Christmas Eve
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Christmas Eve
Proper I
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Psalm 96
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
Proper II
Isaiah 62:6-12
Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Call To Worship
This one is based on Psalm 96:1-4.
Leader:
O sing to the Lord a new song;
People:
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
Leader:
Sing to the Lord,
People:
Bless his name;
Leader:
Tell of his salvation every day.
People:
Declare God's glory to all nations,
Leader:
For great is the Lord,
People:
And greatly to be praised.
Leader:
O sing to the Lord a new song;
People:
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
The congregation should immediately move into a triumphant hymn like "Angels We Have Heard On High" or "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."
Here is another possibility from Psalm 96:7-12.
Leader:
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the earth,
People:
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Leader:
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due him;
People:
Bring an offering and enter the Lord's courts!
Leader:
Worship the Lord in holy array;
People:
Tremble before our God, all the earth!
Leader:
Shout to the nations, "The Lord reigns!"
People:
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
Leader:
Let the sea roar and all that fills it;
People:
Let the field exult, and everything in it!
Leader:
Then the trees of the wood will sing for joy.
People:
Praise God.
This Call comes from the popular story by Dr. Seuss. The following three Calls To Worship can also be used as candlelighting ceremonies.
Leader:
All the presents were gone,
People:
The Grinch had stolen every last one,
Leader:
And the decorations, too ...
People:
No lights, or tinsel, or trees;
Leader:
Even the food for the feast ...
People:
Hams and yams and turkey and more --
Leader:
All gone.
People:
The cupboards were bare.
Leader:
But the Whos down in Whoville smiled and sang,
People:
Because they knew that the real gifts,
Leader:
Life, love, friends, family,
People:
Were theirs to enjoy.
Leader:
So they sang,
People:
With glad hearts.
Leader:
Whoever you are; wherever you are in life; whatever the circumstances tonight
People:
There are gifts under your tree,
Leader:
The gifts of life, and God's unbreakable love.
People:
Let us sing, for Christmas has come to us all.
(The lighting of the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
This one is for Christmas Eve, but can be adjusted for Christmas Day usage.
Leader:
In spite of efforts to remove Christmas from the calendar,
People:
Christmas carols from school plays,
Leader:
Nativity scenes from government displays,
People:
Still
Leader:
All around the world
People:
This night
Leader:
Is the most wonderful of nights.
People:
For businesses close,
Leader:
And children dream,
People:
And families gather,
Leader:
And people who rarely attend
People:
Come to church.
Leader:
Some come knowing why they come,
People:
Some come searching
Leader:
For something,
People:
Or someone.
Leader:
So, no matter why you are here tonight, we are glad to have you. If you have come to celebrate Christ your King, we celebrate with you. If you have come searching, we pray you will find a ray of light, a bit of peace, a nugget of truth, the touch of love.
People:
For these are the things Christmas is about.
Leader:
May it be so.
People:
Amen.
(The lighting of the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
Here is another one that speaks of incarnation.
Leader:
He was God.
People:
Almighty!
Leader:
Maker of heaven and earth.
People:
All-knowing,
Leader:
All-wise,
People:
Immense,
Leader:
Infinite, eternal,
People:
Awe-inspiring.
Leader:
And yet he gave it all up to become one of us.
People:
A weak, small, finite, human baby,
Leader:
Who lived among us, loved us,
People:
Suffered and died for us.
Leader:
And this is love,
People:
That he gave his life for us.
Leader:
Tonight, we celebrate the gift of God,
People:
The king who became a child
Leader:
For us.
People:
Our God is an awesome God!
Leader:
Of love!
People:
Amen!
(The lighting of the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
Lastly, the Psalm for today can be adapted quite easily for liturgical use. Read it aloud or use it responsively as follows. Our version is a digest of the entire Psalm.
Leader:
Praise the Lord!
People:
I will extol the Lord with all my heart.
Leader:
Great are the works of the Lord,
People:
They are pondered by all who delight in them.
