December 25, 2022
Christmas Day
A Joint Service with Mars Hill United Methodist Church
+ Bright Hope Laurel United Methodist Church
Enhance your online worship experience
Whether you’re a first-time online visitor or a life-long member, we welcome and celebrate the ways you enrich our collective worship of a scattered yet gathered Children of God. As we begin our service, we invite you to light a candle, just as we do in the prelude during our in-person worship. Our two altar candles symbolize that Christ was both a human being and God. A light being carried into the world shows that Jesus Christ is for all people - everywhere. Just as a the acolyte carries the lighted candlelight into the congregation, the light symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ preceding us into the world where we as the church are to serve.
Prelude
He Is Born arr. Joanne Brown-LeDoux
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship
One: We waited.
Many: And imagined a savior.
One: We imagined power.
Many: One like the world but stronger and on our side.
One: We imagined a king on a white horse wielding a sword.
Many: We got a baby born in a stable among the livestock.
One: We imagined the work done for us through the destruction of our enemies.
Many: We receive a baby who will teach us our calling to seek reconciliation and to love expansively.
One: Praise be to God for the unexpected babe of Bethlehem.
Many: Praise to the wisdom of love. Amen!+
Carol
O Come, All Ye Faithful UMH# 234
Stanzas 1,3,6
Concerns & Prayers with The Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Lisa Harzog | UMH# 895
Carol
Joy to the World UMH#246
A Reading from the Old Testament
Solo
In the Bleak Mid-Winter Rossetti/Holst
Chip Hayden
A Reading from the Gospels
Carol
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing UMH# 24
Gospel Reading
Sermon
Christmas Miracle | Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Carol
There’s a Song in the Air UMH# 249
Stanzas 1,2,4
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon
It is the season of miracles. We are here this day because God loves us enough to break into our world to show us the way to life. Trust in the miracle that God is still doing this for us here and now. 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.
Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings Candle Lighting
Doxology UMH# 94
Carol
Go, Tell It on the Mountain UMH# 251
Dismissal with Blessing
Postlude
Mary Had a Baby arr. James Koerts
Today’s Worship Participants
Our Pastor: Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Music Director: Dr. Joel Reed
Pianist: Patty Higgins
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