Bulletin – Wednesday, December 24, 2025 – Christmas Eve

Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Christmas Eve

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Lighting the Advent Candle

One:   Our Advent path has brought us to this day, this Christmas Eve, to the birth of a child in whom we will experience God’s love dwelling amongst us. We have journeyed on the path God marks with a light that shines in the darkness.
All:      We have journeyed on the path of the prophets promising good news.

One:   We have journeyed on the path of John the Baptizer, to the kingdom of God that draws near.
All:      We have journeyed with Mary on a path of trust and hope.

One:   We have journeyed on the birthplace of Jesus, who shows us the way of truth and life.
All:      And now we light the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love…and we light the Christ candle.

Light all the candles.

Sung Response – “A Candle is Burning” (Voices United #6 verse 5)

We honour Messiah with Christ candle’s flame,
Our Christmas eve candles glad tidings proclaim.
O come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night,
As God comes among us, the Christian’s true light.

Call to Worship

One:   Every year, into the world’s darkness,
All:      A light is born that brings new beginnings and hope into the despair.

One:   Every year, into our complicated lives,
All:      Peace is born into our hearts to guide us into right relations and harmony.

One:   Every year, into our waiting hearts and wounded world.
All:      The Christ child comes again and again to bring healing and wholeness.

One:   Every year, and especially this year, with hope, gratitude, peace, and joy.
All:      We celebrate together—that God is with us—we are not alone. Amen.

(adapted from prayer by Beth W. Johnston, Bridging Waters, SK)

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “See Amid the Winter’s Snow” (Voices United #76)

See amid the winter’s snow, born for us on earth below,
See, the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years.
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn; hail, redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Say, ye holy shepherds, say what your joyful news today;
Wherefore have ye left your sheep on the lonely mountain steep?
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn; hail, redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

“As we watched at dead of night, lo, we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing ‘Peace on earth’ told us of the Saviour’s birth.”
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn; hail, redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

O Loving Creator we look humbly on this child in whom your wisdom was poured out into the universe. He became for us your suffering servant, and peacemaker—our hope and new life. Our gratitude is immense for Mary who birthed this child into the brokenness of the world surrounding her. For the midwives and the wise ones that visited them at risk of retribution from the state we give thanks. It is they who confirmed for us the presence of the messiah born outside the walls of the Empire into a manger. We ask for such courage and decisive action for justice in our own time and place that we too may be agents of God’s salvation for the world today.

Words of Assurance

O loving Creator, we are honoured to gather in your name assured in the power of your living spirit amongst us that heals our brokenness and mends the world. We celebrate this child’s birth, the peace maker, and all merciful one who came into the world so that God’s salvation might be forever born to us throughout history. In the prophets that came before us, and in the mystics and justice seekers of our time. Give us the wisdom of the prophets, the courage of the unwed mother, and the spirit of love born to us this day that we might be for the world as Jesus the risen Christ here with us.

Sung Response – “Still, Still, Still” (Voices United #47, verse 3)

Joy, joy, joy; glad tidings of great joy!
For through God’s holy incarnation
Christ is born for our salvation.
Joy, joy, joy; glad tidings of great joy!

We Hear God’s Word

The Virgin Birth

Isaiah 7:13-16

¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. ¹⁵ He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.

Matthew 1:23-25

²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Reflections and Prayers

The World today, like in the time of Jesus, for many of us feels heavy. There are wars that are pervasively resistant to resolution. The prices of groceries, clothes, and basic necessities are skyrocketing. Many have experienced deep losses. Others are experiencing health issues. And are waiting for good health care. Many of us struggle with addictions and mental health issues and struggle for sobriety.

Mary and Elizabeth knew all too well about suffering in the midst of miracles. Both gave a resounding yes to God’s call for them to carry God’s son and the prophet that would prepare the way of the Lord. When she accepted God’s call to carry a child, Mary left Galilee likely to avoid shame and ridicule. Elizabeth was in seclusion for five months. Both lived under Roman occupation. But they were not abandoned. Even in the midst of their personal and systemic suffering God came among them.

Let us pray today for all who at this time are carrying many mixed emotions: hope and grief; seclusion and disconnection, joy and fatigue; peace and internal conflicts. We thank you O Holy One – you who are with us always – for holding us close with all of our mixed emotions in the midst of all of our personal struggles. We ask that you give us conviction and courage like Mary and Elizabeth carried. So that we may be agents of the birth of Christ into our own time and place – the one who is our source of hope, peace, joy, and love. Amen.

Sung Response

God, bless us, your children, for dark is the night;
And help us prepare for the dawn of your light.
Renew our cold spirits and kindle our hearts,
To shine with the hope that your promise imparts.

