Bulletin – Christmas Eve 2021

Friday, December 24, 2021
Christmas Eve

Approach

Lighting the Advent Candles

One:   We light the candle of Hope as we await the coming of Jesus, who is our source of hope.
All:      Thank you, Lord, for the gift of hope, in our times of emptiness.

One:   We light the candle of Peace, knowing that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
All:      Thank you, Lord, for the gift of peace in our times of uncertainty.

One:   We light the candle of Love, knowing that God is love revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
All:      Thank you, Lord, for the gift of love in our times of loneliness.

One:   We light the candle of Joy, knowing that our comfort and help come from God.
All:      Thank you, Lord, for the gift of joy in our times of sadness.

One:   In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
All:      The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth.

One:   In him was life, and that life was the light of all. We light the Christ Candle, knowing that Jesus is our hope, our peace, our joy, and the source of love.

Response

Light a candle for Christ born among us,
Grace of God, most fully revealed;
Advent watching and waiting is over,
God with us, humanity healed,
Emmanuel, God is here;
God is here!

Call to Worship

One:   We count it in mere hours now. Soon the first pains of labour will be felt.
All:      Soon the Light will shine in the darkness, soon the baby will be born.

One:   Soon God will once again break into our lives,
All:      coming in a way that is expected yet unusual, challenging our expectations and calling us to see life differently.

One:   We gather together this night in anticipation with expectation and hope.
All:      We gather together to worship the coming of Emmanuel, God with us.

Carol – “Angels We Have Heard on High”

Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing,
Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Prayer

Almighty God, it’s dark outside and the nights are long. We watch and wait with mounting expectation for the coming of your son into the world. We ease our waiting with the putting of tinsel and trees, decorations, and gatherings. We delight in their beauty, but God, in our eagerness guard our hearts by celebrating the things we have made instead of the gift you will give. God of birth, God of light, in this time of song and prayer and silence, reawakens in us the awe of Christmas.

As we hear again the story of a young woman and a surprising visitor, remind us that we are called to respond to you in unexpected ways. May we be willing to sing praises for a young woman who said YES, for a lowly carpenter who journeyed with her, and the birth that we prepare to celebrate this day.

Tonight we prepare to receive a baby who will teach us our calling to seek reconciliation and to love expansively. Praise be to God for the unexpected babe of Bethlehem. Praise to the wisdom of love. Amen!

Children’s Christmas

Carol – “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold,
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven’s all gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they came with peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats o’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled two thousand years of wrong;
And warring humankind hears not the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise, and cease your strife, to hear the angels sing.

For, lo! The days are hastening on by prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling,
And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Luke 2:1-20

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. ² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) ³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. ¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Anthem – “Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep”

Reflection

Anthem – “Nativity Carol”

The Response

Communion

One:   God be with you.
All:      And also with you.

One:   Lift up your hearts.
All:      We lift them up to God.

One:   Let us give thanks to God.
All:      It is right to give God thanks and praise.

One:   God of all time and places, we gather at your table of grace to recall your vision of hope for all people and for your world. Through Abraham and Sarah, you revealed your promise in the surprise of a child. Through your prophets, you called your people to make way for peace and justice. In Jesus, you revealed your way of forgiveness and love. Through the ever-circling year, your Word discloses to us—again and anew—your promise for the restoration of all creation. As we gather to share this sign of hope and fulfillment, we remember Jesus, the child born into obscurity, amid fear and uncertainty. We remember the fragility of that revelation, as well as the hope he stirred and imagination he inspired, and we sing…
All:      O come, O come Emmanuel
             And ransom captive Israel
             That mourns in lowly exile here
             Until the Son of God appear.
             Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

One:   We remember Jesus, the One who blazed a new and risky path of extravagant generosity and of passionate concern: temple-shaker, world-maker, rule-breaker, risk-taker; the author and finisher of our faith. We remember Jesus’ self-giving love and the offer of himself for others, even those who gave him over to death, and we sing…
All:     O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
            Who ord’rest all things mightily;
            To us the path of knowledge show,
            And teach us in her ways to go.
            Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

One:   On that night, in the midst of great confusion and fear, Jesus broke bread with friends, saying, “This is my body, which I give for you and for all. When you do this, remember me.” With a blessing, he took the cup and offered it to them saying: “This cup is God’s covenant which is given for all. When you drink this, remember me.”
All:      O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
            And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
            Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
            And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
            Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

One:   Come to us, life-giving Spirit of God. Bless us, these gifts, and what we do here, so that we might sing your song of love for your people and for your world.

Prayers of the People

One:   God of All, we pray for your people. For those who are afraid and oppressed, may you give courage. For those suffering conflict and fear, may you bring peace. For those who long for food and water, may they be filled. For those who long for justice, may it be fulfilled. We pray also for ourselves and our community. That those in hospital and in care feel your strength. That those who are alone and anxious feel you near. That those who are ill in body and in spirit be comforted. That our friends and family be blessed by healing and love. That those whom we lift up in prayer feel your presence born anew in their lives…Hear our prayers, O God, and in your mercy, answer. We pray these things, trusting in God’s faithfulness revealed:
All:      Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

One:   We have set God’s table, all things are ready. All are welcome to come to God’s table, come and eat.
All:      O Come, Desire of nations, bind
            All people in one heart and mind;
            O bid our sad divisions cease,
            And be for us the Prince of Peace.
            Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Prayer After Communion

God of shepherds and kings, you gather us by the light of the star of promise. You lead us not only to hope for the future, but to trust in your presence and renewal of life in every time and place. Guide us this night, by the light of that same star. Lead us to the mangers of this world, where uncertainty is met with the renewal life and the transformation of this world is most deeply felt in love, one with another. Be with us on this most wondrous of nights, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(adapted from Rev. Andrew O’Neill)

Carol – “Silent Night”

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 Hallelujah.
Christ, the Saviour is born! Christ, the Saviour 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.

Benediction

Let the love that shaped earth and heaven dwell within us this Christmas.
Let the love that created humanity dwell within us this Christmas.
Let the love that overcomes suffering and hatred dwell within us this Christmas.
Let the love that causes us to rejoice with loved ones dwell within us this Christmas.
Let the love that forgives and renews dwell within us this Christmas.
Let the love that brings reconciliation after separation dwell within us this Christmas.
Let the love that brings the blessing of peace dwell within us this Christmas.
Let the love that brings the blessing of peace dwell within us this Christmas.
And may we share that peace with all people near and far. Amen.

Anthem – “Come, See”