UNIVERSITY PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Christmas Eve :00pm INCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL INTERGENERATIONAL INTERFAITH

2 11:00 PM Christmas Eve December 24, 2016 Wasser Chapel PRELUDE Meditation on Of the Father s Love Begotten 13th c. plainsong/ arr. James Southbridge WORDS OF WELCOME INVOCATION Rev. Valerie Jackson *CAROL 246 Joy to the World Antioch SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 9:2-7 Kevin Garman CAROL 218 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Carol SCRIPTURE: John 1:1-5, LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT & CHRIST CANDLES Rev. Debby Lawrence Mary Sue & Hugh Alexander CANDLE LIGHTING LITANY FOR CHRISTMAS EVE One: To find the child one must see the star. All: To see the star one must go into the darkness, the pain, the fear, the emptiness, the hidden weeping, the heart s dark wounds. One: Only in the darkness can the stars be seen. To find the child one must hear the angels. All: To hear the angels one must listen in silence and solitude, in perfect speechlessness, in attentive adoration to the Mystery. One: Only in such stillness are the angels heard. To find the child one must enter the stable. All: To enter the stable one must stoop, decline all palaces, all safety, all familiarity or fortification, and settle into poverty. One: Only in such humility is the stable entered. To find the child one must see the birth. All: To see the birth one must be awakened to the heart of all things beating in one s soul, the light of God shining in one s hands. One must be willing to speak alone with one s eyes. One: Only in awakening will the birth be seen. To find the child, seek in the darkness, lay your heart open, and discover therein light unconquered. (From a prayer by Steve Garnaas-Holmes) Liza Stoltz Hanson CAROL 230 O Little Town of Bethlehem St. Louis SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:1-20 Bethany Hader

3 CAROL 229 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly W. Zlobie Lezy HOMILY The Birth Heard Round the World Rev. Jackson OFFERTORY PRAYER Rev. Lawrence With gratitude for our Christmas blessings, our Christmas Eve offering will be divided between Urban Peak, Loaves & Fishes (local Habitat for Humanity), Warren Village, and Sierra Leone. Members who intend their offering for their annual pledge may mark the offering church. OFFERTORY Greensleeves English Carol arr. Olive Nelson Russell *PRESENTATION OF OFFERING *CAROL 223 Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light Ermuntree Dich CHRISTMAS POEM: Amazing Peace Maya Angelou Read by Jessica Carmer SOLO Mary Did You Know? Mark Lowry & Buddy Greene Raechel Gudvangen Sherwood, Soloist THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION All communion elements are free of gluten, wheat, dairy, corn and soy One: All: One: The Great Thanksgiving For our peace and for the peace of the whole earth, for the peace of nations and for peace in families, for peace with nature and all that gains its life from you, the Compassionate and Holy, Divinity became flesh and dwelt among us. Rev. Jackson, Rev. Lawrence, Kevin Garman, Liza Stoltz Hanson Thanks! Thanks! Thanks be to God! Not as a ruler over nations, came he. The divine birth was humble and spare. And as the Child of God grew among us, he lived as the least of us and as one who had no place to lay his head. He healed the sick and ate with sinners. But powers and princes were frightened, though they took his life, you raised him up. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, we have experienced forgiveness of sin, mercy and justice, hope and resurrection joy. Through him You gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. With those who call upon Jesus as the Christ, we gather at the table and remember him now in the sharing of bread. He took bread, blessed it, and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, Take and eat this in remembrance of me. Also we share the cup as he took the cup and blessed it and gave it to his disciples and said, Drink this in remembrance of me. Remembering him, we praise you and repeat with joy:

4 All: Thanks! Thanks! Thanks be for Christ who is and was and ever will be. Amen. One: Pour out your Holy Spirit now on these gifts of bread and cup and on us gathered here. Make us empty that we might be filled with your grace and goodness. Make us humble that in your kingdom we might find our place. Call us to new life, for the sake of peace and hope for the world you so loved, that you sent your Son to be our brother and who is born among us. Now as a forgiven and reconciled people, let us pray as Christ taught us. All: The Lord s Prayer 895 COMMUNION MUSIC Renae Gudvangen LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES [The first candle will be lit from the Christ Candle. The ministers will then light the candles of the persons at the ends of each pew. Please hold the lit candle upright. Tip the unlit candle into the flame of the upright candle.] *CAROL (see insert) Silent Night, Holy Night Stille Nacht BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Hark the Herald Angels Sing Trad. *Please stand when able

5 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 Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born! Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from your holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at your birth, Jesus, Lord, at your birth. 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!

