December 24 • Christmas Eve Traditional Worship

WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT

CHRISTMAS EVE • DECEMBER 24, 2020

FOCUS:

O God our Father, you have brought us again to the glad season when we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Grant that his Spirit may be born anew in our hearts this day and that we may joyfully welcome him to reign over us.

Open our ears that we may hear again the angelic chorus of old.

Open our lips that we, too, may sing with uplifted hearts.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward all; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(The Book of Worship 1944, alt.)

Merry Christmas to all and peace on Earth.

PARTICIPATING IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III LITURGISTS The Reverend Bret Cogan The Reverend R. Craig Ford The Reverend Meg Gaston The Reverend Kate May The Reverend Susannah Pittman Tamara M. Pollock MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, organ Susan Bates, organ Centenary Chamber Singers The Carillonneurs Sara Lynch, oboe Ken Wilmot and Anita Cirba, trumpets Joseph Mount, horn Guy Kelpin, trombone Matthew Ransom, tuba Jerry Solomon, timpani The anthem texts are printed with permission.

Perform Music - 8508

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LET US WORSHIP Christmas Eve • December 24, 2020

THE COMMUNITY GATHERS PRELUDE

VOLUNTARY

We Three Kings — arr. Camp Kirkland Noel — Jean-François Dandrieu Good Christian Friends, Rejoice — arr. Camp Kirkland Morning Star — Margaret V. Sandresky How Great Our Joy — arr. Camp Kirkland Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming — Johannes Brahms

GREETING & INVOCATION JOHN 1:1-5

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 were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

(RSV)

INTROIT

O Holy Night — arr. Mark Hayes O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand; so led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, here came the wise men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, in all our trials born to be our Friend; He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your king, before Him lowly bend! Christ is the Lord, oh, praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim!

CALL TO WORSHIP

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, Establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from That time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

HYMN (found on page six) AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

#234 O Come, All Ye Faithful — ADESTE FIDELES (stanzas one, three and six) I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

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LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED CANTICLE SCRIPTURE Luke 2:1-20

HYMN (found on page seven) SERMON

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Love Came Down at Christmas —arr. Cynthia Dobrinski In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'ius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city 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 enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that 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 fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for 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 Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe 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 men with whom he is pleased!"

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 babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept 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.

(RSV) #240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing — MENDELSSOHN "Wild Kitty in the Manger"

WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT INVITATION TO OFFERING

Our offering this Christmas Eve will support our Loaves and Fishes food pantry and outreach mininstry.

OFFERTORY

Love Came Down at Christmas — arr. Howard Helvey Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, love incarnate, love divine; worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign? Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine, love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Light of love, fill the world with the hope of your salvation. As we offer you our deepest gratitude for the birth of your Son, we bring you the gift of our very lives. Join our hearts to the joy of the angels and shepherds, as we send our offering out into the world, that others may share the joy of this holy night. Amen.

WE CARRY THE LIGHT INTO THE WORLD SHARING THE LIGHT HYMN (found on page eight)

#239 Silent Night — STILLE NACHT

BENEDICTION HYMN (found on page nine) VOLUNTARY

#246 Joy to the World — ANTIOCH Toccata (from Symphony V) — Charles M. Widor

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PO Box 658 646 West Fifth Street Winston-Salem, NC 27102 www.centenary-ws.org 336-724-6311

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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND MAY THE PEACE OF CHRIST AND HIS BIRTH BRING YOU EVERLASTING JOY AND COMFORT.

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SUNDAYS

11:00 am Traditional Worship Live Stream (click on links below) www.centenary-ws.org/live-stream Centenary YouTube Channel

WEDNESDAYS 7:00 pm

Roots Revival

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