Many: Glory to God in the highest!

Christ has been born! Give him glory! 

Christ has come down from heaven! receive him!

Christ is now on earth! Exalt him!

O earth, sing to the Lord!

O you nations, praise him in joy, for he has been glorified!

Amen!

PROCLAMATION

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN     “What Christmas Means”

ANTHEM               “Unless You Consider the Child”             Mary Kay Beall

It was an ordinary night, a night like many nights before.

It was an ordinary night, so ordinary, nothing more.

A common, ordinary night, a night like many nights you’ve known…

Unless you consider the child. 

It was a simple, little town, a town like many towns before.

It was a simple, little town, a common place and nothing more.

A place you never would recall, a place so easy to forget…

Unless you consider the child.

Unless you consider the star; unless you consider the kings from afar.

Unless you consider the angels who sang, it was an ordinary night.

It was an ordinary night, and in a simple, quiet town.

A humble stable set the stage, while sheep and cattle gathered round.

There was a manger filled with hay. “So ordinary,” some would say…

Unless you consider the child, the Son, the Promised One.

Unless you consider the child.

FIRST LESSON                                                           Luke 2:1-14 

 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth 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 heaven,

   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

L: The Word of the Lord.

P: Thanks be to God.                    

HOMILY                       “Word made Flesh”              The Rev. Aaron Ochart

RESPONSE  

OFFERTORY                      “Angel Song”       Patricia Mock and Jon Paige

Angels soar into the night singing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Fill the earth with heav’nly light singing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Tell the news to ev’ry nation.  Celebrate what God has done!

Miracles are just beginning.  Glory to the King! Glory to the newborn King!

Shepherds listen to the call, bringing glory to the newborn King!

Lift your voices one and all singing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

All the world as one rejoices, lifting carols of joy and praise!

Fill the earth with joyful noises.  Glory to the King! Glory to the King! 

Glory to the newborn King! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

All creatures greet your Lord, singing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Songs of joy have been restored!  Singing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Come and join the celebration.  Come and raise your voice as one!

This our cry of jubilation! Glory to the King! Glory to the newborn King!

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 

It is right to give our thanks and praise…

…Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest…

According to Christ’s commandment:

We remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we await his coming glory…

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

SCRIPTURE READING, John 1:1-14 

CANDLE LIGHTING, and CLOSING HYMNS: (on Back)

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, 

and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, 

so from east and west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.

2. Though I am small, my God my all, you work great things in me, 

and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.

Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,

you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.

Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne.

The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;

there are tables spread; every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

4. Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:

God’s mercy will deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.

This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound, 

till the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around. (Refrain)

PROCLAMATION

FIRST READING (p. 105)                                                                                                 John 1:1-18 NRSV

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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

ANTHEM                                             “The Word was Made Flesh”                     Lee Dangler

In gracious love God touched the earth and gave His Son in human birth 

that all the world might know and see the Son of God’s humanity. 

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus Christ our Lord!

The angels sang their tidings sweet, the shepherds worshiped at his feet,

this tiny boy, God’s gift to earth will prove to all His precious worth.

The Son of God we’ve come to know who washed our sins as white as snow

will come again, just wait and see, to dwell with us eternally.

       CHRISTMAS PLAY    

“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”

Cast: Reader 1: David Russo Mouse 1: Joseph Hebert Reader 2: Asher Ochart

Mouse 2/Scripture Reader: Mia Lauland Angel 1: Sean Sens Gabriel: Matthew Freudenthal Angel 2: Michael Sens Innkeeper: Brock Moore Shepherd 1: Christian Hebert

Shepherd 2: Caleb Hebert Shepherd 3: Deborah Nolan Mary: Kate Russo Joseph: Ian Nolan

The First Nowell (#56)

1. The first Nowell 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: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the king of Israel. 

2. They look-ed up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far;

and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. (Refrain) 

Away in a Manger (#25)

1. Away in a manger; no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky look down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

2. The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes, close by me forever and love me, I pray.

I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky, and stay by my side until morning is nigh. 

Angels We Have Heard on High (#23)

1. Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, 

and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.

(Refrain) Glo-o-o-oria in excelsis Deo! Glo-o-o-oria in excelsis Deo!

2. Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? 

   what the gladsome tiding bring, which inspire your heavenly song. 

    RESPONSE 

   RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

   OFFERTORY: Caleb Hebert                            “Carol of the Bells”                                   

   DOXOLOGY

   Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;

   Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

   HYMN 29                                       “Go Tell it on the Mountain”

   (Refrain) Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; 

   go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. 

   1. While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, 

   behold throughout the heavens, there shone a holy light.

   2. The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! above the earth

   rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.

   3. Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,

   and God gave us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

   PARTING PRAYER: Deborah Nolan                                             Prayer of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

   Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Amen.

   CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

   POSTLUDE: David Russo                                  “What a Wonderful World”