The Child is Born

Isaiah 9:6-7

⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

Luke 2:1-14

¹ “ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Reflections and Prayers

It is hard to imagine the resilience of Joseph and Mary, both spiritually and physically. They had to travel to Bethlehem when Mary was about to give birth. The journey would have taken some four or five days as Nazareth is 65 miles north of Jerusalem and Bethlehem is a hilltop town situated near the edge of the Judean village.  Not only was the geography hostile, but they lived in a time of Roman Occupation under Caesar Augustus. Regardless, miracles abounded. When they could not find a place to rest, they found a manger. Angels appeared to the shepherds nearby, who heard and followed the call. They went to honor Mary and her newborn child — the long-awaited Messiah. O Glorious God, we pray today for all those facing great oppression and suffering, displacement, and trauma. We honor their resilience and courage. We pray especially for all women, and especially Indigenous women throughout the world who face violence, and intergenerational trauma due to wars, displacement, and because of the history of colonization and racism.

God of newness and rebirth, we ask that you give us hope to work for justice, and peace and racial harmony. We ask for resilience to combat religious intolerance, in a world where violence and hatred can seem overwhelming. We pray for a cessation of war. We ask you to help us be agents of peace and reconciliation. That we may all live with respect and dignity. Amen.

Sung Response

Awaken us, God, to the light of your dawn,
The Day of your grace which is hastening on.
Now open our eyes to the true, perfect light
That shines in all things, that we too may burn bright.

The Nature of God in Christ

Isaiah 42:1

¹ “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

Luke 4:16-19

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Reflections and Prayers

The child that we remember today, was born for this moment. As Jesus stood in the synagogue, his birth as the Messiah, became manifest in the world. His words proclaimed freedom for captives, and liberation for the poor.

Creator God your vastness is revealed to us in the whole universe and all that is in it. We witness the deer, the winged ones, the wolves, and the wild bunnies, and all that live outside in these cold winters and marvel at their resiliency. We stand in awe when we see the northern lights above and the dark skies ablaze with stars. All creation indeed gives you praise. We ask that you open our hearts and minds to how you are present in all that we know. And help us to see your mystery unfolding in that which remains a mystery to us. Help us to welcome and invite the stranger into our lives.

We ask you God, that you help free us from images of you that diminish our capacity as bearers of the divine. Help us to wake up to your sacred spirit already present in everything, including ourselves.

Let us pray for religious freedom for all denominations and all faith practices that we might all work together for peace in the way your son has shown us through love, non-violence, mercy, and curiosity. Help us to be midwives to the birthing of a new world, labouring to be born. Amen.

Sung Response

Your coming, Emmanuel, now we embrace,
Your peace with all creatures, your promise of grace.
Our Word is made flesh and your blessing you give,
That we, too, in peace with all others may live.

The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 61:8-11

⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. ⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

¹⁰ I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Matthew 5:1-12

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflections and Prayers

From the time of Jesus’ birth and even before the world was made, God made a covenant to be in an everlasting relationship with all God’s creation. Nurtured by the joy that is justice incarnate in Jesus the Christ. God’s promises are made real again in the birth of Jesus, and the resurrection of Christ. The poor will be liberated  The lame healed and the prisoners set free from oppression and persecution.

God of covenantal everlasting love and justice, we are so grateful for the birth of your son into humanity for his witness of hope and healing in a broken world through the mystics, the prophets, and sages of old and those amongst us today, Jesus’ message of love is reborn anew in all of history. We are grateful that we come together as the body of Christ here in this time we ask you to strengthen us to face the changes happening in our time and place, that we will be a never-ending presence of the risen Christ in our world today.

We offer up these prayers to you now and those that remain silent in our hearts that we might live as you have called us as disciples of your son, Jesus the Messiah who is born and risen here among us always. Amen.

Sung Response

We pray that your Word may be born in our hearts,
That we may shine bright with the joy it imparts.
We pray as we honour Emmanuel’s birth
That the light of our hope may illumine the earth.

May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Silent Night” (Voices United #76, verses 1 and 3)

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!
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 they birth.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Sung Response – “In the Bleak Midwinter” (Voices United #55, verse 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.

Offering Prayer

We thank you God for the opportunity to present to you these gifts that we might be the body of Christ here on earth. For all those without food, shelter, and employment serving others with the love and mercy and respect and dignity shown to us through your son. Amen.

Invitation to the Passing of the Peace

The Prayer that Jesus Taught

One:   Please join me in praying the prayer Jesus taught us to pray:
All:      Our Creator who is like our Mother and 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 them that 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.

We Go Into God’s World

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Angels We Have Heard on High” (Voices United #38, verses 1 and 4)

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!

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!

Commissioning and Benediction

Let us go out into the world, with the courage of Mary and the wisdom of the prophets

And give birth to new life, hope, joy, peace, and love.

Let us be in the world with the sight of the Angels in the sky and the wise ones who found Jesus so that we might see Christ born in the stranger, in our neighbors, in the lonely and alone.

Let us walk the road of righteousness and right relations, rejoicing that God is with us in our hearts and minds and share this true joy with all we meet.

We ask this all in the name of the Creator whose abundance of this glorious creation sustains us and in the name of the Christ child born to us this day and reborn in all our days and let us go out with the determination and strength given to us by the power of the holy spirit to be the hope and love for a world crying out for justice and equity still yet to be born for all. Amen.

Sung Response – “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” (Voices United #43, Chorus)

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born!