Christmas Eve 2020

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? – Dr. Seuss

PRELUDE O Little Town of Bethlehem
Lani Smith, arr.
©2016 Lorenz Publishing Co.

WELCOME

PSALM 96 Mary-Ellen Petrich

Sing a new song to the Holy One
with all the names and none.
Proclaim our joy and thanksgiving
for creation, for life, for growth, for love.
Turn your face to the light.
rejoice in God.
Worship God in the beauty of holiness
let the whole earth tremble in awe.
Call out—
There’s this beautiful world
and all the life in it.
and there’s the rule of law in our hearts
and Love at the heart of it All.

The heavens rejoice
The earth dances
The seas roil with life
The fields are glad
The trees of the wood shout for joy.
PRAYER
As we enter this moment in prayer, let the silent beauty of this night enfold us…

O wondrous God of the stars,
we come tonight with breathless wonder
to see the babe who will change our lives.
We hear the names “Wonderful Counselor,”
“Mighty God,” “Prince of Peace,”
and we are in awe.
You have touched the earth this night
with your unconditional love.
Touch us—
touch our hearts and minds and souls.
May we never tire of this story.
May we never take it for granted.
Make this night magical again.

God, we see your light shining in the darkness.
We hear the Christmas Angels.
We behold your promises fulfilled
in the birth of this wondrous child.
May this magical story become real in our lives.

READING ISAIAH 9:2-6 Kitty Nesbitt

READING JOHN 1:1-9 Liz Carey

HYMN #41 O Come, All Ye Faithful
by J.F. Wade (pub. dom.)
led by Brian & Kristin Link

READING LUKE 2:1-7 Ellen Cook

READING LUKE 2:8-14 Gloria Bordeaux-Pacholec

READING LUKE 2:15-20 Karen Armor

HYMN #31 Hark the Herald Angels Sing
by Charles Wesley,
Mendelssohn (pub. dom.)

REFLECTION Rev. Tom Gough

PRAYER MUSIC Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Dale Wood, arr.
© 1998 The Sacred Music Press

CHRISTMAS PRAYER Rev. Penny Phillips

ANTHEM Jesu, Sleep, In Heavenly Peace
Douglas Wagner, arr.
© 2001 Hope Publishing Co.
Chancel Choir

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! Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

POSTLUDE: O Holy Night
by Adolphe Adam, Lani Smith, arr.
©2016 Lorenz Publishing Co.