Leader:
He has caused his wonders to be remembered.
People:
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
Leader:
The works of his hands are faithful and just,
People:
All his ways are trustworthy.
Leader:
He has provided redemption for his people.
People:
He ordained his covenant forever.
Leader:
Holy and awesome is his name.
People:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Leader:
All who follow his ways show good sense.
People:
Let us praise God.
Also see Advent 1 for a candlelighting ceremony based on Isaiah 9.
The monologue for Christmas Eve brings Mary, the Mother of Jesus, before our congregations, talking about the true nature of beauty. This monologue might also work well on a Sunday when you are having a children's program.
Mary, The Mother Of Jesus
Some people say that all babies are beautiful, but I distinctly remember looking at him when Joseph laid him in my arms just after he was born and thinking, "He doesn't look at all like a savior."
His head was misshapen. His complexion was spotty. His nose seemed too big for his face. I decided he would never get by on his looks. But as I pondered these things in my heart I realized that if he was to truly accomplish the work God had set out for him, it would have to be based on a lot more than looks, or physical strength, or any special talent, or even on intelligence. It would have to be based on having a huge heart.
And I remembered the old story of how God chose young David to be King. Samuel was confused because God seemed to have rejected all of Jesse's strong handsome sons, and God said to Samuel, "Humans look on the appearance, Samuel, but I look on the heart."
You will have a church full of children tonight. Some will be big and strong, some smaller and weaker; some will be beautiful to the eye, and others not as much; some will be brilliant students, and others will struggle with their schooling; some will be graceful athletes or dancers, and others will be clumsy. And all around you the people of this world will be judging them based on these things. Let me ask you to do something for me this night. When you look at people all around you these next few days, try to look at them as their papa in heaven does, try to see what is in their hearts. There are few things that have more potential to change the world the world than seeing each other with heaven's eyes.
(Mary may light the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
Prayer Of Confession
This one focuses on our lack of true love.
Leader:
Lord, we confess our lack of love.
People:
We have loved
Leader:
Neither ourselves
People:
Nor our neighbors.
Leader:
We have passed by suffering and misfortune because of fear or busyness or apathy.
People:
We have judged by color or party or religion.
Leader:
Heal our pains,
People:
Amend our faults,
Leader:
And guide us in ways of compassion.
People:
For we pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Leader:
Amen.
The theme of the Titus 2 passage lends itself nicely to a confessional prayer. This one can be read by the liturgist alone, or be done as a unison prayer.
Heavenly Lord, your grace has appeared wrapped up in the flesh and blood of a babe in a manger in Bethlehem. For this we praise you. But instead of leading us to renounce our old ways; instead of causing us to turn away from worldly passions; instead of leading us to live God-filled, God-honoring lives as we await the appearing of your final glory, instead we continue to live lives of desperation, of dissipation, of confusion, and destruction.
On this night when we turn our gaze to the stable of Bethlehem, and the child within, smite us with the immensity of what truly happened in that little town of Bethlehem so long ago, and fill us with the a desire to live in the light of that night. Amen.
(You may want to follow this confession with the hymn "O Little Town Of Bethlehem.")
Assurance Of Pardon
Not all churches include a Prayer Of Confession in their Christmas Eve services. I suppose most of us want to focus on the hope and joy of Christmas rather than the sin that led to the need for the incarnation. But you can do a confession without it being a complete downer by making sure that the Assurance Of Pardon is truly an announcement of the glorious thing that happened 2,000 years ago. Here is an idea that might serve that goal.
Have a dozen or so people (children would be great) dress as angels. Then -- as the confession ends -- have one of the angels appear before the congregation. (If you have the capability of doing lighting, you may want to dim the lights during confession and blaze them as the angel appears.) The angel can then recite the announcement to the shepherds as Luke records in Luke 2:8-15. Have the angel say:
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 baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
When the angel gets to this point have the other angels join the first angel and announce loudly in unison:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom God is pleased.
