Christmas Eve - December 25, 2023

Pre-Service Video

Prelude

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

15^th Century French Melody; arr. Jared Haschek

Katrina Glaze, violin; Les Holben, piano

Strings of the Cathedral of Hope Orchestra
 
 

Words: Latin, c. 12^th Century; versified 18^th Century
Translated by John M. Neale, 1851
Music: French Processional, 15^th Century
This arrangement by Jared Haschek
© 2008 Melodee DeVeve Designee/Word Music, LLC/Banahama Tunes

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

In the Stillness of the Night

Words and Music by Gary A. Daigle and Darryl Ducote

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

© 2007 GIA Publications, Inc.

**Bidding Prayer for Christmas Eve

One:        God of the ages, on this holy night you gave us your child, the Lord of the universe wrapped in swaddling clothes, the long-expected Messiah lying in a manger.

Two:        Draw us into the mystery of your eternal love. Join our voices with those of the heavenly host, that we may sing your praises.

Three:     Give us a place among the shepherds, that we may find the one for whom we have waited, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

**Processional Hymn:

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold the ruler of all angels:
O come in adoration, O come in adoration,
O come in adoration, Christ is born.

God of true God, light of light eternal,
born of the virgin, as mortal to come.
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come in adoration, O come in adoration,
O come in adoration, Christ is born.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God, all glory in the highest:
O come in adoration, O come in adoration,
O come in adoration, Christ is born.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born to bring salvation,
Jesus to thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of Creation, now in flesh appearing:
O come in adoration, O come in adoration,
O come in adoration, Christ is born.

Words: John Francis Wade; translated by Frederick Oakeley, 1841, alt.
Music: John Francis Wade, 1743

Welcome 

**Exchange of Peace

First Lesson: from The Vigil by Wendy M. Wright

Our First Lesson comes to us from The Vigil by Wendy M. Wright. 
Hear these words:

Our Christmas liturgies are dominated by the testimony of the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. But at least once during the season we hear from the fourth evangelist, John. In the Prologue to John’s Gospel, we look back liturgically to the origins of all things, into the abyss of divinity before creation itself.

In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God 
and the Word was God.

It is not enough to contemplate the astonishing fact of the incarnation on this day of birth. We are invited, through the window of scriptures, to extract ourselves from the medium of time and venture into timelessness.

Here, for a moment, in this season dense with signs, wonders, images, stories, and revelation, we are turned about and find ourselves gazing speechless into the recesses of the cosmos, before eternity uttered a Word. It is in this silence that we become most intimate with the source of all life.

May God bless the hearing of these words. Amen.

Gradual

Come, Emmanuel

Come and speak to us. Come and renew us. 

Come and live through us, Emmanuel.

Grace to implore us, ever before us, 

come and restore us, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.

**Come, Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.

Words and Music: Twila Paris 

© 2003 Ariose Music/Mountain Spring Music 

**Gospel Lesson:

John 1:1-3, 9-10, 14 NRSV, alt. 

One: God be with you.

All: And also with you. 

One: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

All: Glory to you, O God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Christ was with God in the beginning. Through God all things were made; without God nothing was made that has been made. In the beginning was life, and that life was the light of all humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome  it. That light was in the world, and though the world was made through it, the world did not recognize it. The Light came to that which was its own, but they did not receive it. The Light and Word became flesh and made its home among us. We have seen its glory, the glory of Christ, who came from God, full of grace and truth.

One: This is the Gospel of Hope.

All: Praise to you, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit.

**Gloria

Advent Gloria

Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Words and Music: French Carol

Sermon

Home in the Word

Offering Call

If light has dawned on us, we want to share it. If there is good news to tell, 
we cannot help but proclaim it. Our offerings are important, for what we give helps to extend the realm of Christ. May this act of generosity bless all who receive and all who give. Let us pray:

May these offerings exalt you, O God, and make visible the good news of Christmas. Take away the fear that prompts us to hold onto your blessings. Increase our capacity to share, and thus to partake in your ministry of love and hope on this earth. We pray in the name of the One who came down at Christmas, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen. 

Offertory                                       

The First Noel

English Carol, 17^th century; arr. Dan Forrest

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

Noel, Noel, Born is the King, Noel.

