by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild
b-ad04sn 707100
This Christmas Eve Communion Service can be used any
Year - but it was prepared in Year B and is so named
above. Again anthems can be changed to match your musical
sources.
LIGHTING THE WAY
WORDS OF WELCOME (from entrance way)
L The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P And also with you.
* 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 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.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God, in the highest.
O Come let us adore him....
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O Come let us adore him....
* CALL TO WORSHIP AND CANDLE LIGHTING
L The Lord be with you.
P And also with you.
L We gather to celebrate the birth of the one who is the light of the
world.
P We are here to worship God and his Son Jesus Christ,
born this night in Bethlehem of Judea.
L We light the candle of hope to remind us of the promises made by all
the prophets that God would raise up a saviour for his people Israel and
through Him bless all the nations.
P Let the heavens and the earth rejoice.
Our Lord has come.
- light the first candle -
L We light the candle of peace to remind us that the Prince of Peace comes
to enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
P Let the heavens and the earth rejoice.
Our Lord has come.
- light the second candle -
L We light the candle of joy to remind us that the Lord has made known his
salvation and that grace is poured out upon us.
P Let the heavens and the earth rejoice.
Our Lord has come.
- light the third candle -
L We light the candle of love to remind us that God so loved the world
that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
might have eternal life.
P Let the heavens and the earth rejoice.
Our Lord has come.
- light the fourth candle -
L We light the Christ candle to celebrate and rejoice that the light of
the world is born this night....
- light the Christ candle -
L The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who
dwelt in a land of deep darkness - on them a light has shined. You, O
Lord, have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. For unto
us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be
upon his shoulder. He is called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
P Glory be to God in the highest heaven, and on earth
peace to all people of good will. Alleluia!
* PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Almighty God - you have made this night holy by the gift of your Son, born
of the Spirit and of Mary. Let his light shine within our hearts even
more brightly than it shines from the candles in this place. Help us to
hear your word and to celebrate your everlasting love through Christ Jesus
our Lord. Amen.
* HYMN: "Good Christian Folk Rejoice"
Good Christian folk, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say: News! News!
Jesus Christ is born today.
Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today, Christ is born today!
Good Christian folk, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this.
He hath oped the heavenly door, and folk are blessed for evermore.
Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this!
Good Christian folk, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave; Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save,
calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save, Christ was born to save!
HEARING THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTMAS
SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in
Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with
you."
But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of
greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a
son, and you will name him Jesus. 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. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
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
born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 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. For nothing will be impossible
with God."
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.
HYMN: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (please remain seated)
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 street 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.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming; but in the world of sin,
Where meet souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:1-14
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world
should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken
while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to
be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended
from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary,
to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And
she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth,
and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the
inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch
over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
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: to you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will
be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and
lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on
earth peace among those whom he favours!"
CHOIR READING & ANTHEMS
-- Reading From the Choir Loft
Before the marvel of this night,
proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ.
Awake the sleeping world with song,
The love that we have always known.
Sing Peace! Sing Love.
Sing God is Love.
We stand adoring, before the marvel of this night.
-- Before The Marvel of This Night
-- He is Born
-- Jesus, Our Brother
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:15-20
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."
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying
in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told
them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the
shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered
them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had
heard and seen, as it had been told them.
HYMN: "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 bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
CHOIR READING AND ANTHEMS
-- Reading From The Choir Loft
The angels sang and the shepherds came
He came from the glorious kingdom.
Oh! Yes! Believer!
He came from the glory
He came from the glorious kingdom.
-- The Virgin Had A Baby Boy
-- Ring A Bell For Peace
CHRISTMAS PRAYER & OFFERING
A CHRISTMAS PRAYER:
L Let us affirm the love that God has for us
- a love that was not, and cannot, be hindered.
P We thank God for coming unto us;
we praise him for Christ's birth into our world.
L It was cold and Mary and Joseph were fearful.
P But that did not stop the birth.
