Christmas Eve 2023 Worship Resources
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 |
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