5:00 Children and Family Christmas Eve Service

Children & Family 
Christmas Eve Service
5:00 pm
 
Prelude          
Christmas Medley
Stephanie Shorden
 
Greeting        
Rev. David Petty
 
Video
Christmas Search Engine
 
Lighting the Advent Candle            
Molly & Family
 
Reader 1: This year, we light these candles and appreciate the gifts of the Advent seasons.
The gifts of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.

Reader 2: But tonight, we move from Advent - the season of waiting - to Christmas.  For Christ has come into the world.  Tonight, we light the Christ Candle and we recognize the true gift of Christmas in Christ himself.

All: We thank God tonight for the greatest of all gifts - the gift of Jesus Christ.
 
Opening Hymn         
O Come, All Ye Faithful       
v. 1, 3 UMH #234
WORDS: John F. Wade, ca. 1743; trans. by Frederick Oakeley 1841, and others

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.
 
3. Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens
of heaven above!
Glory to God,
all glory in
the highest;
 
Refrain
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
 
Hymn             
O Little Town of Bethlehem
v. 1, 4 UMH #230
WORDS: Phillips Brooks, ca. 1868
 
1. 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.
 
4. 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!
 
Children’s Story Time          
Santa’s Favorite Story: Santa Tells the Story of the First Christmas
Hisako Aoki
 
Children’s Video
The Wrong Christmas Story
 
Special Music
Carry the Light
Deb DeLaney
Stephanie Shorden

Scripture        
Luke 2:1-14
Meagan Horst
 
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.
Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 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 he favors!”

Scripture        
Luke 2:15-20
Mark Horst
 
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
 
Instant Nativity
 
Announcements
 
Closing Hymn           
 
Happy Birthday Jesus
 
Go, Tell it on the Mountain  
UMH #251
WORDS: John W. Works, Jr., 1907 (Lk. 2:8-20)
 
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
 
1. While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold throughout the heavens
there shown a holy light.
 
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
 
2. The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! above the earth, rang out the angel chorus that hailed
the Savior’s birth.
 
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
 
3. Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed
Christmas morn.
 
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.