Christmas Eve Tonight!

Lisa Frenz 2009

Tonight!

Christmas Eve

Nativity of Our Lord

Order of Worship

▲ = Congregation Stands, ▼ = Congregation Sits

The sanctuary should be dimly lighted.

The only lights at the altar should be the altar candles, candelabra, peace candle and the baptismal font.

The Christmas Tree should not be lighted.

▲ Call to Worship: O, Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Tune Name: VENI, EMMANUEL

Text Source: Text: Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Koln, 1710; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.

Music Source: Music: French processional, 15th cent.

O come, O 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 Dayspring, come and cheer;

O Sun of justice, now draw near.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and death's dark shadow put to flight. Refrain

O come, 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

P: Starlight dances overhead.

Sunlight waits impatiently for the morning.

Moonlight floods in cascades of shimmering ecstacy.

The whole world hums with vibrant expectation.

A: Tonight...

C: Tonight is the night of hope.

A: Tonight...

C: Tonight is the time of release from the darkness.

A: Tonight...

C: Tonight is the night of restoration.

A: The night of promise.

C: The night of new beginnings.

Greeting of Peace:

P: In great love and wisdom, O God, you created this universe, making the stars to dance and the light to sing, the seas to roar and the waves to leap, the animals to thrive and the plants to flourish. You made humankind to be your children, so that we may walk and talk with you, as the inheritors of your creation.

But we sought freedom and gained bondage to sin. We sought wisdom and found lies. We sought life and found death. Like rebellious children we ran from your presence; distanced ourselves from you and denied our heritage.

In even greater love you let us go, only to reach out to us through your Word, Jesus Christ, offering us restoration and healing, peace and life. As Christ is born anew in our hearts, let us be renewed in our community. May the peace of Christ be with you all.

C: And also with you.

All share a greeting of peace.

▼ Suggested Anthem: Chill of the Nightfall (Gary James)

Turn on altar lights.

Message

▲ Song: Once in Royal David’s City

Text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1818-1895

Music: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-1876

Tune Name: IRBY

Once in royal David's city

stood a lowly cattle shed,

where a mother laid her baby

in a manger for his bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven

who is God and Lord of all,

and his shelter was a stable,

and his cradle was a stall;

with the poor and meek and lowly,

lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him,

through his own redeeming love;

for that child so dear and gentle

is our Lord in heav'n above;

and he leads his children on

to the place where he is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,

with the oxen standing by,

we shall see him; but in heaven,

set at God's right hand on high;

there his children gather round,

bright like stars, with glory crowned.

Turn on Christmas Tree lights.

Lesson: Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Song: Jesus, What a Wonderful Child

Text: African American traditional, alt.

Tune Name: WONDERFUL CHILD

1st Time -choir, 2rd Time - all

Jesus, Jesus, oh, what a wonderful child.

Jesus, Jesus, so holy, meek, and mild;

new life, new hope the child will bring.

Listen to the angels sing,

"Glory, glory, glory," let the heavens ring!

Litany:

P: O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

A: Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

C: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

P: For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.

A: 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.

P: Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

A: Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.

C: Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.

P: Say among the nations, "The LORD is king! The world is firmly 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; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth.

C: He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

Psalm 96

Lesson: Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

▲ Song: Joy to the World

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Music: George F. Handel, 1685-1759

Tune Name: ANTIOCH

All 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 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, 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, 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, wonders of his love.

▼ Offering of Gifts & Music

▲ Offering Prayer:

A: With praise and thanksgiving in our hearts, O God, we pray,

C: We offer our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to you, O God, for you have blessed us with the gift of your only son, Christ Jesus, who rescued us from the darkness of death and sin, giving himself to us in his death and resurrection, and again through the daily gift of wine and bread. In humble gratitude we give back to you tokens of our love: our time, our talents and our possessions. Amen.

Holy Communion:

P: With thanks and praise, O God, we come to your table of love. For Jesus our Christ on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this as often as you eat in remembrance of me.” After the supper, Jesus also took the cup and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, “Take and drink, this cup is my blood which is shed for the many for the forgiveness of sin. Drink all of it in remembrance of me.”

P: God so loved this world that he gave us the gift of his son. Rejoice and be glad for this child of Mary is your savior. Almighty God, send now your Holy Spirit so that we may dance for joy in the presence of your promise of hope.

C: Let this gift of salvation be ours for all eternity.

P: God’s grace has called us here, let us partake of Christ’s gift for all ages.

C: Amen.

▼ Distribution of Holy Communion

▲ Dismissal from Holy Communion:

P: May God bless you and keep always in the arms of Christ, the love of God given to us for all eternity.

C: Amen.

Song of Thanks: Love Has Come vs. 1,3

Music: Un Flambaeu, Saholy, 17th cent; arr. Robert Buckley Farlee, b. 1950.

Tune Name: Un Flambeau

Love has come_ a light in the darkness.... Love! Love! Glory to God on high.

Love has come_ and never will leave us!... Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!

Testimony of Faith:

I believe in God the Creator, who made me and all things, giving us all the gift of life, who set me on my path in this world.

I believe in God the Savior, who is one with the Creator, who rescued me and all creation from the depredations of our violations against God and creation. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, walked a path through this world, taking on human form having been born of a woman through the power of the Holy Spirit. He lived and worked in this world among people just like me. He walked God’s path to death on a cross, and rose from the dead to open our pathway to eternal life.

I believe in God the Holy Spirit, my counselor and guide, who is one with the Creator and the Christ, who through the body and blood of Jesus brings me into communion with all people, past, present and future; who calls me to walk a sacred way of life through this world, caring for creation and the people I meet on the way, loving them, helping them, welcoming them without prejudice, being God’s hands and feet in the world, being God’s messenger of the good news of Jesus Christ.

▼ Lesson: Luke 2:1-7

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. 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.

.Song: O Come, All Ye Faithful vs. 1,2,3

Text: attr. John F. Wade, c. 1711-1786; tr. Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880, sts. 1, 3-4; tr. unknown, st. 2

Music: attr. John F. Wade, c. 1711-1786

Tune Name: ADESTE FIDELES

Light candles on the window sills.

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:

Refrain: O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord!

The highest, most holy,

Light of light eternal,

born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;

Son of the Father

now in flesh appearing! Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels,

sing in exultation,

sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God

in the highest: Refrain

Lesson: Luke 2:8-16

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.

Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. 1,3,4

Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893

Music: Lewis H. Redner, 1831-1908

Tune Name: ST. LOUIS

Light candles placed around the room.

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.

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!

Lesson: Luke 2:17-20

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.

▲ Song: Silent Night, Holy Night

Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1849; tr. John F. Young, 1820-1885

Music: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863

Tune Name: STILLE NACHT

Light individual candles. The song is played quietly until all the candles are lit.

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!

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.

Blessing:

P: Go in peace and joy

Knowing that the Light of Hope

Shines in the darkness.

That God watches over you,

Cares for you,

Loves you.

C: Amen.

All extinguish the individual candles.

Postlude