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PRELUDE
Christmas Carols
Gail Gillespie, flute; Stan Stanford, clarinet
(The prelude is a time for quiet meditation.)
INTROIT
“The Glory of the Father” Hovland
GREETINGS The Rev. Gregg Neel
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
(Please rise in body or in spirit as the Chimes are played.)
*CALL TO WORSHIP
On this holy night, we come together to remember –
We gather as friends and strangers, as the faithful and the wondering.
We come together to remember that Love came down at Christmas.
We come together to remember that God is with us still.
On this sacred night, we rejoice that Christ is born anew.
Let us worship God.
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN #133
“O Come, All Ye Faithful” ADESTE FIDELES
LIGHTING THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES Eliz & Ryan Roser, Ada & Charlie
Tonight on Christmas Eve, we kneel with families all over the earth in God’s presence.
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.
As we have been invited by light, let us enlighten.
As we have been found, let us seek out the lost.
As we have been liberated, let us set the captives free.
For unto us a child is born.
(the candles are lit)
Let us worship God.
ANTHEM
“Brightest and Best” arr. Shawn Kirchner
Helen Anderson, violin; Mark Niemann-Ross, string bass
Hail the blessed morn, see the great Mediator down from the regions of glory descend!
Shepherds go worship the babe in the manger, lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star in the East, the horizon adorning, guide where our Redeemer is laid.
Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining, low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining, Maker, and Monarch, and Savior of all.
(Refrain)
Shall we not yield him, in costly devotion, odors of Edom and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?
(Refrain)
FIRST LESSON ꟷ THE PROPHECY FORETOLD Junha Kim
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (p. 638)
SECOND LESSON ꟷ THE PROPHECY FULFILLED The Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Luke 2:1-14 (p. 58)
ANTHEM
“Away in a Manger” J.E. Spilman;
Gail Gillespie, flute arr. Paul Sjolund
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
THIRD LESSON ꟷ THE BIRTH OF JESUS The Rev. Gregg Neel
Luke 2:15-20 (p.58)
CHRISTMAS MEDITATION The Rev. Gregg Neel
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
HYMN #145
“What Child Is This” GREENSLEEVES
CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
(The Christmas Eve Offering is an invitation to give and there are many ways to give. You can give the gift of time or the gift of one of your talents in the community you live in. You are also invited to give of your financial resources.)
OFFERTORY
“O Holy Night” Adolphe Adam;
arr. Shawn Kirchner
O holy night the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ’til He appeared and our soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, with glowing hearts by the cradle we stand.
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger, in all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King! Before the lowly bend.
Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and his gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, and all bonds burst asunder,
for in HIs name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let all within us praise His holy name!
Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever. His power and glory evermore proclaim!
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS AND THE CHRISTMAS PRAYER The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.” For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
SHARING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST The Rev. Gregg Neel
(This year, we are using battery-operated candles. To turn the candle on, firmly twist the flame top. Please remain seated while we sing “Silent Night.” We will raise our candles on the last verse.)
*HYMN #122
“Silent Night, Holy Night!” STILLE NACHT
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,
Heavenly 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 Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Silent night, holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King:
Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior is born.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD The Rev. Gregg Neel
John 1, selected verses
*HYMN #134
“Joy to the World” ANTIOCH
(As the hymn begins and lights come up, please rise.)
Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world! 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 sins and sorrows 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.
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Gregg Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Fantasia in G ꟷ Adeste Fideles” J.S. Bach; arr. MEB
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)