ZION UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
22 Gettysburg Street Box 538
Arendtsville, Pennsylvania
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2021
7:00 & 9:00 p.m.
Livestream link: Zion UCC Christmas Eve Livestream – December 24 2021
PRELUDE – “Manger Lullabies Medley”, Tunes: French Noel, Czech Carol, and German carol, ©1999 Lorenz Publishing Co. “The Organist”
Chime Interlude: “Still, Still, Still”, public domain
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Night approaches;
All: shepherds lie awake.
Leader: Angels appear,
All: shepherds begin to quake.
Leader: Good news is proclaimed;
All: this is no mistake.
Leader: Tonight the Christ is born;
All: shepherd’s praises we now make.
*OPENING PRAYER
Leader: God of grace and wonder, on this night, we, like the shepherds, are amazed. We hear again the message of the angels proclaiming peace on earth, and we recall the ageless story of a baby born in a manger, and we know beyond any doubt that you love us more than we can ever know. Thank you. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN #133 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, John Francis Wade 1743, Frederick Oakeley 1841, public domain
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Leader: O God, if our lives have become blurred with cynicism so that we
no longer feel the depths of joy, or if we hear the stories of Christmas and
hand them over to children as though we have less wonder in our hearts:
Forgive us.
All: Gather us in and surprise us with new delight.
Leader: If we have so exhausted our bodies and souls with preparations for
this day that we have little energy left for coming near to the fullness of all
that you bring to us: Forgive us.
All: Gather us in and surprise us with new delight. We open our lives to your
grace now, O God. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE
Leader: Just as the Christ was born into our life, moving past all the barriers
and travelling towards the people, so the love of God pursues us past our
failings and guilts and brings us grace. On this day of all days, we are
forgiven!
ALL: Thanks be to God. Amen
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE AND CHRIST CANDLE
*PRAISE RESPONSE #126: “Jesus, Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child”, African American tune, harm. Jeffrey Radford/arr. Horace C. Boyer, ©2000 Horace Clarence Boyer
Je-sus, Je-sus, oh, what a won-der-ful child.
Je-sus, Je-sus, so ho-ly, meek, and mile; new
Life, new hope the Child will bring. Lis-ten to the an-gels sing,
“Glo-ry, glo-ry, glo-ry, “let the heav-ens ring!
MOVING INTO SCRIPTURE
LESSSONS AND CAROLS
FIRST LESSON Genesis 1: 1-5, 14-18
“Let There Be Light”
INSTRUMENTAL VOLUNTARIES
“Mary, Did You Know”, Mark Lowery and Buddy Greene, ©1991 Word Music LLC and Rufus Music, adm. By Gaither Copyright Management.
Soloist: Bill S.
SECOND LESSON Isaiah 9: 2, 6
Leader: The people who walked in darkness
All: have seen a great light;
Leader: those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
All: on them light has shined.
Leader: For a child has been born for us,
All: a son given to us;
Leader; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named
All: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7:00 CAROL: “Sing Noel, Alleluia!”, arr. John Leavitt, ©2016 Hal Leonard Corp.
Zion’s Men
9:00 CAROL: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, Rev. Brooks and L. H. Redner, ©1954 Rancp
Soloist: Fred M.
THIRD LESSON: Luke 1: 26-35, 38
Christmas dreams by Stephen J Maunder
7:00 CAROL: “The Little Drummer Boy”, Harry Simeone, Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, ©1958, 1959 Mills Music, Inc.
Zion’s Ladies, Dan White on drums, Chris/Chase on chimes
9:00 CAROL: “The Birthday of a King”, W. H. Niedlinger, arr. Tom Fettke, ©1985 Pilot Music
Soloist: Kevin C.
FOURTH LESSON Luke 2: 1-20
*CAROL #134 “Joy to the World”, Isaac Watts 1719, G. F. Handel 1742, arr. Lowell Mason 1836, public domain
FIFTH LESSON Matthew 2: 1-11
The Visit of the Wise Men
‘Where is he?’ by Stephen J. Maunder
*CAROL No. 151 Vs. 1 “We Three Kings of Orient Are”, John Henry Hopkins, Jr., 1857, public domain
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
CHRISTMAS PRAYER
PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Leader: God is good!
All: All the time!
Leader: All the time!
All: God is good!
OFFERTORY: “O Holy Night”, words John Sullivan Dwight, music Adolphe Charles Adam, ©1981 Ardee Music Publishing.
*SUNG DOXOLOGY “Christmas Doxology”, Thomas Ken, 1674/adapt. Dale A. Schoening 2001, Words copyright © 2001 Dale A. Schoening. Published by The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Web site http://www.umcworship.org
(to the tune of “O Tannenbaum”)
Praise God from whom all bless-ings flow, in ev-ery gen-er-a-tion.
Praise God, all crea-tures here be-low, who gives to us sal-va-tion.
Praise God a-bove, ye heaven-ly host. Praise Fa-ther, Son, and Ho-ly Ghost.
Let all cre-a-tion praise the Lord with love and ad-or-a-tion.
*DEDICATION OF OUR GIFTS AND CHRISTMAS FUND (unison)
Emmanuel, on this silent night, holy night, we know that much is calm and many things are bright. Bless these gifts that they may express our gratitude and offer help, healing and hope. Amen.
Candle Lighting: “Meditation on ‘Silent Night’”, tune “Stille Nacht”, Franz Gruber/arr. Brian Glyncannon, ©1986 Lorenz Publishing Co.
PASSING OF THE LIGHT (Please tilt only the unlit candle. When all candles are lit, turn off lights and start singing)
CAROL #122: “SILENT NIGHT”, Joseph Mohr 1816, John Freeman Young 1863, Franz Xaver Gruber 1818, public domain
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.
BLESSING
Leader: Go tell it on the mountain! Go tell it in the valleys! Go tell the good news! Go tell the great, good news! Go tell the news that peace and love and hope are born anew in all of us! Go sing it! Go shout it! Go dance it! Merry Christmas!
All: Merry Christmas! The New Born King has been born!
CHIME MEDITATION: “He is Born, the Divine Christ Child”, 18th century French carol, ©2001 Hal Leonard Corp.
POSTLUDE: “Hallelujah Chorus”, G. F. Handel, public domain
Liturgy taken from “Seasons of the Spirit” and Wild Goose Publications