December 24 – Christmas Eve

Worship materials for Christmas Eve through Epiphany were contributed by Ivan Gregan of Port Wallis U.C., Dartmouth, N.S.

 

Isaiah 9:2–7

A child has been born for us.

 

Psalm 96 (VU p. 816)

Sing to God a new song.

 

Titus 2:11–14

Live a godly, upright life.

 

Luke 2:1–14, (15–20)

Jesus’ birth.

Spark

At the beginning of worship, have a person walk into the darkened church with a lit candle/lantern/camp lantern as the passage from Isaiah is being read. You might have the person accompanied by a parent with a little baby (symbolizing the Holy Family) or the person might be helping the parent and baby find their places in our midst. The light is taken to the Advent wreath and used to light its candles. At the end of the service, have someone carry the light out of the church and invite people to follow the Light of Christ.

Print out the entire gospel lesson and have the people recite it in unison.

Theme Engagement Question

What does Jesus’ birth mean for you this evening? What is God’s Christmas gift for you?

With Children

The angels told the shepherds and then the shepherds told others about the birth of Jesus. Show samples of birth announcements (e.g., cards or a newspaper’s births’ section). Ask the children: Who spread the good news about your birth? Do you think that people came to see you when you were born? Do you realize you are just as precious to your mom and dad as Jesus was to Mary and Joseph? Do you know that you, like Jesus, are another child, equally precious in the eyes of God? Can we be like the shepherds and go tell the good news?

Sermon Starter

In Isaiah’s time, the people were living in captivity. Are we held in captivity to addictions, to fear, to possessions, to restrictions due to age, gender, language, or orientation? Is the Liberator born for us tonight? Is God “turning on the light” for us, God’s children, who are in a shadowed, fearful place?

 

Light breaks the power of captivity and fear. Turning on a light for children who are afraid at night, allows them to see their parent’s face and be at ease. God is doing this for us. To speak about light coming into our world is to speak about divine persistence. God will triumph. God’s light is eternal and cannot be put out.

Titus speaks of the “grace of God appearing.” How has this grace, “an unmerited act of God,” appeared for us? How have we been surprised by the nearness of God? Unto us a child (gift) is given—not lent or rented out—but given.

Hymns

Introit

VU 82              “A light is gleaming” (chorus)

 

Hebrew Scripture

VU 50              “Il est né, le divin Enfant”

(Sing chorus in French and verses in English.)

VU 54              “Unto us a boy is born”

MV 111           “A voice was heard in Ramah”

 

Psalm

MV 180           “Sing, sing out”

 

Gospel

VU 38              “Angels we have heard on high” (in French and English)

VU 43              “Go, tell it on the mountain” (for children’s time)

VU 72              “From heaven above to earth”

MV 124           “Glory to God in the highest”

MV 148           “Hope of Abraham and Sarah”

 

Benediction

VU 67              “Silent night”

(Close worship by singing “Silent night” in different languages.)