Christmas Eve for the Young and Young at Heart: Invited Home

Friday, December 24, 2021
4:00 PM 5:00 PM 16:00 17:00

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

You know the story: there is no room at the inn. And yet, somehow, the vagabond family finds a place to welcome the infant Jesus.

Everyone knows where home is: it’s where the heart is. We invite you home to Union Presbyterian Church as we welcome the youngest among us to a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 4:00 PM. Hear again the old, old story that is ever new, complete with the music that makes your heart sing. You are invited!

Christmas Eve Bulletin

Union Presbyterian Church

December 24, 2021 4:00 PM

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Readers: The Children and Youth of UPC Pastor: Rev. Pat Raube

Preludes Tower Ringers

“Dona Nobis Pacem,” Norris L. Stephens

Used by permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

“O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Away in a Manger,” “Go Tell It On the Mountain,”

Patricia A. Sanders

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

“He Is Born,” Patricia Sanders Cota

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Handbell Introit Tower Ringers

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

(Public Domain)

Call to Worship Arianna Neal

A teenage mother was invited—

to carry Christ into this world.

An ordinary carpenter was invited—

to be a father to a child unlike any other.

The shepherds were invited—

outcast and isolated, included at the manger.

The Magi were invited—

foreigners and seekers, included at the manger.

And if she was invited, and he was invited, and they were invited—

then we can trust that we too are invited.

This story is for us.

This love is for us.

Family of faith, this is our invitation. Welcome home.

Amen.

Carol #182 W & R

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

(Public Domain)

[Chris Bartlette @ organ, Colin DeLap @ piano, Dana Sullivan @ trombone]

Congregation

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;

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

Sing all ye citizens of heaven above;

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,

Jesus, to thee be all glory given;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Crosby, Michelle, and Andrew Tunison

In God’s house, there is hope—

For God loves us too much to leave us just as we are.

In God’s house, there is peace—

For all that separates us from God falls away.

In God’s house, there is joy—

Because God created music, and honey, and dance floors, and laughter that is contagious, and endless rounds of peek-a-boos with babies; and if those things have God’s fingerprints, then God’s house surely exudes joy.

In God’s house, there is love—

Because God is love, from start to finish, and that love exists for us all.

And in the center of our hope,

In the center of our peace,

In the center of our joy,

In the center of our love, is God—who came to this earth to dwell among us.

So tonight we light the Christ candle, for God’s love just could not stay away.

Welcome home. Amen.

Call to Prayer Kiara Neal

On this night, we pray, not to ask God for forgiveness or healing, but to rest joyfully in God’s love and grace. Please join me in our Christmas prayer.

Christmas Prayer

God you are so good!

And this night is so special: that is why we call it “holy.”

On this holy night, you came to us in your Son Jesus.

He is the Lord of everyone and everything and everywhere!

But on this holy night, he was born a little baby, just like I was.

He is the Savior of all!

But on this holy night, his bed was a manger,

a container for the hay the cows ate.

On this holy night, help us to remember your love.

Let us sing as joyfully as the angels.

Let us look for Jesus as excitedly as the shepherds.

Lead us to Jesus, who is born within us and among us. Amen.

Prayer Response #188 W & R

“Angels We Have Heard on High”

(Public Domain)

[Chris Bartlette @ organ]

Congregation

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’er the plans,

And the mountains in reply

Echo back their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Scripture Reading Luke 2:1, 3-7 Benjamin Mann

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered… All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Anthem Dana Sullivan, trombone; Colin DeLap, piano

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” arr. D. Sullivan

Scripture Luke 2:8-20 Rev. Pat Raube

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Response: Holy Wisdom, Holy Word

Thanks be to God.

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem Tower Ringers

“Angels We Have Heard On High,” Patricia A. Sanders

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Prayers of the People

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

The Invitation

Jesus is the Light of the World!

Tonight, that light is shining in the darkness.

Come! Let us adore him!

We have heard the Shepherds’ story;

let us go to Bethlehem to see the Holy Child!

God is with you.

God is with us all!

Lets lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to God.

Let us give thanks to God, who loves us so much.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Words of Jesus

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

(Music: “What Child Is This?” Sharon Aaronson

Used by permission, CCLI license #CSPL068847)

Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison)

God of Light and Love, we thank you that you came to be with us in Jesus! We thank you for Christmas, our celebration of his birth. And we thank you that he still shares his life with us around this table. Let this special meal make us strong and joyful. Let us be like the angels, singing “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to God’s people on earth.” Let us be like the shepherds, telling everyone the Good News of Christ’s birth. And let us be like the Wise Ones, searching far and wide to see Jesus with our own eyes. Amen.

Carol By Candlelight #186 W & R Colin DeLap, piano

“Silent Night”

(Public Domain)

Congregation

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!

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.

Scripture John 1:1-5; 14 Rev. Pat Raube

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

Carol #179 W & R

“Joy to the World”

(Public Domain)

[Chris Bartlette @ organ, Colin DeLap @ piano, Dana Sullivan @ trombone]

Congregation

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 heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;

Let all their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

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, far as the curse is found.

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, wonders of his love.

Benediction (Blessing)

In the name of our Foundation—God, Spirit, and Son—go in peace.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Postlude Colin DeLap and Chris Bartlette, piano

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” Joel Raney

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   