December 24th, 2022
Christmas Eve
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Readers: Caroline Abbotts Araujo, Orleen Anderson, Sandy Eagles
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
PRELUDE:
“Pifa” from Christmas Oratiorio ~ J.S. Bach
WELCOME
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
Long ago, all of this land was covered by ice
Clothed in a winter without end
But God our Creator brought back the warmth
Pulling back the ice and revealing this land
Plants and animals returned to the land
And it was good
Then God gave to the land many peoples
And many peoples to the land
To care for one another
To live together
And in this time, we acknowledge we worship on Treaty 18 land which is the Homeland of the Anishinaabek, Six Nations of the Grand River, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat-Wyandot-Wyandotte peoples.
We celebrate all who make this place a home today
We celebrate together with the God of justice
As a people called to love and serve others
Called to seek justice
We eagerly await the day where the heavens are glad and the earth rejoices
Where all will share our abundance together
We work and wait for that day, when all will live together
in hope, peace, joy and love.
Amen.
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING:
Over a hundred people, from the ages of two to eighty years old, were asked to fill in the blank for the statement: “My story is. . . ”
From the voices of different generations, hear their answers:
(responses)
So tonight we light the Christ candle, because from generation to generation, our story belongs to God.
Thanks be to God for a love like that. Amen.
Candle Lighting Hymn:
VU 6 A Candle is Burning
1. A Candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
a candle of hope is December’s dark night.
While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky,
our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Isaiah 2:2-5)
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
*CAROL:
VU 60 O Come, All Ye Faithful v 1, 3 & 5
1. 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.
3. 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,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord.
5. 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.
THE FIRST LESSON:
Isaiah 11:1-10 (King James Version)
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse,
and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
*CAROL:
VU 59 Joy to the World v 1, 2 & 4
1. 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.
2. Joy to the earth! The Saviour 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.
4. 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.
THE SECOND LESSON:
Luke 1:26-38 (NRSVU)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to atown in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
CAROL:
VU 8 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
1. Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse’s lineage coming, as seers of old have sung.
It came a blossom bright,
amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.
2. Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind,
with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright
she bore for us a Saviour when half spent was the night.
THE THIRD LESSON:
Matthew 1:18-25 (The Message)
The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic revelation to full term:
Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).
Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
CAROL:
VU 1 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel v. 1, 2 & 7
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lowly exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice. Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
2. O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who orders all things mightily,
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice. Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
7. O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
O bid our sad divisions cease,
and be for us the Prince of Peace.
Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice. Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
THE FOURTH LESSON:
Luke 1:39-58 (International Children’s)
Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the mountains of Judea. She went to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside Elizabeth jumped. Then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman. And God has blessed the baby which you will give birth to. You are the mother of my Lord, and you have come to me! Why has something so good happened to me? When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy. You are blessed because you believed what the Lord said to you would really happen.”
Then Mary said,“My soul praises the Lord;
my heart is happy because God is my Savior.
I am not important, but God has shown his care for me, his servant girl.
From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,
because the Powerful One has done great things for me.
His name is holy.
God will always give mercy
to those who worship him.
God’s arm is strong.
He scatters the people who are proud
and think great things about themselves.
God brings down rulers from their thrones,
and he raises up the humble.
God fills the hungry with good things,
but he sends the rich away with nothing.
God has helped his people Israel who serve him.
He gave them his mercy.
God has done what he promised to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his children forever.”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy. Her neighbors and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced.
ANTHEM:
“Star Carol” ~ John Rutter
THE FIFTH LESSON:
Luke 2:1-7 (NRSVU)
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.
THE SIXTH LESSON:
Luke 2:8-20 (NRSVU)
Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
HYMN:
VU 38 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.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria In excelsis Deo!
2. 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!
THE SEVENTH LESSON:
Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSVU)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
*CAROL:
VU 91 The First Nowell v. 1, 2, 3 & 5
1. The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay a keeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
2. They looked 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
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
3. And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
5. Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
HOLY COMMUNION:
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
God of all times and places, we gather at your table of grace to recall your vision of hope for all people and for your world.
Through Abraham and Sarah, you revealed your promise in the surprise of a child.
Through your prophets, you called your people to make way for peace and justice. In Jesus, you revealed your way of forgiveness and love. Through the ever-circling year, your Word discloses to us—again and anew—your promise for the restoration of all creation.
