The Church in Worship December 24, 2017 9:00PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Prelude: Still Still Still... arr. Joseph Martin The Story Foretold... Isaiah 7: 14-15, 9:6-7 Instrumental Solo... Air from Messiah (Handel) Donna Komor Lighting of the Christ Candle Sandy Munson, Becca & Ben Eckdahl Song: Candles of Advent (congregation sings refrain) Call to Worship Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: Advent candles warm and bright Fill the world with radiant light, Help us greet the promised pone, Now the Son of God has come The impossible is about to happen in a stable. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them has the light shined! This is the evening when creation stood still and held its breath, for God was doing the most unbelievable, dangerous thing. This is the evening when God embraced humanity from the inside, as one of us, from birth to death. This is the evening when shepherds came to see what God had done and were filled with awe and worship. Let us come to remember once again what God has done and, in awe and reverence, worship God together! Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful # 41 in BLUE hymnal
1. 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. 2. 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. 3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation! Sing, all ye citizens of heaven 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. Prayer for Christmas (seated) Loving God, for you animals prepared a bed. For you the heavens shone brightly and the stars clapped their hands. For you angels sang to help calm your crying. For you shepherds stood watch and marveled at how small you were. For you wise ones came running from the east, and when they saw you, they fell down on their knees. Because you were Almighty God and yet you were so vulnerable you were God and yet you had a soft spot on your head. God with Mary s milk on your breath, wrapped up in swaddling clothes. God, creator of everything, now born of flesh and blood to be with us. Emmanuel, God-with-us. Hope is ours. Peace is on the way. Sorrow has lost its grip. Love has flooded every heart. Emmanuel, God-with-us. Light has come back into the world and the darkness of despair, and war, and hurt, and hate shall not overcome it. Tonight, you are with us and, with your help and guidance, we will never be the same. Help us to be more tender, to protect the vulnerable, to stand watch. Stir us to come
running to soothe the pain, to befriend the lonely, to lift up the lowly, to live as your people, to walk with you in love. We pray all of this in the name of Emmanuel, God-with-us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. Prayer Response (seated) O Little Town of Bethlehem verses 1 and 4 #44 in BLUE Hymnal 1. 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. 4. 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! The Christmas Story Begins... Luke 2: 1-7 Anthem... On This Still and Silent Night (James Koerts) Adult Choir Donna Komor, flute The Christmas Story Continues... Luke 2: 8-14 Carol Angels We Have Heard on High verses 1,2,3 # 23 in BLUE hymnal 1. Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. Glo---ria in excelsis Deo; Glo---ria in excelsis Deo. 2. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Glor ria in excelsis Deo; Glo ria in excelsis Deo. 3. Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn king. Glo ria in excelsis Deo; Glo ria in excelsis Deo. The Christmas Story Continues... Luke 2: 15-18 Anthem...
The Child Who Is Born to Be a King (Besig and Price) Adult Choir Donna Komor, flute And Then... Luke 2: 19-20 Carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing verses 1 and 3 # 31 in BLUE hymnal 1. 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! 3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Another Story The Rev. Dr. Janice Lee Fitzgerald Carol Joy to the World verses 1 and 4 # 40 in BLUE hymnal 1. 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. 2. 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.
Affirmation of Faith God did not wait till the world was ready, till nations were at peace. God came when the Heavens were unsteady and prisoners cried out for release. God did not wait for the perfect time. God came when the need was deep and great. God dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. God did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy God came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. To a world like ours, of anguished shame, God came and God s Light would not go out. God came to a world which did not mesh; to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. In the mystery of the Word made Flesh, the Maker of the stars was born. We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, For to share our grief, to touch our pain, God came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice! Presentation of Tithes and Offerings Tonight s offerings will be used for our Youth Ministries and Youth Mission Trip Offertory: A Christmas Eve Medley... arr. Charlie Miller Christmas Eve Doxology... Angels, from the Realms of Glory verse 4 #22 in BLUE hymnal 4. All creation, join in praising God: Creator, Spirit, Christ. Evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Prayer of Dedication...
God of every good and perfect gift, we thank you for your greatest gift, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. In this season when so many gifts are given and received, we pray that you will receive the gifts we offer now. Use them according to your purposes and plans, bringing your good news of great joy to all people, for we ask this in Jesus name. AMEN The Light of the World is Come Please assist all children with candles. An Usher will bring the light to the end of your pew. When the light comes to you, please tip your candle toward the flame. Then leave your candle upright while the person next to you takes light from your candle. Carol Silent Night # 60 in BLUE hymnal 1. 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. 2. 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." 3. 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. 4. 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! *** A Moment of Silent Prayer *** Benediction Please extinguish candles before leaving this circle and place candles in boxes by doors as you exit the sanctuary
All Music reprinted and video shared by permission of CCLI #1828072/CVLI License #504180226. Hymns from GLORY TO GOD, The Presbyterian Hymnal, printed and projected by license agreement. Call to Worship by Bruce Prewer in www.re-worship.blogspot (alt). Prayer for Christmas from www.saltproject.org Affirmation of Faith adapted from the poem FIRST COMING by Madeleine L Engle on revlisad.com 12-09-13. Prayer of Dedication from FEASTING ON THE WORD, Liturgies for Year C, Volume 1. Please join us this Sunday, December 30 for one worship service at 9:30am: Come as you are whether you choose to be dressed up or would prefer to relax in flannel shirt and jeans, sweat pants and hoodie or even in your snuggly pajamas with the feet in them. Our relaxed worship will include a carol fest : those present in the congregation will select all of the carols to sing.