I cannot wait for Christmas Eve! This year we are going to have a wonderful service with lots of great music, great preaching a bit of drama, etc. It's going to be nice!
Travis Park UMC-Christmas Eve Worship
Sunday, December 24th, 2006
Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m.
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP: Lost in the Night
Text: Finnish Song, tr. Olav Lee; Music: arr. Kyle Haugen
Emmaus Youth Choir; Sanctuary Choir
Sarah Homer, soprano soloist
Lost in the night do the people yet languish,
Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish,
Plaintively heaving a sigh full of anguish.
Will not day come soon?
Will not day come soon?
Must we be vainly awaiting the morrow?
Shall those who have light no light let us borrow,
Giving no heed to our burden of sorrow?
Will you help us soon?
Will you help us soon?
Sorrowing wand’ers, in darkness yet dwelling,
Dawned has the day of a radiance excelling,
Death’s dreaded darkness forever dispelling.
Christ is coming soon, Christ is coming soon!
Will not day come soon?
Come and save us soon!
Christ is coming soon!
*OPENING PRAYER
God of starlight and holy nights, surprise us again with the miracle of birth, the glorious birth of Jesus. Help us see the wonder and delight of it all as the children enact the story.
Soften our hearts, touch our souls and fill us with love, for the birth of Jesus changed our world, changed our lives. Open us to receiving once again your love so that we may share your love with those in need. Amen
--Larry J. Peacock
*OPENING HYMN No. 234 O Come, All Ye Faithful st.1-4 All
CHILDREDN’S CHRISTMAS PAGENT Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:9-11
Scripture Passages read by Rev. Karen Vannoy and Rev. John Flowers
What Child is This? vs. 1
The First Noel, vs. 1
We Three Kings, vs. 1
Away in a Manger, vs. 1
Joy to the World, vs. 1
ANTHEM: Fum, Fum, Fum arr. S. Childs
Sacred Melodies; Jackie Shepherd, conductor; Mark Rubinstein, accompanist
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES
Rev. Joe Stobaugh and Mrs. Sarah Stobaugh and Eleanor Grace Stobaugh
Leader: Now we are all collected in the stable, where all people are gathered, each in their own dress of habits and flaws.
People: Here, we find the pain of Mary; the endurance of Joseph; the economics of the innkeeper; the not knowing of the shepherds.
Leader: Around our lonely hours and the crush of crowds, there still shines the manger presence.
People: What can we do, but kneel? And when we rise, straw dust on our knees, cobwebs in our hair, stars in our eyes, you have invaded our hearts, armed with love.
--Rev. Karen Vannoy
MESSAGE Christmas at the Manger Rev. John Flowers
MUSICAL RESPONSE: I Pray on Christmas
Text and Music by Harry Connick, Jr.
Celebration Singers; Clark Stevens, soloist; Mark Rubinstein, pianist
I pray on Christmas that the Lord will see my through.
I pray on Christmas He’ll show me what to do.
I pray on Christmas He’ll help me understand.
And I pray on Christmas He’ll take me by the hand.
I pray on Christmas that the sick will soon be strong.
I pray on Christmas the Lord will hear my song.
I pray on Christmas that God will lead the way.
And I pray on Christmas He’ll get me through another day.
I pray on Christmas all our problems gonna be worked out.
I pray on Christmas God’ll show us what love’s about.
I pray on Christmas to do your will each day.
And I pray on Christmas that I’ll be with you in heaven some day.
A WITNESS TO TRANSFORMATION ?????
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Maria Wiegenlied Max Reger
Camerata San Antonio
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to God.
Leader: Thank you, God, for giving yourself to the world, not in the powerful and
extraordinary,
People: but in weakness and the familiar: in a baby; in bread and
wine.
Leader: Than you for offering, at journey’s end, a new beginning;
People: for setting, in the poverty of a stable, the richest jewel of your
love;
Leader: for revealing, in a particular place, your light for all nations.
People: Thank you for bringing us to Bethlehem, House of Bread,
where the empty are filled, and the filled are emptied; and all join their voices together singing:
--Kate Compston, England, 1990; Matthew 2:1-12
SANCTUS No. 238 Angels We Have Heard on High All
(please ring your bells during the Gloria)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Holy God, we praise you for this holy season of hints and whispers, when
you sent your best gift to us. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Music by Johannes Brahms; Performed by Camerata San Antonio
ANTHEM Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Text: Wzlobie Lezy, trans. Edith M.G. Reed (1885-1933)
Music: Polish Carol, arr. Mack Wilberg
Sanctuary Choir;
Lana Cartlidge Potts, organist; Camerata San Antonio
Infant Holy, Infant lowly, For his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swifly winging angels singing, Nowells ringing,
Tidings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, Tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, Praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the Babe was born for you.
Christ the Babe was born, for you.
Christ was born for you.
*LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS CANDLES No. 239 Silent Night ALL
BENEDICTION—text from Brian Wren
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