Prelude
Gentle Mary Laid Her Child by Ralph Schultz
Gathering and Welcome
Call to Worship
For you who are filled to the brim with happiness,
Jesus Christ, the joy of the world, is born.
For you who are mourning the loss of family and friends,
Jesus Christ, the joy of the world, is born.
For you who feel like you are tripping about in darkness,
Jesus Christ, the joy of the world, is born.
For you who rest in gratitude and contentment,
Jesus Christ, the joy of the world, is born.
For you who feel the ache of loneliness,
Jesus Christ, the joy of the world, is born.
For you who are surrounded by unlikely yet beautiful companionship,
Jesus Christ, the joy of the world, is born.
Come, let us worship the birth of our Savior!
Come, let us worship God who came to dwell among us!
Carol: O Come, All Ye Faithful UMH #234, vs. 1-3
1. 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.
2. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
[Refrain]
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
[Refrain]
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Reader: Beloved, today we welcome the Christ Child, the fulfillment of our joy, as we proclaim with the prophet
Isaiah, “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”.
(Isaiah 9:6)
Congregation:
Christ our joy has come near. Emmanuel, God with us, has come to dwell with us as a tiny baby. “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” (Isaiah 9:7).
Reader 1: We light this candle as a sign of Christ coming to dwell with us, to live in the neighborhood of vulnerable
humanity as a vulnerable child. May the light of Christ warm our hearts and light our way as we share the joy of God’s
salvation wherever we go.
Light all five candles of the Advent wreath.
Service of Lessons and Carols
First Lesson
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown
Isaiah 11:1-9
Carol: O Come, O Come, Emanuel UMH #211 vs 1, 4, 6
1. O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
4. O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.
[Refrain]
6. O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
[Refrain]
Second Lesson
The prophet foretells the glory of little Bethlehem
Micah 5:1-4
People Look East arr. by Martin Shaw - Berwyn UMC Choir
Third Lesson
The birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-7
Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem UMH #230 vs 1-4
1. 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.
2. 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!
3. How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
4. 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!
Fourth Lesson
The shepherds go to see the Savior
Luke 2:8-16
Carol: Away in a Manger UMH #217
1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
Fifth Lesson
The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us
John 1:1-14
Savior of Our Fallen Race arr. by Ralph Vaugh-Williams Berwyn UMC Choir
Meditation: Exchanging Darkness for Light Pastor Kevin Rutledge
Carol: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing UMH #240
1. Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King;
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"
2. Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th' incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"
3. 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 new born King!"
Sixth Lesson
The Arrival of the Wisemen
Matthew 2:1-2, Matthew 2:7-11
Just as the Magi worshipped by bringing gifts to the Christ child, we too, worship by giving of our money, talents,
and time. I’m going to ask our ushers to come now as we enter into a time of worship and giving.
Offering Solo: O Holy Night - Jennifer Rowley
Traditional Candle-lighting
Passing the Light
We light our candles from the Christ Candle representing the light of come to the world in the form of a lowly
baby. As the light passes from person to person we recognize the role we each play in dispelling the darkness
around us. You are invited to light your candle by tilting into a lit candle as we sing the following carols.
Silent Night UMH #239
1. 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.
2. Silent night, holy night,
shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
3. 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.
4. Silent night, holy night,
wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Joy To the World UMH #246
1. 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.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4. 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.
Sending Forth
Postlude
Alle Breve in D by J.S. Bach