Lessons and Carols - a Traditional Candlelight Service - Christmas Eve December 24, 2013

Lessons and Carols

A Traditional Candlelight Service

December 24, 2013

St Jacobs Blue Creek 7pm St. Johns Penntown 11pm

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship

Leader: The Prophet Isaiah said:

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.

People: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Leader: The Priest Zechariah said before John’s birth:

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,

To give light to those who sit in darkness, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

People: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Leader: The Evangelist John said:

What has come into being in him was life, and the life is the light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

People: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Leader: God is with us. God is coming into our lives in a new way,

The birth of the Christ-child is the renewal of hope.

A reminder that Christ will come again,

Keep watch for the light; it is drawing near.

ALL: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Carol "O Come, All Ye Faithful”

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, Christ the Lord.

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, Christ the Lord.

First Lesson Luke 1:26-38 The Message of the Angel

Lighting of the first Advent candle - PEACE

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.
2. Refrain:
   Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
   Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
3. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
   Why your joyous strains prolong?
   What the gladsome tidings be
   Which inspire your heav’nly song?

(Refrain)

Second Lesson Luke 1:39-45 Good News for Two Women

Lighting of the second Advent candle - HOPE

Carol “Gloria, Gloria, Gloria”

Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, gloria be to God on high!

Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, gloria be to God on high!

And on earth be peace to the people in whom God is well pleased.

And on earth be peace to the people in whom God is well pleased.

Third Lesson Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s Hymn of Praise

Lighting of the third Advent candle - joy

Special Music(St. John’s)“Here With Us”Emily Prifogle

Fourth Lesson Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph’s Dream

Lighting of the fourth Advent candle - love

Carol “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold;

“Peace on the earth, good will to men,

From Heaven’s all gracious King.”

The world in solemn stillness lay,

To hear the angels sing.

Fifth Lesson Luke 2:1-7 The Birth of Jesus

Children’s Message

Lighting of the fifth Advent candle (Christ candle)

The Advent Candle Song

1. Light the Advent candle, one: Now the waiting has begun; we have started on our way, time to think of Christmas day.

Refrain Candle, Candle, burning bright, shining in the cold winter night;

Candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.

1. Light the Advent candle, two: Think of humble shepherds, who filled with wonder at the sight of the child of Christmas night.

Refrain (repeat from above)

1. Light the Advent candle, three: Think of heavenly harmony; angels singing “Peace on earth” at the blessed Savior’s birth.

Refrain

1. Light the Advent candle, four: Think of joy forevermore; Christ Child in a stable born, gift of love that Christmas morn.

Refrain

1. Light the Christmas candles, now: Sing of donkey, sheep, and cow;

Birthday candles for the King, let the alleluias ring.

Refrain

Sixth Lesson Luke 2:8-20 The Shepherds and the Angels

Carol “The First Noel, the Angel Did Say” The first Noel, the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay tending their sheep,

On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

RefrainNoel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

They lookèd 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.

Refrain

Offertory

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication and a Christmas Prayer L It was cold and Mary and Joseph were fearful.

P But that did not stop the birth.

L They were poor and had no place fitting for their child.

P But that did not stop the birth.

L They were uncertain about what God wanted from them.

P But that did not stop the birth.

L Tonight we are still sometimes cold and fearful, certainly poorin many ways.

P We often feel we have no place and are unclear about what God wants of us.

L But these things did not stop the birth of Jesus then, nor will they now.

P Lord Jesus, be born in us today.

L Like Mary and Joseph, who trusted in your grace, we offerourselves and our gifts to you. Bless our offering and hallowour every thought and our every action, that Christ may berevealed through them to the world that is yet in darkness. Amen.

Communion Carol: "Love Came Down at Christmas”

Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine;

Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the God-head, love incarnate, love divine;

Worship we our Jesus, but where-with for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;

Love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.

Holy Communion This table is open to all who believe Jesus is Lord and Savior. The ushers will instruct you to come forward down the center aisle. You will break off a piece of bread, dip in the small chalice with grape juice or large chalice for wine, take, eat and return to your pew by the side aisles.

A Christmas Confession(Walter Russell Bowie: A Christmas Creed)

L I believe in Jesus Christ and in the beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem.

P I believe in the one whose spirit glorified a little town; andwhose spirit still brings music to persons all over the worldin towns both large and small.

L I believe in the one for whom the crowded inn could find noroom, and I confess that my heart still sometimes wants toexclude Christ from my life today.

P I believe in the one who the rulers of the earth ignored andthe proud could never understand; whose life was among commonpeople, whose welcome came from persons of hungry hearts.

L I believe in the one who proclaimed the love of God to beinvincible:

P I believe in the one whose cradle was a mother's arms, whosemodest home in Nazareth had love for its only wealth, wholooked at persons and made them see what God's love saw inthem, who by love brought sinners back to purity, and liftedhuman weakness up to meet the strength of God.

L I confess our ever-lasting need of God:

P The need of forgiveness for our selfishness and greed, theneed of new life for empty souls, the need of love for heartsgrown cold.

L I believe in God who gives us the best of himself.

