CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
WELCOME
INVOCATION:
Our glorious God, you sent your Son into our world to show us who you are. In Christ we find love, forgiveness, peace and hope; we are grateful for this reflection of you. May we encounter the Christ child in this time of worship, and in doing so, experience more of you, our holy Creator God. We pray in our Savior’s name. Amen.
THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN SCRIPTURE & SONG:
Luke 1:26b-35, 38
Matthew 1:18b-23
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Luke 2:1-7
“Away In A Manger”
Luke 2:8-14
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”
Luke 2:15
“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
Luke 2:16-20
“Go, Tell It on the Mountain”
Matthew 2:1-6
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Matthew 2:7-12
“We Three Kings”
Luke 2:21, 39-40
“Joy To The World”
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: Christ Candle
(The first four candles are lit prior to the service.)
Pastor:
Most Holy God, this is the night of all nights!
People:
The great light has come! Deep darkness no longer reigns! Joy beyond measure is here to stay!
Pastor:
Angels illuminated the night sky and sang this glorious news to the shepherds. Then they told the shepherds what sign to look for.
People:
Lord, we need to be told what signs to look for too!
Pastor:
So often our thoughts are dominated by: strained travel schedules, over-indulgent appetites, and the frenzy of decorating and baking, shopping and entertaining.
People:
The mother of our Lord had the right idea. When she heard the report of the shepherds, she pondered what it meant in her heart.
Pray in Unison:
Lord, help us to realize that the pace we maintain in life often erodes our ability to ponder, to reflect.
Restore our ability to pause and reflect. Show us where to look for signs of your grace. Teach us to act upon the faith we have.
Amen.
(Light the Christ candle.)
MESSAGE: CHRISTMAS BREAD
INTRODUCTION:
We know the story of Bethlehem, and what happened there. But, of all the cities, towns and villages in Palestine why did the Lord God choose such an unheard-of hamlet as Bethlehem for the birth of the greatest figure ever to enter into human history? If a site selection committee had been appointed, the name of Bethlehem probably would have never made the list. There are all kinds of important reasons to favor another location.
The city of Hebron, for example, played an important role in the beginning of Hebrew history. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and later David were associated with Hebron.
On the other hand, Jerusalem is an even more logical choice. Six hundred eleven times the city is mentioned in the Old Testament. For centuries, from the day David captured it from the Jebusites to make it his city, Jerusalem was the center of religious and civil life in Israel. The magnificent temple of Solomon was there. The royal palace too. Our site selection committee would be hard pressed to find reasons to deny Jerusalem the privilege of welcoming the new king. But Jerusalem fails to make the cut.
There was always Nazareth, too. This is a logical favorite because it was the home of Mary and Joseph. It offered the most in convenience. Life could go on as usual for Joseph, Mary and Jesus surrounded by relatives and good neighbors. No interruption in the daily flow of activity.
So why Bethlehem? By the ancient Prophet’s own words Bethlehem was “only a small village” (Micah 5:2). For whatever the reasons, Bethlehem never rose to a position of prominence in its entire history. Two events stand out in its history, though. It was here that Israel’s great and ideal king, poet, and hero, King David, was born and grew up. Before that, a most beautiful love story, the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz in the Book of Ruth, took place.
But for the most part, people came and went in Bethlehem with no sense of destiny for many years. This notion of obscurity is captured by a verse from one of the favorite songs sung during the Christmas season…
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
Bethlehem’s beginning dates back into the dim past of history. It had lain still in a "deep and dreamless sleep" for nearly two thousand years before shepherds came to seek a babe lying in a manger or Magi from the east were led by a star and bowed to the new king. Why wake it now? Well, let’s look at the name itself. Bethlehem is a Hebrew word. The name literally means, “house of bread.” And I think this is significant in 3 ways.
1. Christ was born in Bethlehem to IDENTIFY with the common man.
Jesus was not born in the house of royalty, nor the house of riches, nor the house of celebrity. Jesus was not born in Jerusalem, or in Rome, or in Athens, or in Alexandria.
