20241224 – Christmas Eve Bulletin

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Chancel Choir

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Leader: Why do we light the Advent candles?

Response: Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.”

Leader: Christ, the True Light, has come into the world as promised by the prophets.

Response: “He is a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

(Lighting of the Christ Candle)

Leader: We light this candle because our covenant God has fulfilled His promises in the birth of His Son.

Response: “For Jesus has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people.”

Unison: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship

Minister: Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

People: And blessed be his Kingdom, now and forever!

Minister: The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!

People: And we beheld his glory!

Unison: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

*Hymn of Approach: “Angels from the Realms of Glory” (No. 218)

1 Angels, from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth;
ye who sang creation's story,
now proclaim Messiah's birth;
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.

2 Shepherds in the fields abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
yonder shines the infant Light: [Refrain]

3 Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star: [Refrain]

4 Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear: [Refrain]

5 All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
evermore your voices raising
to th'eternal Three in One: [Refrain]

*Collect for Christmas Eve

Unison: Almighty and Everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: mercifully grant that all those whom you have given to your Son may, by his incarnation, obedience and sacrifice, be freed from their bondage in sin and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

The Word of Prophecy: Isaiah 9:1-7

Hymn of Praise: “What Child Is This” (No. 213)

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.

The Word of Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18-25

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” (No. 211)

1 God rest you merry, gentlemen,
let nothing you dismay,
remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas day,
to save us all from Satan's pow'r
when we were gone astray;

Refrain:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

2 From God our heav'nly Father,
a blessed angel came;
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same:
how that in Bethlehem was born
the son of God by name. [Refrain]

3 "Fear not, then," said the angel,
"let nothing you affright;
this day is born a Savior
of a pure virgin bright,
to free all those who trust in him
from Satan's pow'r and might." [Refrain]

4 The shepherds at those tidings
rejoiced much in mind,
and left their flocks a-feeding,
in tempest, storm, and wind:
and went to Bethlehem straightway,
the Son of God to find. [Refrain]

*The Word of Adoration: Philippians 2:1-11

*Prayer for Illumination

Homily: “The Cost of Christmas” (Glenn Grevengoed)

Hymn of Adoration: “Thou Who Wast Rich beyond All Splendor” (No. 230)

1 Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
All for love’s sake becamest poor.

2 Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising,
Heavenward by Thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.

3 Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what Thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.
CCLI 3036374

Prayers of the People

Unison: O Source of All Good: What shall I render to you for the gift of gifts, your own dear Son, begotten, not created, my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute, his infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp.

Minister: Herein is wonder of wonders: he came below to raise me above, was born like me that I might become like him.

People: Herein is love: when I cannot rise to him, he draws near on wings of grace, to raise me to himself.

Minister: Herein is power: when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart, he united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreated and the created.

People: Herein is wisdom: when I was undone, with no will to return to him, and no intellect to devise recovery, he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost, as man to die my death, to shed satisfying blood on my behalf, to work out a perfect righteousness for me.

Minister: O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds, and enlarge my mind; let me hear good tidings of great joy—

Unison: And hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore; my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose, my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father.

from “The Gift of Gifts” from The Valley of Vision

Pastoral Prayer

*Hymn of Praise: “In the Bleak Midwinter” (SH No. 14)

1 In the bleak midwinter
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone:
snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter,
long ago.

2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

3 Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air,
but only his mother,
in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved
with a kiss.

4 What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man
I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him,
give my heart.

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Unison: We give you thanks, most gracious God, for allowing us to share in this celebration as your family. Give us grace that we may grow in love, glorifying you in all things; for having all glory, you became incarnate in darkness of night and obscurity; having all riches, you became incarnate in the humility of a virgin; having all wisdom, you became incarnate in the confounding simplicity of a child; having all power, you became incarnate in the weakest form of human life. Let your servants depart in peace, O Lord, full of the vision of your salvation, ready to make it plain before all the peoples of the world. We pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Hymn of Response: “Silent Night! Holy Night” (Insert)

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able

 

Merry Christmas!