P I believe in Jesus, the son of the living God, born inBethlehem this night,

for me and for the world.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Indeed, O God, we believe in the one born in Bethlehem thisnight - and we give you thanks for all the gifts that youhave given us through him. We praise you for his

birth, for how he lived his life as the servant of yourMost Holy Will - and for how, in obedience and in love hefinally gave himself over to death, even death on a cross,

for our sakes - thereby opening to all people the gates ofheaven and the way to eternal life. Wherefore O God wespread this table before you as he commanded us to do on thenight he was betrayed. We remember how he took bread, andgave you thanks for it - as even now we give you thanks OGod for our daily bread - and how he broke it and gave it tohis disciples saying, "Take, eat, this is my body, brokenfor you". In like manner we recall, how when the meal wasdone, Jesus took the cup, the cup of blessing, and aftergiving thanks, offered it to his disciples saying, "Take,drink, this is my blood, the blood of the new covenant forthe forgiveness of sins. As often as you do this, do it inremembrance of me."

BLESSING OF THE ELEMENTS(in unison)

All: Bless O God, this bread and this wine that it may be for uscommunion in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Send yourspirit upon these elements and upon us and grant that wemay obtain maturity of faith and live in him and through him-- faithful and righteous all our days. We ask this throughChrist our Lord, as we pray the prayer he taughtus...Our Father... (sins/sin)

L: The gifts of God for the people of God. Come for all things are now ready!

Departing Prayer: The Canticle of Simeon

L Having travelled to Bethlehem together and having beheld thechild, born a king, let us pray using the word's of Simeon, arighteous and devout man who looked forward to the consolationof Israel and who beheld his coming:

P Lord, let your servants now depart in peace, according to yourword; for our eyes have seen your salvation, which you haveprepared in the presence of all peoples, a light to lightenthe Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

Carol “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!

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.

The Light Comes into the World John 1:1-14

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.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Go with the blessing of Christ, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, Amen.

(Extinguish candles)

Carol “Joy to the World”

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.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world 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.

Postlude

All words and music used by permission. CCLI License #3100743

Poinsettias at St. John’s

In Memory of Bill & Belva Bauman

From Larry & Bertie Bauman

In Memory of Bill Cook

From Jim & Sally Cook

In Memory of Bill Cooney

From Sally & Jim Cook

In Memory of Bob & Jean Cross,

Lee & Velma Richter,

David & Mervin Richter, and Bob Cross

From Darrel and Chris Richter

In Memory of Donald & Lucille Freyer

and Otto & Cora Freyer

From Eugene, Pam, Tricia,

& Trent Freyer

In Memory of Loved Ones

From Ellen Bauman & Family

In Memory of Loved Ones

From Charles & Carol Faulkner

In Memory of George & Nellie Bender

From Cliff & Sylvia Gesell

In Memory of Loved Ones

From Pastor Lynne

In Memory of Loved Ones

From Dennis, Maria, and Hannah Marie Richter

In Memory of Loved Ones

From Janet Wiedeman

In Memory of Barbara Mosmeier

From Tom, Alisa, Cody & Jeremy Doll

In Memory of Barbara Mosmeier

From the Lawrence & Pamela Weiler Family

In Memory of David Mosmeier

From the Lawrence & Pamela Weiler Family

In Memory of Harvey & Ruby Mosmeier

From Walter & Sylvia Wilson and Family

Pastor Lynne will be out of the office Dec. 27 – Jan. 2. In case of emergency, please call Randy Ratliff (St. Jacob’s), Dan Hountz or Chris Richter (St. John’s).

**St. John’s is looking for a good, used vacuum.

Contact the office if you can help!

Mark Your Calendars…

Dec. 25 – Christmas Day

Dec. 29 – Rev. Ted Richmond will speak at both churches during Pastor Lynne’s absence.

Birthday Party for Jesus during Sunday School at St. John’s.

Please join us at St. John’s for our 5th Sunday Praise & Worship Service.

Jan. 1 – Have a Happy, Healthy New Year!

Jan. 5 – Jammie Day in Sunday School

Jan. 9 – Bible Study resumes, 7pm at St. John’s Hall

Jan. 12 – St. Jacob’s Annual Meeting

Jan. 19 – St. John’s Annual Meeting (reports due to office by Jan. 12)

…To Chris Richter for filling in for Pastor Lynne at the Youth Group Caroling & Dinner!

…To Karen Craig and Edna Gilbert for hosting the Progressive Dinner for the Youth Group Caroling!
…To all who helped with the Food Pantry Christmas Basket program.230+ families were assisted!
…To those who sponsored needy children at Sunman Elementary. Toys and warm clothing were given to 67 children.

…”Dear St. John’s & St. Jacob’s, Thank you for the finals care package!! The treats were delicious. It made my day & helped me get through the last week of school. I will be graduating Dec. 14th with my Bachelor’s in Nursing. Yay!” -Trisha Lecher

…"Thank you for the care package from the Church....I literally started crying...just the most thoughtful gift!!!" –Brittany, Meghan, & Taryn (Renee Schwegman’s babysitters, attending Belmont)