Welcome We are so glad you are here

Welcome! We are so glad you are here! It is our hope that you will feel INVITED, WELCOMED, and LOVED as you worship with us.

Christmas Eve

Before the worship service begins, please turn off your cell phone. But before doing that, be sure to let folks know you’re here – check in at your favorite social media. Let’s share with our friends and neighbors where we are, and how glad we are to be here!

PRELUDE: O Come, All Ye Faithful arr. Sandra Eithun

WELCOME and CALL TO REFLECTION

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

PRELUDE: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear arr. Sandra Eithun Handbell Choir

Christmas Eve LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE CONGREGATION READS WORDS IN BOLD

One: In a little town, known for nothing much, God’s holy child was born. ALL: Welcome the Light! One: By the faint light of the moon, Mary and Joseph found their way. ALL: Welcome the Light!

One: Shown by a courtyard fire, the open stable door. ALL: Welcome the Light! One: Warm breath of resting beasts, kindly sparkle in their eyes. ALL: Welcome the Light!

One: In the shadowy stable stall, Joseph kindled a lamp. ALL: Welcome the Light! One: There Mary gave birth to Jesus, called God-With-Us. ALL: Welcome the Light!

One: Angels opened the doors of heaven, sang, “Glory to God in the highest!” ALL: Welcome the Light! One: Shepherds saw the sky ablaze, left their sheep and came to see. ALL: Welcome the Light!

One: In the darkest winter night, God set a brilliant star. ALL: Welcome the Light! One: Magi from the East divined God’s shining sign. ALL: Welcome the Light!

One: And on this Christmas night with joy, we greet the Child. ALL: Welcome the Light!* *written by Jennifer Phillips, Posted on the Worship Well website.

* HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful # 41 in the Blue Hymnal

O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, to Bethlehem! Come, and behold Him, Born the King of angels!

O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

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, Christ, the Lord!

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, Christ, the Lord!

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS – (IN UNISON) Adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850 -1894

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

A TIME OF SILENCE

Assurance of Forgiveness

*ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH (# 23, refrain only) Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.

ANTHEM – All Is Well Michael W. Smith Westminster Choir Mary Silvestro, flute

The News of the Community

NEXT Sunday, December 29 th, there will be ONLY ONE WORSHIP SERVICE: 11: 00 a. m. The 8: 30 a. m. service, Waumba. Land the Bible Study WILL RETURN ON JANUARY 5 TH.

OFFERING OUR TITHES AND GIFTS (Visitors, in the pew rack you will find a Guest Information card. Please complete the card, then place it in the offering plate. )

✞ December 15 th – 29 th ✞ One Third to Outreach Ministry One Third to Bold Justice One Third to the General Fund

ANTHEM Away in a Manger arr. Sandra Eithun Handbell Choir

* The Response of Praise — DOXOLOGY (#592) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Offering of Prayer (in unison) Adapted from Karl Barth, 1886 -1968

O Lord, our King and our Savior!. . . We ask you to accept us and uplift us as we are. And we pray that, in your strength, we shall be willing to be counted amongst the poor and the humble, as you counted yourself.

We remember before you all our brothers and sisters who are troubled and confused, who are sick in body or in mind, who lack the material means of survival.

And we trust that in you the gospel of freedom may be proclaimed more cheerfully and joyfully by all your Church, that we may become the salt for which the world longs. And may we have a good Christmas.

Let us look forward beyond the bright lights of our Christmas decorations towards the dawning of your eternal light. In the name of Jesus who is Light of the world we pray. Amen.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY FROM LUKE 2

The Light Comes in the Darkness (Luke 2: 1 -5)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

* HYMN Angels, from the Realms of Glory # 22 in the Blue Hymnal

Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o'er all the earth; Ye who sang creation's story Now proclaim Messiah's birth. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the field abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing; Yonder shines the infant light: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations; Ye have seen His natal star. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!

All creation, join in praising God, the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising To the eternal Three in One. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!

The Birth of the Light (Luke 2: 6 -7) Bethlehem

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Away in a Manger # 25 in the Blue Hymnal

Away in a manger, 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 poor Baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

God Shares the Light (Luke 2: 8 -20)

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. ”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. ” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;

and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks # 59 in the Blue Hymnal

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around.

"Fear not!" said he, for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind. "Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and humankind, To you and humankind.

"To you, in David's town this day Is born of David's line The Savior, who is Christ the Lord, And this shall be the sign.

The Light Keeps Shining

*SHARING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST The light of the Christ Candle will be passed by candle bearers to the first person in each pew. Please pass the light to your neighbor. REMEMBER, THE LIGHTED CANDLE SHOULD REMAIN UPRIGHT.

CAROL – Silent Night (Remain seated) # 60 in the Blue Hymnal

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. "

(Please stand RAISE CANDLES. )

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.

CAROL – “Joy to the World # 40 in Blue Hymnal

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.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.

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.

*WORD OF BLESSING AND RESPONSE Please EXTINGUISH YOUR CANDLE before exiting the church.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Join us December 29 th for worship, 11: 00 a. m. , in our sanctuary