The
Christmas Eve
Candlelight
Communion Service
December 24, 2005
11:00 p.m. o’clock
My heart
is open wide tonight
For
stranger, kith or kin. Christ is born; give him glory!
Christ
has come down from heaven; receive him!
Christ
is now on earth; exalt him!
(The asterisk (*) designates when the
congregation will please stand.
Worshipers
who find standing difficult are invited to remain seated.
Bold
print is read or sung by the congregation.
Worshipers
are encouraged to turn off their cell phones while they are in the sanctuary.))
THE CHRISTMAS PRELUDE
“O Little
Town of Bethlehem” (Hymn 224)
Wilbur
Held
THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Minister: Listen to the message that echoes through the
streets this night!
All: Christ is born! Peace on earth! God has comforted his people!
Minister: Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing
which is come to pass.
All: Unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given; and his name shall be called
wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince
of
Peace.
*THE CHRISTMAS CAROL Hymn No. 238
“Angels We
Have Heard on High”
THE OLD TESTAMENT
LESSON
Isaiah 9:2-7 (Pew Bible page 67)
THE SPECIAL MUSIC Grace
Marie Ransom
“Breath of Heaven” Eaton/Grant/Courtney
THE EPISTLE LESSON
Galatians 4:1-7 (Pew
Bible page 1130)
THE SPECIAL MUSIC Jayna Beutler
“O Holy Night” Adolphe Adam
*THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Luke 2:1-20 (Pew
Bible page 992)
A FESTIVAL OF CAROLS
(The
congregation will remain seated as we join together in the singing of the
carols)
“O
Little Town of Bethlehem” Hymn No. 230
“Away in
a Manger” Hymn
No. 217
“What
Child is This?” Hymn No. 219
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST
CANDLE
THE OFFERING
The Offertory
“Appalachian
Christmas Carol – I Wonder as I Wander” John Ness Beck
(The
offering this evening is designated to go to the Bishops Christmas Fund for
Children.)
THE CHRISTMAS EVE
MEDITATION
Pastor Beutler
THE PRAYER OF HUMBLE
ACCESS
Minister: Let us pray.
All: Everlasting Father, whose glorious
love and holy righteousness
appeared in Jesus Christ, we adore thee
for this night of fulfillment and rejoicing.
As we behold the wonder of your goodness, we bow in humility and
repentance. The innocence of the Babe
rebukes our selfishness, hardness, and un-brotherliness. Forgive our sins. We would make room in our hearts for your
presence by letting evil be driven out and your spirit be born anew. Then shall we know the gifts of your peace
and goodwill. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF
CONSECRATION
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
ELEMENTS
THE PRAYERS OF
THANKSGIVING
THE SHARING OF CHRIST’S
LIGHT AND CLOSING RESPONSE
“Silent
Night” See
insert
(The
pastor shall receive a light from the Christ candle. He/she shall then light the ushers’
candles.
They,
in turn, shall light the candles of the persons at the center aisle in each
pew.
The
light is to be passed to the persons beside you until it arrives at the end of
the pew.)
Silent night, holy
night, all is clam, all is bright
round you virgin mother
and child. Hoy infant, so tender and
mild,
sleep in heavenly
peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy
night, shepherd 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.
Silent night, holy
night, wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us
sing, Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is
born, Christ the Savior is born!
THE CELEBRATION OF
CHRISTMAS DAY
*THE BENEDICTION
(Please
extinguish your candle following the benediction.
There
will be an usher stationed at each exit to assist you with your candle as you
leave the sanctuary.)
*THE POSTLUDE
“Good
Christian Men, Rejoice” (Hymn 224) Wilbur
Held