In worship today…we will sing some Carols and here from Steve Hurd some MCCC history!
Opening Scripture Luke 2:10-14
10 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: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
*Response - Weave
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
weave us together, together in love.
*Call to Worship - Tim Bennett
ONE: Glory to God in the highest!
ALL: And hope to every discouraged heart.
ONE: Glory to God in the highest!
ALL: And peace to every conflicted soul.
ONE: Glory to God in the highest!
ALL: And joy to every downcast spirit.
ONE: Glory to God in the highest!
ALL: And love to everyone.Let us sing praises to our God.
Let us offer this light against the darkness.
Written by Joanna Harader
*Opening Hymn - “O Come All Ye Faithful”
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:
Refrain
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; [Refrain]
Invitation to Generosity - Tim Bennett
Pastoral Prayer
God of Surprising Generosity and Unexpected Grace, We have come to sing about your grace made known in a baby; to prepare our hearts for a new invasion of Your Light; We have come once again to open our souls and our lives to you.
Help us this Christmas morning to say “Alleluia” even in the midst of pain and anxiety of our lives, the troubles and trials of so many in our world. In the midst of poverty, hunger, and pain….of grief, injustice, and difficulty...in the midst of all of it help us to say Alleluia...because You are our hope. Move our feet, our hearts, our prayers to serve and love our neighbors.
And as we gather this joyful morning, let our Alleluias rise from our spirits as lives opened to Your gift, our hearts filled with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This mornings we lift to you the names of those on our hearts and spirits to you….
In Jesus Name we pray….Amen
Communion
Meditation
Communion Hymn
I come with Joy
Together met, together bound
by all that God has done,
we'll go with joy, to give the world,
the love that makes us one,
the love that makes us one.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Words of Institution
23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for[a] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Distribution
Carol Sing and MCCC Christmas Eve History Steve Hurd
(Look up your favorite carols and call out the number. In between carols, Steve will share stories and anecdotes from MCCC history)
- Instead of Children’s Moment maybe allow kids (if any are there!) to yell out some carols
Closing Hymn - “Joy To the World” #143
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing...
2 Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy…
3 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love...
*Benediction
Postlude - “Hymn to Joy” by Ludwig van Beethoven, arr. by Edward Broughton; Jan Green organ