Christmas Eve Worship Service 6:00 and 11:00 pm

First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin Christmas Eve Worship Service 6:00 and 11:00 pm

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN DECEMBER 24, 2018 CHRISTMAS EVE 6:00 and 11:00 PM A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS Welcome to worship on this special night when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. Please be sure to sign the friendship pads so you may greet one another after worship. May our time together remind us that Christmas is much more than a birthday. It is our acknowledgement that the God who made us, now lives and walks among us. Rejoice! Rejoice! No matter who you are. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here! As Jesus courageous disciples, living God s grace, we strive to: ~ Worship faithfully ~ Welcome openly ~ Grow spiritually ~ Care passionately ~ Serve generously Large print bulletins and hearing impaired devices are available from the ushers. Please stand when noted by the * -- Congregation responses are in bold. PRELUDE GREETING LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Tonight we re-light the Advent candles to remember the light that has come into the world. (The leader lights each candle in order.) The light of hope the light of peace the light of joy the light of love. God is with us! Christ is come! Because of his presence, we are blessed. As we now light the Christ candle, let us each be thankful for that night long ago when the angels sang, when the shepherds worshipped, when the cattle lowed, when the Savior was born. (Leader lights the Christ candle.) RINGING OF THE BELL

CALL TO WORSHIP L: On a night long ago, when the stars shone brightly in the sky, P: Jesus Christ was born. L: Underneath the light of one especially bright star, P: Jesus Christ was born. L: In a plain and simple manger, P: Jesus Christ was born. L: With animals gathered all around, P: Jesus Christ was born. L: Wrapped in a mother s embrace and a father s care, P: Jesus Christ was born. L: So that we might know God better, P: Jesus Christ was born. All: Come let us worship! *HYMN O Come All Ye Faithful 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; O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord. Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, 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. FIRST LESSON: Micah 5:2-5 The prophet Micah foretells the glory of Bethlehem. 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. 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! Steve Koecher (6:00 pm) Grace Gilberg (11:00 pm)

SECOND LESSON: Luke 1:26-35, 38 Carol Merriman (6:00 pm) Jill Paulson (11:00 pm) The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will give birth to God s promised Son. Hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the Virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! A MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES (6:00 pm) Silent Night By Lara Hawthorne Read by Rev. Chris Myers THIRD LESSON: Luke 2:1-7 Against a backdrop of emperors and taxes, Jesus is born. Beatrix Gilberg (6:00 pm) Rene Bylander (11:00 pm) Hymn Joy to the World 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 heaven and nature sing. 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, wonders of his love.

FOURTH LESSON: Luke 2:8-20 The shepherds go to the manger. Hymn Away in a Manger Away in a manager, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love You, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. CHRISTMAS HOMILY Jan Hansen (6:00 pm) Diane Welsh (11:00 pm) Rev. Chris Myers A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS & THE LORD S PRAYER (debts/debtors) 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. FIFTH LESSON: Matthew 2:1-11 The wise men are led by the star to Jesus. Bonnie Jones-Witthuhn (6:00 pm) Rev. Chris Myers (11:00 pm) Hymn What Child is This, Who, Laid to Rest What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? Refrain: This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come peasant, king, to own him; The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him. Refrain

THE OFFERTORY (6:00 pm) Colin Cosgrove (11:00 pm) Chancel Choir *PRESENTATION OF GIFTS Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful (verse 4) Yea, Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord! *PRAYER OF DEDICATION God of Goodness and Kindness, all that we have are gifts of your grace. As the heavenly host sang of your glory, accept what we bring as offerings of praise. With the shepherds we have witnessed the birth of our Savior; our response is gratitude for the hope of new life we receive in Christ Jesus. Amen. COMMUNION All Christians, regardless of denomination, tradition or age are welcome at the table of our Lord. When invited, please come forward down the center aisle. Receive a piece of bread (both wheat and gluten-free breads are available) and a cup from the tray (white is grape juice and red is wine). Children choosing not to commune are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing. Return to your seat using the outside aisle. If you are unable to come forward, communion will be brought to you. Invitation to the Supper L: In Christ, the hope of the prophets, the songs of the angels, the yearnings of all people for peace, come true. For in the Christ Child, the son of Mary, we come close to God, and God comes even closer to us. The Great Thanksgiving L: The Lord be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We lift them up to the Lord. L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. P: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

L: We offer you praise, Holy God, for it is right and good and a joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. On this holy night, we remember that Christ was born in Bethlehem, God revealed in human form, the baby in a manger, the refugee on the Egypt road. In Christ, you came to us, lived with us, and still are with us now. We thank you for the gift of this child, born to save all people from sin and death. As the angels sang glory to you in the highest and peace to your people on earth, so we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Angels We Have Heard on High Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply, echo back their joyous strains. Glo----ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o, Glo----ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o. The Words of Institution L: Therefore with all your witnesses in heaven and on earth, we rejoice in this holy meal as we remember the mystery of faith: All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Prayer of Consecration Distribution of the Elements 6:00 pm - Colin Cosgrove 11:00 pm - Chancel Choir

The First Noel

Prayer of Thanksgiving We give you thanks, most Gracious God, that you have given us your love in this holy gospel feast and have refreshed us by your Holy Spirit. Now strengthen us in joyful service to all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES 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, 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 streams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy 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. *DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the faith of Joseph, the joy of angels, the eagerness of shepherds, the determination of the Magi and the peace of the Christ child. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord your God. Amen. POSTLUDE (Please extinguish your candles before you leave) Christmas Gift Again this year we are pleased to provide a small container of mini M & M candy to you as our gift to you. Eat them! Enjoy them! Please consider using those containers as a receptacle for small change to support the work of Feed My Starving Children. If every person in worship on Christmas Eve returned these containers with quarters (about $12), over $6,000 would be given to help feed God s starving children. This would feed over 26,000 children or 71 children for a year. Truly a gift for the Christ child. Please return the filled containers when you are able to in the offering plate or church office. A Merry Christmas to you all.

Assisting in tonight s worship service are: Organist: 6:00 pm: Marsha Pearson 11:00 pm: Terry Mithun Special Music: 6:00 pm: Colin Cosgrove 11:00 pm: Chancel Choir Pastor: Rev. Chris Myers December 24...Christmas Eve Services of Lessons and Carols 4:00 pm... Family Service 6:00 pm... Family Service with Communion 11:00 pm... Candlelight Service with Communion December 30...9:00 am... Worship Service... No Adult Forum 10:00 am... Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am... Worship Service... No Sunday School January 6...9:00 am... Worship Service 9:00 am... Adult Forum 10:00 am... Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am... Worship Service 10:45 am... Sunday School * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Treasurer s Report Dec 16, 2018 Year to Date Budget Income $ 13,747 $ 442,416 Budget Requirements $ 8,920 $ 446,000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Beth Amacker Duane and Mary Church Mike and Gloria Gardner DEDICATION OF POINSETTIAS In memory of Norbert Johnson and Roger Amacker In memory of Duane and Mary s folks In memory of Anthony and Aurelia Gardner In memory of John and Irene Williams Patricia Graves/Lois Martin Family Suzanne Hagen Deb and Jeff Hoffman Gloria Knight Betty Most The Myers Family Marsha Pearson Larry and Barbara Peterson Jean Smith Sally Steneman Randy and Diane Welsh Neil Williams Family In memory of Lyle & Edith Graves; Marcella & Clarence Martin In memory of Norris and Margaret Johnson In memory of Deb s father, Donald Neu In memory of Stella Ray, Richard Knight, Gerald Hague In memory of Mathilda Most In honor of Barbara Most In memory of Vernon and Hattie Myers In memory of Elizabeth and William Sortor In memory of Jack L. Sumner In memory of Marshall & Vonita Ward, Bob & Sadie Pearson, Patti Haigh, Maynard Pearson In honor of the World s Greatest Gift In memory of Marlyn and Bernice Mohr In memory of Lois Smith In memory of Ken and Jean Johnson In memory of our parents In memory of Karen Williams