Joy

Note to the Teacher

Christmas Eve is often a break from typical youth gatherings. Instead of a typical lesson, we are including a personal worship/prayer service you can give students to do on their own, with their family or online with friends. Invite them to read all the elements aloud and pause in between each one.

Call to Prayer:

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!

Confession:

In the middle of this season, I confess
That I have focused too much on myself
That I have focused too much on presents
That I have been rude to my family
And that I have forgotten to think about the gift of Jesus.
Forgive me, and help me to see myself in the story of Christmas.

Refrain:

Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you – wonderful, joyous news for all people.

Reading: Luke 2:2-20, CEB

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. ²This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. ³ Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. ⁴Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. ⁵He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. ⁶While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. ⁷ She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.

⁸Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. ⁹The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

¹⁰The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. ¹¹ Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. ¹²This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” ¹ Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, ¹⁴“Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

¹⁵When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” ¹⁶ They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. ¹⁸Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. ²⁰The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

Refrain:

Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you – wonderful, joyous news for all people.

Psalm:

Hark! The herald-angels sing
Glory to the newborn king;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all you nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald-angels sing
Glory to the new-born King

Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald-angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King

Refrain:

Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you – wonderful, joyous news for all people.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Concluding Prayer:

God, you gave the best gift that has ever been given on the first Christmas: Jesus. As I move into Christmas morning, please help me remember your gift. Help each gift I give and receive remind me of the gift of your son. Whatever happens tomorrow, help it to be a holy day. Help the fun with family and the laughter and the meals we share not only draw me closer to those in my home, but closer to you. Amen.