A Service of Lessons and Carols
Christmas Eve
10:00 p.m. December 24, 2019
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.
— John 1: 14
PRELUDE – Rich Beyond All Splendor – French Carol, arr: Stephen Nielson
GREETING
* SONG – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Blue hymnal # 211
PRAYER
FIRST LESSON [We long for God to come in our brokenness.] Isaiah 64.1-9
SONG Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a savior,
when half spent was the night.
SECOND LESSON [From Bethlehem shall come a ruler of peace.] – Micah 5.2, 4-5a
* SONG – O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy darks streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts the blessings sweet of heaven.
No ear may hear Christ’s coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will be open still, the dear Christ enters in.
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
THIRD LESSON [The reign of the prince of peace and justice.] Isaiah 11:1-9
SONG Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing.
Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the new-born King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
PRAYER
Blessed God, we praise you on this holy night for the mystery of your Incarnation. We bless you for the birth of Jesus, and for the gift of your salvation. We thank you that you dwell with us in love.
In the name of the infant Jesus we pray for all children, and their families. We pray for peace. We pray for those for whom Christ came: those who suffer, those who are lost or lonely, the sick, the powerless and the rejected, those who struggle in life; and those who do not know you. We pray for all victims of violence, injustice and oppression. Blessed are the poor, and those who mourn. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those who are persecuted: for among them is Emmanuel.
Holy Spirit, make of our hearts an open manger, that Christ may be born in us anew and live in us always. By your grace help us to receive the gifts of this holy season, to share them with all the world, and to live always in the light of Jesus’ presence. Amen.
FOURTH LESSON [The Annunciation to Mary.] Luke 1: 26-38
SONG Ecce Novum – Oja Gjeilo
Translation of the Latin:
Behold, a new joy,
Behold, a new wonder!
A Virgin, who knew not a man,
Bears a son.
She knew not a man,
but as the pear-tree bears the pear,
The flourishing papyrus brings
The lily from the soil.
See how nature changes her laws!
A pure virgin bears the son of God.
FIFTH LESSON [Jesus’ coming announced to Joseph.] Matthew 1: 18-23
SONG – 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 th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
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.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
SONG – One Small Child
SIXTH LESSON [Isaiah’s vision of a child who shall bring peace] Isaiah 9: 2-7
SONG – What Child Is This
What child is this, who laid to rest in Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds’ watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. [Refrain]
MEDITATION
SEVENTH LESSON [The birth of Jesus.] Luke 2:1-7
* CAROL – 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 the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.
OFFERING OUR GIFTS – Christmas Meditation – arr Jason Krug (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
EIGHTH LESSON [The shepherds visit the manger.] Luke 2. 8-20
SONG – O Holy Night
SILENT PRAYER
SONG – Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light – Blue hymnal # 223
NINTH LESSON [St. John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation.] John 1:1-14
THE CHRISTMAS CANDLES
CAROL – 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, heavenly hosts sing alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
BLESSING AND SENDING
POSTLUDE – Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – Johann Schop, arr: J. S. Bach / Mark Hayes