Christmas Eve Worship
2024
PASTOR: Rev. Harry M. Krolus
CHURCH: 410-356-3400 CELL: 410-707-7663
Church email: ctklclcms@yahoo.com
Church Web Site: ctklchurch.org
********************************************************************************
THE CHURCH YEAR - THE TIME OF CHRISTMAS
Christmas
The season of Christmas begins with evening prayer on Christmas Eve (December 24) and ends with midday prayer on January 5.
The evening services of Christmas Eve mark the beginning of the Church’s celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord. The season continues after December 25 over a period traditionally known as the twelve days of Christmas.
**************************************************************
WORDS OF GREETING
CALL TO WORSHIP
P. Rejoice, for God is with us — Emmanuel.
C. In the darkness of our world shines God's holy light.
P. Now there is reason to hope.
C. God is truly with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God!
THE OPENING HYMN: 379 “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” (1,3,4)
THE INVOCATION
P. We begin our worship this evening in the name of our triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
C. Amen.
THE OPENING SENTENCES
P. All creation sings to the Lord Almighty! Blessed be the Father who remembers his people. Praise to God who sends us his Son!
C. All creatures in heaven and all creatures here on earth, rejoice in the day when God remembered his mercy!
P. The Lord be praised through all eternity for his devotion to his fallen creation. All glory to God in the highest!
C. All creatures in heaven and all creatures here on earth, rejoice in the day when God remembered his mercy!
P. Let the birth of Christ be celebrated by the universe and everything in it, for on this day God called down salvation upon the earth.
C. All creatures in heaven and all creatures here on earth, rejoice in the day when God remembered his mercy!
P. In eternal mercy and love, the Father has remembered our mortality and conquered it through Jesus Christ, his Son.
C. All creatures in heaven and all creatures here on earth, rejoice in the day when God remembered his mercy!
P. The very earth and sky cry aloud at what our God has done. Our hearts reach out to him, and our minds remember with joyous abandon the birthday of Christ Jesus. Alleluia!
C.Alleluia! Alleluia! Let all creation dance with joy and praise the Lord. Let all remember that God has saved his people. Alleluia!
HYMN: 358 “From Heaven Above To Earth I Come” (1,15)
THE HOMILY: “The Light Of The World”
text: John 8:12
THE OFFERING
THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR
THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM
A PSALM OF PROMISE: Psalm 72
P. Endow the King with your justice, O God, the royal Son with your righteousness,
C. He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
P. The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
C. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; He will crush the oppressor.
P. He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
C. He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
P. In his days the righteous will flourish; Prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
C. He will rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
P. The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.
C. The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; The kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.
P. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.
C. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
P. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
C. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, For precious is their blood in his sight.
P. Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him, May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
C. Let grain abound throughout the land; On the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon. Let it thrive like the grass of the field.
P. May his name endure forever; May it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
C. Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone does marvelous deeds.
ALL: Praise be to his glorious name forever; May the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
WREATH LIGHTING
P. Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
C. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
(The Prophecy Candle is now lit.)
HYMN OF RESPONSE: 366 “It Came Upon The Midnight Clear” (1)
A WORD OF PROPHECY: Micah 5:1-4
WREATH LIGHTING
P. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
C. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
(The Bethlehem Candle is now lit.)
HYMN OF RESPONSE: 357 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (1)
THE ANGEL GABRIEL VISITS MARY: Luke 1:26--35
WREATH LIGHTING
P. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
C. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
(The Shepherd’s Candle is now lit.)
HYMN OF RESPONSE: 383 “A Great And Mighty Wonder” (1)
THE ANGEL VISITS JOSEPH: Matthew 1:20-22
WREATH LIGHTING
P. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
C. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
(The Angel’s Candle is now lit.)
HYMN OF RESPONSE: 384 “Of The Father’s Love Begotten” (1)
JESUS’ BIRTH: Luke 2:1-7
WREATH LIGHTING
P. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
C. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
(The Christ Candle is now lit.)
THE HYMN OF RESPONSE: 374 “Gentle Mary-Laid Her Child” (1,3)
THE ANGEL’S SONG: Luke 2:8-14
HYMN OF RESPONSE: 368 “Angels We Have Heard On High” (1,2)
THE SHEPHERD’S RESPONSE: Luke 2:15-20
THE HYMN OF RESPONSE: 388 “Go Tell It On The Mountain” (1,2)
THE STAR LEADS TO BETHLEHEM: Matthew 2:1-12
THE HYMN OF RESPONSE: 386 “Now Sing We, Now Rejoice” (1)
THE ORDER OF CANDLE LIGHTING
The lights in the church are now dimmed. The Pastor lights his
candle from the Christ Candle and then lights the ushers candles. The ushers, in turn, light the candle of the first person in each row. The “light” is passed from one person to the next.
Please be sure to hold your candle upright at all times. Parents, please either help your children or, if they are too young to hold a candle by themselves, let them “help” you. We want our candlelight service to be beautiful and safe.
P. Tonight we celebrate the coming of Christ, the Light of the world. Our candles bear witness to that light, and brighten this time of celebration.
C. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, he was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
P. By the Light of God’s creating Word, we are led to the brighter light of faith and trust in him.
C. In him was life, and the life was the light of all. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
P. With the coming of God’s Son, Jesus our Emmanuel, the light shines still more brightly.
C. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.
P. The light of the Lord continues to shine as it glows in our lives of Christian love and service; for God has given us his Word.
C. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father. And from his fullness have we all received grace upon grace.
HYMN: 363 ”Silent Night”
THE PRAYERS
P. Because you were willing to humble yourself, to become human, to make yourself one of us,
C. May we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but humbly serve you by serving each other.
P. Because you were born poor, weak, and homeless,
C. May we see the poor through your eyes, being generous and willing to share.
P. Because God out of his great love for us sent you to live among us and die for us,
C. May we believe that you are the Messiah, and because of you we will not perish, but have eternal life.
P. Because those infant hands of the babe in the manger were pierced on the cross as you bore our sins,
C. May we, healed by your wounds, die to sin and live for righteousness.
P. Because you, the infant in swaddling clothes, are our great high priest, who was tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin,
C. May we approach your throne of grace with confidence, knowing you sympathize with all our weaknesses, and will grant mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.
P. Because we share in your sacrifice, and victory of the resurrection,
C. May we stand against the devil's schemes, living lives worthy of your calling, being made new in the attitude of our minds.
P. Because you are the promised Messiah, the creator of life, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end,
C. May we adore you, praise you, and bless you, today and throughout the coming year.
P. Because you, the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star, have promised to come again soon,
C. May we all live in eager expectation of your return.
P. "O, holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
C. cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
P. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
C. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel."
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
(The candles are now extinguished and the lights are turned back up.)
HYMN: 377 “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing” (1,4)
THE BLESSING
P. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, keep you in his light, truth, and love; now and forever.
C. Amen.
CLOSING MEDLEY (a cappella)
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see the lie!
Above thy deep And dream-less sleep The silent stars go by;
Yet in the darkness shineth The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears Of all the years Are met in thee tonight.
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The babe, the Son of Mary!
Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,”Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”
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 nature sing, And heaven and heaven and nature sing.
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 of His love, And wonders, wonders of His Love.
***********************************************************************
Have A Very Blessed Christmas!
REMAINING CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Christmas Day Worship
Wednesday, December 25, at 10:30 a.m.
First Sunday After Christmas Worship
Sunday, December 29, at 10:30 a.m.
New Year’s Eve Worship
Tuesday, December 31, at 7:30 p.m.
