The Season of Advent

REFLECTION

When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.

— Howard Thurman, The Work of Christmas

Christmas reveals a who God has entered our world as it actually exists, and not as the world we often wish it would be. ….We’ve lost the plot if we use religion as the place where we escape from difficult realities instead of as the the place where those difficult realities are given meaning.

— Nadia Bolz-Weber

COLLECT

Almighty God, as we prepare with joy to celebrate the gift of the Christ-child, embrace the earth with your glory and be for us a living hope in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRELUDE

GREETING
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him), Worship Leader

Leader: The Lord be with you.    

ALL: And also with you.

PREPARATION

CALL TO WORSHIP

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
 those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
 Prince of Peace.

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. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. 

We have beheld His glory. Alleluia!

SONG

O Come All Ye Faithful
ADESTS FIDELES, arr. by Minna Choi

SCRIPTURE LESSON
Luke 2:1-7
Randy Hart- Reader

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Song

Angels We Have Heard on High
Traditional French Carol

SCRIPTURE LESSON
Luke 2:8-20
Kelly Cole - Reader

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SONG

Go Tell It
John W. Work, Jr., Traditional Spiritual

CHRISTMAS EVE MEDITATION
Rev. FRED HARRELL (he/him)

The Work of Christmas

OFFERING OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS

The offering is a way for Christians to support the mission and ministry of the church. Christians offer a sacrificial portion of their resources–time, talents, possessions–as an act of faith and gratitude in response to God’s grace. While many at City Church make their regular contributions through online giving and automated bill pay, offerings are a part of our worship service as an opportunity for the regular, proportionate and generous giving of the resources God has given us.

GIVE HERE

OFFERING PRAYER

God of hope, you gave your Son to free a lost world. You give your Spirit to comfort and encourage. You give us hope for a future free of pain, sorrow, and tears. You promise us a future with you. In gratitude, we bring you our tithes and offerings. May our gifts be used so that many others will taste and see the goodness of knowing you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

MUSICAL OFFERING

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Traditional Polish melody

lyrics by Kate Bluett, Isaac Wardell, Paul Zach
© 2021 Integrity Worship Music/PG Songs And Hymns/ASCAP

COMMUNION

INVITATION TO THE LORDS TABLE

CONFESSION OF FAITH: Nicene Creed 

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts!

We lift them up to the Lord!

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

SONG

Sanctus
Peter Schltes, ©1966

Together we proclaim the mystery of the faith:

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD & CUP

The Gifts of God for the People of God

COMMUNION PRAYER

Almighty God, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem: may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our lives; through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE

DISTRIBUTION OF THE LIGHT
As the ushers pass the light to members of the congregation, please pass it to the person next to you.

LESSON OF LIGHT
John 1:1-14
V Kehoe - Reader

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SONG

Silent Night
Joseph Mohr, 1818, Franz Gruber, 1818

BENEDICTION

May God, who sent his angels to proclaim the glad news of the Savior’s birth, fill you with joy and make you heralds of the gospel; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE

MUSICIANS

Maria Long, vocals
Keith Watts, vocals
Lora Libby, vocals
Minna Choi, vocals
Jason Slota, vibraphone
Meredith Clark, harp
Adam Shulman, piano
Karl Digerness, guitar/vocal