The first Noel, the angels did say, 
was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay,
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star 
shining in the east, beyond them far.
And to the world it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel.

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth from naught,
and with his love humankind hath bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel.

Words and Music: English Carol, 17^th century
This arrangement by Dan Forrest © 2009 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.

Communion

Sursum Corda 

One: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Open your hearts.

All: We open our hearts for the coming of Christ.

One: Let us give thanks and praise to God.

All:     It is right to give God thanks and praise.

One:  And so, we praise you, Emmanuel, God among us, as we celebrate your birth:
Mary’s son, Child of Promise, sign of God’s constant presence.

           Emmanuel, God among us,

All:    We give you thanks and praise.

One:  Held safely in your mother’s arms, one of the weak in a land taken by those who were strong;
welcomed by fabled visitors from afar, and by awe-struck locals; 
fleeing danger at home, and finding refuge in a strange land:

           Emmanuel, God among us,

All:    We give you thanks and praise.

One:  As one of the poor, you taught us to share what we have with others. 
With nowhere to call home, you taught us to welcome all to our table.

           Emmanuel, God among us,

All:    We give you thanks and praise.

One:  Without ears to hear or eyes to see, those with much to lose tried to destroy you; 
but God’s constant love broke death’s hold, and you became our way into divine life.

           Emmanuel, God among us,

All:    We give you thanks and praise.

One:  And so, with all who love and serve you, following your path on earth, we join our voices in the song of the angels.

Sanctus

Sanctus

Holy, holy, God, you are holy. Ruler of the sea and sky.

Angel hosts above adore you. Earth sings out its endless cry:

“Hail, hosanna in the highest!” “Peace on earth,” the heavens reply.

Words adapted from the Liturgy by David Moldenhauer
Music: French Carol, 17th Century

Words of Institution

Prayer of Consecration     

Invitation 

Music during Communion

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:

“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heav’n the news we bring.”

The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old,

When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,

When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

Words: Edmund H. Sears, 1849 
Music: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850

Away In a Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, 
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the 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 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.

Words: Anonymous (v. 1); John T. McFarland (v. 3)
Music: James R. Murray, 1887

O Little Town of Bethlehem

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 and anthems ring, of peace to all on earth.

Words: Edmund H. Sears, 1849 
Music: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850

Jesus, Name Above All Names

Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, living word.

Jesus, promised of ages, child of Mary, child of God.
The Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, 
hope for the nations, light of the world.

Lighting the Christ Candle and Sharing the Light of Christ

One:       Where do we belong?

Two:        In a world full of chaos, it can be difficult to find our place.

Three:     But when we make a dwelling place for God, we find ourselves rooted in hope.

All:           And hope is where we belong.

Four:       When we make a dwelling place for God, we find ourselves rooted in peace.

All:           And peace is where we belong.

One:        When we make a dwelling place for God, we find ourselves rooted in joy.

All:           And joy is where we belong.

Two:        When we make a dwelling place for God, we find ourselves rooted in love.

All:           And love is where we belong.

Three:     This Christmas Eve, as we light the Christ candle, we are reminded of the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus brings.

Four:       As we lift our voices in song and prayer, let us make a dwelling place for God in our hearts and in our lives.

All:          May the light of the Christ candle guide us towards our true home, where we belong, rooted in the love of God. Amen.

**Hymn:                         

Silent Night, Holy 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 allelu

ia;
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.

Words: Joseph Mohr, 1818; Translated by J. Freeman Young and Anonymous
Music: Franz Xavier Gruber, 1818

Christmas Challenge:

 I Will Light Candles This Christmas

by Howard Thurman

I will light candles this Christmas—

Candles of joy despite all sadness, 
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,

Candles of courage for fears ever present, 
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,

Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens, 
Candles of love to inspire all my living,

Candles that will burn all the year long.

**Recessional Hymn:                   

Joy to the World

Joy to the world! the Lord is come; let earth rejoice and sing!
Let ev'ry heart prepare a 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 earth its songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, 
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
The glories of God's righteousness, and wonders of God's love,
And wonders of God's love, and wonders, wonders of God's love.

Words: Isaac Watts based on Psalm 100, 1719
Music: G.F. Handel, adapted by Lowell Mason

One License.net License #A-705445 / CCLI License #12333

**Benediction

Postlude for Dismissal