Christmas Eve Service - December 24, 2007
Candle Light Service of Lessons and Carols

Advent Wreath and Candle Lighting

L: In the beginning, when it was very dark,

God said, 'Let there be light'
P: And there was light.

[ The four coloured candles of the Advent Wreath are Lit.]

L: In the beginning, when it was very quiet,

The Word was with God.
P: And what God was, the Word was.

L: When the time was right, God sent God’s own child,
P: He came among us, He was one of us.  

[ The white Christ Candle is Lit.]

L: Arise! Shine! Our Light has come!  

[ The individual candles are Lit as we share the phrase  

P: Emmanuel - God is With Us!]

Carol: "O All Ye Faithful"

1. 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.

3. 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, O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

First Lesson Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
²The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows– light! Sunbursts of light!

⁶For a child has been born--for us! the gift of a saviour--for us!
He'll take over the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counsellor, Strong God, Eternal One, Sovereign of Wholeness.
⁷His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic throne of David, over that promised dominion.
He'll put that dominion on a firm footing and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of GOD-of-the-Angel-Choir will do all this.

Carol: “Once In Royal David’s City”

1 Once in royal David's city

stood a lowly cattleshed,

where a mother laid her baby

in a manger for his bed.

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little child.

2 He came down to earth from heaven

who, with God, is over all,

and his shelter was a stable,

and his cradle was a stall.

There among the poor and lowly

lived on earth our Saviour holy.

Second Lesson Isaiah 11:1-4a
¹A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse's stump, from his roots a budding Branch.
²The life-giving Spirit of GOD will hover over him,
the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength,
the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-GOD.
³Fear-of-GOD will be all his joy and delight.
He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay.
⁴He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice.

Anthem: “In the Bleak Mid Winter”

Third Lesson Isaiah 11:6-9

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
            the leopard will lie down with the goat,
            the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
           and a little child will lead them.

  7 The cow will feed with the bear,
             their young will lie down together,
            and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

  8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
            and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.

  9 They will neither harm nor destroy
            on all my holy mountain,
            for the earth will be full of the knowledge of God
            as the waters cover the sea.

Carol: “What Child Is This”

1. 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!

2. Why lies he in such mean estate

where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear; for sinners here

the silent Word is pleading. 

This, this is Christ the King,

whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

haste, haste to bring him laud,

the Babe, the Son of Mary!

3. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh;

come, one and all, to own him.

The King of Kings salvation brings;

let loving hearts enthrone him. 

This, this is Christ the King,

whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

haste, haste to bring him laud,

the Babe, the Son of Mary!

Fourth Lesson Luke 1:26-35, 38
²⁶In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel

to the Galilean village of Nazareth ²⁷to a virgin engaged to be married to a man

descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary.

²⁸Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.
²⁹She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that.

³⁰But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you:

³¹You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
³²He will be great, and he will be called "Son of the Highest.'
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David;                     
³³He will rule Jacob's house forever– no end, ever, to his kingdom."
³⁴Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man."
³⁵The angel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.
³⁶"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is?

Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months' pregnant!

³⁷Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."
³⁸And Mary said,
Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say.
Then the angel left her.

Carol: “Angels We Have Heard On High

1. Angels we have heard on high

sweetly singing o'er the plains,

and the mountains in reply,

echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

which inspire your heavenly song? 

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

3. Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ whose birth the angels sing;

come, adore on bended knee

Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. 

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Fifth Lesson Luke 2:1-7
¹About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken

throughout the Empire. ²This was the first census when Quirinius was

governor of Syria. ³Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown

to be accounted for. ⁴So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth

up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of

David, he had to go there. ⁵He went with Mary, his fiancee, who was pregnant.
⁶While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷She gave birth to

a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger,

because there was no room in the hostel.

Carol: “Go Tell It On the Mountain”

  Go, tell it on the mountain,

over the hills and everywhere.

Go, tell it on the mountain

that Jesus Christ is born.

1. While shepherds kept their watching

o'er silent flocks by night,

behold, throughout the heavens

there shone a holy light. 

Go, tell it on the mountain,

over the hills and everywhere.

Go, tell it on the mountain

that Jesus Christ is born.

2. The shepherds feared and trembled

when lo, above the earth

rang out the angel chorus

that hailed our Saviour's birth! 

