On Christmas Day we celebrate Emmanuel: God With Us. This is the glory and the mystery of God’s great love for us, that God has chosen to dwell with us, and among us, as one of us.
Join us for Christmas morning worship, followed by a “bring something to share” brunch in our Fellowship Hall.
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 video will be available shortly after worship ends.
View our Christmas Eve service here!
Christmas Day
From Generation to Generation: God Dwells With Us
Luke 2:15-20; John 1:1-16
Union Presbyterian Church
December 25, 2022
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Peg Williams Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube
Prelude Chris Bartlette
"Carol of the Bells,” Mark Hayes
©1985, Gaither Music Company
Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847
Welcome Rev. Pat Raube
Call to Worship Peg Williams
A child has been born for us,
A son given to us.
Authority rests upon his shoulder, and he is named:
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
* Carol #182 W & R “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (Public Domain)
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,
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,
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,
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.
* Christmas Prayer (unison)
God Most High, your only Son embraced the weakness of flesh, to give us power to become your children; your eternal Word chose a dwelling among us, that we might live in your presence. Grant us a spirit of wisdom to know how rich is the glory you have made our own, and how great the hope to which we are called in Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendor of eternal light, God forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture Reading Luke 2:15-20
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, and 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, just as it had been told them.
Children’s Time Rev. Pat Raube
Music: "Go Tell It on the Mountain,” Mark Hayes
©1985, Gaither Music Company
Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847
Scripture Reading John 1:1-16
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.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
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. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Readers: God’s holy Word to us this holy night!
Response: Thanks be to God!
Sermon “God Dwells With Us” Rev. Pat Raube
Affirmation of Faith John 1:1-5, 14, 16
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. From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
* Carol #191 W & R “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” (Public Domain)
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to all,
From heaven's all gracious King":
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Prayers of the People
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.
Prayer Response #475 W & R
“Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ,” Frank von Christierson
©1974, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Eternal Spirit of the living Christ,
We know not how to ask or what to say;
We only know our need, as deep as life,
And only you can teach us how to pray.
Call for Offering
Doxology “Advent Doxology”
Text: R.G. Huff, All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
Tune: “Once in Royal David’s City” (Public Domain)
Praise to God, the One who made us.
Praise to Christ, the newborn Son.
Praise the Spirit, ever with us.
Praise the Godhead, Three in One.
Clear a path! Prepare the Way!
Advent leads to Christmas Day!
Prayer of Dedication
* Carol #222 W & R “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing” (Public Domain)
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring;
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring:
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King’s birth.
Then why should we on earth be sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad?
Then why should we on earth be sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night;
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
“Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and forevermore. Amen.”
* Benediction
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 Chris Bartlette
"I Saw Three Ships,” Mark Hayes
©1985, Gaither Music Company
Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847
Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.
“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.
“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal
Benediction by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org