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Christmas Eve 2023 Worship Resources

Thumbs Our Spirit Waits Christmas Eve

With the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve falling on the same day, this year presents unique worship planning challenges and opportunities. On this page, you will find materials for your Christmas Eve worship service. We hope these resources inspire and assist you as we begin the day at the close of Advent and end the day by celebrating the birth of Jesus, our wondrous Light!

Planning Notes

Have you noticed the references to light and darkness throughout this series? In the scriptures, certainly, but also in the planning and preaching notes, the prayers, even the songs? Does the play of light and dark bother you, or is it so customary you don’t notice any more? Until a few years ago, I bought the whole “dark is bad, light is good” narrative hook, line, and sinker. And then, one day, I was reading an article that talked about how necessary darkness is for human health. We actually need darkness to regulate our physical, emotional, and mental health. Wild, I know. And then, I started thinking about how some of my favorite moments in worship happen in the dark. Especially Christmas Eve.

Throughout this series, we have dug deep on shocking hope, just peace, fierce joy, and transformative love to help us learn how to wait. Wait through Advent, yes, but also wait beyond Advent, beyond the birth of Jesus, beyond the Epiphany. We are still waiting for the complete fulfillment of God’s kin-dom. But tonight, we celebrate the beginning and the end of the fulfillment we wait for—Christ’s birth. The arrival of our wondrous Light.

You certainly have your traditions for Christmas Eve in your community, and this is a time to joyfully live into them. Light the final candle on the Advent wreath. Tell the story of Christ’s birth. Act it out, even! Make sure every age group from youngest to oldest hears the story in a way that is meaningful to them. Sing the carols your congregation holds dear lustily and with a good courage. (Thank you, John Wesley.[1])

As you go about your community’s traditions, don’t forget to turn off the lights. No, seriously. We need the darkness to notice the light. And yes, we can talk about how darkness is used as a metaphor for sin and how the history of that metaphor has been harmful to people of diverse races, ethnicities, and abilities. But that’s not quite what I’m getting at. Turning off the lights, sitting in darkness together, can settle and refocus our attention. Outside the walls of the church, we have been so busy turning up the brightness of the lights, the volume of the music, and the pace of our lives in this season that we need help making room to welcome the Christ child. We need help noticing the birth of the Light.

So, turn off the lights and light some candles. Balance joyful carols with gentle lullabies. Marry warm fellowship with space for prayer. Help your people embrace the complex tapestry of our lives that we bring with us to the manger. Give permission for the hard but natural emotions that we often identify as “darkness” to have a place alongside the merriment and joy to inhabit the space. The Light that is born this night is a Light that stays with us in all things, in all places, and in all circumstances. Turn off the lights, and welcome our wondrous Light, God with us.


[1] The United Methodist Hymnal, (Nashville: United Methodist Publishing House, 1989), vii.

Preaching Notes

It’s Christmas Eve, and everyone is already tired, even though they are also excited. At least the littlest ones are excited. It has been a full day. Advent in the morning and Christmas Eve in the evening. Is it too much? Do we have room for all of this celebration? However, you choose to observe this event, preacher, suggest that we need to make room for the light. Light, we think, doesn’t take up much room, though. So, it should be easy. Except this light seems to need room, lots of room, all the room we can spare. This light asks a lot of us. Asks for a shocking hope and a just peace. We are asked to express a fierce joy and to embrace the love that transforms. It asks a lot, this light, as wondrous as it is. It wants to take over our whole life, our lives as the community of faith, the body of Christ. Our problem, this Christmas Eve is that we’ve gotten too used to the darkness.

The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light. We have? Where? On them has the light shined. Really? It has? For unto them a son is given. A what? Unto them a child is born. A child? Wait, I don’t know about this. And the government shall be upon his shoulders. Ah, this is a government plot. Count me out! And they missed it. Announcements came and went; proclaimers proclaimed; heralds heralded. And they missed it. It was too long coming. It was too obscure. Not enough press, not enough bright lights. Sure, there was the star thing, but we see stars all the time. Angels? Well, everybody and Charlie has angels. No big deal. Foreigners showing up? Keep them out, too risky. They missed it.