6 CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE Wear your pajamas! We will have one informal service on December 25th at 10:00am in Wasser Chapel. We will sing carols until 10:45am, followed by the assembly of Car Care Kits to hand out to those without homes that we might see on street corners. We are collecting the following items for the kits: Men s white tube socks Water bottles Granola bars Fruit cups Disposable hand warmers Gallon size Ziploc bags Cracker snack packs Travel size toiletries HOLIDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE Please join us Sunday, January 1 st at 11am for one unified Service in the Sanctuary. We will resume having our three services on January 8, :30am Informal Worship in Wasser Chapel 10:30am Peniel Worship in Wasser Chapel 11:00am Traditional Worship in Sanctuary

7 Poinsettias Mary Erculiani Nancy Gwin Susan Lyday The Long Family The Bedin Family The Bedin Family Phyllis Ward Linda Schuyler The Green Family The Green Family The Rollins Family The Rollins Family Debby Lawrence Jeanette McIntosh George K Gramer Jr. Tanda Peña Leon & Marilyn Meredith Dolores Hernandez The Rohs Family The Rohs Family The Rohs Family Lois Anderson Andriette Jordan-Fields Rev. Valerie L. Jackson Rev. Valerie L. Jackson Rev. Valerie L. Jackson In memory of Charlotte & Ed Estlow In memory of Charlotte & Ed Estlow In memory of Charlotte & Ed Estlow In honor of Bill & Jan Wilson In memory of Frank Madren In honor of Linda & Tony Bedin In memory of Ruth, Philip, & John Perdew In memory of my parents In memory of Rebecca Ricker In memory of Loved Ones In memory of Marge & Dick O Brien In memory of Sherrie de los Reyes In honor of Visitation Ministries In memory of Loved Ones passed In memory of my parents In memory of Effie Hyson & Joyce VanCamp In honor of Adam, Jennifer, & Makena: our greatest gifts In honor of Barry, Darlene, & Abebe In memory of Papa Bill & Grandma In honor of Mimi & Grandpa In honor of JoAnn In memory and honor of family and friends In memory of Alwena Sample In memory of Mary & John Lomax In memory of Desi & Edward Grant In memory of Deacon Lula L. Axson, Jacquelyn Noelle, & Lovell Barnes If you ordered a poinsettia, it is available to be taken home with you after this service. Thank you!

8 Reverend Dr. Valerie Jackson Reverend Debby Lawrence Duane Buys Hannah Westra Liza Stoltz Hanson Liza Stoltz Hanson & Denton Hanson Kevin Garman JoAnn Gudvangen-Brown Renae Gudvangen Jessica Carmer Marilyn Stranske Sandy Schumm Josh Rousis Bethany Hader Jenna Clark Larry Grauberger Jo and Jim Morgan MaryAnn Buys STAFF Senior Pastor Associate Pastor of Congregational Care Director of Christian Education Assistant to Christian Education Director of Foundation Campus Ministry Peniel Leaders Program Director of Evanston Center/Peniel Band Director of Music/Organist Assistant Organist/Pianist UPark UMC Administrative Assistant Evanston Center Administrative Assistant Bookkeeper Custodian/Resident Caretaker Youth Assistant Interim Chorister Director Lay Leaders Lay Leaders Wedding Coordinator University Park United Methodist Church 2180 S. University Blvd Denver, CO (303) Evanston Center for Spiritual Wholeness and Healing 2122 S. Lafayette St Denver CO (303) Vision: A community of Disciple leaders who practice stewardship and hospitality as we engage each other and the world around us. Core Values: Inclusive, Intergenerational, Interfaith, International