Christmas Eve Service
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Service
Worship Setting: Advent wreath with unlit candles
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Joseph went up to Judaea from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to
register in the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house
of David by descent; and with him went Mary, his betrothed, who was
expecting her child. While they were there the time came for her to have her
baby, and she gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for
them at the inn.
—Luke 2:4–7 Revised English Bible
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*Opening Hymn: "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
OR "Sound over All Waters"
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HS 238
HS 261 |
*Invocation
*Response
Calling Peace into the World
We call forth peace into the world with words from Zechariah:
Daughter of Zion, rejoice with all your heart;
shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king is coming to you,
his cause won, his victory gained,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish the chariot from Ephraim,
the war-horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow will be banished,
and he will proclaim peace to the nations.
—Zechariah 9:9–10 Revised English Bible
Light the candle of peace.
Prayer for Peace—Prayers of the People
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the way of peace. Come into the brokenness of
our lives and our land with your healing love.
The People Pray in Silence.
Help us to be willing to bow before you in true repentance, and to bow to
one another in real forgiveness. By the fire of your Holy Spirit, melt our
hard hearts and consume the pride and prejudice that separate us.
The People Pray in Silence.
Fill us, O Lord, with your perfect love which casts out fear and bind us
together in the unity that you share with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The People Pray in Silence.
We pray for the ecumenical initiatives and all occasions that bring
together Christians of different traditions. We remember all peoples of Earth.
May they learn peace in this age and on this day.
The People Pray in Silence.
We thank you and praise you, Lord Jesus, for love that sustains us, for
wisdom that directs us, and for desire that beckons us toward peace in our
world.
The People Pray in Silence.
At this special season of Advent, we remember our private concerns. Hear
our petitions we humbly ask.
The People Pray in Silence.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
—Prayers and Readings for Worship,
volume 2, Peter Judd, ed. (Herald House, 1996), 44.
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Hymn: "O Thou Joyful, O Thou Wonderful"
OR "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"
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HS 235
HS 252 |
Calling Hope into the World
We call forth hope into the world with words from Jeremiah:
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your
welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
—Jeremiah 29:11
Light the candle of hope.
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Hymn: "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"
OR "Away in a Manger"
Readings on Hope
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HS 242
HS 232/233 |
Reader 1:
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Sing songs of joy, For the King has come!
Sing joy, sing joy For the baby Born to bring us hope.
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—"Sing Songs of Joy," HS 241,
stanza 1
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Reader 2:
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But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and
more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation
all day long, though their number is past my knowledge.
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—Psalm 71:14–15
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People:
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I know I’ll praise God once again, for you are my Deliverance;
you are my God.
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—Psalm 42:5b The Inclusive Psalms
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Reader 1:
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Read stanza 1 of "Heir of All the Waiting Ages," HS
253.
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Reader 2:
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But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."
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—Lamentations 3:21–24
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People:
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I know I’ll praise God once again, for you are my Deliverance;
you are my God.
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—Psalm 42:5b The Inclusive New Testament
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Calling Joy into the World
We call forth joy into the world with the words of the angels: Luke 2:8–14
Light the candle of joy.
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Hymn Sing: "Angels from the Realms of Glory"
"Silvery Star, Precious Star"
"Go, Tell It on the Mountain"
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HS 231
HS 239
HS 249 |
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Calling Love into the World
We call forth love into the world with the words of Apostle John: John 3:16–17
IV
Light the candle of love.
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Hymn: "Newborn of God"
OR "Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming"
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HS 247
HS 255 |
Prayer of Blessing
Calling Christ into Our Hearts
The Story Begins: Matthew 1:20b–24
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Hymn "Of the Father’s Love Begotten"
OR "What Child Is This"
Monologue: "Mary, the Waiting Ends . . . and Begins" see below
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HS 220
HS 257 |
*Congregational Carol: "Silent Night! Holy Night!"
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HS 244 |
As the hymn is sung, the presider lights his/her candle from the Christ
candle. S/He lights the candle of the other participants who, in turn, light
the candles of people on the ends of the rows near the center aisle. These
people light the candle of the person next to them, who light the next one,
passing the flame until all candles are lit. Dim the sanctuary lights as the
candles are lit.
*Benediction
*Response
*Recessional
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Mary, the Waiting Ends . . . and Begins
Mikal Shedd
Joseph enters, spreads some straw, places a blanket on the ground, and
exits again. Mary enters, very pregnant, exhausted, and panting slightly. She
sits with a sigh, holding her back .
Lord, my soul still magnifies your name, but my body wishes you had made
fluffier donkeys.
She sighs again and rests her hands on her knees as she looks around.
This is actually quite nice. It was such a mess when we first came in, but
now the straw is dry and clean.
She looks up.
Your son will be here by morning, Lord. I wondered at your timing when I
realized about a mile outside of town that he was coming, but I knew you would
provide.
Poor Joseph. I did try to hide it from him, but one pain caught me unaware
and I cried out. Joseph looked up at me and I nodded. I thought for a moment our
donkey would have to carry us both, but Joseph set his jaw in that determined
way he has and pressed on faster.
Bethlehem is so crowded! Every room must be taken. Some people are sleeping
in the streets!
At the last inn on the edge of town, we knocked. The doorman cracked the door
open, said, "No room," and started to shut it again, but Joseph was
wonderful. He forced the door open and said, "My wife is giving birth. We
must have a place now!"
The innkeeper heard and quickly led us out back to the stables. He said he
would send his wife with water. He said she is a good midwife.
She lights the Christ candle.
As I came into the stable just now, I saw a beautiful star. It shone among
the other stars as this candle shines among the others. O Yahweh, let it be the
symbol of the light you are sending into the world. May it shine its light on
our way, and may we all find it leads to you.
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