Christmas Eve & Day
PRELUDE: What Child is This (Greensleeves) by Richard Purvis
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
PRAYER
HYMN: O Come, All Ye Faithful [Adeste Fideles]
PRAYER
HYMN: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [Mendelssohn]
SCRIPTURE LESSON: John 1:1-5
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH: Celebrating the Light – Jesus, the Light of the World [Elderkin] by George D. Elderkin/arr. by Joel Raney
Quartet: End our darkness, end our night, Jesus, the light of the world. Bring to earth God’s heavenly light, Jesus, the light of the world.
Leader: Advent is a time to celebrate.
Quartet & People: Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Leader: We celebrate that joy that is in Christ Jesus.
Quartet & People: Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Leader: We proclaim a victory that is stronger than any defeat.
Quartet & People: Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Leader: We proclaim a peace that is stronger than any conflict.
Quartet & People: Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Leader: We proclaim a freedom that is stronger than any bondage.
Quartet & People: Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Candle Lighting
Quartet: Jesus, the light of the world.
Quartet & People: We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright, O, shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus, the light of the world. We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright, O, shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus, the light of the world.
Quartet: Jesus, the light of the world. Light of the world.
Prayer
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Luke 2:1-20
HYMN: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice [In Dulci Jubilo]
SERMON: “The God Who Moves into our Neighborhood”
ANTHEM: Star Carol by John Rutter
Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem, Christ our Lord in a lowly manger lies; bring your gifts, come and worship at his cradle, hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary! See his star shining bright in the sky this Christmas Night! Follow me joyfully; hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary! Angels bright, come from heaven’s highest glory, bear the news with its message of good cheer: “Sing, rejoice, for a King is come to save us, Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!” See, he lies in his mother’s tender keeping; Jesus Christ in her loving arms asleep. Shepherds poor, come to worship and adore him, offer their humble gifts before the son of Mary. Let us all pay our homage at the manger, sing his praise on this joyful Christmas Night; Christ is come, bringing promise of salvation; hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
PRAYER
HYMN: Silent Night, Holy Night [Stille Nacht]
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Shepherd’s Pipe Carol by John Rutter
Going through the hills on a night all starry, on the way to Bethlehem, far away I heard a shepherd boy piping on the way to Bethlehem. Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: ‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King is come to bring us peace on earth, and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.’ ‘Tell me shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily on the way to Bethlehem, who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely on the way to Bethlehem?’ ‘None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely on the way to Bethlehem; but a King will hear me play sweet lullabies when I get to Bethlehem.’ Angels in the sky came down from on high, hovered over the manger where the babe was lying cradled in the arms of his mother Mary, sleeping now at Bethlehem. ‘Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily, is he there at Bethlehem?’ ‘I will find him soon by the star shining brightly in the sky over Bethlehem.’ ‘May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily, come with you to Bethlehem? Pay my homage too at the new King’s cradle, is it far to Bethlehem?’ Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: ‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King is born this night in lowly stable yonder, born for you at Bethlehem.’
Merry Christmas!
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