성탄절예배 Christmas Day Service

By Hyok In Kwon

PRELUDE

During the prelude, a Christmas hymn or choral piece is performed as the candlelighter and leader enter.

CANDLELIGHTING

The white Christ candle in the center of the Advent wreath is lit.

Leader: Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

Congregation: No darkness can overcome this light.

All Together: Christ is Emmanuel, God with us!

HYMN

“Joy to the World” (United Methodist Hymnal, 246)

Call to Worship

Leader: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) Let us give glory and praise to the Lord who is with us.

Congregation: Lord of Glory, establish Your peace on this earth. Amen.

*DOXOLOGY: Hymn #3

*CHRISTMAS RESPONSIVE READING

Leader: The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

Congregation: And all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 40:5)

Leader: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

Congregation: From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2)

Leader: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

Congregation: And the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Leader: Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Congregation: Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,

Leader: On the throne of David and over his kingdom

Congregation: To establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. (Isaiah 9:6-7a)

Leader: And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Congregation: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

HYMN

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”* (United Methodist Hymnal, 234)

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Isaiah 62:6-12

RESPONSE HYMN

“Angels We Have Heard on High,” (United Methodist Hymnal, 238 Verse 1)

EPISTLE READING

Titus 3:4-7

RESPONSE HYMN

“Angels We Have Heard on High,” (United Methodist Hymnal, 238: Verse 2)

*GOSPEL READING

Luke 2: (1-7), 8-20*

Leader: This is the Word of God!

Congregation: Thanks be to God!

*HYMN

“Angels We Have Heard on High,” (United Methodist Hymnal, 238: Verse 3)

*CHRISTMAS PEACE GREETING

As you sit down, share the greeting “Peace be with you” with those around you.

CHRISTMAS PRAYER (by Henri Nouwen)

O Lord,

How difficult it is to accept Your way.

You come to me as a small, powerless child, born in a foreign place.

You come to live as a stranger in Your own land for me.

For all of us, You die as a criminal outside the city’s walls.

Rejected by Your own people, misunderstood by Your friends,

Even forsaken by God.

As I celebrate Your birth, I still seek love and acceptance,

Trying to make this world my home,

And to escape the small sense of alienation that troubles me.

But help me to realize that it is precisely this occasional feeling of homelessness

That brings me closer to You.

Where can I truly celebrate Your birth?

In the comfort of my home? In a foreign place?

Among welcoming friends? Or amidst unknown strangers?

In happiness? Or in loneliness?

Guide me to not flee from those moments

That draw me closer to You.

Just as You are not of this world,

I, too, am not of this world.

Help me to recognize that those feelings of estrangement

Are, in fact, moments of thanksgiving,

Opportunities to embrace You more closely,

To taste Your joy and peace more fully.

Lord Jesus, come and dwell in the most desolate places of my heart.

I believe that this is where Your manger lies,

Where You will shine Your light.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

CHOIR ANTHEM

SERMON

COMMUNION

The communion service may be omitted

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

We invite all of you who are here to worship and celebrate the birth of Christ, who brings glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to those with whom He is pleased, to the holy table of our Lord. As we remember our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope of salvation, let us come before Him with thanksgiving and joy to receive His grace.

Words of Institution

On the night when Jesus was betrayed and abandoned, He took bread, and after giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying,

“This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after supper, He took the cup and said,

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”

Therefore, as we confess the mystery of the Lord’s salvation, who offered Himself as a holy living sacrifice, let us give thanks and praise.

The Invocation of the Holy Spirit

Eternal God, send Your Spirit upon this bread and wine to consecrate this table, and may all who partake be transformed in Christ to be the light and salt of the earth, building up God’s kingdom on this earth. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The bread we break is a participation in the body of Christ.

The cup we receive is a participation in the blood of Christ.

Giving the Bread and Cup

PRAYER

Almighty God, through Christ Jesus, who is the light, shine brightly in the hearts of all with mercy and truth. Just as the shepherds of Bethlehem walked joyfully to the manger where baby Jesus lay, guide our steps so that we may walk forever in the path You have revealed to us. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns over our souls now and forever. Amen.

*HYMN

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (United Methodist Hymnal, 240)

*BENEDICTION

Go out into the world with peace and joy.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Postlude

Share music or a hymn that expresses the joy of Christmas. After the benediction, the leader invites the congregation to remain seated, meditate on the sermon during the postlude, and take time for personal prayer and reflection.

Rev. Hyok In Kwon wrote this order of Christmas Day Service for a bilingual Korean-English congregation. This service can be used when the Korean-speaking and the English-speaking members worship together, and it can also be used when each worships separately.

Rev. Hyok In Kwon is currently serving as the senior pastor at Korean United Methodist Church of Santa Clara Valley in San Jose, California. He completed his doctoral coursework in sociology, taught sociology and ethics at colleges, and worked as a visiting researcher at the Korean Broadcasting Institute. He has also served as a campus pastor at the Pacific School of Religion at Berkeley, California.