FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2024
PRELUDE
WELCOME
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
Reader: "Bethlehem … though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel." (Micah 5:2.)
Episcopalian priest Phillips Brooks in 1868 wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem. This beautiful carol captures the wonder of the infant King. Lewis Redner added the melody that has the feel of a lullaby. Together they allow us to approach the baby's manger and take a peek inside.
The third verse describes the miracle of the moment we celebrate tonight. "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts, the blessing 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."
As we light the candle of Christ, may we carry the light of our redemption into the world that all people may catch the Spirit.
(Light all the candles and the center white Christ candle.)
Reader
Let us Pray. Jesus our Messiah, we celebrate your arrival with gratitude. Our lives are marked by your light, even when our circumstance might prove to the contrary. May we hold this light in our heart and reflect it to a darkened world in the year to come. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN # 43 (Blue) ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ (verses, 1, 3, 4)
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.
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 in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
THE PROPHECY (Charles Swindoll, evangelical Christian Pastor)
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.
Micah 5:2
2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
HYMN #48 (Blue) ‘Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming’
Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming, by faithful prophets sung.
It came a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter
When half spent was the night.
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 Savior
When half spent was the night.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Theologian/Christian Martyr)
Luke 1:26b-33, 38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
38 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.
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came’ Choir
THE DREAM (Pastor Barbara Brown Taylor)
Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘Guard Him Joseph’ Donna Flint
THE BIRTH (Eugene H. Peterson, American Presbyterian Pastor/Biblical Scholar)
Luke 2:1-7
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 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. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 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.
HYMN #53 (Blue) ‘What Child is This’ (verses 1, 2)
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 Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
THE ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS (Ann Weems, Poet)
Luke 2:8-15
8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and 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 heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 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.”
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’ Nara and Tanya Svec
(please join in verse 3)
Nara & Tanya
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.
Congregation
3. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing.
Come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
CHRISTMAS PRAYER
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
(when passing the candle light, hold the lit candle straight up and tilt the unlit candle)
*CLOSING HYMN #60 (Blue) ‘Silent Night, Holy 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 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.”
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2024
PRELUDE
WELCOME
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
Reader: "Bethlehem … though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel." (Micah 5:2.)
Episcopalian priest Phillips Brooks in 1868 wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem. This beautiful carol captures the wonder of the infant King. Lewis Redner added the melody that has the feel of a lullaby. Together they allow us to approach the baby's manger and take a peek inside.
The third verse describes the miracle of the moment we celebrate tonight. "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts, the blessing 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."
As we light the candle of Christ, may we carry the light of our redemption into the world that all people may catch the Spirit.
(Light all the candles and the center white Christ candle.)
Reader
Let us Pray. Jesus our Messiah, we celebrate your arrival with gratitude. Our lives are marked by your light, even when our circumstance might prove to the contrary. May we hold this light in our heart and reflect it to a darkened world in the year to come. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN # 43 (Blue) ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ (verses, 1, 3, 4)
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.
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 in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
THE PROPHECY (Charles Swindoll, evangelical Christian Pastor)
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.
Micah 5:2
2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
HYMN #48 (Blue) ‘Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming’
Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming, by faithful prophets sung.
It came a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter
When half spent was the night.
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 Savior
When half spent was the night.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Theologian/Christian Martyr)
Luke 1:26b-33, 38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
38 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.
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came’ Choir
THE DREAM (Pastor Barbara Brown Taylor)
Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘Guard Him Joseph’ Donna Flint
THE BIRTH (Eugene H. Peterson, American Presbyterian Pastor/Biblical Scholar)
Luke 2:1-7
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 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. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 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.
HYMN #53 (Blue) ‘What Child is This’ (verses 1, 2)
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 Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
THE ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS (Ann Weems, Poet)
Luke 2:8-15
8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and 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 heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 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.”
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’ Nara and Tanya Svec
(please join in verse 3)
Nara & Tanya
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.
Congregation
3. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing.
Come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
CHRISTMAS PRAYER
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
(when passing the candle light, hold the lit candle straight up and tilt the unlit candle)
*CLOSING HYMN #60 (Blue) ‘Silent Night, Holy 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 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.”
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE