Our family enjoyed a quiet, family Christmas Eve at home. It’s a bit strange not having extended family over although we did take some food and gifts to Kurt’s dad and enjoyed a short visit with him on Christmas Eve morning. I look forward to the time when inviting others over will be alright again, or at least when the weather will be warmer in the spring and summer to host outdoor gatherings.
Anyway, back to Christmas Eve. We had our own Christmas Eve Service at home. I based it on Luke 2 and corresponding hymns. It was a reflective celebration of Christ’s birth, His love for us, and a time of worship to Him. The celebration of Christmas, of Christ’s birth, truly is a celebration of the night that changed everything.
Silent Night has four verses. The second verse says, Silent night, Holy night, Darkness flies; all is light…and that is the truth. Christ’s coming to earth as a baby, The Word becoming flesh, His light shining and not overcome by the world (John 1:1 – 5)…Love’s pure light, His redeeming grace….the older I get the more reflective I’ve become on the love, mercy, and grace shown to us by God’s redemptive love wrapped in infant babe.
I hope this holiday season you’ll take time to reflect deeply on the amazing grace He showed in sending His only Son to earth, veiled in flesh, our Redeemer. We who’ve walked in darkness have seen a great light…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end (Isaiah 9: 2, 6,7).
Below is the service we had in case you are interested in using any or all of it in your own family worship time.
Christmas Eve Service – family – 12/24/2020
Unison Reading:
- God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
READ:
Luke 2: 1 – 7 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
SING:
Silent Night
1. 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
2. Silent night, holy night, Darkness flies, all is light; Shepherds hear the angels sing, “Alleluia! Hail the King!” Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.
3. 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.
4. 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.
READ:
Luke 2:8 – 14 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
SING:
Angels We Have Heard On High
1. Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?
(Refrain)
3. Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing,
come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
(Refrain)
4. See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise,
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise.
Unison Reading:
- Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10
SING:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
1. 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 angelic hosts proclaim: “Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! the herald angels sing: “Glory to the newborn King!”
2. Christ by highest Heav’n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing: “Glory to the newborn King!”
3. Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no 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!”
READ:
Luke 2: 15 – 20 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
SING
What Child Is This?
1. 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.
2. Why lies he in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding
The end of fear for all who hear, The silent Word is speaking
This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud, The babe, the son of Mary.
3. So bring him incense, gold and myrrh, Come peasant king to love him;
The king of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone him
This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him praise, The babe, the son of Mary.
Unison Reading:
- When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:10-11
Joy To The World
1. 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
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ:
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plain, Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow; Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found.
4. 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.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
1. 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!
2. 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!
3. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee 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!
Unison Prayer:
- O God, Who by the birth of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ did give Yourself to mankind; Grant that, being born in our hearts, He may save us from all our sins, and restore within us the image and likeness of our creator, to whom be everlasting praise and glory, world without end, Amen. (#685, United Methodist Hymnal).
(former) MISSIONARY MUSINGS 