Call to Worship

Tonight is a night of magic and wonder.
Tonight is a night of angelic choirs and star-lit promise.
Tonight is a night of hope and anticipation.
Tonight is a night of expectation and renewal.
Tonight is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Thanks be to God.

The Gloria: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Advent Candle Lighting

Hymn VU 6 “A Candle is Burning”
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
A candle of HOPE in November's dark night
While angels sing blessings from heaven's starry sky,
Our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh

A candle is burning, a candle of PEACE,
A candle to signal that conflict must cease
For Jesus is coming to show us the way
A message of peace humbly laid in the hay

A candle is burning, a candle of JOY,
A candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy
Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow
As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow

A candle is burning, a candle of LOVE,
A candle to point us to heaven above
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth
For Jesus is bringing God's love to our earth.

We honor Messiah with Christ's candle flame
Our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim
O Come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night
As God comes among us, the Christian's true light.

Collect for Christmas Eve: Eternal God, this holy night is radiant with the brilliance of your one true light. As we have known the revelation of that light on earth, bring us to see the splendour of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Hymn: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still
The dear Christ enters in

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52: 7-10

Hymn: “All Poor Ones and Humble”
All poor men and humble,
all lame men who stumble.
Come haste ye, nor feel ye afraid.
For Jesus our treasure,
with love without measure,
in lowly poor manger is laid.

Though wise men who found him
laid rich gifts around him,
yet oxen they gave him their hay.
And Jesus in beauty
accepted their duty
(contented in manger he lay).

Then haste we to show him
the praises we owe him;
our service he ne'er can despise.
Whose love still is able
to show us that stable
where softly in manger he lies.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 98

Hymn: “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
It came upon a 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

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world

Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing

All ye beneath life's crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow

Look now for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing
And hear the angels sing

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4

Hymn: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”
While shepherds watch’d their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
“Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.”

“To you, in David’s town this day,
Is born of David’s line
The Savior who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign:
The heav’nly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.”

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:
“All glory be to God on high
And on the earth be peace.
Goodwill henceforth from heav’n to men
Begin and never cease.”

A Christmas Eve Prayer: Father, the shepherds believed the word that was spoken to them and hurried off to find their saviour king. May we who have come to Jesus be like them in spreading the message about him, glorifying and praising you all our days. Amen

Offertory Hymn: “What Child is This?”
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.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Prayer over the Gifts: Source of light and gladness, accept all we offer on this joyful feast.
May we grow up in him who unites our lives to yours; for he is Lord now and for ever.

Hymn: “Away In a Manger”
Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head

The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
'Til morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me, I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to Heaven
To live with Thee there

Gospel Reading: John 1: 1-14

Reflection: “God Gets Local”

Hymn: “Joy to the World”
Joy to the world, the Lord has 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 world, 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

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

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

Poem “The Night Before Christmas“

Prayers of the People
God of Love, in this time of waiting for your Spirit
We pray for those who have trouble catching the vision
For those who find this family season difficult
Because they are without their loved ones
For those who are left out of the celebrations
Because they are without food or shelter
For those who need to be reminded of the wideness of your love and mercy…

Spirit of Hope, in a time of busyness
That threatens to overpower the sound of your voice,
And blind us to the needs of those around us,
We pray for ourselves, that we might not become so preoccupied with our own schedules, that we forget we live with your time
That we might not be anxious about tomorrow
That we may trust you to bring about your love and peace
That we might work together
To share the good news with those around and beyond us.

God of Peace, let us pray for peace. For the generous sharing of the earth’s resources and for the responsible sharing of the earth’s problems.
For understanding of others and a willingness to regard the diversity of human culture as more stimulating than threatening; for the turning of swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks.

Creator of Joy, we wait with excitement and impatience. Surround us with your stillness, quiet us with your spirit, that we might be ready to receive the light of the world
Let us offer our own petitions, aloud or in silence, trusting in Gods wisdom and compassion…..
God of the Christmas miracle, receive we pray the prayers of your people. Grant that we may not only understand the things we ought to do but have the grace and power to do them. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

The Lord's Prayer

Closing Prayer: As once you came in the hush of darkness, O God, so still our hearts now by the wonder of this night. Make us wise with the wisdom of a little one, that truth might be born afresh in us. Let not our hearts be busy inns with no room, but with doors open wide to welcome a Holy Guest, who is Jesus Christ, alive with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

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 Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, oh, 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
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

Blessing

We extend a warm welcome to visitors worshipping with us
this evening and pray that you and yours will have
a blessed and joyful Christmas!