As we gather to share this sign of hope and fulfillment, we remember Jesus, the child born into obscurity, amid fear and uncertainty. We remember the fragility of that revelation, as well as the hope he stirred and imagination he inspired, and we sing…
(VU 55, v.1)
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow; snow on snow.
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
We remember Jesus, the One who blazed a new and risky path of extravagant generosity and of passionate concern: temple-shaker, world-maker, rule-breaker, risk-taker; the author and finisher of our faith.
We remember Jesus’ self-giving love and the offer of himself for others, even those who gave him over to death, and we sing…
(VU 55, v.2)
Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign;
in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.
On that night, in the midst of great confusion and fear, Jesus broke bread with friends, saying, “This is my body, which I give for you and for all. When you do this, remember me.” With a blessing, he took the cup and offered it to them saying: “This cup is God’s covenant which is given for all. When you drink this, remember me.”
(VU 55, v.3)
Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day,
a breast full of milk, and a manger full of hay.
Enough for him, whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.
Come to us, life-giving Spirit of God. Bless us, these gifts, and what we do here, so that we might sing your song of love for your people and for your world. Prayers of the People God of All, we pray for your people. For those who are afraid and oppressed, may you give courage. For those suffering conflict and fear, may you bring peace. For those who long for food and water, may they be filled. For those who long for justice, may it be fulfilled. We pray also for ourselves and our community. That those in hospital and in care feel your strength. That those who are alone and anxious feel you near. That those who are ill in body and in spirit be comforted. That our friends and family be blessed by healing and love.
Hear our prayers, O God, and in your mercy, answer.
As a child turns to a loving caregiver who watches over them, we turn in prayer to you O god, who are our heavenly parent, our mother,
Our Father who art in heaven
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
We pray these things, trusting in God’s faithfulness revealed:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
(VU 55, v.4)
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him—give my heart.
Communion is shared.
Prayer After Communion
*CLOSING HYMN:
VU 67 Silent Night
1. 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.
2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight:
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah,
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.
3. 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.
*BENEDICTION:
POSTLUDE:
“Bright Star” ~ Norman Dello Joio
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Sanctified Art: “From Generation to Generation”
Christmas Eve Communion Liturgy; Rev. Andrew O’Neil, St. Paul’s United Church, Riverview, NB
Land Acknowledgment: Used Advent 2019 at Lanigan-Nokomis Pastoral Charge, Treaty 4 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis Nation
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “A Candle is Burning:” Words: Sandra Dean 1986. Music: James R. Murray 1887. Wordscopyright © 1986 Sandra Dean.
- “O Come All Ye Faithful:” Words: English trans. Frederick Oakeley 1841, et al; . Music: attrib. John Francis Wade. ca. 1743. Public Domain
- “Joy to the World:” Words: Isaac Watts 1719, alt. Music: attrib. Geore Frideric Handel 1742; arr. Lowell Mason 1836. Public Domain
- “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming:” Words: German, 15th century; English trans. Theodore Baker 1894. Music: German traditional melody 1399; harm. Michael Praetorius 1609Public Domain
- “O Come, O Come Emmanuel:” Words: from the Latin antiphons for Advent, ca. 9thcentury,. English trans. John Mason Neale, 1851, et. al.. Words copyright © The Church Pension Fund, Used by permission.. Arrangement copyright © Concordia Publishing House.
- “Angels We Have Heard on High:” Words: Translated from French by James Chadwick 1860. Music: French carol melody, arr. Edward Shippen Barnes 1937. Public Domain
- “The First Nowell:” Words: English traditional carol, ca. 17th century, alt.. Music: English traditional melody, harm. John Stainer 1871, desc. and harm. Healey Willan 1926.Refrain harmony and descant copyright © 1926 Oxford University Press, Inc.. One License #608577
- “In the Bleak Midwinter:” Words:Christina Georgina Rossetti ca. 1872. Music: Gustav Theodor Holst 1906. Public Domain-“Silent Night:” Words: Joseph Mohr 1818, English Translation John Freeman Young 1863, et al.. Music: Franz Xavier Grüber 1818. Public Domain
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version updated (NRSVU) Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
Scripture Passage from The Message (MSG)Bible, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Scripture Passage from the International Children’s Bible. Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Prelude: “Pifa” from Christmas Oratiorio ~ J.S. Bach
Anthem: "Star Carol” ~ John Rutter
Postlude: “Bright Star“ ~ Norman Dello Joio
