St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Christmas Eve 7:00 pm December 24, 2020 All of the service is included in this bulletin but you may also follow along in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) at the indicated pages. Congregational responses are in bold print. Online worshippers, please mute the Zoom microphone icon to prevent household noise from broadcasting to all worshippers, unless otherwise indicated. Our deepest thanks to Mimi Munroe for serving as Cantor for this service. ORDER FOR WORSHIP WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE Of the Father's Love Begotten arr. Stephan Casurella USED BY PERMISSION OF ST. JAMES MUSIC PRESS; COPYRIGHT 2018 Carolyn Kendrick, Soprano; Debbie Sorensen, Alto; Gary Blumenschein, Tenor; Bill Hauet, Bass Nancy Fuhr and Rachel Samson, Chimes Corde natus ex Parentis Let the heights of heaven adore him; ante mundi exordium, angel hosts, his praises sing; Alpha et O cognomi natus, powers, dominions, bow before him, ipse fons et clausula and extol our God and King; omni umquae sunt, fuerunt, let no tongue on earth be silent, quaeque post futura sunt. every voice in concert ring, Saeculorum saeculis. evermore and evermore. O that birth forever blessed, Christ to thee with God the Father, when the Virgin, full of grace, and O Holy Ghost, to thee, by the Holy Ghost conceiving, hymn and chant and high thanksgiving, bore the Savior of our race, and unwearied praises be, and the Babe, the world's Redeemer, honor, glory and dominion, first revealed his sacred face, and eternal victory, evermore and evermore. evermore and evermore. ever more and evermore. Amen. Amen. 1 LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE Hope for Those Who Are Willing Christ Be Our Light Bernadette Farrell/setting by Joel Raney ONELICENSE CATOLOGUE #87178; COPYRIGHT 2013. USED BY PERMISSION, ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AURORA COLORADO. ONE LICENSE ANNUAL LICENSE WITH PODCASTING CURRENT THROUGH DECEMBER 2020 #A-713589. Carolyn Kendrick, Soprano; Debbie Sorensen, Alto; Gary Blumenschein, Tenor; Bill Hauet, Bass Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come. Christ be our light! Shine through our hearts, Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your Church gathered today. Leader: Our Savior’s birth is celebrated with bold faith. People: May our hearts be willing. Leader: Like Mary, who showed humble surrender: People: May our hearts be willing. Leader: Like Joseph, who exhibited unconditional trust: People: May our hearts be willing. Leader: Like the shepherds, who displayed awestruck wonder: People: May our hearts be willing. Leader: For all who are willing to receive the gift of the Savior born in Bethlehem: People: Grant that we might have the peace of Christ as we wait, the love of Christ as we act, and the grace of Christ as we speak. Leader: Tonight we light all the candles. The first candle is the hope shining for those worn thin by times of waiting. The second candle is the hope shining for those worn down with wearied souls. The third candle captures the hopeful expectation of those eagerly watching for God’s glory in our day. The fourth candle is the hope of a new tomorrow shining for 2 those seeking freedom from the wounds of this world. Tonight, we light the Christ candle. This candle radiates the hope of Jesus Christ to all who are willing to receive it. Please rise OPENING CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful arr. Arlen Clark USED BY PERMISSION ST. JAMES PRESS O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethelehem; Come, and behold him, born the King of angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord. God from God, Light from Light eternal, lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb; only begotten Son of the Father; 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; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord. OPENING ACCLAMATION Celebrant: Alleluia! For unto us a child is born. People: For unto us a child is given. Alleluia! O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. 3 CAROL OF PRAISE Angels we have heard on high arr. Arlen Clark USED BY PERMISSION ST. JAMES PRESS Angels we have heard on high, singing sweetly through the night, and the mountains in reply echoing their brave delight. Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why these songs of happy cheer? What great brightness did you see? What glad tidings did you hear? Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. See him in a manger laid whom the angels praise above; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while we raise our hearts in love. Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. Glo—-ria in excelsis Deo. Please be seated. FIRST LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 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. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warrior and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 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, 4 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. Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. PSALM 96 The antiphon is sung once by the Cantor and repeated by the People. The People then sing the antiphon after verse 4, 10 and 13. Cantor: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! People: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! Cantor: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to Lord all the whole earth. Sing to the Lord and bless his name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. Declare his wonders among the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; he is more to feared than all gods. Cantor: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! People: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! Cantor: As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols. but it is the Lord who made the heavens. Oh the majesty and magnificence of his presence! Oh the power and the splendor of his sanctuary! Ascribe to the Lord you families of the peoples; ascribe to the Lord honor and power. Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his name; bring offerings and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord is king! He has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” Cantor: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! People: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! 5 Cantor: Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that is therein. Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord when he comes, He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth. Cantor: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! People: Let the heav’ns rejoice, and the earth be glad! SECOND LESSON Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self- controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Leader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. Please rise. SEQUENCE HYMN It Came Upon the Midnight Clear PUBLIC DOMAIN It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all-gracious King.” The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.