Tuesday, December 24, 2024 – Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Christmas Eve
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Opening Reflection
It’s been another long year. Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, global politics and political unrest, illness and threats of new illnesses, weather changes due to climate change. Still not fully recovered from the events of the previous years, overall, many people’s feelings are frayed. Resilience is low, tempers are high, and everyone is tired. Yet, the truth is that every year has its challenges. And yet, every year we gather on this sacred night, with each of us bringing with us whatever is in our hearts. Every year some among us will be grieving, and every year someone will be scared of what lies ahead. Someone will be feeling lost and alone, someone will sleep thorough the service, someone will be newly in love, and someone will be anticipating a new adventure. Even in the middle of pandemics, wars, and politics, life goes on—the good, the bad, the difficult, the beautiful. And so, once a year, no matter what the months before have held for us, we gather again to hear God’s Good News. And we don’t need to hear anything new, or radical, or flashy. All we have to do is listen to those ancient words. This is the promise that we cling to when times are tough.
(adapted from Nora Vedress, Gathering December 24, 2022)
Call to Worship
One: Rejoice, for God is with us—Emmanuel.
All: In the darkness of our world shines God’s holy light.
One: Now there is reason to hope, to love, to laugh, to live.
All: God is truly with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (VU #60)
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, O come, let us adore Him,
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, all glory in the highest!
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee; born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Time of Prayer
Gracious God, with joy and thanksgiving we gather as your people. We have come to hear again the timeless story of Christ’s birth. In the excitement of this night, quiet our hearts that we may know the peace and fullness of this holy time. Shine, O Light, in the darkness of our world. Sing, O angels, in the stillness of our hearts, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.”
Merciful God, we confess that often we find darkness more comfortable than light. We confess that we find your good news frightening and unsettling, especially when we consider its demands as well as its promises. We confess that Christmas has become more to us than the birthday of the Christ, partly because there is a part of us that does not want a Christ-Child in our lives or in our world. Forgive us, break us, bend us, and remake us.
Give us the courage to lay ourselves open to the wonder and healing of your coming. Be born again into our world; be born again into our hearts and lives. Hear now our prayers as we prepare ourselves for your nativity. Amen.
Sung Response – “Come, Come Emmanuel”
Come, come Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.
Come, come Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.
Lighting the Advent Candles
One: Each week, during the season of Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas, we have lit a candles on the Advent wreath. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, we will light each candle anew, adding the fifth and final candle, the Christ candle, to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
One: In a world where so many despair, are hungry and face injustice, God lights a candle of hope in our hearts.
(The first blue candle is lit)
All: In hope, we wait for a Saviour, who will be Immanuel, Christ the Lord.
One: In a world where so many experience war, violence, racism, and unrest, God lights a candle of peace in our hearts.
(The second blue candle is lit)
All: In peace, we wait for a Saviour, who will be Immanuel, Christ the Lord.
One: In a world where so many are sorrowful, where grief and loss overtake us, God lights a candle of joy in our hearts.
(The third pink candle is lit)
All: In joy, we wait for a Saviour, who will be Immanuel, Christ the Lord.
One: In a world where so many experience hatred, so many sit within the shadow of the valley of death in their own lives, God lights a candle of love in our hearts.
(The fourth blue candle is lit)
All: In love, we wait for a Saviour, who will be Immanuel, Christ the Lord.
One: Hear the word of God as spoken through the prophet Isaiah: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
One: In a world where so many wait in darkness, light comes into our hearts through a baby born in a manger!
(The white Christ candle is lit)
All: He is Immanuel, Christ the Lord! The light shines and the darkness cannot put it out!
Sung Response – “A Candle is Burning”
We honour Messiah with Christ-candle’s 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.
We Share the Story
Hymn – “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless slip 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 all on earth.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessed gift of 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, descent to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-7
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Hymn – “Away in a Manger”
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with your there.
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-14
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Hymn – “Angels We have Heard on High”
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains:
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ, whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ, the Lord, the newborn king.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:15-16
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Hymn – “Silent Night”
Silent night! Holy night!
All is clam, 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 host sing Hallelujah,
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour 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 they birth,
Jesus, Lord, at they birth.
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:17-20
17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Hymn – “Do You See What I See”
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see? (Do you see what I see?)
Way up in the sky, little lamb
Do you see what I see? (Do you see what I see?)
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
Whit a tail as big as a kit.
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear? (Do you hear what I hear?)
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear? (Do you hear what I hear?)
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea.
Said the shepherd boy to the might king
Do you know what I know? (Do you know what I know?)
In your palace warm, mighty king
Do you know what I know? (Do you know what I know?)
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold.
Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say! (Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere
Listen to what I say? (Listen to what I say!)
The child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light.
Reflection
In her beautiful book Kneeling in Bethlehem, Ann Weems wrote, “Later after the angels, after the stable, after the child, they went back…as we always must, back to the world that doesn’t understand our talk of angels and stars and especially not the child. We go back complaining that it doesn’t last. They went back singing praises to God!”
The shepherds went back praising God and telling everyone they met what they had heard and seen. For the most part, I think we tend to keep this Bethlehem blessing to ourselves, forgetting that when we leave this place, we have stardust on our shoulders and that this blessing is one to be shared and meant to last all year.
This story places a blessing into our hands, and it is up to us to decide what we will do with it. Will we toss it aside like last year’s Hatchimal? Will we enjoy it for a few days until the holiday is over, and then gently, carefully, wrap it up in tissue paper with all the other cherished decorations and tuck it away until next year? Or might we decide to drench ourselves in this blessing so completely that it becomes a part of who we are? Could we open ourselves to the possibility that the sacredness we come to expect on this night is indeed around us all the time?
(Nora Vedress, Gathering December 24, 2018)
Hymn – “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 harp of gold,
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, 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 Babble sounds the blessed angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled two thousand years of wrong;
And warring humankind hears not the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise, and cease your strife, to hear the angels sing.
For, lo! The days are hastening on by prophets seen of old,
When with the every-circling years shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling,
And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.
Invitation to Share
On this holy night, let us express our commitment to hope, peace, joy, and love. Tonight, we can give to the life and work of this place—you are invited to place an offering the offering plate as you leave, or drop off your offering at the church. You can also make an e-transfer (office@windsorparkunitedchurch.com) or give through CanadaHelps. We gratefully accept and cherish your gifts of energy and time as well.
Offering Prayer
Holy God, on this night of many gifts when the wondrous gift is given, receive what we have offered here. Bless all those whose lives will be touched through our fits, which originate in you. In the name of the Christ Child, we pray and serve. Amen.
(Elain Bidgood Sveet, Gathering ACE 2024/2025)
Hymn – “Joy to the World!”
Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns;
Let all 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.
Benediction and Blessing
And now, may the God of wonder, God of light, God of soaring majesty and humble simplicity lead us onward in our journey in this world. May we be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Amen.
As you leave tonight, we invite you to accept the small gift we have for you at the back. Merry Christ from all of us a Windsor Park United Church.
