CALL TO WORSHIP

We gather on this night to celebrate our Savior’s birth.

We gather as the holy family gathered in Bethlehem.

We gather as the shepherds came from the field,

We gather to celebrate as faithful Christians have done for centuries.

We gather here tonight, knowing, too, that people around the world are also gathering to worship the newborn King.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him born the king of angels;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

(Choir only)

O sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above:

Glory to God, glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come, let usadore him, Christ, the Lord.

(Unison)

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

WELCOME

THE CALL TO PREPARE:      Isaiah 40:3-5      OT Page 740

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

CHOIR ANTHEM: "Il est ne (He is Born)" French Carol

A LITANY

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

Sing, O heaven, and be joyful, O earth, for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

In him was life, the life was the light of humanity. The light shines in the darkness,

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.

He came to his own, and his own received him not. We give thanks to you,

eternal God, for the Word in human form given to us in the Child of Bethlehem.

    But sometimes, we fail to appreciate your gift.

We come again to behold the gift of the Christ Child once again,

yet we are also mindful of how we have failed to comprehend the

fullness of that gift.

    The story of this day points us to Your glory, yet we struggle daily

    to join in the angel’s song. We are distracted and confused, so focused

    on things that matter little, that we have overlooked the Good News

    of great joy. Tell us again that a Savior is born. Tell us again that

    we are forgiven. Tell us again that life can be abundant in faith

    and hope and love, not because of who we are, or what we’ve done,

    but because of what You have given us in Christ Jesus. 

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

    We beheld his glory, the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

    as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON      Isaiah 9:2b, 6 & 7       Page 706

                                                                                                                   HYMN #296

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

all seated on the ground,

the angel of the Lord came down,

and glory shone around, and glory shone around.

The angel spoke, and suddenly,

appeared a shining throng,

of angels, praising God, who now

begin their joyful song, begin their joyful song.

"All glory be to God on high,

and to the earth be peace;

goodwill henceforth from heav’n to all

begin and never cease, begin and never cease."

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON      Titus 2:11-14       Page 232

SPECIAL MUSIC:"The Snow Carol" Trio by Carole Heins, Vivian Moser & Frank Taverna

THE GOSPEL LESSON      Luke 2:1-14      Page 59

ANTHEM:"O Holy Night" solo by Theresa Dewidar

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

CHOIR ANTHEM: "Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming" Praetorius

CHRISTMAS OFFERING

    OFFERTORY INVITATION

    RESPONSE #817

          Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

          Praise Him all creatures here below;

          Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

          Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen.

    OFFERTORY PRAYER

THE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

THE MESSAGE OF THE LIGHTED CANDLE

DISTRIBUTION AND LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES

                  (while Hymns are sung)

                                                                                                                  MBW #292

Once in Royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,

where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed.

Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all,

and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall,

with the poor and meek and lowly, lived on earth our Savior Holy.

                                                                                                                   MBW #297

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, 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.

                                                                                                                   MBW #295

Hark! The herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn King!"  

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all you nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;

with th’ angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! The herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come, to the earth from heaven’s home;

veiled in flesh, the God-head see; hail th’ incarnate Deity,

born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn King!"

                                                                                                                  MBW #291

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice, with heart, and soul, and voice;

give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today;

ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.

Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

Good Christian friends, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice,

now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!

He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blessed for evermore.

Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

                                                                                                                   MBW #293

Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth;

once you sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Come and worship, come and worship,

worship Christ the newborn King.

Shepherds in your fields abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night;

God on earth is now residing, yonder shines the infant light.

Come and worship, come and worship,

worship Christ the newborn King.  

All creation join in praising, God the Father, Spirit, Son,

evermore your voices raising, to th’ eternal Three in One.

Come and worship, come and worship,

worship Christ the newborn King.

HYMN: "Morning Star" (Bulletin cover or MBW #281)

                Soloist: 

(Note: Soloist in regular print/Congregation in italic print.)

(We invite you to lift your candles high on the last stanza of this hymn

to show your desire to receive and share the light of Christ.)

                                                                                                                   MBW #294 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her king;

let ev’ry heart prepare him room,

and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let us our songs employ,

while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

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. 

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

     For He has looked favorably upon His people and redeemed them.

The dayspring from on high has visited us, to give light to those who sit in darkness,

     And to guide our feet into the way of peace!

Rejoice in God our Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for us!

     And holy is God’s name!

In him was life, the life was the light of humanity. The light shines in the darkness,

     And the darkness has not overcome it.

Children of the Light, long after these candles have been extinguished,

the Light of Christ will be with you. And as you go from this place:

May the Light of Christ shine before you to guide you,

    may it shine around you to protect you,

    may it shine within you to inspire you,

    and may it shine above you to bless you.

    In the Name of Jesus, the Newborn King. Amen.

THE CANDLES ARE EXTINGUISHED

POSTLUDES