We miss it. Sometimes we miss it because it is old news. God with us? Yeah, I have a bumper sticker. I’m good. It’s old news. We forget to be amazed. We forget to be humbled. We forget to be grateful. What have you done for us lately? A baby over 2,000 years ago? OK, got it, thanks. Next?

Except that baby grew up to say “I will be with you always. Even to the end of the age.” Always. All ways. Today. Yesterday. Tomorrow. On your best days, he’s there celebrating with you, being proud of you, clapping you on the shoulder, giving high fives and atta boys, atta girls. On your worst days when even your mother is disappointed in you, when even you are disappointed in you, and you want to dig a hole and crawl in, pulling it over you, he’s there. The days of emptiness and brokenness, the days of fullness and joy. The days of love overflowing and the days of loneliness that suck at your soul. “I am with you always.” This baby didn’t stay a baby. But he stayed. Stayed God with you. God with me. God with us.

We have to lean into the light. We have to make room. In our busy lives, we have to make room. Because this baby, this Savior is polite; he has the manners his mom taught him. He’ll wait. He won’t force himself on you, won’t horn his way into your busyness and demand attention. He’ll wait. Until you turn. Until you stop running. And turn and give a hint. That’s all, just a hint. Just an opening. Just a tear shed or a smile offered. Just a hand held out, hoping, wishing, wanting someone to take it and hold on for dear life. And then he’ll come. He’ll fill you. He’ll want you. He’ll remind you that you are one of the special ones, one of the chosen ones. He’ll lift you up until you think you can fly. He’ll bandage your wounds until you forget that you even had them; even the scars will be forgotten. He’ll turn you around until your head is spinning, and you find your feet on the path you wanted all along, even if you didn’t know it.

We have to make room. For the story, for the song. For hope and fulfillment. For the here and the not yet. For the dreams you still dream and the longings of your heart, even as you claim contentment with what already is. For the love you have and the love you need. We have to make room. For a child, that’s all. Just a tiny baby. Like all babies, this one seems so small, so helpless, so simple – feed me, clean me, love me – yet, who takes up more room than you thought possible.

We had room, my wife and I, 30 some years ago; we had room, and we had no idea how much room our son needed. And a few years later, we still had room. And, once more, we were surprised at the room our daughter had taken over. More room than we thought we had, more room that we didn’t know we had. Jesus comes to fill the emptiness that you don’t even know you have because you’ve filled it with so much else. But none of that really fills the emptiness like you thought it would. Until Him. Until God with us. Until the Firstborn. The Word made flesh.

And Luke takes that flesh and turns it back into Word. And we love the story he tells. Love it enough not to worry about the detail, about the timing. I mean Quirinius was not governor when Herod was on the throne; the dates don’t match. But who cares? It’s the story that matters. And Luke gets that right. We have to make room, he says.

We have to make room. No, wait. We get to make room. So ... make room. This blessed Christmas season, make room.

Liturgical Resources

CALL TO WORSHIP

Come, faithful watchers, and behold, your salvation is here!
We greet the Wondrous Light, our Messiah, Christ the Lord.

We have waited and watched, longing for God to show up and save us from the suffering and pain in our world.
We greet the Wondrous Light, the fulfillment of our shocking hope.

We have waited and watched, longing for peace to reign among us, a peace that removes unjust barriers, frees us from sin, and binds us together as neighbors, family, and friends.
We greet the Wondrous Light, the bringer of our just peace.

We have waited and watched, longing for joy that is persistent in the face of the grief, lament, chaos, and oppression that weigh on us day in and day out.
We greet the Wondrous Light, the source of our fierce joy.

