Christmas Eve Service 6:00 p.m.
GATHERING
We invite you to participate in worship and for fellowship afterward.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GREETING
The presence of all who have come to celebrate Christmas adds to the joy of worshipping the Lord on this glorious night Welcome Friends! May the full meaning of Christmas be real to us all…now and always.
PRELUDE “There’s a Song in the Air” Haven UMC Choir
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
The Lidbeck family will light five candles,
Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and the Christ Candle.
ANTHEM “Mary’s Little Boy Child” Haven UMC Choir
PAGEANT “COME TO THE MANGER” Children and Youth of Haven
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Rejoice in the light of life!
People: We rejoice that God loves us so much
Leader: That God sent us a child
People: To teach us the nature of God’s call for us,
Leader: To show us how God would have us be.
People: We rejoice in the light of life!
Leader: Sing praises people of God!
People: We lift our voices in thanksgiving and praise!
*OPENING HYMN: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 1, 2, 3, 4 UMH 234
CALL TO CONFESSION
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION-Unison
Loving and merciful God, as we await the coming of Jesus, we confess that we do so we divided loyalties, scattered attention and idolatrous hearts. We want to welcome a baby but not surrender control of our lives to a Lord who expects our allegiance. We like the idea of having something and someone to believe in but do not want those beliefs to demand a change in our behaviors. We are inspired by brilliant stars, angelic songs and the magi’s gifts, but are not interested in the risky business of sharing the good news, that You have come to be with us, to know us and be known by us, for the sake of all creation and the world. Forgive us, precious Son of God, we pray, and restore us the joy of being Yours. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*HYMN “The First Noel” v. 1, 2, 3, 4 UMH 245
PRAYERS AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER-
Holy One, we thank You for the extravagant gift of Your Son, born to us this night. Receive, we pray, these offerings as our grateful response for Your life among us which changed and continues to change the world. Amen.
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
The Christmas Eve offering will be shared between Heifer International and the Jerome Food Pantry.
PASTORAL PRAYER Janet Keffer
THE LORD’S PRAYER
*HYMN “Joy to the World” UMH 246
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Matthew 2:9-11 & Luke 2:1-20
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON “To US a Child Is Born” Isaiah 9:6-7
THE MESSAGE Look Whose Coming…A Baby! Michael Keffer
ANTHEM “Mary Did You Know” Solo by Thomas Bauers
THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES “Silent Night” UMH 239
As we sing “Silent Night,” the lights will be dimmed. A pastor will then light the candle of the first worshiper in each row from the Christ Candle in order to pass the light of Christ from person to person. (To avoid spilling hot wax, please keep your candle upright allowing the person next to you to light his or her candle.) We hold our candles high on the 3rd verse so that the light we have received may be seen from afar. As our candles are a sea of light lit from the one Light of Christ, so may we reflect Christ’s light and love in the world. Extinguish your candle after the fourth verse.
BENEDICTION:
POSTLUDE: “Go Tell It On The Mountain” Haven UMC Choir
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*Stand as you are able. The quiet room is available in the back of the sanctuary if needed.