CHRISTMAS EVE
December 24 | 6:00 & 8:00pm
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
God’s Son Has Come, BWV 600
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
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 Readings
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (Pew Bible Old Testament Page 598)
Luke 2:1-20 (Pew Bible New Testament Page 50)
Response to Readings
Leader: Listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking to the Church.
People: Thanks be to God.
Anthem
Quia respexit, from Magnificat
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Text – Luke 1:48
Christmas Message
Are Thank You Notes Still a Thing?
Rev. Clover Reuter Beal
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
Rejoice greatly, from Messiah
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Text – Zechariah 9:9
*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
Traditional German Melody
Postlude
Lord Christ, the Only Son of God, BWV 601
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
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 6:00pm worship service will be livestreamed to several social media platforms and your image may appear on the livestream video.
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Preacher: Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Co-Pastor
Liturgists: Rev. Ian Cummins, Co-Pastor; Rev. Amanda Osenga, Assoc. Pastor of Youth and Families; Rev. Dr. Lorraine Leist, Assoc. Pastor for Congregational Care and Older Adults; and Sandy Prouty, Minister of Children and Families
Harpsichord: Adam Waite, Minister of Music
Organ: Yinying Luo, Assoc. Minister of Music
Soprano: Jayden Greicius
Violin: Leena Waite
Cello: Jeff Watson
Sound: Cate Thieme, Sound Engineer
Video: John Goerner, Director of Video Services (6:00pm)
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 from 10:30am-12:30pm.
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.