A Great Light
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series VII, Cycle A
Call To Worship (based on Isaiah 9:2-7)
One: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light -
All: Those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shone.
Women: You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
Men: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders -
Women: And he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Men: His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.
All: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Collect
Your titles are many, and your plan is to gather all peoples unto yourself! This time is so holy, so peaceful, so precious. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace - and now Lord of our lives. We praise you today, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Father God, in our feasting, in our celebrations, we may ignore the pain of those who are suffering, who have lost loved ones, whose brokenness makes this a season of greater woe. Yet your Son came to bring light to those who walk in darkness. Can we do less? Let this be a day of ministry to each other, and to those beyond our circle who so desperately need the hope of your gospel and the peace of your season. How still this hour seems, yet the hopes and fears of all the years are met in this precious moment. In this time so urgent we pledge to be your people. Amen.
Hymns
"Away In A Manger"
"It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
Christmas Eve/Day
Second Lesson: Titus 2:11-14
Theme: Advice To The New Apostle
Call To Worship (based on Titus 2:11-14)
One: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
All: training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,
One: while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
All: He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Collect
Be present with us, Lord Immanuel, whose name means "God With Us." Save us, Lord Jesus, whose name means "He Saves!" Reign over us Christ our Lord, whose title is the Anointed One, set aside to be our King! Hallelujah, let your kingdom have no end. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Redeem us from all iniquity, purify us as a people of your own. Train us, Lord, that we might be zealous for good deeds. We wait no longer for the blessed hope. Unto us a child is born! You live and reign forever. Amen.
Hymns
"Joy To The World!"
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
"Silent Night"
Christmas Eve/Day
Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:1-20
Theme: I Love To Tell The Story
Call To Worship Luke 2:10-12 (KJV)
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Collect (based on Psalm 96)
(Unison) Let us sing a new song to the Lord, all the earth. Let us bless the name of the Lord and tell of his salvation from day to day. Let us declare his glory among the nations and his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, to be revered above all our aspirations. Come, Lord, and dwell with us in the fullness of your glory. Come, King, and order our lives so that we may perfectly magnify your holy name. Come, Savior, and rescue us, and our world enmeshed in sin and war. You will judge the world with righteousness and truth, and the whole of creation, the heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields, the trees of the forest, and the people of all nations will bend their knee and praise your name. Let it all come to pass, Lord, even as you promise. We as your faithful approach you with awe and wonder. Once more we hear your angels speaking peace and justice to all the world. Amen and Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
We are not afraid. We come with haste glorifying God. We confess to all the world that this infant is the Lord long prophesized, in whom we live and move and have our being. Yes! Jesus, you are Lord! Amen.
Hymns
"Hark, The Herald Angels Sing!"
"Angels We Have Heard On High!"
"I Love To Tell The Story"
One: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light -
All: Those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shone.
Women: You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
Men: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders -
Women: And he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Men: His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.
All: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Collect
Your titles are many, and your plan is to gather all peoples unto yourself! This time is so holy, so peaceful, so precious. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace - and now Lord of our lives. We praise you today, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Father God, in our feasting, in our celebrations, we may ignore the pain of those who are suffering, who have lost loved ones, whose brokenness makes this a season of greater woe. Yet your Son came to bring light to those who walk in darkness. Can we do less? Let this be a day of ministry to each other, and to those beyond our circle who so desperately need the hope of your gospel and the peace of your season. How still this hour seems, yet the hopes and fears of all the years are met in this precious moment. In this time so urgent we pledge to be your people. Amen.
Hymns
"Away In A Manger"
"It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
Christmas Eve/Day
Second Lesson: Titus 2:11-14
Theme: Advice To The New Apostle
Call To Worship (based on Titus 2:11-14)
One: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
All: training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,
One: while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
All: He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Collect
Be present with us, Lord Immanuel, whose name means "God With Us." Save us, Lord Jesus, whose name means "He Saves!" Reign over us Christ our Lord, whose title is the Anointed One, set aside to be our King! Hallelujah, let your kingdom have no end. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Redeem us from all iniquity, purify us as a people of your own. Train us, Lord, that we might be zealous for good deeds. We wait no longer for the blessed hope. Unto us a child is born! You live and reign forever. Amen.
Hymns
"Joy To The World!"
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
"Silent Night"
Christmas Eve/Day
Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:1-20
Theme: I Love To Tell The Story
Call To Worship Luke 2:10-12 (KJV)
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Collect (based on Psalm 96)
(Unison) Let us sing a new song to the Lord, all the earth. Let us bless the name of the Lord and tell of his salvation from day to day. Let us declare his glory among the nations and his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, to be revered above all our aspirations. Come, Lord, and dwell with us in the fullness of your glory. Come, King, and order our lives so that we may perfectly magnify your holy name. Come, Savior, and rescue us, and our world enmeshed in sin and war. You will judge the world with righteousness and truth, and the whole of creation, the heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields, the trees of the forest, and the people of all nations will bend their knee and praise your name. Let it all come to pass, Lord, even as you promise. We as your faithful approach you with awe and wonder. Once more we hear your angels speaking peace and justice to all the world. Amen and Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
We are not afraid. We come with haste glorifying God. We confess to all the world that this infant is the Lord long prophesized, in whom we live and move and have our being. Yes! Jesus, you are Lord! Amen.
Hymns
"Hark, The Herald Angels Sing!"
"Angels We Have Heard On High!"
"I Love To Tell The Story"