You could also have them sing "Gloria In Excelsis Deo," from "Angels We Have Heard On High." Have the congregation join them after a chorus or two.
Prayer Of Dedication
This one is a little non-traditional but it makes a beautiful Christmas point.
Introduction to the prayer: The little drummer boy stood wondering if there was anything he could possibly give that would match the gifts of the Magi. He began to feel inadequate, even humiliated by the poverty of what he might give. Then he realized that God demanded of him only that he give what he had to give. So, he began to play his drum; offering the gift of his talent for music; and offering it for all he was worth.
Let us pray: Lord, your demand of us is the same as that of the drummer boy, that we offer ourselves to you, in all our glory and giftedness, and all our sin and shortfallenness. Tonight we dedicate not our offerings, but ourselves to living with and for the babe of Bethlehem. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Let us pray: The story is truly unbelievable, but it has been told so often that our hearts have become immune to its penetrating power. Heavenly Father of Jesus Christ, anoint the reading and preaching of these words tonight with the fire of your Spirit that can bring the story to life with all its power at work in us. To God be the glory. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
A Christmas paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13. This has been around for some time. The author is unknown. This prayer may also be used early in Advent.
Introduction:
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the children to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
Let us pray: Lord, if we have not already, may we take this all to heart in what remains of the holidays. In the name of the Christ Child we pray. Amen.
Benediction
The Michael W. Smith song "All Is Well," would be a powerful benediction for Christmas Eve.
Hymns
A Communion Hymn For Christmas
A Thousand Candles
Angels, From The Realms Of Glory
Angels We Have Heard On High
Away In A Manger
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
I Wonder As I Wander
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
One Small Child
Silent Night! Holy Night!
What Child Is This
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Contemporary Choruses
Agnus Dei, Michael W. Smith
Other Music
For Unto Us A Child Is Born (from Handel's Messiah)
All Is Well, Michael W. Smith
Choral or soloist material. A wonderful, peaceful, triumphant song.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Soloist material. You can find many versions of this one on accompaniment CDs or in sheet music form.
Proper I
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Psalm 96
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
Proper II
Isaiah 62:6-12
Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Call To Worship
This one is based on Psalm 96:1-4.
Leader:
O sing to the Lord a new song;
People:
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
Leader:
Sing to the Lord,
People:
Bless his name;
Leader:
Tell of his salvation every day.
People:
Declare God's glory to all nations,
Leader:
For great is the Lord,
People:
And greatly to be praised.
Leader:
O sing to the Lord a new song;
People:
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
The congregation should immediately move into a triumphant hymn like "Angels We Have Heard On High" or "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."
Here is another possibility from Psalm 96:7-12.
Leader:
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the earth,
People:
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Leader:
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due him;
People:
Bring an offering and enter the Lord's courts!
Leader:
Worship the Lord in holy array;
People:
Tremble before our God, all the earth!
Leader:
Shout to the nations, "The Lord reigns!"
People:
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
Leader:
Let the sea roar and all that fills it;
People:
Let the field exult, and everything in it!
Leader:
Then the trees of the wood will sing for joy.
People:
Praise God.
This Call comes from the popular story by Dr. Seuss. The following three Calls To Worship can also be used as candlelighting ceremonies.
Leader:
All the presents were gone,
People:
The Grinch had stolen every last one,
Leader:
And the decorations, too ...
People:
No lights, or tinsel, or trees;
Leader:
Even the food for the feast ...
People:
Hams and yams and turkey and more --
Leader:
All gone.
People:
The cupboards were bare.
Leader:
But the Whos down in Whoville smiled and sang,
People:
Because they knew that the real gifts,
Leader:
Life, love, friends, family,
People:
Were theirs to enjoy.
Leader:
So they sang,
People:
With glad hearts.
Leader:
Whoever you are; wherever you are in life; whatever the circumstances tonight
People:
There are gifts under your tree,
Leader:
The gifts of life, and God's unbreakable love.
People:
Let us sing, for Christmas has come to us all.
