Welcome to our visitors on Facebook Live. We’re glad you’ve joined us to worship this Christmas Eve. May God’s blessings in Christ be with you. O come, O come, and be our God-with-us, O long-sought with-ness for a world without, O secret seed, O hidden spring of light. Come to us Wisdom, come unspoken Name, Come Root, and key, and King, and holy Flame, O quickened little wick so tightly curled, Be folded with us into time and place, Unfold for us the mystery of grace And make a womb of all this wounded world. O heart of heaven beating in the earth, O tiny hope within our hopelessness, Come to be born, to bear us to our birth, To touch a dying world with new-made hands And make these rags of time our swaddling bands. - Malcolm Guite Worship —December 24, 2020 — Christmas Eve Preparation for Worship The Greeting Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. † The Call to Worship God calls His people to worship PSALM 98:1-2; LUKE 2:14 Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! 2 † Hymn of Advent We wait for our glorious King O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Dayspring from on high And cheer us by thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. O come, thou Key of David, come And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace. VENI EMMANUEL † Invocation We seek the Lord’s presence among us 3 † Doxology We respond in praise REGENT SQUARE All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son; Evermore your voices raising To th’eternal Three in One: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Advent Reading Luke 2:14-15; Isaiah 9:6 Welcome Litany for Christmas All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Alleluia! Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Alleluia! O Christ, splendor of God’s eternal glory, the mighty Word, sustaining the universe: Renew our lives by your presence. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, born into the world in the fullness of time for the liberation of all creation: Bring us into your promised freedom. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, begotten of the Father before all time, born in a stable at Bethlehem: May your church be a sign of hope and joy. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, truly God and truly human, born to a people in fulfillment of their expectations: Fulfill our desires in you. 4 Lord, have mercy. O Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, child of wonder and splendor, mighty God of all ages, Prince of Peace: May the whole world live in peace and justice. Lord, have mercy. (silent meditation) All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace. Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. † Hymn of Response We adore our Savior Go Tell It On the Mountaoin Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. [Refrain] The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. [Refrain] 5 Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain] African-American spiritual The Reading of the Word Luke 2:8-14 [8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (ESV) Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. The Preaching of the Word Pastor Darwin Jordan GOOD NEWS OF A GREAT JOY 6 Communion Prayer of Thanksgiving The Encouragement Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Pastor: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give him thanks and praise. Words of Institution The Confession Pastor: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Pastor: Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God. (Clear cups are wine and purple cups are grape juice) 7 Understanding Holy Communion “For Christ our passover has also been sacrificed for us, therefore, let us celebrate the feast.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Because we believe the Table belongs to the Lord, it is vital that you come this morning on His terms: 1. You must be in communion with Jesus Christ by faith and repentance, trusting Him alone for your salvation. – 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 2. You must be in communion with your brothers and sisters in Christ. – Matthew 5:23-24; Ephesians 4:11-12 3. You must be in communion with the church (any Bible- believing church) as a baptized member in good standing. – Matthew 18:15-18; Hebrews 13:17 4. Because we seriously heed Scripture's admonition in 1 Corinthians 11:28-29, We invite children who are ready to make a public profession of saving faith to complete the Communicants Class materials available at the book table, arrange a meeting with the elders, and thus become regular “communicants” at the Lord’s Table. "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” – 1 Corinthians 11:28-29 8 Prayers for Those Not Communing For those searching for truth: Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth and the life. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give me the ability to follow you no matter what it might cost me. Give me an understanding for you that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the life that you promise. Amen. For those who desire to profess faith in Christ: Lord Jesus, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever believed, but through you, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment on the cross and offering forgiveness and new life. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead and are now representing me at the Father’s right hand in heaven, I turn from my sins and receive you as my savior. Amen. A prayer for those struggling against sin: Lord Jesus, give me the ability to see in you the fulfillment of all my needs and desires, and help me to turn from every false source of satisfaction to feed on you, the true and living bread. Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so closely to me, and run with perseverance the race that you have set before me, looking only to you, the author and perfecter of my faith. Amen. A prayer for covenant children who have not yet made a profession of faith: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me the opportunity to grow up in a Christian family where I am surrounded by the good news of the gospel. Help me to grow in my understanding of who you are and what you have done for me on the cross. Help me learn what it means for me to turn from my sins and trust in you alone for my salvation. Teach me what it means to follow you as one of your disciples. Amen. 9 The Lighting of the Candles † Closing Hymn Silent Night Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child.