CHRISTMAS EVE
Christmas Eve is December 24th
Welcome. Today is the last day of Advent. All that we have waited for arrives on this night. Christ will be born. Messiah will come. As the world rests in silence, the King of kings and Lord of lords will make his way into our world. And so we say, welcome, babe in a manger. Welcome, Light of the world. Welcome, blessed Redeemer. Welcome to our world.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Words by Phillips Brooks (1868); Music by Redner, ST. LOUIS
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by:
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Prayer
Father God, when your precious Son became a baby in a stable in Bethlehem in poverty and simplicity, you changed our world. As we imagine those surroundings, we join with the shepherds and the wise men in wonder and praise. We thank you for our material lives, praise you for our spiritual lives, and trust in you for our eternal life. We pray this in the name of Jesus our Messiah. Amen.
Spoken Word
[with musical underscore: “Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor”, Frank Houghton,
© 1934 OMF International]
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
All for love’s sake becomes poor.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship thee.
Scripture Reading – Isaiah 9:2, 6
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 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.
Silent Night
Words by Joseph Mohr; Music by Franz Gruber (1818)
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 thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Silent night! Holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing
Alleluias to our King;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Scripture Reading – Luke 2:8–14
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Sing We the Song of Emmanuel
Words and Music by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Stuart Townend, and Keith Getty
© 2015 Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Getty Music Publishing, Love Your Enemies Publishing, Messenger Hymns, Townend Songs
Sing we the song of Emmanuel
This the Christ who was long foretold
Lo in the shadows of Bethlehem
Promise of dawn now our eyes behold
God Most High in a manger laid
Lift your voices and now proclaim
Great and glorious, Love has come to us
Join now with the hosts of heaven
Come we to welcome Emmanuel
King who came with no crown or throne
Helpless He lay, the Invincible
Maker of Mary, now Mary’s son
O what wisdom to save us
Shepherds, sages, before him fall
Come on bended knee, adore Him
Go spread the news of Emmanuel
Joy and peace for the weary heart
Lift up your heads, for your King has come
Sing for the Light overwhelms the dark
Glory shining for all to see
Hope alive, let the gospel ring
God has made a way, he will have the praise
Tell the world his name is Jesus
Gloria! Gloria!
Gloria! Gloria!
Prayer of Illumination
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, and The Word, your Son, Jesus Christ, is revealed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
Sermon
Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)
Words and Music by Chris Tomlin and Ed Cash
© 2009 sixsteps Music, Vamos Publishing, worshiptogether.com Songs, Wondrously Made Songs
What hope we hold this starlit night
A King is born in Bethlehem
Our journey long, we seek the light
That leads to the hallowed manger ground
What fear we felt in the silent age
Four-hundred years can he be found
But broken by a baby's cry
Rejoice in the hallowed manger ground
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
God incarnate, here to dwell
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Praise His name Emmanuel
The son of God, here born to bleed
A crown of thorns would pierce his brow
And we beheld this offering
Exalted now the King of kings
Praise God for the hallowed manger ground
Joy to the World
Words by Isaac Watts (1719); Music by Lowell Mason
Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns:
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
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.
Benediction
May the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shine in our hearts, transform our lives, and brighten the world. And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, rest upon you always. Amen.
CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas Day is December 25th
In recent years, a question has been asked whether or not churches still sing traditional Christmas carols and furthermore, whether congregation’s could actually “worship” to them. Listen to these lyrics of traditional Christmas carols; some of which we will be singing today...
• Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord!
• Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity!
• Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel
• Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim!
• God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
• Light and life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His wings.
• Born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
• Now ye need not fear the grave, Jesus Christ was born to save!
• With the dawn of redeeming grace…
• Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
• O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
• Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
• Then let us all in one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and
earth of naught and with His blood mankind hath bought!
Yup...I think I can worship to that! Let’s sing together . . .
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Words attributed to John Francis Wade; tr. Frederick Oakeley (1841); ADESTE FIDELIS
[begin with verse 4]
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;
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
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; [Refrain]
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God, all glory in the highest; [Refrain]
Joy Has Dawned
Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
© 2004 ThankYou Music
Joy has dawned upon the world,
Promised from creation—
God’s salvation now unfurled,
Hope for ev’ry nation.
Not with fanfares from above,
Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love—
Jesus born of Mary.
Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place,
Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother’s breast,
Vuln’rable and helpless.
Shepherds bow before the Lamb,
Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story.
Gold—a King is born today,
Incense—God is with us,
Myrrh—his death will make a way,
And by his blood He’ll win us.
Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom;
Reconciling God and man,
Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend!
What a glorious myst’ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem,
Now the Lord of hist’ry.
Prayer - Puritan Christmas Prayer
O source of all good,
What shall I render to you for the gift of gifts,
your own dear Son?
Herein is wonder of wonders:
he came below to raise me above,
was born like me that I might become like him.
Herein is love;
when I cannot rise to him he draws near on wings of grace,
to raise me to himself.
Herein is power;
when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart,
he united them in indissoluble unity,
the uncreate and the created.
Herein is wisdom;
when I was undone, with no will to return to him,
and no intellect to devise recovery,
he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
as man to die my death,
to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
to work out a perfect righteousness for me!
O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,
and enlarge my mind!
Let me hear good tidings of great joy,
and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father!
Place me with ox, donkey, camel, goat,
to look with them upon my Redeemer’s face,
and in him account myself delivered from sin!
Let me with Simeon clasp the newborn child to my heart,
embrace him with undying faith,
exulting that he is mine and I am his!
In him you have given me so much that heaven can give no more.
Amen.
Carol Sing
[Invite the congregation to call out favorite Christmas carols and then sing them. I generally only sing the first and last verses in order to sing as many carols as possible in the time allotted.]
Sermon
Go, Tell It On the Mountain
Words by John W. Work; Music: GO TELL IT
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev’rywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light. [Refrain]
The shepherds feared and trembled
When high above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth. [Refrain]
And lo, when they had heard it,
They all bowed down and prayed;
They traveled on together
To where the Babe was laid. [Refrain]
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain]
Benediction
May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. May Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.