At Home Christmas Day Family Worship

At Home Family Worship Service for Christmas Day

With Christmas taking place on Sunday this year, some families are choosing to stay at home to be with their loved ones. The following is a short worship service that can be conducted at home during the traditional worship hour.

(Make copies for all of your family members to follow the worship and also have a candle to light at the beginning. You will need a Guide and a Reader from your family group to lead the service. Gather as a group around a small decorated table, possibly with a nativity scene, as well as a candle to light).

Call to Worship

Guide:                  Today we remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and that He became the Light of the World and the Savior of our souls.

All:                         We ask Christ to bless us this day and we praise Him for His Love which brightens the whole world.

(A candle is lit)

All:                         O Lord, May Your Light shine among us and Your Love bless our hearts. Amen.

Adoration and Confession Prayer

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wonderful promises that were fulfilled when Jesus came to the Earth. We praise You for His amazing Life and sacred teaching that has given everlasting hope and joy to the whole world.

All:                         We know that we are unworthy to receive such blessings because we are selfish and sinful. We thank You that by Your Grace, we are forgiven of the past and restored to Your Love forever. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

Reading:              Luke 2: 4-15

Reader:                (4-5)      So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

All: (6-7)              While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Reader: (8-9)     And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

All: (10-11)                          But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 

Reader: (12-14)                 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

All: (15)                                                When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 

Amen and thanks be to God for His Holy Word.

Carol: First verse of ‘Away in a Manger.’

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.

Prayer for the World

Guide:                  Lord Jesus, we ask that You continue to be the Light of our world and that Your Church on Earth continues to fulfill Your work around the globe.

All:                         We pray for those who are hungry and homeless at this time. We ask that You enable Your people like us to help them whenever, wherever, and however we can.

Guide:                  We pray for those who are ill and weak, lonely and lost, grieving and sad. Comfort them and heal them. Embrace them and encourage them.

All:                         We pray for Your Peace to be known in our hearts and homes, in our country and throughout the nations. May Your Love direct our decisions and Your Light guide our ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Share the Peace of Christ with one another.

Carol:    2nd verse of  ‘O Come All Ye Faithful.’

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning,

Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Benediction

All:         May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Presence of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forevermore. Amen.

End the service by extinguishing the candle