CHRISTMAS EVE
December 24 | 6:00 & 8:00pm
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
O Hail This Brightest Day of Days
Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Pastoral Symphony (Pifa), from Messiah
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Welcome
*Call to Worship
Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come.
People: The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Leader: I bring you good news of great joy.
For to you is born this day, a Savior.
People: Glory to God in the highest heaven,
And on earth, peace among all people.
*Opening Hymn 133 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!
True God from true God, Light from light eternal, born of a virgin, a mortal he comes; very God, begotten, not created! (Refrain)
Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! (Refrain)
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)
*Prayer of Reconciliation (Unison)
God of mystery and might,
on this holy night you give us your Son,
wrapped in swaddling clothes,
a Savior, lying in a manger.
On this holy night
draw us into the mystery of your love.
Join our voices with the heavenly host
that we may sing to your glory.
Give us a place among the shepherds
that we may find the One for whom we wait,
Jesus Christ, our Messiah and our Lord. Amen.
*Response Gloria
*Christmas Greeting & Sharing of God’s Peace
Please greet your neighbors with: The peace of Christ be with you.
*Hymn 119 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn)
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn 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 host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” 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 the virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate diety, pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.
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 us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD
Prayer for Illumination (Unison)
Holy One,
come to this place
and increase our love for one another
by the reading of your word. Amen.
Scripture Lesson
Luke 2:8-20 (New Testament Pew Bible Page 50)
Response to Reading
Leader: Listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking to the Church.
People: Thanks be to God.
Anthem
Gloria In Excelsis Deo, I. Gloria in excelsis Deo
George Frideric Handel
Glory to God in the highest.
Christmas Message
And On Earth Peace
Rev. Ian Cummins
Moment for Reflection
*Hymn 134 Joy to the World! (Antioch)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! let earth receive her 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 all 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.
RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
Making a financial gift makes Montview’s programs and ministries possible, including this worship service. You are invited to give generously at www.montview.org/giving or by texting a dollar amount to 720.452.6449. We’re grateful for your support.
Offertory
Gloria in excelsis Deo, II. Et in terra pax III. Laudamus te
George Frideric Handel
Et in Terra Pax
And on earth peace to people of goodwill.
Laudamus Te
We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give You thanks for Your great glory.
*Response What Child Is This (Greensleves)
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh; come, one and all, to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the babe, the Son of Mary!
*Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
Living Christ,
give us faith to trust you,
hope to follow you,
love to live for you,
wisdom to know you,
and joy to adore you.
In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel. Amen.
Sharing the Light
After the Christ candle is lit, the pastors will pass the light to the persons on the center aisle. Please pass the light to the person next to you by keeping your lit candle upright, as the unlit candle is tipped sideways to be lit. Our candles will remain lighted through the Benediction Response.
Leader: Tonight we light the Christ candle.
The light of Christ comes into the world.
People: It is a light that shines in the darkness,
a light which the darkness cannot overcome.
Leader: May we bear this light in our hearts.
People: May we carry this light into the world.
Closing Hymn (Seated) 122 Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
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, Heavenly 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, “Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.”
Benediction
Benediction Response
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!
arr. Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Postlude
From Heaven On High To Earth I Come
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Preacher: Rev. Ian Cummins
Liturgists: Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Sandy Prouty and Amanda Osenga
Harpsichord: Adam Waite
Organ: Barbara Hulac
Soprano: Madison Falkenstine
Violin: Byron Hitchcock
Violin: Victoria Woodrow
Cello: Emma Guidry
Sound: Cate Thieme
Video: John Goerner (6:00pm)
ABOUT THIS SERVICE
Assistive listening devices are available in the sound booth in the back of the sanctuary.
Restrooms are available in the Commons and downstairs in the Reception Room. If you need accessibility assistance, please see an usher.
Please note that the 6pm worship service will be livestreamed to several social media platforms and your image may appear on the livestream video.
Christmas Day Service
One Service at 11am (Miller Chapel)
Join us in celebrating Christ’s birth Christmas morning! We will have one worship service at 11:00am in the newly renovated Miller Chapel. This special service will be meaningful, cozy, and casual. We’ll celebrate the gifts of the season through meaningful reflections, a Christmas hymn sing, and a hot chocolate bar reception following the service. Childcare will not be offered, but children will be welcomed.
New Year’s Day Service
One Service at 11am (Sanctuary)
On January 1, we’ll be holding one worship service at 11:00am in the sanctuary. Rev. Dr. Jason Whitehead – Presbyterian minister, licensed clinical social worker, and certified coach – will be preaching. Childcare will be offered for ages Birth-7. Begin the new year at Montview Church!
