Christmas Eve Service 6:30 PM

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 2011
Prelude       
Welcome        Derek Yoder
Call to Worship                               Once in Royal David's City
Invocation
Lighting of the Christ Candle        Yoder family


Congregational Carol        The Shepherd and The Lamb
In the struggles of life, all the trials and sin,
All the worries and cares that my soul finds within,
There is comfort and strength to replace nagging fear.
God’s Word gives me hope that my Shepherd is near!

    Jesus, Good Shepherd, cares for his sheep,
    We are fearful and foolish, but his presence keeps
    Us in the sheepfold of his tender love:
    Jesus, Good Shepherd, Lamb of God from above.

There were shepherds of old who had met God within,
But, they showed us the need of forgiveness from sin.
Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David paved the way:
Redemption from evil, through Jesus today.

When Jesus was born, shepherds saw this dear Lamb.
He was sin’s sacrifice sent from God, Great I AM.
Yet, in love, gave His life: Oh, what mercy, what grace!
Second Adam has won over evil’s disgrace!

Someday we’ll see Him; at His feet we will bow,
Jesus Christ in His glory, and nations will know
That He is the Good Shepherd. God provided the Lamb.
Jesus opened the way to our Maker, I AM!

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20        Nick Minekime    

Choir        Cradle of Hope

Congregational Carol        Angels We Have Heard on High 
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o're the plains,
And the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains.

(Chorus)  Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be, which inspire your heavenly song?

See within a manger laid Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, with us sing our Savior's birth.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-23    Judy Rittenhouse


Congregational Carol          O Little Town of Bethlehem
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.

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!


Congregational Carol        Hark, The Herald Angels
Hark!  The herald angels sing,    Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace!
“Glory to the newborn King;    Hail the sun of righteousness!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,    Light  and life to all he brings,
God and sinners reconciled.”    Ris’n with healing in his wings.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;    Mild he lays his glory by,
Join the triumph of the skies;    Born that man no more may die,
With angelic hosts proclaim,     Born to raise the sons of earth,
“Christ is born  in Bethlehem!”    Born to give us second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,    Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king.”    “Glory to the newborn king!”

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-38        Pam Johengen


Congregational Carol                    Angels, from the Realms of Glory
Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing, yonder shines the infant Light:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!
       
Congregational Carol        Covenant At Christmas
Covenant at Christmas: God kept His word to people of long ago.
Covenant at Christmas:
Haven’t you heard what an angel told shepherds below? 
He said that a Savior was born in Bethlehem, And He was Christ the Lord.
They found the baby wrapped up in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Covenant at Christmas: God keeps His word to his people as ages roll by!
He’s worthy of our worship and praise, for all of our days.
God has given His Only Son. Jesus saves!  He’s the Promised One!
Covenant at Christmas!

Meditation         Derek Yoder
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
"Heaven Came Down"
   
Distribution of the Candles       


Congregational Carol        Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!    Heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia!
All is calm, all is bright    Christ, the Savior, is born!
Round yon virgin, mother and child.    Christ, the Savior, is born!
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,   
Sleep in heavenly peace,    Silent night, holy night!
Sleep in heavenly peace.    Son of God, love’s pure light
    Radiant beams from thy holy face,
Silent night, holy night!    With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Shepherds quake at the sight;    Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Glories stream from heaven afar,    Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Congregational Carol        Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!    No more let sin and sorrow grow
Let earth receive its King;    Nor thorns infest the ground;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room    He comes to make his blessings flow
And heav’n and nature sing,    Far as the curse is found,
And heav’n and nature sing,    Far as the curse is found,
And heav’n and heav’n and nature    Far as, far as the curse is found.
       sing.   
    He rules the world with truth and    
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!         grace
Let men their songs employ,    And makes the nations prove
While fields and floods, rocks,     The glories of his righteousness
  hills, and plains    And wonders of his love,
Repeat the sounding joy,    And wonders of his love,
Repeat the sounding joy,    And wonders, wonders of his love.
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.       


Benediction        Derek Yoder