Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2017 7:00 PRELUDE Still, Still, Still Handbell Choir *OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSION O Come, All Ye Faithful Pg. 234 *CALL TO CELEBRATION Leader: We are a people who have walked in deep darkness. All: Leader: All: Leader: All: Leader: We come this night, seeking to be a people who have seen a great light. Light comes to us on this holiest of nights. The light of a small babe, the light of a bright star. The light of God s love. Shining for all the earth. Come and see... the child has been born! Lights are shining! *OPENING HYMN It Came upon the Midnight Clear Pg. 218 LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH AND CHRIST CANDLE OPENING PRAYER All: Holy God, we pray for your brightness to shine upon our hearts this evening. May we know your grace as it appears for us in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Help us to live lives that are joyous and just, godly and righteous. 2
As we await the blessed hope of your glory to shine on our world forever, we come this night to rejoice in the blessed hope of your glory that already shines in our lives. Shine on us, dear Child, that we may see you not only in the manger but in our hearts as well! Amen. SPECIAL MUSIC Little Drummer Boy Crossbound OFFERTORY PRAYER All: Glory to God in the highest heaven! We praise your name with our offerings and tithes. We give these gifts in recognition of Jesus, a tiny babe who from humble birth was created great in your light. Thank you, Gracious God, for pure, unbounded love wrapped in clothes laying in a manger -- a gift so great to share that it could not be contained. Let the joy we feel in our hearts overflow in unending praise. Amen. THE GIVING OF OUR GIFTS OF LOVE OFFERTORY The Babe of Bethlehem Handbell Choir A CHRISTMAS CONFESSION ALL: Lord of Christmas Peace, we have done wrong. We have tarnished the gift you gave freely. We have buried you so deeply in our hearts, the world doesn't see you. 3
We have not followed Christ, we have ignored your teachings, we have lived lives of apathy against your love, we have built fences and fortresses to push people away, and we have silenced the screams of those in need. Forgive us, we pray. Free us from our sin, free us from our captivity, free us to a life lived in Joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE *HYMN O Little Town of Bethlehem Pg. 230 SPECIAL MUSIC Luke Gaylor, Noah Gaylor, Ben Graf and John Sommerfeld SCRIPTURE READING John 1: 1-14 NT. Pg. 91 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Jesus Is the Light Pastor Victor Harner SPECIAL MUSIC Crossbound God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings THE GREAT THANKSGIVING THE LORD'S PRAYER Pg. 895 BREAKING OF THE BREAD GIVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP 4
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES Silent Night Pg. 239 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 beams 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! *CONGREGATIONAL HYMN Joy to the World Pg. 246 POSTLUDE Go, Tell It on the Mountain Crossbound ********************************************* WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Reader Kim Harner Lighting of the Advent and Christ candle Tony and Mary Schramm Altar Guild Peggy Whiting and Pat Walter Acolyte Lily Van Hook and Trystan Boyd
Reminder: Contributions for 2017 must be received by December 30, 2017. Anything received after that date will be credited to 2018. The Church office will be closed from December 25 through January 2, 2018. If you have any emergency during that time please call Pastor Vic directly. Envelopes 2018 - The 2018 offering envelopes are available for pick-up. They are located in the Narthex. Please be sure to take your envelopes, we will not be mailing them. After the holiday the envelopes will be in the Fellowship Hall. Any questions please contact Pat Walter. We will have 1 service on Sunday December 31 st it will be at 10:00. There will be no Sunday School that morning. Postal service at PHUMC - Please remember to check the Christmas mailboxes on the second floor for your Christmas cards. A reminder about our inclement weather policy: During the week, (Monday - Friday only) we follow Baltimore County schools. If they cancel activities, or are closed for the day, then any and all church meetings or activities are also canceled. For Saturday and Sunday, the decision will be made as soon as possible by the Pastor, Chair of Trustees and/or the program coordinator(s) of scheduled activities as to whether church is closed or an event is canceled. Sunday mornings, a message will be posted one hour before a service. We also send it out via Facebook and our church email chain. During the week check the church voice mail message, church email chain and the Facebook page. Always use you best judgment If you feel unsafe to be out then stay home and be safe!
MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS Rev. Victor Harner, (home) 410-256-1028 Denise Boyd, Praise Band and Handbell Choir Mary Schramm, Administrative Assistant Rachael Desfosses, SS Superintendent Donald E. Appel, Director of Music Peggy Whiting, Senior Lay Leader Kim Harner, 9:30 Lay Leader Al Simkins, 8:15 Lay Leader To be included in our e-mail distribution list, please send an e-mail to perryhallumc@gmail.com, with a subject line of "Add to e-mail list". To our visitors Welcome to Perry Hall United Methodist church. We hope you have felt welcome in our fellowship. We want to invite you to take a moment and stop at the narthex. We have some materials there that tell you a little more about our church. We hope you find the information helpful. You may also contact Pastor Victor Harner, at 410-256-6479 or at perryhallumc@verizon.net or rovervic@verizon.net.