Welcome to our online worship for Christmas Eve,
December 24, 2020
Scroll down and click on the videos for each section. 
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The Purpose of Christmas ​​
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Musical Prelude
Brian Turner
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
arr. Kartsonakis
Musical Prelude 
Andrea Bailey, Flute and Brian Turner, piano
Weaving Greensleeves
(What Child Is This?)
Based On an English Carol 
arr. by Judy Nishimura 
Advent Wreath
(Read the following along with the video)
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In our homes we gather around wreaths to pray for our lost hopes, broken peace, limited joys, and love so hard to find and share in this season of coronavirus.  We affirm what our candles mean and claim the power to call this season Advent, when God’s light comes into the world and nothing can overcome it.

HOPE
The Gospel of John speaks of Christ as the true light coming into the world. This language speaks to the deep truth: Christ is coming, Christ is always coming, always entering a troubled world, a wounded heart. And so we light the candle of HOPE and dare to express our longing for peace, for healing, and the well-being of all creation. 
Prayer: Loving God, we open all the dark places in our lives and memories to the healing light of Christ. 

PEACE
We light the second candle of PEACE knowing full well that peace is elusive, and in some parts of the world, it is completely absent. Yet we trust that God is never absent from us and is always preparing something new. Even when there is war and discord, whether between countries, within families, or within our own hearts, God is present, gently leading us to new possibilities. 
Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for the hope and peace you unfailingly offer us. 

JOY
The candle of JOY should be the easy one, but this year is different. How often do we let our struggles and fears push joy aside? Joy is like a muscle, it needs to be exercised. Whatever we face in life, God will make joy possible. We open ourselves to joy, trusting that God has already planted it within us. All we need to do is give it care, and share it with others. 
Prayer: Loving God, we trust that this is what you offer us: joy-filled hearts and lives. 

LOVE
When we light the candle of LOVE, we stop in awe of God’s unending love that surrounds and fills us at all times. There is no greater power than love. It is stronger than rulers and empires, grief or despair, stronger even than death. Whatever we face in life, God’s steadfast love surrounds us. 
Prayer: Loving God, magnify your love within us so that we may be strengthened to love others as you love them.

CHRIST 
Tonight we celebrate God entering our world in the body of a poor child, born on a dark night in a chilly stable, with only a manger for his bed. Jesus became human to show us how to live in the light of hope, peace, joy and love. As we light the CHRIST candle, we remember the brilliant star above the stable and celebrate the light reaching into the darkness.
Prayer: Loving God, may the light of your life be kindled in us, and lead us to the shining truth of Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.
Prayer
​O Lord thank you  for the gift of the Christ child this Christmas. May we receive this gift with humility remembering how our Savior was born in Bethlehem. May the Wonderful Counselor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace be received with faith and gratitude throughout the world we pray.
Amen​
Special Music
Andrea Bailey, Flute and Brian Turner, Piano
Cradle Song
​(Away in a Manger)
Based on Melodies by William J. Kirkpatrick and Feliz Mendelssohn 
arr. by Judy Neishimura
​Scripture
Luke 2:1-20 NIV
The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
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16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.​
Telling of Scripture
The Angel's Good News!
​Addie Giordano
Bob and Kathy William's youngest grandchild
Hymn
Brian Turner
Angels We Have Heard On High
Traditional French Carol
GLORIA

SING ALONG: 
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

[Chorus]
Glo-ria In Excelsis Deo!
Glor-ia In Excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

[Chorus]

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

[Chorus]

See him in a manger laid,
whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while our hearts in love we raise. 

[Chorus]
Message 
Pastor John Fowler
The Purpose of Christmas

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Offertory
Andrea Bailey and Brian Turner
O Holy Night
Adolphe Adam

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees, O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand;
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born be our friend;
He knows our need, Our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love, and His gospel is peace;
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us Praise His Holy name;
Christ is the Lord, Oh, praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

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Tonight's Donation will go to the Fuel Fund at Reconciliation House to help families in need stay warm this winter. Click the Give Now button below to make a donation.
Children's Message
Kim Garland
Sending the Light into the World 
Andrea Bailey and Brian Turner
​Silent Night
Words: Joseph Mohr, Music: Franz Gruber
STILLE NACHT

SING ALONG:
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.

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!
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Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

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!
Postlude 
Brian Turner
The First Noel
Traditional English Carol 
THE FIRST NOEL

​SING ALONG:
​The first Noel the angels did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel.
Merry Christmas from our church family to yours!
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Tonight, as we celebrate God is with us in the birth of Jesus, let us continue to live lives of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Share God’s love with the shepherds you meet on the hillside.
Let the communion of the Holy Spirit fill your heart with glad tidings like the angels.
And the Prince of Peace born again tonight, may He live in your heart to comfort and challenge you as you seek to live as one of his disciples. Amen.