Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2020

Order of Worship

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2020

Welcome

Call to Worship

Scripture Reading:                                                                 Isaiah 9:6-7

⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it

and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Prayer of Invocation

The glory of the Lord has been revealed

and all flesh shall see it together.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world:

a light no darkness can quench.

The shepherds kept watch by night,

and your glory shone round about them.

The darkness is not dark to you,

the night is as bright as the day.

Let your light scatter the darkness

and fill your Church with your glory.

We Respond to God’s Presence

How Suddenly a Baby Cries (The Early Years)

Verse 1: Everyone:

How suddenly a baby cries and all forever change

As shepherds leave the angel song to find this holy place,

Where in her young and trembling arms a virgin holds her Son.

And in this Child of breath divine our Light has finally come.

Verse 2: Everyone:

She ponders how the Magi kneel before Emmanuel.

With gold and frankincense and myrrh, Christ’s sacrifice they tell.

A dream would help them flee a king

whose pride would cruelly destroy.

As mothers weep God’s mercy meets the hunger for His joy.

Verse 3: Women & Girls:

What wonder still that Anna, filled with praise,

should bless the Lord;

Her aging eyes now looking on the Savior of the world.

For night and day her prayers had filled the temple of our God.

Her heart could tell His saving hand within this gift of love.

Verse 4: Men & Boys:

Hear Simeon who had waited long draw near to hold the child,

To speak of Him who would reveal the many thoughts we hide:

That hearts would rise to know His grace, but many fall away;

A sword would pierce His mother’s soul upon redemption day.

Verse 5: Everyone:

How suddenly a baby cried and all forever changed.

Through history, soul by soul have come to find His healing grace.

He filled my troubled heart with peace, with hope of endless worth.

My voice will join the song of praise that tells Messiah’s birth.

Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty and Fionán de Barra. Lyrics by Kristyn Getty.Copyright © 2011 Gettymusic and Fionán de Barra; admin by Music Services.

Reading                                                                                     Luke 2:1-7

What Child Is This?

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.

Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian fear: for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.

This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, Come peasant, king, to own Him;

The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the son of Mary.

Words: William C. Dix. English Melody: Greensleeves.

Reading                                                                                   Luke 2:8-14

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply Echo back their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo

Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?

Say what may the tidings be, Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come adore, on bended knee, Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo

Public Domain. French Carol.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

All:

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.

Women & Girls:

“Fear Not!” said he, for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind;

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind, To you and all mankind.

Men & Boys:

“To you in David’s town this day Is born, of David’s line,

The Savior, who is Christ the Lord,

And this shall be the sign—And this shall be the sign:

All:

“The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapt in swathing bands

And in a manger laid, And in a manger laid.

All:

“All glory to be to God on high, And to the earth be peace:

Good will henceforth from heaven to men

Begin and never cease! Begin and never cease!”

Words: Nahum Tate; Music: CHRISTMAS from George Friedrich Handel

Reading                                                                                 Luke 2:15-20

Where Are the Shepherds Going Tonight?

Verse 1   MEN:           Where are the shepherds going tonight?

Why do they run with joy? (Repeat)

WOMEN:    They’re in a hurry to Bethlehem

to see a baby boy.                (Repeat)

Verse 2   MEN:           Why did they leave their flocks all at once?

What is the urgency?           (Repeat)

WOMEN:    Their hearts are bursting to see a child;

Foretold in prophecy.           (Repeat)

Verse 3   MEN:           Why do the shepherds look so amazed?

Who told them of the boy? (Repeat)

WOMEN:    Angels in glory appeared to them,

bringing good news of joy. (Repeat)

Verse 4   MEN:           What will they do there when they arrive,

and see the baby boy?          (Repeat)

WOMEN:    Kneeling in awe, they will worship Him

and find eternal joy!             (Repeat)

ALL:            Kneeling in awe, let us worship Him

and find eternal joy!             (Repeat)

by Richard Blank

The Shepherds Danced

1. MEN: Born a baby boy. WOMEN: Hallelujah!

Jesus is our joy.                                    Hallelujah!

Refrain:  MEN:        The angels sang and the shepherds danced

and the prophets wept for joy.

WOMEN: The angels sang and the shepherds danced

and the prophets wept for joy.

2. MEN: Helpless little one. WOMEN: Hallelujah!

God’s almighty Son                             Hallelujah!    Refrain

3. MEN: Gift from heaven above. WOMEN: Hallelujah!

Source of peace and love.                    Hallelujah!    Refrain

4. MEN: Give God thanks and praise. WOMEN: Hallelujah!

Celebrate His ways.                             Hallelujah!    Refrain

Ending:    ALL:     The angels sing. Come and join the dance

and your heart will weep for joy.

The angels sing. Come and join the dance

and your heart will weep for joy.

by Richard Blank

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, goodwill to men, From heaven’s all-gracious King”:

The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow,

Look now! For glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing:

O rest beside the weary load, And hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophet seen of old,

When, with the ever-circling years, Shall come the time foretold,

When the new heaven and earth shall own

The Prince of Peace their King,

And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

Words: Edmund H. Sears; Music: Richard S. Willis

We Worship Through Hearing

Homily:

Series: Waiting on God

“Waiting for Salvation”

Galatians 4:4-5

Notes

1. Salvation is ________ forth Galatians 4:4a

In the fullness of time

God sent forth

1. Salvation is _____________ Galatians 4:4b

His Son

Born of a woman

Born under the Law

III. Salvation is ______________                              Galatians 4:5

Redeem those under the Law

Receive Adoption

We Share the Light of Christ

O Come, All Ye Faithful

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.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him

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

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

O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;

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.

Latin: John F Wade; Tr. Frederick Oakeley; Music: ADESTE FIDELES, John F. Wade’s Cantus Diversi.

Silent Night

Verse 1 – All:

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.

Verse 2 – All:

Silent night, holy night, Darkness flies, all is light;

Shepherds hear the angels sing,

“Alleluia! Hail the King!

Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior is born.”

Verse 3 – Men & Boys:

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!”

Verse 4 – Women & Girls:

Silent night, holy night, All is dark, save the Light,

Yonder, where they sweet vigils keep,

O’er the Babe who in silent sleep,

Rests in heavenly peace; Rests in heavenly peace.

Verse 5 – All:

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!”

Verse 6 – All:

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

Postlude