The pursuit candles should be placed on a postpone in the chancel area in formulation for the service. I use a diverseness of candle lengths and place them on respective kinds of fabrics at varying heights for concern. Each candle symbolizes a character in the narrative. Candles will be lighted by an acolyte during the service as specified by the program notes included in this replicate of the service .
- Mary, Joseph and Baby candles are placed on a muslin or burlap fabric in the center of the table .
- Mary — light blue candle in simple ceramic candleholder
- Joseph— royal blue candle in simple ceramic candleholder, can be alike or identical to Mary ‘s
- Baby Jesus — elementary, net round of golf candleholder with white votive candle
- The saint candles are scandalmongering, placed in crystal candleholders on a aglitter gold fabric immediately behind the Mary and Joseph candles. One is taller than the others — this is the Gabriel candle .
- The shepherd candles are a variety of shades of green, placed in wooden candleholders on a green shade of framework. These are placed to the leave of the angel candles .
- The king candles are a variety of shades of empurpled, placed in silver candlesticks on a framework of loss velvet. These are placed to the right of the angel candles .
In the holy eucharist, the congregation reads all that is printed in boldface .
I print words to the hymn in the bulletin .
Feel free to substitute anthems, solo, or early service music .
For the unhorse of the Advent Wreath this year, use choral or congregational music .
Mt. Sylvan United Methodist Church
Durham, North Carolina
Christmas Eve Service
December 24, 2009, 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
call TO WORSHIP
Rejoice, for God is with us — Emmanuel.
In the darkness of our world shines God’s holy light.
now there is reason to hope, to love, to laugh, to live.
God is truly with us. We are not alone.
Thanks be to God!
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and exultant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels,
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord .
True God of true God, Light from Light endless.
Lo, He shuns not the virgo ‘s uterus.
Son of the Father, beget, not created.
O fall, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord .
Sing, choir of angels, sing in exultation.
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above !
Glory to God, all glory in the highest !
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord .
See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw about to gaze.
We excessively would thither bend our elated footsteps.
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord .
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appear,
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord .
opening PRAYER
Gracious God,
With joy and thanksgiving we gather as your people.
We have come to hear again the timeless story of Christ’s birth.
In the excitement of this night, quiet our hearts
that we may know the peace and fullness of this holy time.
Shine, O Light, in the darkness of our world.
Sing, O angels, in the stillness of our hearts,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those God favors.”
This we pray in the name of the Child of Bethlehem. Amen.
( People are seated all lights are dimmed — DARKNESS except altar candles, Chrismon tree and Advent wreath candles )
The Prophecy of the Messiah
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, John 1:1-2, 4-5
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God,
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, God with us, Emmanuel.
The Coming of Jesus Is Announced to Mary and Joseph
Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25
I Choose You (Rachel Lampa)
Kristin Sawyer, soloist
( As soloist sings, Gabriel candle and Mary and Joseph candles are lighted. )
The Preparations for the Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-5
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little township of Bethlehem, how inactive we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by.
even in thy dark street shineth the ageless light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight .
Jesus is Born
Luke 2:6-7
away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no cribbage for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky look down where He lay,
the small Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Read more : Lực căng be mặt là gì
( As congregation sings, the Baby Jesus candle is lighted.
House lights go up one pass. )
anthem : “ O Holy Night, ” Adult Choir
Jesus’ Birth is Announced to the Shepherds
Luke 2:9-14
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear that brilliant sung of old
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harp of gold
peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven ‘s all courteous King.
The global in earnest motionlessness lay to hear the angels sing .
( While congregation sings, the angel candles are lighted.
House lights go up a notch, )
The First Noel
The beginning noel the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter ‘s night that was so deep.
Noel, christmas, christmas, christmas. Born is the King of Israel
( While congregation sings, the sheepherder candles are lighted.
House lights go up one notch. )
The Shepherds Find the Baby Jesus
Luke 2:15-18
The Wise Men Bring Their Gifts to Jesus
Matthew 2:1-11
The First Noel
And by the light of that like ace, three wise men came from county far.
To seek for a king was their purpose, and to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, christmas, christmas, christmas.
Born is the King of Israel.
then entered in the wise men three, wide reverentially upon the knee.
And offered there in His bearing their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, christmas, christmas, christmas.
Born is the King of Israel .
( While congregation sings, the king candles are lighted.
House lights go astir to full light. )
We Offer Our Gifts to God
Offertory
Offertory Response
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of Kings redemption brings. Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, hurry to bring him laud the Babe, the Son of Mary .
meditation by Dr. Greener
PRAYER OF CONFESSION and PARDON
Merciful God, we confess that often we find darkness more comfortable than light.
We confess that we find your good news frightening and unsettling,
especially when we consider its demands as well as its promises.
We confess that Christmas has become more to us than the birthday of the Christ,
partly because we do not want a Christ-Child in our lives or in our world.
Forgive us, break us, bend us, remake us.
Give us the courage to lay ourselves open to the wonder and healing of your coming.
Be born again into our world, be born again into our hearts and lives.
Hear now our silent and personal confessions as we prepare ourselves for your nativity.
The true abstemious that enlightens all has come into the global.
That light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to put it out.
This is the good news program : God has heard our confession. God has forgiven our sin.
Thanks be to God!
THE great grace
THE LORD ‘S PRAYER
BREAKING THE BREAD
GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP
MUSIC DURING COMMUNION
Born to Die
Tanya Watkins, soloist
prayer AFTER COMMUNION We are filled with joy for we have heard good news of great joy.
We are filled with love for we have tasted the sign of God’s great love.
We are filled with hope for the angels still sing in our world
and there is a Light for us to follow.
THE legislate OF THE LIGHT
Silent Night
Silent night, holy place night, all is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin, mother and Child, Holy Infant, indeed tender and meek.
Sleep in celestial peace. Sleep in heavenly peace .
hark ! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark ! The hail angels sing, “ glory to the neonate King !
Peace on land and mercy meek, God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations heighten, join the gloat of the skies.
With angelic hosts proclaim, “ messiah is born in Bethlehem ! ”
Hark ! The harbinger angels whistle, “ glory to the neonate King. ”
messiah, by highest eden adored, Christ the ageless Lord.
late in prison term behold him come, offspring of a pure ‘s uterus.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see. Hail the bodied Deity.
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark ! the harbinger angels sing, Glory to the neonate King .
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace ! Hail the Son of Righteousness !
Life and light to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His aura by. Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of worldly concern, born to give us second birth.
Hark ! the hail angels sing, Glory to the neonate King .
BENEDICTION
Joy to the World
Joy to the world ! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare Him room and eden and nature sing,
And heaven and nature spill the beans, and heaven, and eden and nature sing .
He rules the world with truth and deck and makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love,
And wonders of His sleep together, and wonders, wonders of His love .
Copyright © 2009 Kathie Wilkinson. Published with license by Discipleship Ministries, PO Box 340003 ; Nashville TN 37203-0003. Congregations are encouraged to use and adapt this service for their settings. Please credit Rev. Kathie S Wilkinson/Mt. Sylvan UMC as the source for this service .
If you have questions, please contact Kathie Wilkinson at [email protected] or [email protected]
Kathie Wilkinson
Mt. Sylvan UMC
5731 North Roxboro Road
Durham, North Carolina 27712
919-471-0032