(The lighting of the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
This one is for Christmas Eve, but can be adjusted for Christmas Day usage.
Leader:
In spite of efforts to remove Christmas from the calendar,
People:
Christmas carols from school plays,
Leader:
Nativity scenes from government displays,
People:
Still
Leader:
All around the world
People:
This night
Leader:
Is the most wonderful of nights.
People:
For businesses close,
Leader:
And children dream,
People:
And families gather,
Leader:
And people who rarely attend
People:
Come to church.
Leader:
Some come knowing why they come,
People:
Some come searching
Leader:
For something,
People:
Or someone.
Leader:
So, no matter why you are here tonight, we are glad to have you. If you have come to celebrate Christ your King, we celebrate with you. If you have come searching, we pray you will find a ray of light, a bit of peace, a nugget of truth, the touch of love.
People:
For these are the things Christmas is about.
Leader:
May it be so.
People:
Amen.
(The lighting of the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
Here is another one that speaks of incarnation.
Leader:
He was God.
People:
Almighty!
Leader:
Maker of heaven and earth.
People:
All-knowing,
Leader:
All-wise,
People:
Immense,
Leader:
Infinite, eternal,
People:
Awe-inspiring.
Leader:
And yet he gave it all up to become one of us.
People:
A weak, small, finite, human baby,
Leader:
Who lived among us, loved us,
People:
Suffered and died for us.
Leader:
And this is love,
People:
That he gave his life for us.
Leader:
Tonight, we celebrate the gift of God,
People:
The king who became a child
Leader:
For us.
People:
Our God is an awesome God!
Leader:
Of love!
People:
Amen!
(The lighting of the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
Lastly, the Psalm for today can be adapted quite easily for liturgical use. Read it aloud or use it responsively as follows. Our version is a digest of the entire Psalm.
Leader:
Praise the Lord!
People:
I will extol the Lord with all my heart.
Leader:
Great are the works of the Lord,
People:
They are pondered by all who delight in them.
Leader:
He has caused his wonders to be remembered.
People:
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
Leader:
The works of his hands are faithful and just,
People:
All his ways are trustworthy.
Leader:
He has provided redemption for his people.
People:
He ordained his covenant forever.
Leader:
Holy and awesome is his name.
People:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Leader:
All who follow his ways show good sense.
People:
Let us praise God.
Also see Advent 1 for a candlelighting ceremony based on Isaiah 9.
The monologue for Christmas Eve brings Mary, the Mother of Jesus, before our congregations, talking about the true nature of beauty. This monologue might also work well on a Sunday when you are having a children's program.
Mary, The Mother Of Jesus
Some people say that all babies are beautiful, but I distinctly remember looking at him when Joseph laid him in my arms just after he was born and thinking, "He doesn't look at all like a savior."
His head was misshapen. His complexion was spotty. His nose seemed too big for his face. I decided he would never get by on his looks. But as I pondered these things in my heart I realized that if he was to truly accomplish the work God had set out for him, it would have to be based on a lot more than looks, or physical strength, or any special talent, or even on intelligence. It would have to be based on having a huge heart.
And I remembered the old story of how God chose young David to be King. Samuel was confused because God seemed to have rejected all of Jesse's strong handsome sons, and God said to Samuel, "Humans look on the appearance, Samuel, but I look on the heart."
You will have a church full of children tonight. Some will be big and strong, some smaller and weaker; some will be beautiful to the eye, and others not as much; some will be brilliant students, and others will struggle with their schooling; some will be graceful athletes or dancers, and others will be clumsy. And all around you the people of this world will be judging them based on these things. Let me ask you to do something for me this night. When you look at people all around you these next few days, try to look at them as their papa in heaven does, try to see what is in their hearts. There are few things that have more potential to change the world the world than seeing each other with heaven's eyes.
(Mary may light the Advent candles and the Christ Candle)
Prayer Of Confession
This one focuses on our lack of true love.
Leader:
Lord, we confess our lack of love.
