From: Elshabach@AOL.COM

Following is my service for Christmas Eve. This is a variation on a service
of light -- an opposite of a tennabrae service.

The following candles should be placed on the communion table at the
beginning of the service. I use a variety of candle lengths, place them on a
variety of fabrics at varying heights for interest. Each candle symbolizes a
character in the narrative. Candles will be lighted by an acolyte during the
service as specified by the program notes included in this copy of the
service.

Mary, Joseph and Baby candles are placed on a muslin or burlap fabric in the
center of the table.
Mary - light blue candle in simple ceramic candle holder
Joseph - royal blue candle in simple ceramic candleholder
can be similar or identical to Mary's
Baby Jesus - simple, clear round candleholder with white votive candle

The angel candles are yellow, placed in crystal candleholders on a glittery
gold fabric directly behind the Mary and Joseph candles. One is taller than
the other -- this is the Gabriel candle.

The shepherd candles are a variety of shades of green, placed in wooden
candleholders on a green shade of fabric. These are placed to the left of
the angel candles.

The king candles are a variety of shades of purple, placed in silver
candlesticks on a fabric of red velvet. These are placed to the right of the
angel candles.

If you have questions, please contact me at elshabach@aol.com

Kathie Wilkinson
Mt. Sylvan UMC
Durham, North Carolina


Mt. Sylvan United Methodist Church
Durham, North Carolina
Christmas Eve Service
December 24, 2000
5:00 p.m.

CALL TO WORSHIP
Rejoice, for God is with us - Emmanuel.
In the darkness of our world shines God's holy light.
Now there is reason to hope, to love, to laugh, to live.
God is truly with us. We are not alone.
Thanks be to God!

O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels,
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

True God of true God, Light from Light eternal.
Lo, He shuns not the virgin's womb.
Son of the Father, begotten, not created.
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest!
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze.
We too would thither bend our joyful footsteps.
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

OPENING PRAYER
Gracious God,
With joy and thanksgiving we gather as Your people.
We have come to hear again the timeless story
of Christ's birth.
In the excitement of today, quieten our hearts
that we may know the peace and fullness
of this holy time.
Shine, O Light, in the darkness of our world.
Sing, O angels, in the stillness of our hearts.
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace and good will among men.
This we pray in the name of the Child of Bethlehem. Amen.

(People are seated - all lights are dimmed - DARKNESS except altar candles,
Chrismon tree and advent wreath candles)

The Prophecy of the Messiah
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
John 1:1-2, 4-5
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
Emmanuel
Emmanuel, Emmanuel.
His name is called Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed in us.
His name is called Emmanuel.

The Birth of Jesus
Announced to Mary and Joseph
Luke 1:26-38
Matthew 1:18-25
My Soul Gives Glory to My God
Phyllis O'Keef, soloist

(As soloist sings, Gabriel candle and Mary and Joseph candles are lighted.)

The Preparations for the Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-5
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

Jesus is Born
Luke 2:6-7
Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky look down where He lay.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

(As congregation sings, Baby Jesus candle is lighted.
House lights go up one notch.)

Jesus' Birth is Announced to the Shepherds
Luke 2:9-14

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear That glorious song of old
>From angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven's all gracious King.
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

While congregation sings, angel candles are lighted.
House lights go up a notch,

The First Noel
The first noel the angels did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, noel, noel, noel. Born in the King of Israel.

(While congregation sings, shepherd candles are lighted.
House lights go up one notch.)

The Shepherds Find Baby Jesus
Luke 2:15-18

The Wise Men Bring Their Gifts to Jesus
Matthew 2:1-11
The First Noel
And by the light of that same star,
Three wise men came from county far.
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, noel, noel, noel. Born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in the wise men three,
Full reverently upon the knee.
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, noel, noel, noel. Born is the King of Israel.

(While congregation sings, king candles are lighted.
House lights go up to full light.)

We Offer Our Gifts to God

Offertory
What Child Is This?
Kathie Wilkinson, solo handbells

Offertory Response
What child is this who laid to rest
on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
while shepherds watch are keeping.
This, this is Christ the King
whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste! Haste to bring Him laud, the babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings.
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Meditation by Dr. O'Keef

PRAYER OF CONFESSION and PARDON
Merciful God,
we confess that often we find darkness
more comfortable than light.
We confess that we find Your good news
frightening and unsettling,
especially when we consider its demands
as well as its promises.
We confess that Christmas has become more to us
than the birthday of the Christ,
partly because we do not want a Christ-child
in our lives or in our world.
Forgive us, break us, bend us, remake us.
Give us the courage to lay ourselves open
to the wonder and healing of Your coming.
Be born again into our world,
be born again into our hearts and lives.
Hear now our silent and personal confessions
as we prepare ourselves for Your nativity.

The true light that enlightens all has come into the world.
That light shines on in the darkness,
and the darkness has never been able to put it out.
This is the good news:
God has heard our confession. God has forgiven our sin.
Thanks be to God!

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
THE LORD'S PRAYER
BREAKING THE BREAD

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION
Silent Night
Thomas, Lorri, and Rebekah Givens
Silent Night
Jim Lewis and Colleen Poer
O Holy Night
Thomas Givens, trumpet

GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
We are filled with joy
for we have heard good news of great joy.
We are filled with love
for we have tasted the sign of God's great love.
We are filled with hope
for the angels still sing in our world
and there is a Light for us to follow.

THE PASSING OF THE LIGHT

Silent Night
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies.
With angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn 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 men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.

Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Life and light 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 us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.

BENEDICTION

Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love.