December 24, 2024 5:00 pm Family Christimas Eve Service Copy

December 24, 2023 5:00 Family Service

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Greeting
Rev. David Petty

*Advent Wreath Lighting
The Becker Family

Reader 1:
On this quiet night, we come together to celebrate the Light of the World. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel—God with us! His birth brings hope and joy to everyone. The light of Jesus shines in the darkness, and it will never go out. Tonight, we say with joy: Jesus is born!

 Reader 2:
Now we light the Christ Candle to complete the circle of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. This light shows us that nothing can stop the love of Jesus. The light of Jesus shines in hard times and makes everything new. It reminds us that God loves us, even when we make mistakes.

Tonight, we thank God for Jesus—the light of the world, the light of our families, and the light of our hearts. May the love of Jesus lead us, comfort us, and bring us together.

*Opening Hymn
Hark, the Herald Angel’s Sing
UMH #240
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1739; alt. by George Whitefield, 1753,
and others (Lk 2: 8-14)

1. Hark! the herald
angels sing,
“Glory to the
newborn King;

peace on earth,
and mercy mild,
God and sinners
reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye
nations rise,
join the triumph
of the skies;

with th’angelic
host proclaim,
“Christ is born
in Bethlehem!”

Refrain
Hark! the herald
angels sing,
“Glory to
the newborn King!”

2. Christ, by highest
heaven adored;
Christ, the
everlasting Lord;

late in time
behold him come,
offspring of
a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh
the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,

pleased with us
in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our
Emmanuel.

Refrain
Hark! the herald
angels sing,
“Glory to
the newborn King!”

3. Hail the heaven-born
Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun
of Righteousness!

Light and life
to all he brings,
risen with healing
in his wings.

Mild he lays
his glory by,
born that we
no more may die,

born to raise us
from the earth,
born to give
us second birth.

Refrain
Hark! the herald
angels sing,
“Glory to
the newborn King!”

Hymn
Angels We Have Heard on High
UMH #238
WORDS: Trad. French carol; trans. Crown of Jesus, 1862, alt. (Lk 2:6-20)

1. Angels we have
heard on high
sweetly singing
o’er the plains,

and the mountains
in reply
echoing their
joyous strains.

Refrain
Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!
Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!

2. Shepherds,
why this jubilee?
Why your joyous
strains prolong?

What the gladsome
tidings be
which inspire your
heavenly song?

Refrain
Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!
Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!

Children’s Story Time

Music
Away In A Manger
Bailey & Jasper Brandt

Children’s Video

Scripture Reading
Luke 2:1-14

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!”

Music
Mary Did You Know
Bailey Brandt

Scripture Reading
Luke 2:15-20

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

*Closing Hymn
Joy to the World
v. 1

1. Joy to the world,
the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart
prepare him room,

and heaven and nature sing,
(and heaven and nature sing,)
and heaven and nature sing,
(and heaven and nature sing,)
and heaven, and heaven,
and nature sing.

*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
Cynthia Hibbetts