L They were poor and had no place fitting for their child.
P But that did not stop the birth.
L They were uncertain about what God wanted from them.
P But that did not stop the birth.
L And today we are still sometimes cold and fearful,
certainly poor in many ways.
P We often feel that we have no place
and are unclear about what God wants of us.
L But these things did not stop the birth of Jesus then,
nor will they do it now.
To all who are open to God's leading, He comes.
P Lord Jesus be born in us tonight.
SHARING GOD'S BLESSINGS: The Offering is Received and the Anthem: "Before
The Marvel of This Nite" is sung. The Offering will be brought forward
as the Congregation stands to sing: "Praise God From Whom All Blessings
Flow" (VU 541)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures high and low;
give thanks to God in love made known:
Creator, Word and Spirit, One.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
L Loving God, like Mary and Joseph, who trusted in your grace despite
their fear, their poverty, their lack of certainty, we offer ourselves
and our gifts to you. Bless our offering and hallow our every thought
and action, that Christ may be born in us and through us be revealed to
those who yet walk in darkness.
P Amen.
* HYMN: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
It came upon the 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 men, from heaven's all gracious king!"
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world;
above it's sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.
For, lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold,
when with the ever-circling years comes round the age of gold,
when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling,
and the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.
CHRISTMAS COMMUNION
COMMUNION LITANY:
L The peace of the Lord be with you.
P And also with you.
L Lift your hearts up to the Lord.
P It is right to give God thanks and praise.
L Let us proclaim our faith in God and in His son, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
our brother, and our Saviour.
P We come before him, thankful for all his love and mercy.
A CHRISTMAS CONFESSION (Walter Russell Bowie: A Christmas Creed)
L I believe in Jesus Christ and the beauty of the gospel begun in
Bethlehem.
P I believe in the one whose spirit glorified a little town; and whose
spirit still brings joy to people all over the world in towns both large
and small.
L I believe in the one for whom the crowded inn could find no room, and I
confess that my heart still sometimes wants to exclude Christ from my
life today.
P I believe in the one who the rulers of the earth ignored and the proud
could never understand; whose life was among common people, whose
welcome came from persons of hungry hearts.
L I believe in the one who proclaimed the love of God to be invincible:
P I believe in the one whose cradle was a mother's arms, whose modest home
in Nazareth had love for its only wealth, who looked at people and made
them see what God's love saw in them, who, by love, brought sinners back
to purity, and lifted human weakness up to meet the strength of God.
L I confess the many things that stand in the way of true celebration of
God's love.
P I confess those things in my life that have caused me to become
separated from my God, my neighbours, and myself
.......... (silent prayer) ..........
L I confess my ever-lasting need of God:
P The need of forgiveness for selfishness and greed, the need of new life
for empty souls, the need of love for hearts grown cold.
L I believe in God who gives us the best of himself.
P I believe in Jesus, the son of the living God, born in Bethlehem this
night, for me and for the world I believe that in and through Him comes
God's gift of forgiveness and new life, both here and in the world to
come.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
BLESSING OF THE ELEMENTS
THE LORD'S PRAYER SUNG
RECEIVING THE ELEMENTS AND AND LIGHTING OUR CANDLES: The Choir will
receive Communion first, then everyone is asked to come forward to
receive communion, starting from the left side of the church, by moving
counter-clockwise around the church to one of the three stations at the
front. Please light a candle after receiving communion. The choir will
sing "A Light is Gleaming"
DEPARTING PRAYER (The Canticle of Simeon)
L Let us pray
P Lord, let your servants now depart in peace,
according to your word;
for our eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light to lighten the Gentiles
and the glory of your people Israel.
HYMN: "Silent Night" (please remain seated)
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 Saviour, 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.
BENEDICTION AND THREE FOLD AMEN
Go in peace,
And may the Lord God Almighty - the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit
be with you and keep you safe in his love
both now and forevermore. Amen
POSTLUDE
copyright - Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, 2002 - 2005
please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these sermons.
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