CHRISTMAS EVE
2:00pm and 4:00pm
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: The candles of hope, peace, joy and love are burning brightly this night. And with them the Christ candle, the candle at the center of our wreath and celebration.
People: We celebrate the birth of Jesus tonight, a tiny child of hope and joy for all the world.
Leader: We celebrate this gift from God born to Mary, a child of peace and faith for all humankind.
People: We celebrate and give thanks for this child of light and abiding love born for each of us.
Leader: With grateful hearts, let us stand and worship God.
*Hymn
O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
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
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,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation!
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all
Glory in the highest![Refrain]Refrain
*Prayer of Reconciliation (Unison)
Sometimes we forget the ancient story,
the humble birth of a child of grace.
Dear God,
Please help us to remember
with new hope,
with deep joy
with abiding love,
This day and every day.
Amen.
*Assurance
*Response Gloria
*Passing of the Peace
*The Christmas Greeting & Sharing of God’s Peace
Please greet your neighbors with:
May the peace of Christ be with you this night.
Hymn 140 Once in Royal David’s City (Irby)
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild; Jesus Christ, her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall. With the poor and oppressed and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, Day by day like us He grew; He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears and smiles like us He knew; and He feels for our sadness, And He shares in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love, for that Child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above; and He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.
LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD
Introduction to the Christmas Story
Sandy Prouty
First Lesson
Luke 2: 1-5 “In those days a decree went out…”
Hymn 121 O Little Town of Bethlehem (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.
How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.
Second Lesson
Luke 2: 6-7 “When they were there, the time came…”
Hymn 115 Away in a Manger (Mueller)
Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky look down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask Thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.
Third Lesson
Luke 2: 8-14 “In that region there were shepherds living in the fields…”
Hymn 113 Angels We Have Heard on High (Gloria)
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain
Fourth Lesson
Matthew 2: 7-11 “…and there ahead of them, went the star…”
Hymn 151 We Three Kings of Orient Are (Three Kings of Orient)
We three Kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.
Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright;
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never over us all to reign.
(Refrain)
Regular Sunday Services 8:30am & 11:00am
Childcare Ages Birth-2 Room 204A
Co-Pastors: The Rev. Clover Reuter Beal and The Rev. Ian Cummins
Minister of Music: Adam Waite
Minister of Children and Families: Sandy Prouty
Minister of Youth and Families: Amanda Osenga
Executive Director of Operations and Finance: Jason Hays
Director of Facilities: Bob Cloud
Director of Finance: Dan Gasser
Associate Minister of Music and Organist: Barbara Hulac
Administrative Coordinator: Beth Ellsworth
Membership Coordinator: Cindy Austin
Communications Coordinator: Christine Hofstad
Mission Life Coordinator: Jennifer Seward
Minister of Visitation: Peter Hulac
Sextons: Tony Johnson, Charles Johnson, Stewart Schoenthal
Assistant Minister of Music for Children: Becki Taylor
Sunday Morning Manager: Doug Easton
303.355.1651 | www.montview.org