation sings:
“What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
yet what I can, I give him—give him my heart.”
Prayer of Dedication: (One)
We are grateful for the generosity aroused in us by Christ’s coming into the world. May these gifts represent a new spirit of joyous sharing among us, for the sake of all people everywhere. Amen.
A minister, taking a candle, lights it from the Christ candle, which symbolizes Christ, the Light of the world of whom John's gospel speaks. The ushers light their candles from the minister's candle, then light the candle of each worshiper nearest the aisle. The lighted candle is never tilted, but is always held upright when giving light to another.
Gospel: JOHN 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Responsive Prayers
One: Let us pray in silence for all people according to their needs. silence ... and together we respond.
Many: Christ the Lord, as you live in us, bring peace on earth.
One: For the spread of the joyful news that God is among us; For the promise that the poor and those who find ‘no room’ find welcome and worth as you live in us; For the promise that the light of Christmas can shine within us all, we pray in silence. silence ... and together we respond.
Many: Christ the Lord, as you live in us, bring joy to the world, help to the poor and hope to the downtrodden for you are among us as the light of the world.
One: Lord Jesus, rejoicing in your birth and trusting in your love, you are the Light of the world, and to you we commend all for whom we pray.
All: Amen!
Hymn: Silent Night, Holy Night!
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.
Silent Night, Holy Night! Shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar, Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the saviour is born! Christ the saviour is born!
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.
The candles are extinguished.
Recessional Hymn: Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room And heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns! Let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove;
The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love.
Tonight, no names but the name of Jesus Christ appear in our order of service;
even so, a warm “Thank You” is extended to everyone who participated in our
6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service for 2008.