Service of Lessons and Carols for the First Sunday After Christmas Day

John Potter, music director of The United Methodist Church of Lake Orion, Michigan, has shared his church's worship bulletin for the Sunday after Christmas Day. It is an excellent service of Lessons and Carols.

Ringing of the Steeple Bell to Call the Community to Worship

THE GATHERING

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please fill out the Welcome Card tear-off in your bulletin.

PRELUDE
"Joy to the World," "Away in a Manger," "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"

*CALL TO WORSHIP
The Christian life is redeemed from sin and consecrated to God.
Through baptism, we have entered this new covenant of which
Jesus Christ is the Mediator.
He sealed it with his own blood, that it might last forever.
From time to time we renew this covenant with God
and gather at the Lord's table.
Today we meet, as generations before us have met,
to renew our covenant that binds us to God.

*OPENING HYMN
"Come, And Let Us Use the Grace Divine," United Methodist Hymnal (UMH), 606
(Ushers will collect green prayer cards.)

*OPENING PRAYER (in unison)
Leader: Let us pray.
Help us, O God, to live for Jesus and shine with his love.
As we renew our covenant with you, help us keep Jesus at the center of our lives. Amen.

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES
"A Candle Is Burning" (on screens)

PSALTER
Psalm 148 (with Response): UMH 861

THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Beloved in Christ, this Christmas Season it is our delight to prepare
ourselves to hear again the message of the angels,
and to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem,
and to see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Let us pray:
Eternal God, as your Word is proclaimed through the scriptures that are read,
let us hear with joy the story of your loving purposes from the first
days of our sin until the glorious redemption brought us by this holy Child;
and let us make this house of prayer glad with our carols of praise. Amen.

FIRST LESSON
Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
God announces in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve's punishment for their sin

CAROL: "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen"

SECOND LESSON
Genesis 17:1-9 OT-13
God's Covenant with Abraham

*CAROL: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," UMH 240

THIRD LESSON
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
The Child Samuel at Shiloh

CAROL: "Angels from the Realms of Glory," UMH 220

FOURTH LESSON
Jeremiah 31:31-34
A New Covenant

CAROL: "O Little Town of Bethlehem," UMH 230

FIFTH LESSON
Luke 2:1-20
The Birth of Jesus

*CAROL: "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime," UMH 244

SIXTH LESSON
Matthew 2:1-12
The wise men follow a star to find the child Jesus

CAROL: "We Three Kings," UMH 254

SEVENTH LESSON
Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus in the Temple

*CAROL: "What Child Is This," UMH 219

EIGHTH LESSON
Colossians 3:12-17
The apostle Paul tells of the New Life in Christ

CAROL: "In the Bleak Midwinter," UMH 221

NINTH LESSON
Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-15, 13:1-3, 7-8, 15-16, 20-21
The apostle tells how Jesus became like us to serve us

CAROL: "I Cannot Tell"
(On Screens & Announcement Insert)

THE RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD

COVENANT PRAYER IN THE TRADITION JOHN WESLEY BEGAN IN 1755
(On Screens)

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY
Dance on "Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella"

*CHRISTMAS DOXOLOGY
(Tune: "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly")
Glory be to God the Father, Glory be to Christ the Son.
Glory to the Holy Spirit, Glory to the Three-in-One.
Here we offer - to you gladly - all the gifts that you impart,
As we glory in your Presence, giving from a grateful heart.

*OFFERTORY PRAYER

THE GOING FORTH

*CLOSING HYMN: "Angels We Have Heard on High," UMH 238

*BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE: "Good Christians All Rejoice" (German Melody, Arr. Gilbert M. Martin)

The Church Bell Proclaims God's Love to the World.

*Indicates congregation to stand, if able