Trinity Congregation
Shanghai
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2010 8:00 p.m.
This Evening’s Guide to Worship
Prelude
*Introit:
“Once in Royal David’s City”
Solo:
Once in Royal David’s City stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed;
Mary, was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.
All:
He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all.
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall.
With the poor, the scorned, the lowly, lived on earth, our Saviour holy.
And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love.
For that child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.
Call to Worship
Leader:
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
People:
And also with you.
Leader: Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, the son of God, is born this night.
People:
God’s word has been made flesh among us.
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
People:
He is called Emmanuel, for in him God is with us
Leader: To us, a child is born! Rejoice!
People:
All the earth sing unto the Lord!
Leader: The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
People:
Come let us adore him!
*Opening Hymn:
#234 O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, o come ye, to Bethlehem;
Come, and behold him, born the King of angels;
Refrain:
O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God, glory in the highest. (Refrain)
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing; (Refrain)
Lighting the Advent and Christmas Candles
The Ideker Family
First Lesson
Isaiah 9:2-7
Isaiah foretells the coming of the Messiah.
Sophie Leacacos
Hymn #216 Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming (seated)
Lo, how a rose ‘ere blooming, from tender stem hath sprung.
From Jesse’s lineage coming, as ones of old hath sung.
It came a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent w-as the night
Isaiah t’was foretold it, the rose I have in mind.
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a savior
When half spent w-as the night.
Second Lesson:
Micah 5: 1-5a
Micah declares Bethlehem to be the place of deliverance.
Hymn
#230
O Little Town of Bethlehem (seated)
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all on earth!
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Steve Nurre
Third Lesson: John 1: 1-14
John declares the purpose of Christ’s coming.
Offering
Bryce & Tori Gordon
Fourth Lesson: Luke 2: 1-7
Luke records the birth of Christ.
Hymn:
Geoffrey Fawcett
Ellen Fawcett
Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (seated)
Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light,
And usher in the morning;
O shepherds, shrink not with affright,
But hear the angel’s warning.
This child, now weak in infancy,
Our confidence and joy shall be,
The power of Satan breaking,
Our peace eternal making.
Fifth Lesson: Luke 2: 8-14
The shepherds hear of Christ’s birth.
*Hymn #245
Dave Poppell
The First Noel
The first Noel, the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds, in fields as they lay;
In fields as they, lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night, that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
Then let us all, in one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heav’n and earth of naught,
And with his blood we all hath bought
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
Sixth Lesson:
Luke 2:
15-20
The angels tell of Christ’s birth.
The Rev. Timothy Merrill
*Hymn #240
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark, the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark, the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king!
Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark, the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king!
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die.
Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark, the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!
Seventh Lesson: Matthew 2: 1-12
The Wise Men are led to Jesus
Hymn
# 254
The Rev. Peter MacInnis
We Three Kings
We three kings of orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.
O------ Star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Glorious now, behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia, Sounds through the earth and skies.
O----- Star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Reflection
The Rev. Elyn MacInnis
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn
#239
Silent Night, Holy Night (seated)
Silent night, holy night, all is calm; all is bright.
Round yon virgin, mother and child,
Holy infant, so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake, at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia.
Christ our Saviour is born, Christ our Saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light,
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Benediction
*Hymn #246 Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing; And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns; Let us our songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove,
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love And wonders, wonders of His love.
Please join us for a time of fellowship immediately following worship.
WORSHIP LEADERS:
The Rev. Elyn MacInnis, Trinity Congregation Pasto
The Rev. Peter MacInnis & The Rev. Timothy Merrill, Associate Pastors
Mary Nurre, Pianist