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CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP

December 24, 2019

A Celebration of the Incarnation Welcome to this celebration of the incarnation, God in human form. After

having journeyed these last weeks, tonight we stand beside the manger

and find ourselves humbled by the lengths to which God went to ensure

our salvation. Tonight, we gather to worship the newborn King.

Prelude of Music

“Of the Father’s Love Begotten” Wilbur Held

(Bill Powell, Organ)

“Breath of Heaven” Eaton/Grant

(Lisa Jordre, Alto)

“Away in a Manger arr. Dave Brubeck

(Bill Powell, Piano)

“Joy to the World—A Christmas Prayer” Nicolas Jonas & Kevin Jonas Sr.

(Alyvia, Kamryn & Paityn Shew)

“Mary, Did You Know?” Green/Lowry

(Matthew Shew, Baritone)

“People Look East” arr. Linda Lamb

(Glade Tower Handbell Choir)

“O Holy Night” Adolphe Adam

(Jessica Bailey, Soprano)

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Chiming of the Hour

Welcome and Greeting Rev. Guy S. Johnson

*Carol of Procession “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

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;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation!

O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,

Jesus, to The be all glory given;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come let us adore him Christ the Lord.!

*Call to Worship Rev. Guy S. Johnson

L: The angel of the Lord announced to Mary that she would bear the Holy Child.

P: He was born in Bethlehem then. We pray that he might be born again

tonight in our hearts.

L: The angel reassured the shepherds who were frightened by the brightness of

God’s glory.

P: He directed them, just as he would direct us, to the gentle light shining

from the manger.

L: A choir of angels filled the night sky with hymns of praise for God’s

Christmas gift.

P: We would join that song with thankful hearts. We would offer our best

gifts to God’s gracious Son.

Lighting of the Christ Candle

(Nancy Sweet & Bob Davis)

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah: Chapter 60: 1-6

The Revelation to John: Chapter 21: 23-24

Lighting the Christ Candle

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Congregational Response

Come, listen, the sounds of God-with-us ring clear,

And signs of a cross in the distance appear.

The Word once made flesh, yet the Word ever near.

One candle is lit for the Christ-birth-day here.

Time With Children

Scripture Readings Luke 2: 1-20 Rev. Guy S. Johnson

L: The Word of God for the people of God.

P: Thanks be to God!

Choral Anthem “Shepherd’s Joy” Mark Hayes

Sermon “Are You Sure?” Rev. Guy S. Johnson

*Carol of Response “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

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 the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

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

Christ, by highest heav’n adored: Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the favored one.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; Hail, the incarnate Deity,

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

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

Hail! the heav’n born Prince of peace! Hail! The Son of Righteousness!

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

Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man nor more may die,

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

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

Pastoral Prayer

Choral Anthem “Angel’s Carol” John Rutter

We Give Ourselves to God’s Will and Care

Offertory “What Child Is This?” Douglas E. Wagner

( Glade Tower Handbell Choir

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Service of Communion

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession (in Unison):

Light of the World: you gave us the transforming birth of the child Jesus as a

light for our path. Yet we confess that we shut our eyes to the light. We admit

that we do not want to see the gift you have given us. We acknowledge our

reluctance to see and share our gifts with our brothers and sisters. We are often

dazzled by the glitter and tinsel the world has made of Christ’s birth. We ask

that your Spirit be lit within us, that the light of peace and justice may shine

through us. We seek to receive, and to share the gift of Christ’s birth and death,

again and again. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Great Thanksgiving:

L: The Lord be with you.

A: And also with you.

L: Lift up your hearts

A: We lift them up to the Lord.

L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

A: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right… and all the company of heaven as we praise your name and join un their

unending hymn:

Sanctus “Holy, Holy, Holy” #793

Holy are you…as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit…all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and

forever. Amen.

And now, we pray the prayer that our Savior taught his disciples, saying:

All: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

forever. Amen.

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Consecration of the Elements (Communion will be served in the pews. Please take each element as it is passed to you

and wait for all others to be served. The pastor will indicate when to receive the given

element. Gluten free bread is in the center dish of the bread trays for any who have

allergies or health concerns).

Unison Prayer of Thanksgiving

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for allowing us to share in this feast as

your family and to beefed with the bread of heaven; give us grace that we all

may grow in love, glorifying you in all things, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Receiving the Light of Christ

*Carol of Light “Silent Night”

Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight,

Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav’nly hosts sing al-le-lu-ia;

Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night, Son of god, loves pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

(After everyone has received the light, and this classic Christmas carol has been

adequately sung, the pastor will raise his candle, and you are asked to do the same. We

will hold our candles high until the close of the hymn.)

*Benediction

Hymn of Departure “Joy to the World”

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 heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the savior reigns! Let all their songs employ;

while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

and makes nations prove the glories of his righteousness

and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,

and wonders, wonders of his love

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The Christmas Fund Tonight’s offering will go to one of two places. Checks will be deposited into the

general account for the congregation’s day to day operations. Loose bills and

change will be given to the Christmas Fund (formerly known as Veterans of the

Cross). This is a unique Special Mission Offering of the United Church of Christ as

it seeks to recognize and honor those who serve the church.

We wish to thank Bill Powell, the Senior Choir, soloists, and the Glade Tower

Handbell Choir for sharing their gift of music for tonight’s service.

Dismissal

L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

P: We are sent in the name of the Christ Child.

L: Let us bless the Lord.

P: Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Postlude “Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella” Keith Chapman

May the joy of the season and the birth of our

savior warm your hearts and minds.

Pastor Guy

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GLADE UCC STAFF

Rev. Guy S. Johnson – Pastor

Bill Powell – Music Director

Tammie Shumaker – Church Administrator

Church Phone: 301-845-6775 Fax: 301-845-2733

Website: www.gladechurch.org

E-Mail: secretary@gladechurch.org

Mailing Address: 21 Fulton Ave., P.O. Box 236, Walkersville, MD 21793

http://www.facebook.com/GladeUCCWalkersville