Please join us for our Virtual Worship Christmas Eve Service today.
If you know anyone who wants to register for the services, they can signup at https://portwallisunitedchurch.ca/virtual as everyone logging in needs their own registration. ALL are welcome!
During Advent ALL virtual services will be held in the same ZOOM webinar room as our regular Sunday Services. However, you will not get the Zoom reminder, so pleae be sure to save one of your weekly reminders with the links. More details are here. https://portwallisunitedchurch.ca/port-wallis-news/important-notice-advent-services
Service Documents to view/print at home.
Christmas Eve 7:00 PM 24 December 2021
Port Wallis United Church is an open Congregation that affirms you as a child of God,
made in God’s Image, and loved by God.
PRELUDE
WORDS OF WELCOME
In the Name of God, I bid you welcome to this House of Prayer,
Au nom de Dieu, je vous souhaite la bienvenue à toutes et tous.
Ann an ainm an Tighearna, cuiridh mi failte oirbh a h-uile.
In de naam van God, ik heet juillie allemaal welkom.
Im Namen Gottes heiße ich euch alle willkommen.
En el Nombre de Dios, te doy la beinvenida.
Together, let us worship God.
HYMN # 60 (VU) O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL
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.
God of God, light of light, lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb,
very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
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.
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.
PRAYER OF APPROACH
Far from home but close to home, Jesus Christ is born to Mary & Joseph.
Far from home but surrounded by God’s Light & human love, Jesus Christ is born to Mary & Joseph.
Far from home but accompanied by angels & the heavenly host, Jesus Christ is born to Mary & Joseph.
Far from home but found by shepherds, Jesus Christ is born to Mary & Joseph.
Far from home but close to home, Jesus Christ is born to Mary & Joseph.
Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given And we welcome him into our home.
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES IN THE ADVENT WREATH AND THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE
(interspersed with the lighting of advent candles).
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright, A candle of hope in December’s dark night, …
A candle is burning, a candle of peace, A candle to signal that conflict must cease, …
A candle is burning, a candle of joy, A candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy, …
A candle is burning, a candle of love, A candle to point us to heaven above, …
We honour Messiah with Christ candle’s flame, our Christmas Eve Candles glad tidings proclaim,
O come all ye faithful, rejoice in this night As God comes among us, the Christian’s true Light.
A Candle Is Burning. Words copyright © Sandra Dean 1986. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission under License # A-734202. All rights reserved.
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 2: 1 – 20
HYMN # 38 (VU) 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!
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. 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!
REFLECTION ON CHRISTMAS EVE
HYMN # 69 (VU) AWAY IN A MANGER
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.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky, and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care, and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN # 59 (VU) 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 Saviour reigns: let all their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills & plains,
repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
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.
He rules the earth 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.
COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE