The
Christmas Eve
Service of Lessons and Carols
December 24,
2005
Grace United
Methodist Church
5:30 PM
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.)
THE CALL
TO WORSHIP
Leader: Every valley shall be exalted,
All: And every mountain and hill shall be
made low:
Leader: And the crooked shall be made straight,
All: And
the rough places plain:
Leader: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
All: And
all flesh shall see it together:
For
the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
*OPENING
HYMN
O
Come All Ye Faithful (All
verses)
234
OPENING prayer
God,
creator of all life, you have made us in your image and sent your Son to share
our flesh. Tonight, as we celebrate the glad time of His
birth, we pray that your love may be
born anew in us. Help us to respond to
the greatness of your love by sharing it with others. Amen.
(The pastor shall receive a light from the
Christ candle. The pastor shall then
light the ushers’ candles. They, in turn
shall light the candles of persons at the center aisle in each pew.
The light is to be passed to the person
beside you until it arrives at the end of the pew.
We request that only children eight years
of age and older hold their own candle.)
*Closing hymn 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.
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!
(Please
extinguish your candle following the benediction.)
*THE
BENEDICTION
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. (Isaiah 9:2) May the light of the Christ Child go with you now and always, and may
you keep it shining brightly for others.
Amen.
*POSTLUDE
Good
Christian Men Rejoice Wilbur
Held
I Want to Walk as a Child of Light “Fantasia”
John A. Behnke
The first Reading of the Scripture
Luke 2: 1-7
(The journey to Bethlehem and the birth of the Savior)
Reader: Praise be for the journey and the birth of our
Savior!
All: Thanks be to God!
The lighting of
the first advent candle
Anthem Pieta
Joseph
Martin
Linda White, soprano solo
The SECOND reading of the scripture
Luke 2: 8-12
(The shepherds hear the Good News)
Reader: Praise be for the Good News!
All: Thanks
be to God!
The lighting of
the second advent candle
HYMN
Away in a Manger (All
verses)
217
The THIRD reading of the scripture
Luke
2: 13-16
(The angels glorify God and shepherds go to see the child)
Reader: The message of the angels!
All: Thanks
be to God!
The lighting of
the third advent candle
*HYMN
Hark, the Herald
Angels Sing (Verses 1 and 3)
240
The FOURTH reading of the scripture
Matthew
2: 1-10
(The wise men are led by the star to Jesus)
Reader: Praise be for the guiding star!
All: Thanks
be to God!
The lighting of
the fourth advent candle
solo We
Three Kings of Orient Are
Hopkins/Burton
Offertory O
Holy Night
Adolphe
C. Adams
(Unless
otherwise designated, checks and loose offering this evening
will go to the Bishop’s
Christmas Offering for children.)
CONGREGATIONAL
PRAYER
O God, whose mighty Son was born in
Bethlehem those days long ago, lead us to that
same poor place, where Mary laid her tiny Child. And as we look on in wonder and praise, make us welcome him in all new
life, see him in the poor, and care for his handiwork,
the earth, the sky and the sea. O God,
bless us again in your great love. We pray for this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
The FIFth Reading of the Scripture
Matthew 2:11
(The wise men present gifts)
Reader: Praise be for their worship and treasures!
All: Thanks
be to God!
The lighting of
the Christ candle
Bells
The
Little Drummer Boy
Daniel E. Hermany
The sIXTH Reading of the Scripture
John 1:1 &
1:14
(John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation)
Reader: The Word of God for the people of God!
All: Thanks
be to God!
*HYMN
Joy
to the World (All
verses) 246
Anthem
Raise the Christmas Hallelujah
Pepper
Choplin
(The
congregation will join in singing with the Altar Choir at the signal
of the
director using the music provided in the bulletin insert.)