December 25 – Christmas – Christ is Born!

May God bless today’s worship as we celebrate God’s Christmas gift to the world–the Promised Messiah. Merry Christmas from all of us at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ.

As always, you are more than welcome to join us at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Christmas morning, at Ivy Chapel. You may also watch our worship services anytime on YouTube.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Selected Christmas Music – Kathryn Kuntzman, Cello

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Sing of God’s glory!
All: Shout praises to God, all the earth!
One: Celebrate!
All: Let’s rejoice; for God is our life and our salvation! Christ is born!

*HYMN – O Come, All Ye Faithful – #188

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!

God from true God, and
Light of Light begotten,
Lo , He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten, not created

Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest: [Refrain]

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: [Refrain]

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of light, we praise you for giving us the gift of Jesus Christ! We are here in your sanctuary filled with wonder and delight that you have come to humankind as a newborn child! Thank you, God, for being with us on this day of birth and rebirth. We are grateful for and humbled by your presence among us this Christmas morning.
Gracious, Joyful Spirit; you fill our hearts with renewed hope and joy. We worship you, for you bless souls everywhere with the Light of Christ. Glory to you in the highest, O God! Amen.

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES AND THE CHRIST CANDLE

*RESPONSE – Away in a Manger – #213

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.

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.

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 take us to heaven to live with Thee there.

GOD’S WORD – Psalm 98:1-4 • Isaiah 9:2-7

CHRIST IS BORN

RESPONSIVE READING – THE SAVIOR’S ADVENT – #639, Luke 2:8-20

CHRISTMAS CAROL SING – We will sing the first TWO verses of each selected carol.
Enter your requests into the YouTube chat and we’ll try to get to you, too.

*RESPONSIVE PRAYER

Voice One: Radiant Child, On this Christmas day, we pray for peace to fill us,
as the waters renew a dry and desolate landscape
Voice Two: How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace!
Voice One: Radiant Child, on this Christmas day, we pray for hope to guide us forward,
making a way where the path is rocky.
Voice Two: All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God!
Voice One: Radiant Child, on this Christmas Day, we pray for joy to uplift us, carrying us on the swift currents of laughter and community.
Voice Two: Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices; together they shout for joy!
Voice One: Radiant Child, on this Christmas Day, we pray for love to surround us, as the comforting and loving embrace of a trusted friend.
Voice Two: For the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.
Voice One: Peace, Hope, Joy and Love!
May they fill, guide, uplift, and surround us now and always. Amen!

*HYMN – Joy to the World! – #194

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

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.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Joy to the World – Hustad