Christmas Eve: Who Is This Child?

Lisa Frenz 2001

Christmas Eve: Who Is This Child?

Have Advent Wreath, Wall Sconce, Window Candles, and any other candles lighted before the service.

Lights on dim.

Tree lights on.

Order of Worship

▲ = Stand as you are able ▼ = Sit

Suggested Pre-Service Music: Selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas

Suggested Prelude: Anthem: "The Hills Are Bare At Bethlehem" (arr. A.D. Miller)

Processional 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

The Cross is carried in. The altar candles are lit.

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,

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

Welcome

P: Have you been to Bethlehem lately? A lot's been happening. Some of it pretty strange. There's a mother and a father, angels and shepherds, animals and birds. In In fact, there's room for a lot more. Tthere's room for an entire world in the mystery, the wonder, the miracle that God brings to us tonight.

A: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgements are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

C: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Psalm 36

P: Who are these angels who come to earth, bearing the news of Jesus' birth? Who are these shepherds who run to see, and worship this child on bended knee? Who is this child, so small, so slight, of whom the angels sing this night? Who is this God, who sends a Son into our midst, the promised one?

Song: They Came vs. 1,3,4 (W. Michael Aguilar III) (See Music)

They came, the shepherds and with their flocks

from yonder fields afar.

They saw and followed to where it led

them that bright and shining star.

They found the child, were so amazed

their hearts were filled with joy.

For peace, glad tidings for all would

come from this tiny baby boy.

Refrain: Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!

Gloria! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!

Gloria! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

They came, the choirs__ of heavn'ly hosts

with voices now to sing.

Proclaiming joyfully to the world of this birth,

the King of kings.

They found the child, were so amazed

their voices filled with joy.

For peace, glad tidings for all the would

come from this tiny baby boy. Refrain

Then came, the people from east and west

and unknown lands to see,

This tiny baby, the Prince of Peace__

whose birth would set them free.

They found the child, were so amazed

their hearts were filled with joy.

For peace, glad tidings for all would

come from this tiny baby boy. Refrain

Reading I: 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.

P: Who do we see in Bethlehem? Who is in the stable there? The Wonderful Counselor? The Mighty God? The Everlasting Father? The Prince of Peace? Who is this child, this baby, in a manger, no less? Who is this Jesus? Who do we see?

C: There are so many faces. So many roles. So many perceptions.

P: Yet, the person in the middle of it all is Jesus.

A: Called the Christ,

C: The Messiah,

A: The Light,

C: The Word,

A: The Savior,

C: The Son of God.

Song: O Come, Little Children

Tune: Ihr Kinderlein, Kommet

Text: Christoph von Schmid (1768-1854). Music: Johann Abraham Peter Schulz (1840)

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.

He's born in a stable for you and for me,

Draw near by the bright gleaming starlight to see,

In swaddling clothes lying so meek and so mild.

And purer than angels the heavenly child.

See Mary and Joseph with love-beaming eyes

Are gazing upon the rude bed where He lies,

the shepherds are kneeling, with hearts full of love,

While angels sing loud hallelujahs above.

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.

Reading 2: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. 1,2

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!

Reading 3: Luke 2:1-7

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us 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.

Song: Angels We Have Heard on High vs. 1

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.

Reading 4: Luke 2:8-20

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: What Child Is This vs. 1

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!

Reading 5: Luke 2:15-20

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.

Homily

Theme Song: Joy to the World vs. 1,3,4

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 heav'n and nature sing.

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.

Prayers of the People

Greeting of Peace

Offering:

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

Offering Prayer

Offering Song: Little Drummer Boy

Music & Lyrics by Katherine Kennicott Davis

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum . . .

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum . . .

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum . . .

Me and my drum.

Eucharistic Prayer & Institution of Communion

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.

Distribution of Communion

Dismissal from Communion

Christmas Prayer

Song: Silent Night, Holy Night

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

The individual candles are lighted during the introduction.

When everyone's candle is lit the congregation sings the song.

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.

(Please extinguish your candle and put it in the basket(s) at the end of the service as you leave).

Blessing

Suggested Postlude: "What Child Is This"