Christmas Eve - December 24, 2024
Service begins at 5PM

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Order of Service
 
Prelude
Christina Po, piano
 
Welcome & Lighting of the Christ Candle: Hebrews 1:1-4
Patrick Vaughn, Pastor
 
Unison Prayer:
Light of life, you came in flesh, born into human pain and joy,
and gave us power to be your children.
Grant us faith, O Christ, to see your presence among us,
so that all of creation may sing new songs of gladness
and walk in the way of peace. Amen.
 
*Opening Carol: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” #155, Verses 1, 2 & 4
George & Vickie Myers
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 wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth.
 
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.
 
Message: “Great Joy”
Text: Luke 2:1-20
 
Carol: “Joy to the World” #146
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.
 
Service of Lessons and Carols
Linda Crowe and Connie Weber, readers

The Birth: Luke 2:1-7

Carol: “Away in a Manger” #147 v. 1 & 3
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
the stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
 
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
close by be 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.

The Appearance of the Angels: Luke 2:8-14

Carol: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” #171
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 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 th'incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing.  Glory to the newborn King
 
Hail, the heaven born Prince of Peace.  Hail, the Son 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.

The Shepherds Worship the Child:  Luke 2:15-20 

Carol: “Angels from the Realms of Glory” #174 vs 1, 2 & 4
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth;
ye who sang creation's story,
now proclaim Messiah's birth:
 
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
 
Shepherds in the fields abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
yonder shines the infant Light: [Refrain]
 
Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear. [Refrain]

The Visit of the Magi: Matthew 2:1-11 

Carol: “What Child is this?” #150, vs 1&3
 
What child is this, who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping,
whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
 
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come peasant, king to own him.
The King of kings, salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby;
joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary
 
Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
          
Song of Adoration: “Hail to the Lord’s Annointed” verses 1-2 & 4
Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free;
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.
 
He comes with succor speedy
to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
are precious in his sight.

To him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
his kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.
The tide of time shall never
his covenant remove;
his name shall stand forever;
that name to us is love.
 
Pastoral Prayer
 
Candlelight Service
 
Carol: “Silent Night”
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.
 
Benediction & Postlude