Since it is the first full week of Advent, I've decided to post the most recent draft of this year's Christmas Eve service at Argyle UMC. Well, I wish it was going to be at Argyle UMC! We were supposed to be in our new building but that's not going to happen in time for Christmas Eve, so now we are graciously being allowed to use the auditorium at Argyle High School. (We'd love to host it in our sanctuary but we are expecting over 1,000 folks and our sanctuary seats 175 people.)
For obvious reasons the high school is not real keen on the possibility that we might burn down their facility, we are not going to give everyone a candle to raise during the singing of "Silent Night" and since they don't want their carpet stained, we will not be serving communion. So, the trick has been to create a meaningful Christmas Eve service that forgoes those two traditional components.
Since we do not really celebrate Epiphany (which is quite a drag, since Epiphany is the older and, arguably, richer festival) we are mixing in a bit of the "follow the star" kind of motif.
I look forward to any comments that you might have!
Argyle UMC-Christmas Eve Worship
Wednesday, December 24th, 2008
Christmas Eve
5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
PRELUDE: Anastasia Markina or the band
*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Joe Stobaugh
Leader: When the time was right, God sent the Son;
Women: sent him and nourished him,
Men: reared him and risked him,
Women: filled him with laughter and tears and compassion,
Men: filled him with anger and love and devotion.
Leader: Unwelcomed child, refugee and runaway,
ALL: CHRIST IS GOD’S OWN SON
Leader: Feeder and teacher, healer and antagonist,
ALL: CHRIST IS GOD’S OWN SON
Leader: Lover of th unlovable,
Toucher of the untouchable,
Forgiver of the unforgivable,
ALL: CHRIST IS GOD’S OWN SON.
Leader: Loved by women, feared by men,
Befriended by the weak, despised by the strong,
Deserted by his listeners, betrayed by his friends;
Bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh,
Writing heven’s pardon over earth’s mistakes
ALL: CHRIST IS GOD’S OWN SON
LeaderL The Word became flesh:
ALL: HE CAME AMONG US, HE WAS ONE OF US . LET US WORSHIP HIM AND PROCLAIM
HIS COMING!
--Iona Community, 20th century, Scotland
*SONG OF GATHERING No. 234 O Come, All Ye Faithful st.1-4 THE PEOPLE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES
GREETING/REGISTRATION/THE LORD’S PRAYER Todd Mead
PREPARING TO HEAR THE WORD: evensong band (band stays seated during sermon)
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-11
MESSAGE Follow the Star Rev. Kory Knott
MUSICAL RESPONSE: Light is Shining by Daniel Doss evensong band & Chancel Choir
PRAYERS FOR THE WORLD Rev. Joe Stobaugh
CONFESSION (from Grace Community in England)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
(Sing the Last stanza and refraind FROM WE THREE KINGS)
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Follow the Star by Theorn Kirk Chancel Choir
DOXOLOGY: Something from a Carol
THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 2:8-20 PRE-RECORD IT WITH A CHILD READING THE CHRISTMAS STORY: EMILY YOUNG
(Silent Night underneath it) light’s come down with the focus on the star
*No. 239 Silent Night THE PEOPLE
*SONG OF CELEBRATION No. 246 Joy to the World THE PEOPLE
BENEDICTION Rev. Kory Knott
POSTLUDE Anastasia Markina
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