CHRISTMAS EVE
December 24 | 2:00 & 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 rise and worship God.
*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)
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 kindness and love,
Each day.
Amen.
*Assurance
*Response Gloria
*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 “While 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 “Then Herod secretly called for the wise men …”
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)
RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE
Offering
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.
Baskets for unwrapped cans and boxes of food are in the narthex just outside the sanctuary. These gifts of food will support those experiencing food insecurity in our city.
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!”
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.
*Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
Living Christ, the baby born,
give us faith to know and follow you.
Living Christ, the son of God,
give us faith to live for you and others
in all the days to come.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
Emmanuel, God with us.
Amen.
*Recessional Hymn 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 Prayer
Child of Bethlehem, son of God,
You have loved us without limits or conditions,
In our greatness and in our smallness,
In our foolishness and in our goodness.
May your hand be always upon us and your heart always within us,
So that we too may be hope, peace, joy and love for one another.
Amen.
Postlude
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Liturgists: Rev. Ian Cummins, Co-Pastor and Sandy Prouty, Minister of Children and Families
Organ: Adam Waite, Minister of Music
Video: John Goerner, Director of Video Services (2:00pm)
Sound: Cate Thieme, Sound Engineer
ABOUT THIS SERVICE
Assistive listening devices are available in the sound booth in the back of the sanctuary.
Restrooms are available in the Commons.
A room for families with children who are not enjoying the service is below the sanctuary with livestream.
Please note that the 2:00pm worship service will be livestreamed to several social media platforms and your image may appear on the livestream video.
December 31 Worship Service
One Service at 11am (Sanctuary)
On December 31, New Year’s Eve morning, we’ll have one worship service at 11:00am in the sanctuary. Join us for this special service where we’ll celebrate the gifts of the season and prepare for the year to come. There will be a hot chocolate bar reception in the McCollum Room following the service. Childcare will be available for ages birth-7.
VISITORS
We are happy that you are worshiping with us today and invite you to learn more about Montview. Please fill out one of the Friendship Pads that are placed in the pews. Feel free to contact our office at 303.355.1651 or email todd@montview.org with questions. Please come again.
WEEKLY EMAILS
Are you signed up to receive our weekly emails? If not, contact Christine Hofstad, Communications Coordinator, at christine@montview.org.
MONTVIEW BOULEVARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303.355.1651 | www.montview.org
* You’re invited to rise in body or spirit.