We have waited and watched, longing to encounter the love that transforms us, the Love that is now here among us, first as a babe in a manger, then as a teacher, a friend, and our Savior.
We greet the Wondrous Light, Love Incarnate who has come to save us and transform us. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, June 2023.

INVOCATION

Emmanuel, God-with-us most of all tonight, your light lifts up our hearts, our spirits, and our voices. We give you thanks for your birth long ago and presence with us always. Your hope is more trustworthy than our promises. Your peace is deeper than our prayers. Your joy teaches us to sing even when we want to cry. Your love is wider than the chorus of the galaxies, and yet your Star shines on us now in this church which has become a manger. Amen.

Written by Maren C. Tirabassi, in Touch Holiness: Resources for Worship, Updated, eds. Ruth C. Duck and Maren C. Tirabassi (Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2012), 21.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of Light,
we confess that we have gone astray and have left Your light.
We follow the dim lights of the world of success and fortune.
We follow the dim lights that call us
to be more religious by following rules.
We follow the fading light of personal salvation.
Forgive us for not seeking the true Light
of Your love for all the world.
Forgive us for not following the ways of Jesus,
who commanded us to love one another.
Call us to be light-bearers of love, compassion, and justice,
in which the Mystery of Your Love is revealed.
In the name of Jesus the Messiah, we pray. Amen.

Written by Rev. Mindi and posted on her Rev-o-lution website, http://rev-o-lution.org/. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2016/12/prayer-of-confession-seeking-light.html.

BENEDICTION

Beloved, just as the shepherds heard the angels’ news and rushed to find the Christ child, go now glorifying and praising God, declaring the good news: our wondrous Light has come! Thanks be to God. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, June 2023.

Candle Lighting Liturgy

Reader 1: To a people longing for hope and yearning for deliverance, the prophet Isaiah declared,

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined…For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:2, 6)

Reader 2: Tonight, we come seeking hope, peace, joy, and love, and we find these things in a child. God made flesh as a baby in a manger. A baby who is both the beginning and the end of our salvation, who dwells with us even now, our Emmanuel, God with us.

Congregation: We live as people in the in-between who celebrate the arrival of the Light that shines in lost and broken places as we wait for the day when we will live in the fullness of God’s kin-dom.

Reader 1: We light these candles as signs of our shocking hope, our just peace, our fierce joy, the love that transforms us, and Jesus Christ, our wondrous Light. May the Light burning in our hearts guide us, comfort us, protect us, and tend us in all seasons and circumstances, reminding us that day and night, in the light and in the darkness, God is with us. Our salvation has come! Amen.

Light all five candles of the Advent wreath.

Offertory Prayer

Giving God, as we recount the story of your gift of a Savior on that night long ago, we remember there were some who said, “There’s no room”, and others who responded, “Come, we’ll make room.” As we bring our gifts to your altar, which group will be the best fit for each of us? Help us give with a heart of abundance and not one of scarcity! On this holiest of nights, let us dwell with those whose chorus is, “Come, we’ll make room…,” remembering your abundant love for us. In the name of our Savior and Redeemer, we pray. Amen. (Luke 2:1-14, (15-20))

