You are welcome to use the following worship service. Please feel free to use all or part of the following. You may substitute other appropriate songs for those suggested below.
If you do use this I just ask that you acknowledge the source as follows:
An Order of Worship for Christmas Eve, conceived and written by Lisa Frenz 2002. All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.
P = Presiding Minister
A = Assisting Minister
C = Congregation
You will need:
Altar Candles
Individual Candles & Holders
Christmas Eve
Order of Worship
Lisa Frenz © 2002
Stand: = Please stand as you are able. Sit: = Please sit
Pre-service Music
Prelude:
Stand
P: May the peace of God be with you.
C: And also with you.
Gathering Song: "Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel" (Veni Emmanuel)
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice, Rejoice,
Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
O Come, O Wisdom, from on high,
embracing all things far and nigh:
in strength and beauty come and stay;
teach us your will and guide our way. Refrain
O Lord of Israel, come in might,
as to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times you gave the law
in cloud, and majesty, and awe. Refrain
O Ruler of the nations, come,
O Cornerstone that binds in one:
refresh the hearts that long for you;
restore the broken, make us new. Refrain
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain
(Spoken over music)
P:
In the quiet of the night
A woman gives birth:
A personal act of faith;
Accepting God's charge upon her.
A:
In the quiet of the night
A husband becomes a father:
A personal act of faith;
Accepting God's charge upon him.
P:
In the quiet of the night
A baby breathes the air:
A personal act of sacrifice;
God steps out of the divine into the mundane
For us.
Sit
Song: "What Child Is This?" (Tune: Greensleeves, Text: William C. Dix, 1837-1898)
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
on Mary's lap is sleeping?
whom angels greet with anthems sweet
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud,
the babe, the son of Mary!
Why lies he in such mean estate
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
the cross be borne for me, for you;
hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the babe, the son of Mary!
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh;
come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
the virgin sings her lullaby;
joy, joy, for Christ is born,
the babe, the son of Mary!
Lesson Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Song: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Tune: St. Louis or Forest Green, Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893)
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.
For Christ is born of Mary,
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond'ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king,
and peace to all the earth!
P: O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
C: Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
A: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
C: For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
P: For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the LORD made the heavens.
C: Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
A: Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
C: Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
P: Worship the LORD in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth!
C: Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."
A: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
C: let the field exult, and everything in it!
P: Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.
C: He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Psalm 96
Song: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Tune: St. Louis or Forest Green, Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893)
How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
but, in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
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;
oh, come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Immanuel!
Gospel Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'ius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths 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, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"
Song: "On Christmas Night"
On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring;
On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring;
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.
Then why should we on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad?
Then why should we on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad?
When from our sins He set us free
All for to gain our liberty?
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
Then we and angels with joy may sing,
All for to see the new-born King.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night;
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
"Glory to God and peace to all,
Now and forevermore, Amen."
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Music for Meditation
Message
Stand
Song: "Ding, Dong, Merrily on High"
Ding dong! Merrily on high
in heaven the bells are ringing;
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riven with angels singing.
Refrain:
Glo—ria Hosanna in excelsis.
Glo—ria Hosanna in excelsis.
Ding dong! Carol all the bells,
Now hasten, do not tarry!
Sing out, sound the good noels,
Jesus is born of Mary. Refrain
Ring out, merry, merry bells,
The angels all are singing.
Ding dong! Swing the steeple bells,
Sound joyous news we're bringing! Refrain
Hark now, happily we sing,
The angels wish us merry!
Ding dong! Dancing as we bring
Good news from Virgin Mary. Refrain
Lesson Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Sit
Special Music:
A: In the quiet of the night
C:
We accept a gift:
A personal act of faith;
Receiving God's charge upon us.
In the quiet of the night
We are changed forever by our God and Savior
Christ Jesus, our Lord,
Who is God with us, now and forever. Amen.
Offering
Special Music
Stand
Offering Song: "O Come Little Children"
O come, little children, O come one and all,
To Bethlehem haste, to the manger so small,
God's Son for a gift has been sent you this night
To be your redeemer, your joy and delight.
Kneel down and adore Him with shepherds today,
Lift up little hands now and praise Him as they;
Rejoice that a Savior from sin you can boast,
And join in the song of the heavenly host.
Offering Prayer
Special Music
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Sit
Distribution of Holy Communion
Stand
Dismissal
P: May the body and blood of Christ Jesus strengthen you and keep you always in faith.
C: Amen.
Communion Song "Now the joyful bells a-ringing" (Tune: Nos Galan)
Now the joyful bells a-ringing,
All ye mountains, praise the Lord!
Lift our hearts, like birds a-winging,
All ye mountains, praise the Lord!
Now our festal season, bringing,
Welcome all, to bide and board,
Set our cheery voices singing:
All ye mountains, praise the Lord!
Cold the year, new whiteness wearing,
All ye mountains, praise the Lord!
Peace, goodwill to us a-bearing,
All ye mountains, praise the Lord!
Now we all God's goodness sharing
Break the bread and wine out poured:
Christ the Lamb of God, our blessing,
All ye mountains, praise the Lord!
Prayers
(spoken over music)
A: In the quiet of the night
P: We have heard God's truth;
C:
A personal word of life
Given for our redemption.
A: In the quiet of the night—
P: In the quiet of this night—
C:
We are called to act.
We are called to care.
We are called to share
A personal story of Christmas,
A personal story of salvation.
P: In the quiet of this night
C:
God sends us to be living faith:
A personal invitation,
A personal voice of hope,
A personal hand of service,
In our day-to-day acts,
In our day-to-day relationships.
May God grant that it be so. Amen.
Song: "Go Tell It On The Mountain" (Tune: Go Tell It, Text: African American spiritual, refrain; John W. Work Jr., 1872-1925, stanzas, alt.)
Refrain:
Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and ev'rywhere;
go tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching
o'er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. Refrain
The shepherds feared and trembled
when, lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior's birth. Refrain
Down in a lonely manger
the humble Christ was born;
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain
(Spoken over music)
P:
In this quiet night
May God bless you and keep you.
May God's countenance shine upon you,
And give you peace.
C: Amen.
Sending Song: "Silent Night, Holy Night" (Tune: Stille Nacht, Franz Gruber, 1787-1863, Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1849; tr. John F. Young, 1820-1885)
Individual candles are lighted from the Ministers or Acolytes candles and passed from person to person.
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,
heav'nly 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 your holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at your birth,
Jesus, Lord, at your birth.
Repeat verse 1.
P: Go in peace and joy to do God's will.
C: Thanks be to God.
(Please extinguish your candle and put it in the basket(s) as you leave).
Postlude