Christmas Day Choral Worship
Below are some worship resources which you are welcome to use at no charge. Please just use a copyright acknowledgment "Copyright Lisa Frenz 2002. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission."
P = Presiding Minister
A = Assisting Minister
C = Congregation
You will need:
Altar Candles
Christmas Day Choral Service
Order of Worship
Stand = Please stand as you are able. Sit = Please sit
Prelude & Lighting of Candles
Christmas Proclamation:
(Spoken from the back of the sanctuary)
Stand
P: From before time and creation God set into motion the salvation of all humanity... God's Word flowed out and took human form. An ocean contained in a stream. A star cupped in a hand. God – conceived, carried and born of a woman. The plan from before time, put into time and space.... As promised, the virgin conceived and bore a son. And he was named Jesus... Emmanuel... God With Us.... The Word made flesh which dwells among us. Rejoice and be glad! God has come to save you—love you—reclaim you!
Suggested Choir Anthem: "The Hallelujah Chorus" (Handel)
A: New promise. New hope. As God brought Israel out of Egypt, and rescued Zion from slavery, so does God restore all creation, gathering everyone together, breathing life into a dead world, animation into a lifeless people, claiming us as God's own.
Gathering Song: "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
(Tune: Adeste Fideles, Text: attr. John F. Wade, c. 1711-1786; tr. Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880, sts. 1, 3-4; tr. unknown, st. 2)
Oh, come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him
born the king of angels:
Refrain: Oh, come, let us adore him,
oh, come, let us adore him,
oh, 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
in the highest: Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory giv'n!
Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing: Refrain
P: The grace and love of God be with you always.
C: And also with you.
Sit
Praise Song: "Twas in the Moon Of Wintertime"
(Tune: UNE JEUNE PUCELLE,Text: Jean de Brebeuf, 1593-1649; tr. Jesse E. Middleton, 1872-1960, alt. )
'Twas in the moon of wintertime . . .
O children of the forest free, . . .
Prayer of the Day
Special Music:
Scripture Reading Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98 "Sing A New Song"
(Tune: SING A NEW SONG, Daniel Schutte)
Refrain: Sing a new song unto the Lord; . . .
Yahweh's people dance for joy; . . .
Rise, O children, from your sleep; . . .
Scripture Reading Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12]
Stand
Scripture Song: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
(Tune:MENDELSSOHN, Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, alt. )
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn king;
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all you nations, rise;
join the triumph of the skies;
with angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Refrain:
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn king!"
Christ, by highest heav'n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail, incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with us to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel! Refrain
Holy Gospel John 1:1-14
Sit
Music for Meditation
Message
Stand
Theme Song: "Cold December Flies Away"
(Tune: LO DESEMBRE CONGELAT, Text: Catalonian carol; tr. Howard Hawhee, b. 1953)
Cold December flies away . . .
In the hopeless time of sin . . .
Now the bud has come to bloom, . . .
Creed
By the grace granted to me by God, I believe.
I believe in God, the Creator, who made me and all creation, who calls me into relationship and makes me a child of freedom.
I believe in God, Christ Jesus, who has saved me and all creation, who by his death and resurrection has rescued me from the punishment of sin and restores me to the freedom given me at the beginning of creation.
I believe in God, the Holy Spirit, who breathes life into me and all creation, who fills me with grace, leads me into wisdom, and gives me strength for the work of my life.
I believe in one God, who is Creator, Savior and Spirit, the center of my life now and for all eternity.
Christmas Litany
(spoken over music)
P: Did you see in that stable? Did you see?
C: A universe contained in a moment. Infinity bounded by time.
P: Did you see in that manager? Did you see?
C: An Immortal embodied in a mortal baby. Glory enfolded by human frailty.
P: Did you see in those arms? Did you see?
C: The Untouchable clasped in human hands. Divinity embraced by humanity.
P: This is the mystery. This is the glory. This is Christmas.
C: A baby born. A child given. Christ Jesus, God with us.
Greeting of Peace
P: The peace of God be with you.
C: And also with you.
(All share a word of peace.)
Sit
Offering/Special Music
Stand
Offering Song: "Angels We Have Heard On High"
(Tune: GLORIA, Text: French carol; tr. "Crown of Jesus," 1862)
Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o'er the plains,
and the mountains in reply,
echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn king. Refrain
Offering Prayer
Community Prayers
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
Table Song: "For All People Christ Was Born"
(Tune: FOR ALL PEOPLE, Ray Makeever, (c) 1981 Ray Makeever, admin. Augsburg Fortress)
For all people Christ was born . . .
For all people Christ has come . . .
For all people Christ can be . . .
Sit
Distribution of Communion
Stand
P: The body and blood of Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep in God's grace.
C: Amen.
Thanksgiving Song: "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice"
(Tune: IN DULCI JUBILO, Text: medieval Latin carol; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.)
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
Prayer
Blessing:
P: May God enfold you in the mystery of Christmas.
May God enlighten you in the Way of Christ's love.
May God keep you safe and give you peace.
C: Amen.
Sit
Community Announcements
Stand
Sending Song: "Joy to the World"
(Tune: ANTIOCH, Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its King;
let ev'ry heart prepare him room
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sin and sorrow grow
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
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,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
A: Go in Peace Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks Be to God!
Postlude