December 24, 2023 5:00 pm Family Christimas Eve Service

December 24, 2023, 5:00 Family Service
 
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

Greeting
Rev. David Petty

*Advent Wreath Lighting
Becker Family

Reader 1:
Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. Let us celebrate Emmanuel, which means "God with us"  Jesus is Born and Jesus is the Light of the World!

Reader 2:
We light the candles of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace and lastly, we light the Christ Candle.  This light represents the Light of Christ.  Where there is darkness in the world, Christ's light shines.  Where we are not perfect, God's perfect love redeems us.
People: We thank God tonight for Jesus - that he is the Light of the world that cannot be hidden.

*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
The First Noel
v. 1, 2 UMH #245
WORDS: Trad. English carol (Luke 2:8-14; Mt. 2:1-12)
 
1. The first Noel
the angel did say
was to certain
poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
 
in fields where they
lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night
that was so deep.
 
Refrain
Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
2. They looked up
and saw a star
shining in the east,
beyond them far;
 
and to the earth
it gave great light,
and so it continued
both day and night.
 
Refrain
Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
Children’s Story Time
 
Instant Nativity

*Benediction
Rev. David Petty

*Closing Hymn
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.
 
Postlude
Stephanie Shorden