Jesus was not born in any political, commercial, cultural, educational, or socially significant city of the day. When Micah, the Old Testament prophet, foretold the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, he emphasized its lack of significance to the world. “But you, O Bethlehem…, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” (Micah 5:2)
Bethlehem - "The House of Bread". Bread is one of life’s most common things. God wanted His Son available to all. His birth was announced to shepherds, the common man, but not to the religious elite (Pharisees) nor to those with political clout (King Herod). His cradle was a manger, a common animal’s feeding trough in a lowly stable. You don’t have to be rich to know Him. You don’t have to be well-known or popular to know Him. You can just be you. Jesus came not for the religious, for the ones who thought they were all right, but for the ones who were aware of their needs. That Christ was born in “The House of Bread” gives us confidence that God does indeed want us to be his children no matter how insignificant we may seem to ourselves or to those around us.
2. Christ was born in Bethlehem to SATISFY our spiritual hunger.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirst.” (John 6:35)
Bread is a good comparison to our Lord because He satisfies, gratifies and strengthens us spiritually just as bread does physically. Unfortunately many are eating at the wrong table. Isaiah 55:2 says, “Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.”
It is easy to get caught up in searching for meaning in life from the wrong things because there are a lot of things that bring temporary happiness. But only Christ satisfies the eternal dimension of the human spirit.
Christ is all the soul of man needs for spiritual satisfaction. The fact that Jesus was born in "The House of Bread" gives us confidence that God does indeed want to satisfy our deep spiritual hunger.
And lastly,
3. Christ was born in Bethlehem to TESTIFY that we each must choose him.
If one person eats a meal, it doesn’t satisfy any other person’s hunger.
The Bible says: “And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.” (1 Cor. 10:17) That “one loaf of bread” is Christ. He is the only bread that offers life and the decision to receive Him is an individual one. And He invites each of us to partake of His presence tonight.
HOLY COMMUNION: 1 Corinthians 11
PERSONAL EXAMINATION:
27So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself… 31But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.
Let us bow our heads for a moment of silent prayer and examination.
PRAYER:
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are opened, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
INSTRUCTIONS & INVITATION:
The ushers will now come forward and in a moment they will distribute the bread and juice. When you have received the bread and juice please hold them until all have been served and then we will partake together as one body.
For those visiting with us: You do not have to be a member of our church or of our denomination in order to take communion with us. All who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are welcome to join with us in this time of Holy Communion.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS:
23…On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people – an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
(Ushers distribute the elements.)
PARTAKE OF THE ELEMENTS:
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your soul and body unto everlasting life. Take and eat this remembering that Christ died for you, and feed on Him in your heart, by faith, with thanksgiving.
(Partake of the bread.)
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve your soul and body unto everlasting life. Drink this remembering that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
(Partake of juice.)
CONGREGATIONAL CANDLE LIGHTING:
John 1:4-5
[Christ] gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
As a practical illustration of this truth will be lighting the candles that we each received as we entered the sanctuary. The candle represents our life and it will be lit up by Christ as I light my candle from the Christ candle and then light the ushers candles who will then proceed down the center isle lighting the candles of each person seated next to the isle and each person will then light the candle of the person seated next to them in their pew. When everyone has had their candle lighted we will join together in singing “Silent Night.”
(Pastor lights his candle from the Christ candle.)
Pastor:
The Light which has entered our darkness cannot be extinguished! Receive the Light and live for him: Shine on as his disciples!
People:
The Christ child — we welcome. The Light — we receive. We will shine on as his disciples!
(Pastor lights the ushers’ candles and they begin lighting the people’s candles.)
“Silent Night”
BENEDICTION:
The One who is God, who was born as a Babe that long-ago night, reflects the light of his Father’s love to you now. Receive the love — and pass it on! And may God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, bless you all with a very merry Christmas.
Amen and good night.
SOURCES:
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, second edition.
“Christmas Bread” by Pat Cook (SermonCentral.com).
“A Birth Bringing A Blessing” by Dennis Koch (eSermons.com)
Sourcebook of Worship Resources, volume 4.
Wesleyan Pastor’s Manual.
