Christmas Eve: We Tell This Story

Saturday, December 24, 2022
4:00 PM 5:00 PM 16:00 17:00

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

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We have watched and waited in hope, in peace, in joy, and in love, and now the night is here—the night like no other night in the Christian calendar, the night when we celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, God with us.

Join us for a festive worship service that will welcome those of all ages, when we will tell again this story that never grows old, the story of the birth of the babe in Bethlehem, Jesus the Lord.

Join us for worship in our sanctuary, or right here, if you are at home or on the road. You can also find the live-stream and worship videos on the Union Presbyterian Church of Endicott YouTube page! The Christmas Eve worship video will be available shortly after worship ends.

Join us again for worship on Christmas morning by clicking right here!

Christmas Eve

From Generation to Generation: We Tell This Story

Luke 2:1-14

Union Presbyterian Church

December 24, 2022

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

Liturgist: Rev. Jeff Kellam Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Preludes Tower Ringers

Selections from “The Twelve Bells of Christmas” and

“The Twelve Bells of Christmas II,” arr. Patricia Sanders Cota

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Call to Worship / Lighting of the Christ Candle

We have watched, and we have waited in hope.

Let us go…

We have watched, and we have waited for peace.

Let us go to Bethlehem…

We have watched, and we have waited in joy!

Let us go to Bethlehem and see…

We have watched, and we have waited with love.

Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing which God has done!

Now, the good news draws near! (Light the center Christ candle.)

Let us go to that little town, and watch God’s miracle unfold.

Carol #183 W & R “Once in Royal David’s City” (Public Domain)

Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall:
With the poor and meek and lowly
Lived on earth, our Savior holy.

Jesus is our childhood's pattern,
Day by day like us he grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew:
And he feels for all our sadness,
And he shares in all our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love;
For that child, so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above:
And he leads his children on
To the place where he has gone.

* Christmas Prayer (unison)

Holy God, we admit it—we don’t fully understand the Christmas story. We have never heard an angel choir. We have never walked many miles to be counted in a census, we have never known a baby who was born and laid in a manger, and we don’t remember hearing your voice in our dreams. We don’t fully understand this story. But inside us, something is whispering. Inside us, there is an excitement that makes us want to throw the doors open and shout the good news. Holy God, this story of your love is planted so deep in our bones that we cannot help but share it from generation to generation. Thank you! Glory to you! Christ is born! Amen.

Carol #188 W & R “Angels We Have Heard on High” (Public Domain)

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!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say, what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

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

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Scripture Reading Isaiah 9:2; 6-7

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined…
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.
Great will be his authority,
    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.

Children’s Time

Music: "Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow,” Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 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 in the guest room.

Now in that same 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!”

Readers: God’s holy Word to us this holy night!

Response: Thanks be to God!

Sermon “We Tell This Story” Rev. Pat Raube

Affirmation of Faith (Unison)

We believe

that for generations

people have gathered together

on this holy night,

because there is something about this story

that speaks to the deepest parts of us.

We believe in sharing this hope,

this good news, and passing it on—

to our children, to our neighbors,

to the world around us.

We believe our voices can make a difference,

just like we believe this story can make a difference,

so we will not stay quiet.

We will tell this story—of a love that makes room for all.

We will sing this story—of a love that knows our name.

We will live this story—because love has come again.

We believe that words have power.

We will not stay quiet.

Amen.

Anthem “Glory to God in the Highest,” Mark Hayes Choir

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Glory to God in the highest!

Goodwill and peace to all!

Today is born in the city of David

Our Savior, Christ the Lord!

For the angel said to the shepherds,

“Do not be afraid!

I bring you good news of great, great joy

That will be for all the people”

Glory to God in the highest!

Goodwill and peace to all!

Today is born in the city of David

Our Savior, Christ the Lord!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

This shall be a sign unto you,

You will find the baby wrapped in cloths

And lying in a manger.

Glory to God in the highest!

Goodwill and peace to all!

Today is born in the city of David

Our Savior, Christ the Lord!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Glory to God in the highest!

Glory to God! Glory to God!

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

The Invitation

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!

Let’s 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

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might!

Peace on earth; goodwill among all humanity!

Glory to God in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Glory to God in the highest!

The Words of Jesus

As we tell this story, we must proclaim again the mystery of this night:

Christ is born!

Emmanuel, God is with us!

Born a child for the salvation of the world!

This is the story that never grows old.

This is the story at the heart of our faith.

…As we tell your story of good news,

let us once again speak the prayer your son taught us to pray, saying:

The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional Version)

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. 

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

“Our Savior Is Born,” Jason Liles, John Ortt Choir

Used with permission.

God’s love for us was shown, revealed in all its wonder,

When Jesus, the Christ child, was born on Christmas day.

So now in praise of God we sing and rejoice!

For through God’s true gift of love, we are redeemed,

And in this hymn proclaim, “Our Savior is born!”

Nightfall at Bethlehem was veiled in silent darkness,

But starlight shone brightly to keep the dark away.

Now does the Son of God shine forth in our hearts!

O, how can we share the joy that we now feel?

Let every voice cry out, “Our Savior is born!”

Jesus, Emmanuel, was born to be among us,

To teach us, to guide us, to show us how to live.

He conquers sin and death. He gives us new life!

For look now; a child is born; angels rejoice!

Heaven and earth resound, “Our Savior is born!”

Unison Prayer of Thanksgiving

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 #186 W & R “Silent Night” (Public Domain)

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 Reading John 1:1-5, 14

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 overtake it.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

* Carol # 179 W & R

“Joy to the World”

(Public Domain)

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.

* Words of Blessing

As you leave this place, may you go knowing that

from generation to generation,

we have been claimed and loved.

From generation to generation,

God has been by our side.

From generation to generation,

we are not alone.

The God of yesterday and the God of tomorrow

knows you by name, loves you, and calls you forth,

saying, “Go be the person you are called to be,

love wildly, do justice, and come back soon.”

May it be so. Amen.

Postlude Colin DeLap, Chris Bartlette

“Joy to the World!” Joel Raney

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    