Service of Worship
Welcome!
Prelude – Hani
Oh Holy Night
Adolph Adam
Public Domain
Call to Worship
Leader: The impossible is about to happen in a stable. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
People: Those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them has the light shined!
Leader: This is the evening when creation stood still and held its breath, for God was doing the most unbelievable, dangerous thing.
People: This is the evening when God embraced humanity from the inside, as one of us, from birth to death.
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
People: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. Amen!
(Bruce Prewer, From Disciple Ministries)
Lighting the Christ Candle
The Prophecy
Hymn #211 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (v. 1, 5)
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
5. O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home.
The captives from their prison free,
and conquer death’s deep misery.
Refrain
O Come O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
Henry Sloane Coffin | Laurence Hull Stookey | Thomas Helmore
Words: © 1940, 1943, 1981, 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Music: Public Domain
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Scripture Reading – Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Choir Response
Come to Us Now Emmanuel
Don Besig | Nancy Price
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
SCRIPATURE READING – Isaiah 11:1-5 (NRSV)
1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
Message – Rev. Jacob Lee
The Conception
Hymn #234 – “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (v. 1, 5)
1. 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.
5. Child, for us sinners
poor and in the manger,
we would embrace thee with love and awe.
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?
Refrain
O Come, All Ye Faithful
C. Frederick Oakeley | John Francis Wade
Public Domain
Scripture Reading – Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be borna will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Praise Response – Rachelle, Ray, and Leah
Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)
Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash
© 2009 sixsteps Music | Vamos Publishing | worshiptogether.com songs | Wondrously Made Songs
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Scripture Reading – Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiaha took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Message – Rev. Jacob Lee
The Birth
Hymn #238 – “Angels We Have Heard on High” (v. 1, 2)
1. 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!
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain
Angels We Have Heard on High
Edward Shippen Barnes | James Chadwick
Public Domain
Scripture Reading – Luke 2:8-20 (NRSV)
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,a the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,a praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Choir Response
Hurry Shepherds Run
Douglas E. Wagner
© 1989, 1991, 2019 Somerset Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Scripture Reading – Matthew 2:1-11 (NRSV)
1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise mena from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,a and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiaha was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherda my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise mena and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,a until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,a they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Offertory Hymn #245 – “The First Noel” (v. 3, 5)
3. And by the light of that same star
three Wise Men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Refrain
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.
5. Then entered in those Wise Men three,
full reverently upon the knee,
and offered there, in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Refrain
The First Noel
Traditional English Carol
Public Domain
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain
Prayer of Dedication
God of the stars and the angels’ songs, as we gather this evening, all our attention is focused on a baby, lying in a makeshift bed in an “it-will-have-to-do” stable. It’s not lost on us that you sent your Son, our Savior, into the world among the poorest of the poor and told us: “This will be a sign to you.” As we present gifts to you, we pray that they might reach those in the greatest need, that they might lift those in the deepest despair, and that they might bring peace and compassion to those who find themselves amidst conflict. We pray this in the name of that Holy Child, Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer! Amen.
(Luke 2:1-20)
The Persecution and Escape
HYMN #230 – “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (v. 1)
1. O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Lewis Henry Redner | Phillips Brooks
Public Domain
Scripture Reading – Matthew 2:12-15 (NRSV)
12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Josepha got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
Praise Response – Rachelle, Ray, and Leah
Hope Was Born This Night
Ben McDonald | David Frey
© 2010 Mike Curb Music | Pencil Prophet Publishing | Run Run Milo
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Scripture Reading – Matthew 2:16-21 (NRSV)
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Josepha got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
Message – Rev. Jacob Lee
The Christ
Hymn #239 – “Silent Night, Holy Night” (v. 1, 3)
1. 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.
3. 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, the Lord, at thy birth.
Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
Franz Xaver Gruber | John Freeman Young | Joseph Mohr
Public Domain
Scripture Reading – Luke 1:68-75 (NRSV)
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty saviora for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us
74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
Choir Response
Sing Gloria
Katherine K. Davis
Scripture Reading – John 3:16-17 (NRSV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Praise Response – P.A.L.A. Singers
O merry Christmas season, ring it out on loud carillion,
O merry Christmas season, come and ever with us stay/ and,
Let every one rejoicing, in-a- grateful carol voicing,
All/ god has given men, that Christ is born again on this Christmas Day.
Three kings appearing their gifts to present, mankind is hearing
Of peace and content, not for one morning, but all life adorning,
The joy of the child advent…
Ang Pasko ay sumapit, Tayo ay mangag-si-a-wit
Nang maga-gandang himig, dahil sa ang Dios ay pag-I-big
Nang si Kristo’y I -si-lang, may tatlong haring nagsi-da-law,
At/ ang bawat isa/ ay nag-sipag handog ng tang-ing alay.
Bagong Taon tayo’y mag-ba-gong buhay, ng lumigaya ang ating bayan,
Tayo’y magsikap upang makamtan natin ang ka-sa-ga-naan,
O merry Christmas season, ring it out on loud carillon
O Merry Christmas season, come and ever with us stay, and,
Let every one rejoicing in a grateful carol voicing,
All/ god has given men/ that Christ is born on this Christmas Day,
All/ god has given men/ …that Christ is born again …..
On this Christ….mas…..Day…..
“Merry Christmas….Ma-li-ga-yang…Pas….ko“
Ang Pasko ay Sumapit
Traditional
Public Domain
Message – Rev. Jacob Lee
Hymn #246 – “Joy to the World” (v 1, 4)
1. 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.
4. 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.
Joy to the World
George Frideric Handel | Isaac Watts
Public Domain
Praise Response
Hallelujah Chorus, from “Messiah”
George F. Handel
Public Domain
Passing of the Light
Benediction
Recessional Hymn – Hani
Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
Franz Xaver Gruber | John Freeman Young | Joseph Mohr
Public Domain
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