Join us in person or live-streamed Saturday, December 24 at 7PM or find our recorded service at your convenience. Details on our Worship page. Service words are below.
Prelude Thankful
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Song 118 O Come All Ye Faithful (1,3,4,5)
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,
sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God in the highest Refrain
See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither bend out joyful footsteps Refrain Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing Refrain
The Gathering (Before the Amen)
Through lush farmland and bleak alleys
sweeps good news of great joy
Through empty wants and desperate needs
blazes a star to light our way
Through pounding turmoil and dazing fear
sounds an angel chorus:
Glory to God in the highest;
peace to God’s people on earth!
Receive the news! Follow the star! Heed the angels!
Through song and silence, word and wonder,
let us make our way to Bethlehem.
Let us worship the Holy One
Who beckons in an infant’s cry.
Holy one you gave us the gift of life, you put us in a stunning world and you made us free to choose. In Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, you gave us new life and new hope for knowing you. May that Light shine through our choices, our words and our acts so that others will praise you, source of light and love. Amen
Lighting of the Christ Candle (* please note the star and pause as the candle is lit)
We have waited for weeks. We have waited all our lives for this time, this blessing. This is when we pray our yes, like Mary. When we are finally ready to have God enter into our lives, filling us with life that is ours.
Like a new mother, we nurture this new life with hopeful belief (* light candle), peaceful living *, loving care *, and joyful acceptance*. The Advent candles blaze, symbolizing the light of these gifts in our lives.
As we light the Christ Candle * tonight may it remind us that Christ is the true center of our lives.
Most gracious God, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, ma our lives become centered on living in your hope, peace, joy and love. Amen
The Collect
Eternal God, this holy night is radiant with the brilliance of your one true light. As we have known the revelation of that light on earth, bring us to see the splendour of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the prophet, Isaiah 9.2–7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Psalm 96 Refrain: Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. Sing to the Lord and bless the divine name; proclaim the good news of our salvation from day to day. Declare the glory of the Lord among the nations and the wonders of God among all peoples.
Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, more to be feared than all gods. As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; but it is you, O Lord, who made the heavens. Oh, the majesty and magnificence of your presence! Oh, the power and the splendour of your sanctuary!
Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; ascribe to the Lord honour and power. Ascribe to the Lord the honour due the divine name; bring offerings and come into the courts of the Lord. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before God. Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord reigns! * The Lord who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved will judge the peoples with equity.”
Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that is therein. Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord who is coming, who is coming to judge the earth. The Lord will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with truth.
Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
A reading from the letter of Paul to Titus 2.11–14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
The word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay,
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
close by me forever and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
and take us to heaven to live with you there.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Good news and great joy to all the world: today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Lord be with you And Also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke 2.1–14, (15–20)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
A Christmas Affirmation (www.prayer-and-prayers.info.)
I believe in Jesus Christ
and in the beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem.
I believe in the one
whose spirit glorified a little town;
and whose spirit still brings music
to persons all over the world
in towns both large and small.
I believe in the one
for whom the crowded inn
could find no room,
and I confess that my heart
still sometimes wants
to exclude Christ from my life today.
I believe in the one
who the rulers of the earth ignored
and the proud could never understand;
whose life was among common people,
whose welcome came from persons of hungry hearts.
I believe in the one
who proclaimed the love of God to be invincible:
I believe in the one
whose cradle was a mother's arms,
whose modest home in Nazareth
had love for its only wealth,
who looked at persons
and made them see
what God's love saw in them,
who by love brought sinners back to purity,
and lifted human weakness up to meet the strength of God.
I confess our ever-lasting need of God:
The need of forgiveness for our selfishness and greed,
the need of new life for empty souls,
the need of love for hearts grown cold.
I believe in God who gives us the best of himself.
I believe in Jesus, the son of the living God,
born in Bethlehem, for me and for the world.
Manger Litany (Before the Amen)
Amazing God, you love us so much that you came to us as an infant.
Born in a stable because there was no room at the inn
You call us to love the world as we have been loved by you
Wrapped in swaddling clothes, you slept in a manger because there was no crib
You command us to love our neighbours as ourselves
Shepherds welcomed you.
You call us to create an inclusive church in which everyone is welcomed and loved
No one was turned away from the stable door
You keep calling us to open our doors, to welcome the outcasts, house the homeless, feed the hungry and turn over the tables in the temple
Lambs and cows, chickens and donkeys, men, women, children . . .
Angels of all kinds surround you.
Help us create a world and a church in which all of your children are safe and loved, affirmed, welcomed, and fully accepted, where we all have a community of angels surrounding us.
One star brighter than the rest led the world to your door.
May our love and work in the world be a beacon of hope to the hopeless, a ministry of welcome for all people. May our churches be warm stables for all who have been hurt and places of peace and healing for all who have been wounded by violence. May we always seek to make the powerful uncomfortable and accountable, especially when they are us.
Dear child of Bethlehem, as we remember the stable and the manger, the dusty roads you walked and the cross on which you died, gave us the faith and courage to tell your truth and make it our own. May your story guide us and help us claim the sacredness in our own lives and stories. Help us follow you with all of our hearts and minds and souls and strength, for you are our hope and redeemer. Amen
The Peace
Offertory Hymn 138 Hark the Herald
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King, peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; with the angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Chorus Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King." Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail, the incarnate Deity, pleased as one of us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel! Chorus Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings, Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise each child of earth, born to give us second birth. Chorus
Prayer over the gifts
Source of light and gladness, accept all we offer on this joyful feast. May we grow up in him who unites our lives to yours; for he is Lord now and for ever. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, who in the mystery of his incarnation was made perfect man of the flesh of the woman Mary his mother; in him we have seen a new and radiant vision of your glory. Therefore with all the angels of heaven, we lift our voices and sing our joyful hymn of praise to proclaim the glory of your name
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and Earth of your glory are full
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days, you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “ Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us we pray
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins. As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory are yours. Now and forever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.
The Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Music During Communion Tu Scendi
Grown Up Christmas List
Christ Child’s Lullaby
On A Snowy Christmas Night
Prayer after Communion
Creator of all, tonight you have united earth and heaven in sending your Son to take our human nature. May we who have tasted heavenly things share in the life of his eternal kingdom. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Closing Hymn Joy to the World (1,2,4)
Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth receive the King; Let every 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 glad 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.
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia
Postlude Il Est Ne
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