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| Bulletin Cover Photo by Peter Oleskevich |
United Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port
Hastings, NS
Office: 625-2229, Fax
625-3597, e-mail: stmarks1@eastlink.ca
Blog:
http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/
Ministers: Whole People of
God
Minister: Nan Corrigan
D. M. Music Director: Al Fougere
December 24th,
2013
Christmas Eve-A
Service of Light
Scripture,
Carols, and Communion
* Processional Hymn Joy to
the World VU 59
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
*Welcome and greeting one another
with the Peace of Christ.
One: The Holy Child of Peace comes to
dwell among us!
Let us now share the peace with one
another.
The
peace of Christ be with you. .
All: And with your spirit.
The Call to Worship From
Isaiah 9:2 (The
Message)
One:
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep
shadows – light! sunbursts of light! All:
For a child has been born – for
us! the gift of a son – for us! He’ll take over the running of
the world. His names will be: Amazing Counsellor, Strong God, Eternal
Father, Prince of Wholeness.
Lighting of the Advent Candles
*Candlelighting Hymn Hope
Is a Star VU
7
Gathering Prayer
All:
Amazing God, with
hearts and minds and the depth of our being, we praise you. We sing
with joy and gratitude for gifts of peace, hope, joy, love, and for
the Christ, light and life for all. Amen.
Hymn Go
Tell It on the Mountain VU
43
A
Prayer for Wholeness
O
God, put a new song in our hearts, a song of justice and of mercy.
Put a new vision in our sight, a vision of glory and of peace.
Put
a new sound in our ears, the sound of creation’s majesty.
Put
a new ground under our feet, the ground of a sustainable world.
Put
a new heaven within our reach, a heaven both here and coming.
Amen.
Words
of Affirmation
Rejoice
as the psalmist does, “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth
rejoice” for God is coming to restore righteousness and truth to
this world.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
The
Preparations for the Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-5
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 dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Luke 2:1-5
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 dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Jesus
is Born
Luke 2:6-7
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Luke 2:6-7
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Placement
of Baby in Nativity
Jesus'
Birth is Announced to the Shepherds
Luke 2:8-14
Luke 2:8-14
*It
came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold,
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold,
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from
heaven's all gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
Light
the Christ candle
The Shepherds Find the Baby Jesus
Luke 2:15-18
Luke 2:15-18
See how the shepherds summoned to his
cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly
fear;
we too will thither bend our joyful
footsteps;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us
adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Mary Treasured All These Words
Luke
2:19-20
*What
child is this, who laid to rest,
on
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
Opening
the Word
The
children bring the nativity figures forward
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
Offering Our
Gifts to God
* Offering Prayer
Affirmation
of faith based
on Titus 2:11–14
The
grace of God appears today. It brings salvation to all. Grace trains
us to live out justice and to live with compassion. To renounce what
we don’t need and to reach to meet the needs of others. God’s
grace sustains us today and always.
The
grace of God appears today and brings with it a blessed hope. In
Jesus Christ, grace, hope, and life are sustained. Because Christ
hopes, we hope. Because Christ lives, we live.
Choir Offering: A Carol of Hope
Sacrament of Communion
Communion Gloria:
Gloria,
gloria, in excelsis Deo! VU 37
Distribution Hymn O Holy Night Printed
(St. Mark's—congregation
will come forward;
St. David's—served in
pews.)
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
Litany
of Light
Response
after each prayer petition:
All:
Light
of Christ, love’s pure light.
(electric
lights are dimmed for singing of final hymn)
* Hymn Silent
Night VU
67
* Commissioning and Benediction
One: May
you witness God’s glory to the highest height and may you know
God’s peace to the ends of the earth. Our waiting is over.
All: Christ
is born.
One: We
sing a new song for Christ has made all things new.
All: Christ
is born tonight.
* Choral Amen