People:
We have loved
Leader:
Neither ourselves
People:
Nor our neighbors.
Leader:
We have passed by suffering and misfortune because of fear or busyness or apathy.
People:
We have judged by color or party or religion.
Leader:
Heal our pains,
People:
Amend our faults,
Leader:
And guide us in ways of compassion.
People:
For we pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Leader:
Amen.
The theme of the Titus 2 passage lends itself nicely to a confessional prayer. This one can be read by the liturgist alone, or be done as a unison prayer.
Heavenly Lord, your grace has appeared wrapped up in the flesh and blood of a babe in a manger in Bethlehem. For this we praise you. But instead of leading us to renounce our old ways; instead of causing us to turn away from worldly passions; instead of leading us to live God-filled, God-honoring lives as we await the appearing of your final glory, instead we continue to live lives of desperation, of dissipation, of confusion, and destruction.
On this night when we turn our gaze to the stable of Bethlehem, and the child within, smite us with the immensity of what truly happened in that little town of Bethlehem so long ago, and fill us with the a desire to live in the light of that night. Amen.
(You may want to follow this confession with the hymn "O Little Town Of Bethlehem.")
Assurance Of Pardon
Not all churches include a Prayer Of Confession in their Christmas Eve services. I suppose most of us want to focus on the hope and joy of Christmas rather than the sin that led to the need for the incarnation. But you can do a confession without it being a complete downer by making sure that the Assurance Of Pardon is truly an announcement of the glorious thing that happened 2,000 years ago. Here is an idea that might serve that goal.
Have a dozen or so people (children would be great) dress as angels. Then -- as the confession ends -- have one of the angels appear before the congregation. (If you have the capability of doing lighting, you may want to dim the lights during confession and blaze them as the angel appears.) The angel can then recite the announcement to the shepherds as Luke records in Luke 2:8-15. Have the angel say:
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 baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
When the angel gets to this point have the other angels join the first angel and announce loudly in unison:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom God is pleased.
You could also have them sing "Gloria In Excelsis Deo," from "Angels We Have Heard On High." Have the congregation join them after a chorus or two.
Prayer Of Dedication
This one is a little non-traditional but it makes a beautiful Christmas point.
Introduction to the prayer: The little drummer boy stood wondering if there was anything he could possibly give that would match the gifts of the Magi. He began to feel inadequate, even humiliated by the poverty of what he might give. Then he realized that God demanded of him only that he give what he had to give. So, he began to play his drum; offering the gift of his talent for music; and offering it for all he was worth.
Let us pray: Lord, your demand of us is the same as that of the drummer boy, that we offer ourselves to you, in all our glory and giftedness, and all our sin and shortfallenness. Tonight we dedicate not our offerings, but ourselves to living with and for the babe of Bethlehem. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Let us pray: The story is truly unbelievable, but it has been told so often that our hearts have become immune to its penetrating power. Heavenly Father of Jesus Christ, anoint the reading and preaching of these words tonight with the fire of your Spirit that can bring the story to life with all its power at work in us. To God be the glory. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
A Christmas paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13. This has been around for some time. The author is unknown. This prayer may also be used early in Advent.
Introduction:
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the children to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
Let us pray: Lord, if we have not already, may we take this all to heart in what remains of the holidays. In the name of the Christ Child we pray. Amen.
Benediction
The Michael W. Smith song "All Is Well," would be a powerful benediction for Christmas Eve.
Hymns
A Communion Hymn For Christmas
A Thousand Candles
Angels, From The Realms Of Glory
Angels We Have Heard On High
Away In A Manger
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
I Wonder As I Wander
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
One Small Child
Silent Night! Holy Night!
What Child Is This
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Contemporary Choruses
Agnus Dei, Michael W. Smith
Other Music
For Unto Us A Child Is Born (from Handel's Messiah)
All Is Well, Michael W. Smith
Choral or soloist material. A wonderful, peaceful, triumphant song.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Soloist material. You can find many versions of this one on accompaniment CDs or in sheet music form.
