Christmas Day Worship Service (2011)

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

People:           The LORD is with us, we will not be afraid. We will take our refuge in Him.

Pastor:             God is our strength and song; His Son, born among us this day, has become our salvation!

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Gracious Lord, whose works of salvation have been revealed to us through prophets and seers, holy leaders and visionaries, we give You thanks, this Christmas, for Your wonderful gifts of mercy and grace. We praise You for the promise of Your Son, who came into the world, to save us from sin and to restore us to Your blessed favor and everlasting love.

People:           Heavenly Father, we confess that we have made foolish choices and still neglect to do what is right. We have permitted pride to harden our hearts and we have allowed greed to diminish our compassion. We are guilty of giving in to temptation and surrendering to selfish ways. We are sorry for our past mistakes and regret disappointing You and our loved ones. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Almighty God, You sent Jesus into our world, not just to be the Messiah of His people, but to become the Savior of all our souls. His perfection purchased our salvation. His sacrifice atoned for all our mistakes. Through Jesus, we are given the promises of complete forgiveness and everlasting life. We worship Him and through His holy words, we continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER"  (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:              When Christ came to us, He revealed the true way to salvation. Ever since His Birth, humanity has been given the opportunity of following Christ and accepting Him as Lord. By confessing our mistakes solely to Him and placing our spirits into His hands, we are putting our faith in His words and acts. So, let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for Jesus has restored us to God, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung unison): Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O Lord, You are majestic and glorious. Your powerful presence permeates throughout the whole Earth. You are truly worshipped among all our people. Infants and adults, youth and seniors are praising Your Name all over the world

People:           When we consider Your mighty works of creation, and see all that You have set in place, we confidently pray to You for health, wholeness, and healing.

What are we, Lord, that You are mindful of our weaknesses and failings? Why are we so privileged to receive Your blessings of love, mercy, and strength?

Pastor:             Although we are lowly and frail, finite and made of flesh, You bless us with salvation and deliverance, glory and honor. We place our lives, and those of all our loved ones into Your hands. We ask that You will heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.

Pastor:             O LORD, our God, how majestic is Your Name in all the Earth and how blessed we are in Jesus' Name. Amen.  (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 8)

Unison Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, through the message of the sacred scriptures, we know that God is with us and that we are called to serve Jesus Christ. Empower us by His teaching and inspire us through the events of His Precious Life. In Christ's Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):    Lord Jesus, You came into the world to die for our sins. Throughout the ages, the Church has passed on that message of eternal hope through the ministries and missions that You have established. Today, we gather before You our tithes and offerings. We pray that You will bless them for the continuing work of Your Kingdom and the spreading of Your Living Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ continue to comfort us in the midst of our troubles and distress; may the Father keep us patient through all that we endure; and may the Holy Spirit grant us the strength to overcome our sufferings, so that we may joyfully serve and worship the One, Triune and Living God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude

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