Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service

7:00 P.M. December 24, 2016

REV. RUDY VISSER, PASTOR

“To Know Christ, and to Make Him Known”

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . .” Isaiah 9:2

  PRELUDE                                        Pastorale, op. 19                                 César Franck

Guest Organist, David Smith

The Congregation Carols the Story of Christ’s Birth

  CAROL #163 (vs 1)                                                        Lo!, How a Rose E’er Blooming

  CAROL #172 (vs 1 & 2)                                  While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

  CAROL #171 (vs 1 & 3)                                                    Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

  CAROL #155 (vs 1 & 2)                                                       O Little Town of Bethlehem

  CAROL #151 (vs 3)                                                             Go, Tell It on the Mountain

The Gift of the Light

  WELCOME and GOD’S GREETING

  CALL TO WORSHIP  (Responsive)

We come to celebrate the good news of a great joy!
       Glory to God in the highest!
Unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
       A multitude of the heavenly host appeared, praising God:
All: Glory to God in the highest! Let us worship God! 

  CHRISTMAS PRAYER  (Unison)

On this night of nights when we gratefully approach the celebration of your blessed gift of salvation to us in the person of Christ our Lord, receive our gratitude and praise rightfully due you. Touch our spirits that we may fully know we have been with you and are invigorated for your service. Through Jesus Christ, whose revelation has blessed us beyond telling. Amen.

AROUND THE ADVENT WREATH – Jay, Beth Anne, Cydney, and Carly Rippel

PASTOR: This Christmas Eve we re-light the candles of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  We also light the white Christ Candle in remembrance of Jesus’s birth.  Our waiting has ended – the Messiah has come, bringing hope, love, joy, and peace, to all people.

 (Candles are lit.)

LEADER:  In an occupied country, with a brutal army enforcing the Emperor’s decree, the young Joseph and Mary search for a place for Mary to give birth, for there is no room in the inn.

        PEOPLE:  The promised child is born!

LEADER:  In a humble barn, in an out of the way place, God fulfills the promise to God’s people. This is the meeting of heaven and earth!

PEOPLE:  The glorious light of that stable strikes out into the darkness of night, announcing a birth that has changed the world. On this night, we light the Christ Candle.

(The Christ Candle is lit.)

LEADER:  Let us pray together:

ALL:  Living God, may the light of Christ find a home in our hearts, in our congregation, and in our world. Hallelujah, Christ is born!  Amen.

*CAROL #146                                                                                           Joy to the World!

  The Power of the Light

   PROMISE OF ILLUMINATION FOR GOD’S PEOPLE   (Responsive)  Isaiah 60 and 9

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you,

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,

But the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  

  SCRIPTURE LESSON                                                 Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 and Titus 2:11-14

  MESSAGE                                                                               “The Best Gift” 

  PRAYER OF BLESSING

  SOLO, Nancy Baker, alto   

“O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion” from Messiah      G. F. Handel

Celebrating, Welcoming, and Sharing the Light

  PRESENTATION OF GIFTS and OFFERINGS   In dulci jubilo   Marcel Dupré, op. 28 

  CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION  (Unison)

I believe that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God - the source of all light and life. I believe that God sent Jesus Christ, as the Word Incarnate, into this world so that all might be bathed in his light and know the true source of life. On the witness of the disciples, I believe that Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried — then brought back to life that we might also have new life in him. I believe the Word of God still speaks today to those who have ears and hearts to listen. I believe, with the power of the Holy Spirit, that my life can be a witness to God’s living presence and grace. Amen.

  SHARING THE LIGHT - CAROL #164                                     Silent Night! Holy Night!   

  BENEDICTION

  POSTLUDE                                   Toccata in C major                          Johann Pachelbel

†

Thank You to the Greeters

The Brevoort Family – Jason, Marissa, Aiden, and Lilianna

Thank You to the Ushers

Alan Dick, Jim Dunham, Greg Clause, Jr., Johnathan Pratt