Christmas Eve
Grace Presbyterian Church
Seeking to equip people to live as Christian disciples wherever God has placed them.
Prelude Twenty contemplations of the Child Jesus Olivier Messiaen
I. The gaze of the Father
Lighting of the Advent Candle
One: Hope, peace, joy, and love. Four candles, four promises continually offered to us by God, and all of them manifest in this one candle which we light tonight: the Christ candle. In Christ, we find the hope of transformation, the peace that follows justice, the joy of connection and community, and the love that encompasses all of us in all our diversity. In Christ, we find light and life, and we hear the call to follow him, letting our lights shine in the darkness.
All: Lord Jesus, be born in us this night! May our hearts fill to overflowing with your love!
May our minds be filled with the knowledge of you! May our souls rest in your presence and your grace! May your light shine through us and in everything we say and do! All this is possible for you are: God with us, God for us, and God in us! Amen.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 171 Red * “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with us to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
First Scripture Reading Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Music King of Glory Mark Hatten
Second Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-7
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.
Hymn 155 Red* “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 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 this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still
the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.
Third Scripture Reading Luke 2:8-14
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 Savior, 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 favors!”
Hymn 152 Red* “Angels We Have Heard On High”
Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echo back their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say, what may the tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
Come to Bethlehem, and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
See within a manger laid
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
sing with us our Savior’s birth.
Fourth Scripture Reading 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 150 Red* “What Child is This?”
What child is this who, laid to rest,
on Mary’s lap is sleeping,
whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud,
the babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies he in such mean estate
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear; for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
the cross be borned for me, for you;
hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the babe, the son of Mary.
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
the virgin sings her lullaby;
joy, joy, for Christ is born,
the babe, the son of Mary.
Time with the Children Winter’s Gift
Hymn 149 Red* “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 thee, Lord Jesus,
look down from the sky
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
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.
Fifth Scripture Reading John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Meditation And the Darkness did not overcome it Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 163 Red* “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming”
Lo! how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse’s lineage coming, as saints of old have sung.
It came a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God, from sin and death he saves us
and lightens every load.
Offertory All my heart this night rejoices Johann Georg Ebeling
Doxology
Affirmation of Faith based on a conversation included in the Gospel of Matthew
One: Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’
All: ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
One: ‘But who do you say that I am?’
All: ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
One: ‘Blessed are you, and on [you] I will build my church.
Music O holy night Adolphe Adam
Isabella Mattingly, soprano
Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn Red 164* “Silent 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 Alleluia;
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.
Benediction
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