December 24, 2024, Christmas Eve

Order of Worship

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2024

Welcome

Gathering the Family Together

In the Fullness of Time

1    In the fullness of time, God sent His Son;

Immanuel, now behold incarnate Love.

A virgin and her Child; a Savior meek and mild.

The star became the sign in the fullness of time.

2. Prophets long they foretold the promised dawn;

Hail God of God, Light of Light, begotten One.

By Whom all things were made, there in a manger laid,

now born to us this night, in the fullness of time.

Refrain:     Holy, holy, holy moment:

God has come to dwell with us.

Glory to the Lamb, the Great I AM

Who came on that night divine; in the fullness of time.

3. Hosts of angels resounded at His birth

and hosts of angels will endless tell His worth.

And He shall come again; His kingdom has no end.

All things made new, made right in the fullness of time.

Refrain:     Holy, holy, holy moment:

God has come to dwell with us.

Glory to the Lamb, the Great I AM

Who came on that night divine; in the fullness of time.

4. Holy, holy, holy in a manger lowly;

Christ the Son, now veiled in flesh, in our humanity.

Kingdoms bow before Him; Heaven and earth adore Him.

God here in person; hail His majesty.

Words and Music by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa © 2023 Getty MusicPublishing  (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) / Getty Music Hymns and Songs (ASCAP) / Love Your Enemies Publishing (ASCAP) / (All adm, at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)

Call to Worship

Scripture Reading:                                                           Galatians 4:4-7

⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Prayer of Invocation

(Leader and Congregation)

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

Fullness of Grace

Verse 1:    Fullness of Grace in man’s human frailty

This is the wonder of Jesus

Laying aside His power and glory

Humbly He entered our world

Chose the path of meanest worth

Scandal of a virgin birth

Born in a stable cold and rejected

Here lies the hope of the world

Verse 2:    Fullness of Grace the love of the Father

Shown in the face of Jesus

Stooping to bear the weight of humanity

Walking the Calvary road

Christ the holy Innocent

Took our sin and punishment

Fullness of God despised and rejected

Crushed for the sins of the world

Verse 3:     Fullness of hope in Christ we had longed for

Promise of God in Jesus

Through His obedience we are forgiven

Opening the floodgates of heaven

All our hopes and dreams we bring

Gladly as an offering

Fullness of life and joy unspeakable

God's gift in love to the world

Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend. Copyright © Thankyou Music 2004 CCLI#172212

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

Red Hymnal #180                                                  “What Child is This?”

Reading                                                                                  Luke 2:8-14

Red Hymnal #192                              “Angels We Have Heard on High”

Red Hymnal #175

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

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!

Repeat Refrain

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

Source of peace and love.                    Hallelujah!

Repeat Refrain

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

Celebrate His ways.                             Hallelujah!

Repeat 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

Red Hymnal #197                            “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”

We Worship Through Hearing

Today’s Message

Advent Series: The Promises Fulfilled

“God’s Promise Fulfilled – Complete in Christ”

Luke 2:10-11; John 1

Notes

I. The Promise of the ________________ (Luke 2:10-11; John 1:14a)

II. The Promise of Light in ___________________ (John 1:5)

III. The Promise of God With _________________

                                                                       (Matt. 1:22-23; John 1:14b)

We Share the Light of Christ

Red Hymnal #193                                          “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

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