Christmas Eve Communion Service 12/24/23

Starling Avenue Baptist Church Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion December 24, 2023 ╬ 5:00 p.m.

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The Worship of God Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion December 24, 2023 ╬ 5:00 p.m. *We invite you to stand as you are able.

Gathering at God’s Invitation Pre-Service Music Nolan Anthony [Please enter in silence and spend time in reflection while listening to the music] Welcome

Angela Zimmerman

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Patsy Roach & Joan Joyce

The season for watching and waiting is over. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. This is the light of the world, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.

(The Christ candle is lit.)

“O sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Tell of his salvation from day to day.

“Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples” (Psalm 96:1-3).

“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; Bring an offering, and come into his courts.

Worship the Lord in holy splendor; Tremble before him, all the earth” (Psalm 96:7-9).

“Say among the nations, ‘The Lord is King!’

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice.

He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with his truth” (Psalm 96:10a, 11a, 13b).

Carol #85

Christians All, Your Lord Is Coming 2

PLEADING SAVIOR

Hearing God’s Word Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 9:2-7 The Word of God for the People of God Thanks Be to God.

*Carol

O Holy Night!

(Soloist Jeff Franklin) (Solo) 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 His worth; A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and cloudless morn!

(Congregation) Chorus: Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices, O night divine! O night when Christ was born!

O night divine! O night, O night divine!

(Solo) Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle to stand; Led by the light of the star so brightly gleaming Here came the wise men from Orient land; A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and cloudless morn!

(Congregation) Chorus

*Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:1-19 The Word of God for the People of God Thanks Be to God.

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CANTIQUE DE NOEL

Responding to God’s Word *Carol #132

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper The Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up in joy and peace.

Let us give thanks to God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Lord, we greet you this happy night, for you have been at work in our world throughout all time.

You made all things and called them good.

You claimed your people Israel, freed them from the bondage of Egypt, and journeyed with them through the wilderness to the promised land.

You sent prophets to call your people back to you.

Then in the fullness of time you sent your Son Jesus, Immanuel, born the King of Angels, your Word in flesh appearing.

He was one of us and lived with us, giving up all his glory for our sake to make us whole.

And yet you raised him up again to overcome the power of death and live a new life.

Still we wait for the day when we too will share the fullness of life in him and with him.

And so with the faithful of all the ages, we lift our voices proclaiming the glory of your name: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

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CAROL

Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

And so, O God, come among us tonight.

Show us your presence in this bread and this cup, and make this bread we break and this cup we bless the body and blood of Christ.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, unite us with Christ and all who share this feast, just as you send us out to be his presence in and for your world.

Give us courage to be your people, to show your justice, grace, mercy, peace, and love, and to be a part of your transformation of our world until the day when the baby whose birth we celebrate tonight comes again in peace and we sing your praise and glory forever.

Let us pray as your son, who we welcome again this night, taught us to pray, saying: 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.

Sharing the Bread and Cup Beginning with the first rows, come forward until there are approximately ten people gathered around the table. We invite you to partake of the bread and the cup at the table and return to your seat after being dismissed with the words "Go in peace.”

-Join us in singing during communion.5

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!

Away in a Manger,

no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song?

The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

(Refrain)

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

(Refrain)

See Him in a manger laid, Whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise.

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.

(Refrain)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, “Glory to the new born 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!” (Refrain) Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all the earth!

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; late in time behold Him come, off-spring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail th’incarnate Deity, pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. (Refrain)

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

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.

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!

(Refrain)

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Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth: (Refrain) Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the new-born King!

The First Noel

the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay: In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

(Refrain) Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.

Born is the King of Israel.

Shepherds, in the fields abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God on earth is now residing, Yonder shines the infant Light: (Refrain)

And by the light of that same Star, three wise men came from country far: To seek for a King was their intent, and to follow the Star wherever it went.

(Refrain)

Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations, Ye have seen the Infant’s star: (Refrain)

This Star drew nigh to the northwest, o'er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay.

(Refrain)

Saints, before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, In His temple shall appear: (Refrain) 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.

Then entered in those wise men three, full reverently upon their knee, And offered there in His presence their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.

(Refrain)

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly,

for his bed a cattle stall; Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spears shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you.

Hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

Flock were sleeping, shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new Saw the glory, Heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.

Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing greet the morrow: Christ the Babe was born for you!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come peasant, king, to own Him; the King of Kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise a song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the Babe, the son of Mary.

Angels, From the Realms of Glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; 7

Sending into God’s World *Gospel Lesson: John 1:1-5 The Word of God for the People of God Thanks Be to God.

Candle Lighting

Jim & Tonie McMillan, Charles Dameron & Becky Nance When lighting candles, always hold the lit candle vertically.

Tilt the unlit candle to the lit one to receive light.

*Carol #134 Silent Night! Holy Night!

STILLE NACHT On the last stanza, we invite you to hold your candle aloft, celebrating that the light of the world has come, a light that overcomes all darkness and bring us hope and life!

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.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glory streams from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia, 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.

-Raise candlesSilent Night! Holy Night!

Wondrous Star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born.

Benediction Organ Postlude

Silent Night 8

Virgil Fox