(Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash)
©Order of Worship Christmas Eve
Saturday December 24, 2022
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)
The worship video will be available live at 5:30 pm.
Text for hymns are found below each hymn. Click on the hymn highlighted text for music if shown.
Prelude: Christmas Carol Medley……….Stephanie S., Greg D.
Coming of the Light:………………………………..
Greeting:……………………………………………….Pastor Steven
Carol: “Once in Royal David’s City” #250 UMH v. 1,2
Words: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848, Music: Harry J. Gauntlett, 1849
1.Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle
shed, where a mother laid her baby in a
manger for his bed; Mary, loving mother
mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.
2.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, the scorned, the
lowly lived on earth our Savior holy.
The Bidding Prayer: …………..…………………Pastor Steven
The Lord’s Prayer: Pray all together
Blessing:……………………………………….……Pastor Steven
Carol: “Love Came Down at Christmas” #242 UMH
Words: Christina G. Rosetti, 1885 Music: Trad. Irish Melody
1.Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.
2.Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?
3.Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.
Lighting of the Advent Candles:……….……Melrose and Ian D.
Advent hope moves us; Advent love leads us; Advent joy stirs
us; Advent peace stills us, that we might affirm our King Jesus.
It is time we set flame to this Advent affirmation by lighting
the Christ Candle.
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea. He was the long-
awaited Messiah whose coming was prophesied. The same Jesus lives today in our hearts. He deserves our highest loyalty and total commitment. In Jesus Christ,
our hope is fulfilled; our love is consummated; our joy is complete; and our peace is sealed.
Rejoice, a Savior is born.
A savior is born, indeed. Joy to the world!
First Lesson: Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19…………..……………Irwin M.
God announces in the Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve’s punishment for their rebellion.
Carol: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” #196 UMH
Words: Charles Wesley, 1744
Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1830; harmony from The English Hymnal, 1906
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient
merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Second Lesson: Genesis 22:15-18…………………Pastor Steven
God promises to Abraham that by his descendants
all the nations of the earth shall obtain blessing.
Carol: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” #211 UMH v. 1,2,4,7
Music: 15th Century French; arranged and harmonized by Thomas Helmore, 1854
© 1981 The Church Pension Fund and © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing HouseWords: 9th Century Latin
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
4. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples of thy mercy call.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
7.O come, Desire of nations bind
all peoples in one heart and mind.
From dust thou brought us forth to life;
deliver us from earthly strife.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Third Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7…………………….…….……Lorri B.
The prophet announces the birth of a king to a people
in darkness.
Carol: “Toda la Tierra” #210 UMH v. 1,4
Words: Catalonian text by Alberto Taulé,1972
English trans. By Gertrude C. Suppe, 1987
Music: Alberto Taulé trans. 1989 The UM Publishing
House; harm. © 1988 Skinner Chávez-Melo
1.All earth is waiting to see the Promised One, and
the open furrows, the sowing of the Lord. All the world,
bound and struggling, seeks true liberty; it cries out for
justice and searches for the truth.
1.Toda la tierra espera al Salvador
y el surco abierto la obra del Señor; es el
mundo que lucha por la libertad, reclama
justicia y busca la verdad.
4.In lowly stable the Promised One appeared,
yet, feel his presence throughout the earth today,
for he lives in all Christians and is with us now;
again, with his coming he brings us liberty.
4.En una cueva Jesús apareció,
Pero en el mundo está presente hoy.
Vive en nuestros hermanos, con ellos está;
Y vuelve de nuevo a darnos libertad.
Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9………….………..…Beverly B.
The king is coming and will usher in a reign of justice
for the poor and peace for all of God’s creation.
Carol: “The King of Glory Comes” #2091 TFWS
Words: Rev. Willard F. Jabusch Music: Trad. Israeli folk song;
arr. by Betty Pulkingham Words © 1966, 1982 Willard F. Jabusch
Admin. By OCP Publications; arr. © 1974 Celebration, admin.
By The Copyright Co.
Refrain
The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
1.Who is the King of glory; how shall we call him?
He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages.
Refrain
The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
2.In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among
his people curing their illness.
Refrain
The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
3.Sing then of David’s son, our Savior and brother;
in all of Galilee was never another.
Refrain
The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26-35, 38 ………………….……Chris M.
The angel Gabriel announces to the virgin Mary
that she will give birth to God’s promised Son
whose kingdom shall never end.
Offertory: “Gesu Bambino”, by Pietro Yon, 1917..Stephanie S., Greg D.
Sixth Lesson: Luke 2:1-7……………………………Allyssa M.
Against a backdrop of emperors and taxes,
Jesus is born.
Carol: “The First Noel” #245 UMH v.1
The United Methodist Hymnal
Traditional English carol; harmony from Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871
1. The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.
Seventh Lesson: Luke 2:8-16………………..….………Evan G.
The shepherds go to see the Savior of the world,
Lying in a manger.
Carol:“Away in a Manger” #217 UMH
Words: Anonymous
Music by James R. Murray, 1887
1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
Eighth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-11……………..…………Melanie B.
The wise men follow a star to find the child Jesus, the
King of the Jews.
Carol: “De Tierra Lejana Venimos” (From a Distant Home)
#243 UMH v.1,2
Words: Trad. Puerto Rican carol Music: Trad Puerto Rican carol
by permission of Walton Music Corp.
1.From a distant home the Savior we come seeking,
using as our guide the star so brightly beaming.
Lovely eastern star that tells us of God’s morning,
heaven’s wondrous light, O never cease thy shining!
1.De tierra lejana venimos a verte,
nos sirve de guía la estrella de Oriente.
Oh brillante estrella que a nun cias la aurora.
No nos falte nunca tu luz bienhechora.
2.Glowing gold I bring the newborn babe so holy,
Using as our guide the star so brightly beaming.
Lovely eastern star that tells us God’s morning,
heaven’s wondrous light, O never cease the shining!
2. Al recién nacido que es Rey de los reyes,
Oro le regaló para ornar sus sienes.
Oh brillante estrella que a nun cias la aurora.
No nos falte nunca tu luz bienhechora.
Ninth Lesson: John 1:1-14…………………………Pastor Steven
John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
Candle Lighting:
At this time candles will be lit from the Christ Candle.
Please remain seated during the lighting and singing.
Carol: “Silent Night” #239 UMH……….Drew G., Robbie G.
Drew and Robbie will sing the first verse, then congregation
joins on the following verses.
1.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.
2.Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the
Sight; glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly
hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
3.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.
4.Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy
light; with the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King.
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
“O Holy Night”:……………………………….…………Catherine S.
Dismissal with Blessing:…………………………..Pastor Steven
May the Christ who by his Incarnation
gathered into One things earthly and heavenly,
fill you with the sweetness of inward peace and
goodwill; and the blessing of God Almighty,
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen
Go forth in peace and joy
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Depart in silence, extinguishing your candles
and leaving them in the receptacle at the door.
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Avent Ferry UMC Christmas Eve Service, 5:30 pm