Go, tell it on the mountain,

over the hills and everywhere.

Go, tell it on the mountain

that Jesus Christ is born.

3. Down in a lonely manger

the humble Christ was born,

and God sent our salvation

that blessed Christmas morn. 

Go, tell it on the mountain,

over the hills and everywhere.

Go, tell it on the mountain

that Jesus Christ is born.

Sixth Lesson Luke 2:8-14
⁸There were sheep herders camping in the neighbourhood. They had set

night watches over their sheep. ⁹Suddenly, God's angel stood among them

and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. ¹⁰The angel said,

"Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant

for everybody, worldwide: ¹¹A Saviour has just been born in David's town,

a Saviour who is Messiah and Master. ¹²This is what you're to look for:

a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
¹³At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
¹⁴Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Carol: “The First Nowell”

1. The first Nowell the angel did say

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

in fields where they lay akeeping their sheep

on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

born is the King of Israel.

2. They looked up and saw a star,

shining in the east, beyond them far;

and to the earth it gave great light,

and so it continued both day and night. 

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

born is the King of Israel.

6. Then let us all with one accord

sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

that hath made heaven and earth of nought,

and with his blood our life hath bought. 

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

born is the King of Israel.

Seventh Lesson Luke 2:15-20

¹⁵As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheep herders talked it over.

"Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what

God has revealed to us." ¹⁶They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph,

and the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷Seeing was believing. They told everyone

they met what the angels had said about this child. ¹⁸All who heard the sheep

herders were impressed.
¹⁹Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.

²⁰The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for

everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!                                         

Anthem: “Away In a Manger”

Eighth Lesson Matthew 2:1-12
¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory--

this was during Herod's kingship--a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem

from the East. ²They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage

to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that

signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."
³When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified--and not Herod

alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. ⁴Herod lost no time. He gathered all

the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where

is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
⁵They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
⁶It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."
⁷Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East.

Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly

when the birth-announcement star appeared. ⁸Then he told them the prophecy

about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned.

As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."
⁹Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same

star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the

place of the child. ¹⁰They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the

right place! They had arrived at the right time!
¹¹They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother.

Overcome, they kneeled and worshipped him. Then they presented their gifts:

gold, frankincense, myrrh.
¹²In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod.

So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen,

and returned to their own country.

Carol: “We Three Kings”

1. We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
 

Refrain: O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

2. Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to rein  (Refrain)

3. Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray'r and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high (Refrain)

4. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb (Refrain)

5. Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Sounds through the earth and skies. (Refrain)

Presentation of our Offering

Prayer of Dedication (unison) by L. Baylor (adapted)

Wonder-making God, your gifts are surprising and
beyond our expectation. Thank you for gifting us once
again with Christmas. We join ourselves and our offerings
with the shepherds who returned home praising and
glorifying You for all they had seen and heard;

With the sages who brought the gold, frankincense and myrhh

and bowed and worshipped you. With Mary, we will ponder

the words and music of this holy event. Like Joseph we will listen

to our dreams and follow the movement of your Spirit. And like the Angels,

transform us as messengers of good news that we may serve you with vision

and high purposes in the days ahead. For we pray in the Spirit of Christmas. Amen.

Anthem: “O Holy Night”

Nineth Lesson John 1:1-5

¹The Word was first, the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God, ²in readiness for God from day one.
³Everything was created through him;
nothing--not one thing!-
came into being without him.
⁴What came into existence through the Word was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
⁵The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.

Carol: “Silent Night”

1. 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.

2. Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight:

glories stream from heaven afar,

heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah,

Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.

3. 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.

Blessing and Sending Forth

L: In the midst of darkness, lights have shone.
All: Glory to God in the highest!
In the midst of darkness, we have seen the light of Christ.
All: Glory to God in the highest!
In the midst of darkness, we have been promised peace and good will.
All: Glory to God in the highest!
In the midst of darkness, we go forth to be the light of Christ.
All: Glory to God in the highest! Alleluia! Amen.

Carol: “Joy to the World”

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come:

let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare him room,

and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

2. Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns:

let all their songs employ,

while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,

nor thorns infest the ground:

he comes to make his blessings flow

far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,

far as, far as the curse is found.

4. He rules the earth with truth and grace,

and makes the nations prove

the glories of his righteousness

and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,

and wonders, wonders of his love.