Hymn Suggestions

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Isaiah 9:2-7 UMH Table Head Info The United Methodist Hymnal MVPC Table Head Info Mil Voces Para Celebrar (Spanish) CLUW Table Head Info Come, Let Us Worship (Korean) TFWS Table Head Info The Faith We Sing SOZ Table Head Info Songs of Zion URW Table Head Info Upper Room Worshipbook WSM Table Head Info Worship & Song, Music Edition WSW Table Head Info Worship & Song, Worship Resources Edition SoG Table Head Info Songs of Grace TAH Table Head Info The Africana Hymnal
All Earth Is Waiting to See the Promised One (Toda la Tierra Espera al Salvador) 210 78
Arise, Shine Out, Your Light Has Come 725
Behold, the Light Has Dawned
Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light 223
Canticle of Light and Darkness 205
Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies 173 281
Come Now, O Prince of Peace (O-so-so) 148 2232 415
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 196 82 101
Gather Us In 2236 54
God of glory, your splendor shines 8
Goodness Is Stronger than Evil 2219 436
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 240 101
His Name Is Wonderful 174 172 203
How Majestic Is Your Name 2023
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light 206 102
It Came upon the Midnight Clear 218 90
Jesus, Jesus, oh, what a wonderful child 3060 4039
Jesus, Lord of All Creation
Jesus, Name above All Names 2071
King of Kings 2075
Light of the World 2204
O Come, All Ye Faithful 234 106
O Day of Peace That Dimly Shines 729
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright 247
O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright 679 211
Shine, Jesus, Shine 264 2173
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking 3067
The God of Abraham Praise 116 28
The light that enlivens all the world 7
Walking in the Light of God 3163
We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations 569
What a Mighty God We Serve 2021 4022
You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd 3043

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Psalm 96 UMH Table Head Info The United Methodist Hymnal MVPC Table Head Info Mil Voces Para Celebrar (Spanish) CLUW Table Head Info Come, Let Us Worship (Korean) TFWS Table Head Info The Faith We Sing SOZ Table Head Info Songs of Zion URW Table Head Info Upper Room Worshipbook WSM Table Head Info Worship & Song, Music Edition WSW Table Head Info Worship & Song, Worship Resources Edition SoG Table Head Info Songs of Grace TAH Table Head Info The Africana Hymnal
Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God (Amen Siakudumisa) 2067 398
Canticle of Praise to God 91
God, Bless the Poet’s Heart and Hand 63
Great Is the Lord 2022
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 240 101
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name 79 80
Honor and Praise 2018
How Great Is Our God 3003
How Great Thou Art 77 2 61 4015
I Sing Praises to Your Name 2037
In the Bleak Midwinter 221
King of Kings 2075
Majesty, Worship His Majesty 176 171 204
Men of faith, rise up and sing 3042
Mil Voces Para Celebrar 59
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing 57 1 226 4019
O for a thousand tongues to sing 3001
Of the Father’s Love Begotten 184 52 66
On This Day Earth Shall Ring 248
Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above 96 124
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven 66 75
Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord 2035 399
Shout to the Lord 2074
Shout to the North 3042
Sing a New Song to the Lord 2045
Sing We Now of Christmas 237 166
Someone Asked the Question 2144
The splendor of the King 3003
The Trees of the Field 2279
We Sing of Your Glory 2011
We Sing to You, O God 2001 293

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Titus 2:11-14 UMH Table Head Info The United Methodist Hymnal MVPC Table Head Info Mil Voces Para Celebrar (Spanish) CLUW Table Head Info Come, Let Us Worship (Korean) TFWS Table Head Info The Faith We Sing SOZ Table Head Info Songs of Zion URW Table Head Info Upper Room Worshipbook WSM Table Head Info Worship & Song, Music Edition WSW Table Head Info Worship & Song, Worship Resources Edition SoG Table Head Info Songs of Grace TAH Table Head Info The Africana Hymnal
A Charge to Keep I Have 413 4117
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) 3104
Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound 378 203 94 211 4091
Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine 369 65 287 4083
Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light 223
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 196 82 101
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice 224 155
Here Is Bread, Here Is Wine 2266
I Love You, Lord 2068
I Need Thee Every Hour 397
I Want a Principle Within 410
In the Singing 2255
Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come! 246 100 161
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088 4071
My Hope Is Built (contemporary)
My Hope Is Built (MELITA, NAVY HYMN tune)
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less 368 261 4105
O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee 430 315
O Sing a Song of Bethlehem 179
On This Day Earth Shall Ring 248
Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow 2096
Sing Alleluia to the Lord 2258 404

