Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

GATHERING

*OPENING CAROL #250 (UMH) “Once in Royal David's City” Cecil Alexander/Henry Gauntlett

THE BIDDING PRAYER

THE LORD'S PRAYER

BLESSING

FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
God announces in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve's punishment for their rebellion and that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head.

CAROL #196 (UMH) “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Charles Wesley/Rowland Prichard

SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18
God promises to Abraham that by his descendants all the nations of the earth will obtain blessings.

CAROL #211 (UMH) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (stanzas 1,2,4,7)

THIRD LESSON Isaiah 9:2,6-7
The prophet announces the birth of a king to a people in darkness.

CAROL #210 (UMH) “Toda La Tierra” (“All Earth Is Waiting”, stanzas 1,4) Albert Taulé

FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 11:1-4a,6-9 or Micah 5:2-5a
The king is coming and will usher in a reign of justice for the poor and peace for all God's creation.

CAROL #230 (UMH) “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Phillip Brooks/Lewis Redner

FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:26-35,38
The angel Gabriel announces to the virgin Mary that she will give birth to Gods promised Son, whose kingdom will never end.

CAROL #197 (UMH) “Ye Who Claim the Faith of Jesus” Vincent Stratton/David Hurd

SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7
Against a backdrop of emperors and taxes, Jesus is born.

CAROL #2098 (TFWS) “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” West Indian Carol

OFFERING

CAROL #217 “Away in the Manger” anon. /James Murray

Collect: Gracious and Loving God, you have brought us again to the glad season when we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that his Spirit may be born anew in our hearts this day and that we may joyfully welcome him to reign over us. Open our ears that we may hear again the angelic chorus of old. Open our lips that we, too, may sing with uplifted hearts, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward all;” through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SEVENTH LESSON Luke 2:8-16
The shepherds go to see the Savior of the world and find him lying in a manger.

CAROL #245 (UMH) “The First Noel” (stanzas 1, 2) Trad. English carol

EIGHTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-11
The wise men follow a star to find the child Jesus, the King of the Jews.

CAROL #254 (UMH) “We Three Kings” John Hopkins, Jr.

NINTH LESSON John 1:1-14
John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

*CAROL #234 (UMH) “O Come, All Ye Faithful” John F. Wade

*DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING

*LIGHTING THE CONGREGATIONAL CANDLES

*CAROL 239 (UMH) “Silent Night, Holy Night” Joseph Mohr/ Franz Gruber