Sunday School Preschool-Grade 5 resumes on January 8 in classrooms on the
preschool and 2nd floors of the Children’s Wing.
Christmas Poinsettias 2022
The poinsettias in the Sanctuary are given to the glory of God by:
- Christina Alderfer in honor of our parents
- Christina Alderfer and Zach Bishop in celebration of our children, Nicholas and Andrew
- Kristin Bahnsen and Benjamin Kennedy in memory of Howard Bahnsen and James Kennedy
- Chris Beardsley in memory of James Beardsley
- Linda Beardsley in memory of my dad Donald Robert Callinan
- The Coberly Family in memory of Barbara and Jerry Roberts and Merwyn Spencer
- Debby Cuerden in celebration of Jen and Braden Campbell
- The Duntley Family in memory of Dale Hester and Molly Duntley
- Brooke and Eric Durland in memory of our loved ones
- Ann S. Epps in memory of my mother, Ellen May Stanley
- Catherine Fanning in memory of my sister, Nancy
- Martha and Dennis Fitzpatrick in memory of our parents
- Bill and Shirley Gilbertson in celebration of the blessings of our beautiful family
- The Glossy Family in memory of Rosemarie Gilman
- Larry and Margie Green in memory of Margie’s parents, John and Virginia Ball and Larry’s parents, Alton and Mary Lou Green
- Julie Grove in celebration of Julie Grove
- Richard Harvey in honor and memory of late wife Dorothy J. Harvey
- Tim Heasley in memory of Allen and Bette Heasley
- Susie and Henry Higginbottom in memory of our parents
- The Hilty Family and Louella Stoever in memory of James Stoever
- Rita J. Hood in memory of my younger brother, Curtis Boyd Blome, who passed on
- Kathy Hoy-Gipe in memory of my parents, Marshall and Alice Hoy
- The Kirkwood Family in memory of our Mothers, Vickie LaVan and Carol Abbott
- Mark and Debra Lovell in honor of Margaret and Russ Wehner, our dear friends
- The Mackintosh Family in celebration of our nana, Jan Schmidtlein
- The Mackintosh Family in celebration of Reverend Ian Cummins and his years of service at Montview
- Tim, Laurie, Ophelia, and Eloise Martin in celebration of our (grand) parents, Bob and Cindy Martin and our (grand) parents, Dennis and Kathryn Costello
- Robert Matchett in honor of the work of the Montview Heritage
Committee - Robert and Carol Matchett in celebration of six special grandchildren – Ben, Leo, Gianna, Henry, Zach, and Sophia
- Robert Mathes in memory of George and Edene Mathes
- Robert Mathes in memory of Jean and Bob Samsel
- Angel, Brian and Caleb Matthews in memory of Nonna (Regina Matthews)
- Ruth, Dawn and Andrea McCollum in memory of Jerry and Barbara McCollum
- Kelly McCormick in memory of my dad, William K. McCormick and in
celebration of my mom, Judy D. McCormick - Margaret Stenson McCormick in memory of Bill Stenson and Jeff Brown
- Ellen and Griffin McDonough in honor of the pastors and staff at Montview Church
- Dianne Briscoe McKenzie in memory of Gilbert E. McKenzie
- The McMullen Bowles Family in celebration of many Montview
Christmases with Michael and Karen McMullen and the Sibley Wilson Clan - Andrew Menard and Lisa Padilla in memory of Paul Menard and Mary Lou Padilla
- Annie Patterson in memory of Joe and Elizabeth Blake and John and
Berniece Blake - Ellen Reath in celebration of The Montview Prayer Shawl Knitters
- Ellen Reath and Craig Maginness in memory of Eric Wright
- Jeanne Robb in memory of William Christy Robb
- Scott and Vivian Showalter in memory of beloved friend, David Nelson
- Heidi Shriver in celebration of the children and youth of Montview, and the joy they bring to us
- Jean Sibley and Jim Zelensky in memory of our parents, and always
Magnolia and the many close friends lost over this past year - Leigh Sinclair in celebration of the truly remarkable life of John Epps
- Leigh Sinclair given to celebrate the remarkable life of Bruce Paton and in memory of Don Elliott, always in my heart
- Bev and John Skinner in memory of Tom Skinner
- Chin Tan in memory of Marcia Whitcomb and Madge Klassen
- Clayton Turner in memory of my Mother, Rebecca Nelson
- West Side Fellowship in loving memory of Rev. Nancy Kepner
MONTVIEW BOULEVARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303.355.1651 | www.montview.org