Candle Light Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols planning script We gather quietly while the bells or other soft music plays O Night Divine Jubilaires Spoken Prelude: Jeremiah 31:29-34New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Opening Prayer Creator-Christ-Holy Spirit, Three in One God, tonight we come hungry to hear the ancient and enduring tale of power. In the backs of our minds we may be worried about sour grapes tomorrow if presents are not perfect, food not just what everyone wants, and conversation too controversial. But here, leading us on, is your salvation promise. You will save us from ourselves, if we listen, if we lean into your presence. So fill us with words of righteousness that overcome worry, inspire us with the covenant of light and love that finds pleasure in justice. Guide us into your light, Living One. AMEN Music A Star Shone Bright Worship and Praise 3051. Verses 1,2,4 Introduction to the story: Luke 1: 1-4 (CEB) Candle of Promise Scripture: Luke 1: 5-25 (CEB) Music: The First Noel, UMH 245 verses 1,2,4 Candle of Covenant Scripture: Luke 1: 26-38 Music: What Child Is This? UMH 219 Verses 1 & 2 Candle of Peace Scripture: Luke 1: 39-45 Music: Hark the Herald Angels Sing UMH 240 Verses 1 & 2 Candle of Hope Scripture: Luke 1: 46-55 Music: Love Came Down at Christmas UMH 242 Candle of Love Scripture: Matthew 1: 18-25 Music: Josephs Lullaby (solo) Candle of Joy Scripture: Luke 2: 2-20 Music medley: Away In A Manger UMH 217 verses 1,2 Angels We Have Heard on High UMH 238 verses 1,4 Go Tell It On the Mountain UMH 251 refrain, verse 3, refrain Candle of Justice Scripture: Isaiah 61: 1-4 Music: Gesu Bambino (solo) Evening Offering Candle of Christ A Responsive reading of John 1: 1-5, 10-14. One: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. ALL: The Word was with God in the beginning. One: Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life. ALL: and the life was the light for all people. One: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. ALL: The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. One: But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God. ALL: The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory…. full of grace and truth. Pastoral Prayer Lighting the night Music: Silent Night UMH 239 Night of Silence. Joy to the World. UMH 246 Benediction You are invited to hear the story of Three Wise men and two Kings on Epiphany Sunday, January 6 at 8:30 or 10:30. AM. Preparation: Seven Advent (purple or blue) candles and a Christ Candle (white) and lighter. Room Lighting is at half strength. Reduce further as Silent Night begins and individual candles are lit. Bring light to full strength with Joy to the World. Voices: Voice 1 Zechariah Voice 2 The voice of the angel/Gabriel Voice 3 Elizabeth Voice 4 Mary Voice 5 Joseph We gather quietly. (There may be soft centering music) Prelude: Jeremiah 31:29 34 (NRSV) read by Pastor or Narrator In those days they shall no longer say: “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge. The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt— a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,[a] says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. Opening Prayer Creator Christ Holy Spirit, Three-in-One God, tonight we come hungry to hear the ancient and enduring tale of power. In the backs of our minds we may be worried about sour grapes tomorrow if presents are not perfect, food not just what everyone wants, and conversation too controversial. But here, leading us on, is your salvation promise. You will save us from ourselves, if we listen, if we lean into your presence. So fill us with words of righteousness that overcome worry, inspire us with the covenant of light and love that finds pleasure in justice. Guide us into your light, Living One. AMEN Music A Star Shone Bright Worship and Praise 3051 Verses 1,2,4 Introduction: Luke 1: 1 4 (CEB) read by Pastor or Narrator Many people have already applied themselves to the task of compiling an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used what the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed down to us. Now, after having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, I have also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus [that is, “God Lover”]. I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received. Candle of Promise Luke 1: 5 25 (CEB) Voice 1 (man’s/Zechariah): During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear. The angel said, Voice 2 (angel): “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. 16 He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers[a] back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Voice 1: Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.” The angel replied, Voice 2: “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. 20 Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.” Voice 1: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time. When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak. When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home. Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying, Voice 3 (Elizabeth) “This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.” Music: The First Noel, UMH 245 verses 1,2,4 Candle of Covenant Luke 1: 26 38 Voice 2 (Angel) When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, Voice 2: “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” Voice 4 (Mary) Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied, Voice 2: “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. Nothing is impossible for God.” Voice 4: Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” And the angel left her. Music: What Child Is This? UMH 219 Verses 1 & 2 Candle of Peace Luke 1: 39 45 Voice 3 (Elizabeth) Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.” Music: Hark the Herald Angels Sing UMH 240 Verses 1 & 2 Candle of Hope Luke 1: 46 55 Voice 4 (Mary) Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. God has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name. God shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. God has shown strength with his arm. God has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. God has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty handed. God has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home. Music: Love Came Down at Christmas UMH 242 Candle of Love Matthew 1: 18 25 Voice 5 (Joseph) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel. (Emmanuel means “God with us.”) When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus. Music: Josephs Lullaby (solo) Candle of Joy Luke 2: 2 20 Voice 5 In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. Voice 2 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” Voice 5 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. Music Medley: Away In A Manger UMH 217 verses 1,2 Angels We Have Heard on High UMH 238 verses 1,4 Go Tell It On the Mountain UMH 251 refrain, verse 3, refrain Candle of Justice Isaiah 61: 1 4 Voice 1 The Messiah speaks and we bear witness The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Evening Offering This evening’s offering is dedicated to helping neighbors in our community when they are in need of emergency assistance. Music Gesu Bambino (solo) Candle of Christ A Responsive reading of John 1: 1 5, 10 14. Pastor or Narrator One: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with Godd, and the Word was God. ALL: The Word was with God in the beginning. One: Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life. ALL: and the life was the light for all people. One: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. ALL: The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. One: But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God. ALL: The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory.... full of grace and truth. Pastoral Prayer Lighting the night Music: Silent Night UMH 239 Night of Silence. Joy to the World. UMH 246 Benediction You are invited to hear the story of Three Wise men and two Kings on Epiphany Sunday, January 6, 2106!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Karen L MunsonUnited Methodist Pastor & litugical artist Archives
December 2015
Categories |