Christmas Eve Service - December 24, 2021
Welcome
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Reader 1: On this Christmas Eve, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. As we wonder what this birth means for us, we recall where we have come on our journey. We recall our experiences of hope, peace, joy, and love. Tonight, we light again the candles that marked our journey. The light of hope ... The light of peace ... The light of joy ... The light of love...
Reader 2: On this journey, we have been born into a new hope as the prophet Isaiah recalls: For a child has been born for us, a Son is given to us, and authority rests upon this child’s shoulders. He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. We light the Christ candle to remember that the miracle of birth didn’t happen just once, but it happens every day we choose to see Christ in our world. Tonight, we live in Hope, we pray for Peace, we are filled with Joy, as we share God’s Love. The light of the world has come! A weary world rejoices.
Song - "O Come All Ye Faithful"
Verse 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
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore HIm,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord
Verse 2
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God,
Glory in the highest
Refrain
Verse 3
Yes, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, forever more be Thy name adored;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing.
Refrain
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
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore HIm,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord
Verse 2
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God,
Glory in the highest
Refrain
Verse 3
Yes, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, forever more be Thy name adored;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing.
Refrain
Invitation to the Christmas Story
Christmas Testimony Video
Reading 1 - Luke 1:26-38
Song - "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
Verse 1
Hark! The Herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies,
With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! The Herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king.
Hark! The Herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies,
With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! The Herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king.
Verse 2
Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see, Hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel!
Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.
Verse 3
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Risen with healing in His wings, light and life to all He brings.
Hail the Son of Righteousness! Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!
Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king
Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see, Hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel!
Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.
Verse 3
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Risen with healing in His wings, light and life to all He brings.
Hail the Son of Righteousness! Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!
Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king
Reading 2 - Matthew 1:18-25
Offering
If you would like to make a financial donation to Kairos, text "Kairos Gift" and the amount to 73256 or click here for online giving. If you are worshipping with us in person and would like to donate via check or cash, you may place your offering in the basket provided as you leave the service.
Reading 3 - Luke 2:1-7
Song - "Oh Holy Night"
Verse 1
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Chorus 1
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh night divine. Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine. Oh night, oh night divine.
Verse 2
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Chorus 2
Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever!
His power and glory, evermore proclaim!
His power and glory, evermore proclaim!
Chorus 3
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night divine
Noel, Noel
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Chorus 1
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh night divine. Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine. Oh night, oh night divine.
Verse 2
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Chorus 2
Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever!
His power and glory, evermore proclaim!
His power and glory, evermore proclaim!
Chorus 3
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night divine
Noel, Noel
Reading 4 - Luke 2:8-20
Song - "Angels We Have Heard on High"
Verse 1
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Chorus
Gloria in excelsis deo
Verse 2
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Chorus
Gloria in excelsis deo
Verse 2
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Chorus
Verse 3
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Chorus
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Chorus
Verse 3
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Chorus
Reading 5 - John 1:1-5
Candle Lighting
Song - "Silent Night"
Verse 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
Verse 2
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav'nly hosts sing: "Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!"
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
Verse 2
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav'nly hosts sing: "Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!"
Verse 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!
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!
Song - "Joy to the World"
Verse 1
Joy to the world, the Lord has 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
Verse 2
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let me their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Verse 3
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
Repeat Verse 1
Joy to the world, the Lord has 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
Verse 2
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let me their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Verse 3
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
Repeat Verse 1
Sending
Song - "Go Tell It on the Mountain"
Verse 1
While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks that night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
Chorus
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born
Verse 2
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Chorus
Verse 3
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent our salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Chorus
While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks that night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
Chorus
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born
Verse 2
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Chorus
Verse 3
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent our salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Chorus
CCL#30147
The poinsettias decorating worship space were donated in
honor of...
Charlotte Marie and Jonathan Sturtz by Charlotte and Walter DuPre
memory of...
Josephine and Walter DuPre, Jr by Charlotte and Walter DuPre
Mae Parker and Charlotte Crumbley by Charlotte and Walter DuPre
Baby D by the Duthiers Family
Mary Austin and Brock Hughes by the Niemitz Family
Terry and Walter Detlefs by the Niemitz Family
Dorris and Calvin Kaiser by the Niemitz Family
Carolyn and Hank Niemitz by the Niemitz Family
J William Pinkston Jr by the Pinkston Family
Jean Grant Walter by the Pinkston Family
Celeste Webster by Cece and Don Webster
Gary Webster by Cece and Don Webster
"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Original painting by Carol Shelli Cantrell, 2015
Original painting by Carol Shelli Cantrell, 2015
"The starry night of The Birth was ablaze with light, angels, and the stars singing their ancient prophetic song. Bethlehem is special to us. We lived only 5 minutes away (on the south part of Jerusalem) for 20 years, and my son was also born there. On Christmas Eve, we used to take our 3 children to the hills overlooking Bethlehem to tell them the story of Messiah's birth."