Christmas Eve    December 24, 2021

Prelude    “Ave Maria”    Franz Schubert, arr. D. Preucil
    Tom Tatton, Violist

Welcome and Call to Worship    Rachel and Jennifer Stones
    To us a child is born.
        To us a Son is given.
    Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
        For we have known Emmanuel, God-with-us!

Carol    “O Come, All Ye Faithful”    #234

Opening Prayer    Pastor Gilbert Stones

Lighting the Advent Candle

Carol     "Joy to the World"    #246

First Lesson    Isaiah 9:2-7    Jora Landis

Carol    “The Friendly Beasts”    #227

A Story for Christmas    The Rev. Rich Bolin

Carol    "It Came upon the Midnight Clear"    #218

Second Lesson    Titus 2:11-14    Cheryl Dove

Solo    “Away in a Manger”    Betty Rivers, soprano
    Alexander Hume, arr.Ruth Elaine Schram

Gospel Lesson    Luke 2:1-20    The Rev. Mike Eggleston

Carol     "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"    #240

Meditation    Pastor Gilbert Stones

Carol    "Christmas Come Close”    Jim and Jean Strathdee

Prayer    The Rev. Mike Eggleston

Holy Communion

The Lord’s Prayer     Matthew Fochtman and Kasey P. Lindsay
    Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.   
    Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we
forgive those who sin against us.
    Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen.

Carol / Candle Lighting    “Silent Night”    Jennifer Stones

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Thanks to everyone who made this service possible:

The Rev. Rich Bolin, Cheryl Dove, The Rev. Mike Eggleston, Barbara Hoff, Jora Landis, Matthew Fochtman, Kasey P. Lindsay, Betty Rivers, Jennifer Stones, Rachel Stones, Jim and Jean Strathdee and Tom Tatton



Lighting the Christ Candle
Opening Prayer:
Creator, we give you thanks for all you are and all you bring to us for our visit
within your creation. In Jesus, you place the Gospel in the center of this sacred
circle through which all creation is related. You show us the way to live a
generous and compassionate life. Give us your strength to live together with
respect and commitment as we grow in your spirit, for you are God, now and
forever. Amen.
Lighting of the Christ Candle (Center) The Source of Light
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him
was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
We light this candle at the center, the place from which all things come and to
which all things return. We light this candle remembering Jesus who is all in all. In
his eternity we join as children, youth, mature adults and elders in our praise. We
light this candle as a beacon to light the way for all from North, South, East and
West. We light this candle as a sign that hope, peace, joy, faith and love all find
their center in Jesus.
Prayer
Creator, you give yourself to us in Jesus – “Emmanuel, God with us.” In him you
choose to dwell with us continually and to redeem us. May we look up to see
your love, your majesty, your truth in our lives. May we bear witness to the
presence of Jesus in our lives and in our communities. Creator, deliver us that the
earth be full of the knowledge of your ways. Amen