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Luke 2:1-20 UMH Table Head Info The United Methodist Hymnal MVPC Table Head Info Mil Voces Para Celebrar (Spanish) CLUW Table Head Info Come, Let Us Worship (Korean) TFWS Table Head Info The Faith We Sing SOZ Table Head Info Songs of Zion URW Table Head Info Upper Room Worshipbook WSM Table Head Info Worship & Song, Music Edition WSW Table Head Info Worship & Song, Worship Resources Edition SoG Table Head Info Songs of Grace TAH Table Head Info The Africana Hymnal
"Fear Not!" the Angel Said 11
Amen, Amen 2072
Angels from the Realms of Glory 220
Angels We Have Heard on High 238 98
At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall Bow 168
Away in a Manger 217 93 157
Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light 223
Canticle of God’s Glory; Response 83
Child So Lovely, Here I Kneel Before You (Niño Lindo, Ante Ti Me Rindo) 222 114
Come and See 2127
Come Rejoicing, Come with Singing
Creation Sings 3018
Dona Nobis Pacem 376 360 142 443
Ecoutez le chant des anges (Hark! The herald)
Gloria en las alturas 3057
Gloria, Gloria 72 353 380
Glory Be to Our God on High 2
Glory Be to the Father (Greatorex) 71
Glory in the highest 3057
Glory to God 2033
Glory to God in the Highest 2276
Glory to God, Glory in the Highest (Gloria a Dios) 403
Go, Tell It on the Mountain 251 97 75
God of glory, your splendor shines 8
God rest you merry, gentlemen 3052
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice 224 155
Gracious God, we are overwhelmed 149
Gracious God, you have reminded us 123
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 240 101
He Came Down 2085
His Name Is Wonderful 174 172 203
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name 79 80
I Sing Praises to Your Name 2037
If I could visit Bethlehem 3063
In the Bleak Midwinter 221
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly 229 116 152
It Came upon the Midnight Clear 218 90
Jesus! the Name High over All 193 199
Jesus, Jesus, oh, what a wonderful child 3060 4039
Jesus, Our Brother, Strong and Good 227
Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine 2099
Joy to the world, the Lord has come 127
Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come! 246 100 161
Jubilate, Servite (Come, Rejoice in God) 2017 383
Lift High the Cross 159 164 174
Light the Advent Candle 2090
Like a Child 2092
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming 216
Lord of Peace and Hope, we thankfully give 139
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088 4071
Love has come 3059
Maker, in Whom We Live 88
Merciful God, always with us 5
O Day of Peace That Dimly Shines 729
O God, we are stirred this Christmas 137
O nuit de paix, sainte nuit (Silent Night)
O Sing a Song of Bethlehem 179
Of the Father’s Love Begotten 184 52 66
On Christmas night 3064
On This Day Earth Shall Ring 248
Once in Royal David’s City 250 159
One Holy Night in Bethlehem 2097
Petite ville, Bethleem (O Little Town of Bethlehem)
Radiant Morning Star, you are both 11
Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow 2096
Rock-a-Bye, My Dear Little Boy 235
Savior of the Nations, Come 214
Silent Night, Holy Night 239 103 160
Sing We Now of Christmas 237 166
Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness 2120
Spirit-child Jesus 3062
Star-Child 2095
Still, still, still 3066
That Boy-Child of Mary 241
The First Noel the Angel Did Say 245 89
The Friendly Beasts 227
The Silence Now Rings
The Snow Lay on the Ground 163 2093
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy 2098 4037
There’s Something About That Name 171 74
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne 172 2100
We celebrate the birth of the Holy Child! 138
We gather in preparation 4
We Sing of Your Glory 2011
What Child Is This 219 112 154
When Christmas Morn Is Dawning 232
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night 236
Woman in the Night 274
You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd 3043

Graphics Downloads - Christmas Eve, Year B


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PowerPoint/Projection Image - Our Wondrous Light (Content - Dark)

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Bulletin Image - Our Spirit Waits

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