“… and Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
(Luke 2:7)
December 24, 2011 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Worship
Large print bulletins available—please ask an usher.
An asterisk (*) indicates “Please stand if you are able.”
A THOUGHT FOR THE TIME BETWEEN ARRVING HERE AND BEING HERE:
After centuries of waiting and four weeks of preparation, Christmas is here. Whether you have completed your journey all the way to
FAMILIAR CAROLS
PRELUDE “See Amid The Winter’s Snow” Goss
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
Sing together (hymn #128): Come, listen, the sounds of God with us ring clear,
And signs of a cross in the distance appear.
The Word once made flesh, yet the Word ever near.
One candle is lit for the Christ-birthday here.
We accompanied Peace, Joy, Hope and Faith as they climbed the mountain of life to place the bright star announcing Christ’s birth. Let us shine as brightly as that star.
Entering into Worship
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP
L: The world is decked in the garb of celebration:
P: Tinsel and lights, garlands of greenery, brightly colored packages and flashing Christmas greetings cover our world.
L: The world is engaged in the spirit of celebration:
P: Festive singing, fine food, merry parties, and grand traditions abound.
L: Yet the best efforts fall short,
P: For it is the birth of the Messiah we celebrate.
L: It is the incarnation of God.
P: How can we respond to the greatness of this event?
L: How can we celebrate the Messiah's birth?
P: We celebrate in worship.
L: Christmas is a time of worship. It is the moment when the busiest of us pause in wonder.
P: Let us worship together!
*GATHERING HYMN “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
(congregational responses are IN CAPITAL LETTERS and are SUNG)
“Arise, shine, for your Light has come!”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
“And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you!”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
“And the nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising!”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD.
O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL, JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT
O COME, YE, O COME YE TO
COME AND BEHOLD HIM, BORN THE KING OF ANGELS.
“Unto us a Child is born! Unto us a Son is given.”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
“And the government will be upon His shoulders!”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
“And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD.
YEA LORD, WE GREET THEE, BORN THIS HAPPY MORNING
JESUS, TO THEE BE ALL GLORY GIV’N
WORD OF THE FATHER, NOW IN FLESH APPEARING!
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to
all people!”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
“For unto you is born this day in the city of
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all God’s people on earth!”
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD.
SING CHOIRS OF ANGELS, SING IN EXULTATION!
O SING ALL YE CITIZENS OF HEAV’N ABOVE.
GLORY TO GOD, ALL GLORY IN THE HIGHEST!
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!
O COME, LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD.
WELCOME
CHILDREN’S STORY “The Friendly Beasts”
WELCOMING the CHRIST CHILD
*NATIVITY HYMN “Angels from the Realms of Glory” (verses 1+4) Hymn #149
THE
SPECIAL MUSIC “Were You There on That Christmas Night” Sleeth
CONTINUATION OF THE CHRISTMAS GOSPEL Luke 2: 8-14
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL “Angels We Have Heard on High” (v. 1+3) Hymn #155
CONTINUATION OF THE CHRISTMAS GOSPEL Luke 2: 15-20
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL “God’s Love Made Visible!” Hymn #171
CHRISTMAS MEDITATION “What A Mess!”
LET THERE BE LIGHT!
Tonight we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Our candles bear witness to that light, and brighten this time of celebration.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; all things came into being with Him, and without Him not one thing came into being.”
By the light of God’s creating Word, we are led to a brighter light of faith and trust in Him.
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of all. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”
With the coming of God’s Son, Jesus our Emmanuel, the light shines still more brightly.
“The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not. But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God.”
*HYMN OF JOY “Joy to the World” Hymn #143
The light of the Lord continues to shine, as it glows in our lives of Christian love and service; for God has given us His Word.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. We have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father. And from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.”
CANDLE LIGHTING HYMN “Silent Night”
(Please stand as you receive the light from the Christ candle, then join in the singing AFTER your candle is lit. For safety, tip the UNLIGHTED candle into the flame.)
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.
Glory streams from heaven afar.
Heavenly hosts sing, “Alleluia!”
Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior 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.
*BENEDICTION
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VERY GOOD NEWS
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” (sing twice)
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere,
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
ORGAN POSTLUDE “Silent Night” (with Chimes) Gruber
As you leave this evening, go quietly… look up to the stars and follow their directions as you seek hope, peace, joy and love.
This evening’s offering will benefit our church’s General Fund, so that we may continue to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ in our community and world. There are envelopes in the pews and offering plates at the doors.
Thank you for following the star this evening and finding your way to worship our New-born King. Thank you to all whose participation made this service so special. Although the little candles no longer shine, take the Light of the world with you and spread its light and love on your way.
"The Silent Seers" (J. Barrie Shepherd)
Of all the witnesses around that holy manger,
perhaps it was the animals who saw best what lay ahead.
For they had paced the aching roads;
they had slept in the wet and hungry fields;
they had known the sharp sting of sticks and thorns and curses;
they had endured the constant bruise of burdens not their own
and the tendency of men to use and discard
rather than to meet and pay the debt of gratitude.
For them the future also held the knacker's rope,
the flayer's blade and the tearing of their bodies
for the sparing of a race.
In the shadows of that stable, might it be His warmest welcome lay
within their quiet comprehending gaze?
Against Our Better Judgment (Ann Weems Kneeling in
We told her she couldn't go;
she was too young to stay up that late.
She told us that Baby Jesus would be there
and He was younger than she.
We told him he couldn't go;
he was too old to brave the cold night air.
He told us he'd rather greet heaven
from the Christmas Eve service than found slumped by the TV.
So we bundled them up against the extreme cold
against their own defenselessness against our better judgment
and they went out in joy.
My prayer is that those of us who think
that we're in charge of the world and the church
will remember that the stable was filled with such as those:
those who could not be kept away nor kept from rejoicing!