December 24, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Advent / Christmas Eve
A Service of Scripture and Song
December 24, 2023 Fourth Sunday of Advent / Christmas Eve Livestream Worship Online Bulletin
Gathering:
Chiming of the Trinity
Prelude
Angel Tidings Cynthia Dobrinski|
Handbell Choir
Welcome
Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Call to Worship
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Female voices Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.
Male voices Say among the nations, “The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth
Lighting of the Advent Wreath Candles
Raegan Metcalf and Ann Clark
We wait as people who have encountered divine Love that disrupts the status quo and ushers su into abundant life marked by mutual love and peace that flows from the flourishing of al people.
Hymn
Lo, How aRose E'er Blooming
UMH# 216
Joys and Concerns and Prayers with the Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
Let the Children Come
The Coming King
Micah 5:2-5
John Jalocha
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was ni the beginning with God. Al things came into being through him, and without hmi not one thing came into being. What has come into being ni hmi was life, and the life was the light of al people. The light shines ni the darkness, and the darknes did not overcome it.
Response
Thanks be to God
Anthem
Come Now, O Prince of Peace
ar. Jeremy Bankson Misty Rondeau, flute
Raegan Metcalf, Paul Dempsey, percussion
The Promise
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Luke 1:39-45 Paul Dempsey
Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH# 211
Stanzas 1, 3, 4
The Magnificant
Luke 1:46-55 Connie Kramer
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 12:2-6
Hymn
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gate UMH# 213
Stanzas 1, 2, 3
The One Who Prepared the Way
Leigh Guth
Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 1:68-79 John 1:6
Anthem
Come Down, O Love Divine Thomas Keesecker
The Nativity
Luke 2:1-7 Rev. Wiley Cooper
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Anthem
Who Is This Tiny Child? Jay Castelli
Alex Ngamhuy, handbells
The Shepherds & the Angels
Mary Tadey
Zephaniah 3:14-20 Luke 2:8-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!’
The Glory of the Lord
Karla Jalocha
Hebrews 1:1-4 Luke 2:15-2
Solo
In the Bleak Midwinter Rosetti/Holst
Chip Hayden
The Gift of Salvation
Titus 2:11-14 Edda Worley
But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Joys & Concerns s with the Lord’s Prayer
Anthem
Little Lamb, Who Made The?
William Bradley Roberts
Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings
Anthem
Bell Carol
Anna Laura Page
Benediction
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!"
Postlude
Silent Night arr. Arthiss Kliever
When invited please join the Bell Choir and sing the following stanza:
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!
Today’s Worship Participants
Our Pastor: Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Music Director: Dr. Joel Reed
Pianist: Patty Higgins