December 24, 2023

Dec 24

Written By Heath Nettles

Candlelight Christmas Eve Communion

A Joint Service with Mars Hill United Methodist Church
+ Bright Hope Laurel United Methodist Church

Christmas Eve Livestream Worship Online Bulletin

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship

We waited.
And imagined a savior.
We imagined power.
One like the world but stronger and on our side.

We imagined a king on a white horse wielding a sword.
We got a baby born in a stable among the livestock.
We imagined the work done for us
through the destruction of our enemies.

We receive a baby who will teach us our calling
to seek reconciliation and to love expansively.
Praise be to God for the unexpected babe of Bethlehem.
Praise to the wisdom of love. Amen!

Carol

Angels We Have Heard on High #238

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon

Creating God, we come tonight to celebrate your miraculous work in the world so long ago. We have to ask ourselves, did we come expecting your miraculous touch in our lives today? Open us to your power this night and increase our trust in what you can do right here and right now. O Lord, in silence we lift to you the things we have done and left undone that have fallen short of your great calling that you might redeem us with your grace.
And we lift to you the wounds of our lives and the burdens that weigh us down, that you might heal us and recreate us.

Silent prayer

Miraculous God who broke into the world so long ago, be born into us anew that we might know your fullness of life. In Christ's name we pray, Amen. We came tonight out of trust in what God has done in the world. Let us leave in the trust of what God is doing in us right now. Know without doubt, the Lord of the universe loves you!

In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven and made new. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God.

Lighting of the Christmas CandleDuet

Lighting of the Advent Candle

Solo

Carol

Sweet Baby Jesus

Scripture Reaing

Isaiah 9:2-7

Children’s Message

Hyman

Away in a Manager #217 verse 1

Gospel Reading

Luke 2:1-14

Sermon