Celebrate the Incarnate Son of God’s arrival on the scene of history with the Central Baptist Community!
Prelude - Pat-a-Pan/O Come O Come Emmanuel (performed by Renee Cappetti and Kirsten DiFlavis)
Welcome
Call To Worship (Lighting of the Advent Wreath)
Love has come, a light in the darkness!
Love explodes in the Bethlehem skies.
See all heaven has come to proclaim it;
Hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love! Glory to God on high.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus on this Christmas Eve and rejoice in His coming to us, we light the Christ candle. Jesus Christ is our hope. He is our peace. Jesus Christ is our joy. He is love – pure, holy undying love. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Hymn-#244 “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Verse 1
Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Verse 2
Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne
Charles Wesley | Rowland Hugh Prichard
Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 468823
Opening Prayer
OT Reading - Isaiah 7:14, 9:2, 40:3-5,30-31 [NRSV]
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son,
and shall name him Immanuel.
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.
A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
Choir - “Words of Isaiah” (by John Purifoy)
NT Reading- Titus 2:11-14
Hymn-#259 “Angels From The Realms of Glory”
Verse 1
Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o'er all the earth
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Chorus
Come and worship come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
Verse 2
Shepherds in the field abiding
Watching o'er your flocks by night
God with us is now residing
Yonder shines the infant light
Verse 3
Sages leave your contemplations
Brighter visions beam afar
Seek the great Desire of nations
Ye have seen His natal star
Verse 4
Saints before the altar bending
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord descending
In His temple shall appear
Verse 5
Though an infant now we view Him
He shall fill His Father's throne
Gather all nations to Him
Every knee shall then bow down
Henry Thomas Smart | James Montgomery
Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 468823
Special Music, “O Holy Night”
Offering
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Gospel Reading-Luke 2:1-7
Choir-Light of the Stable (by Steve Rhymer and Elizabeth Rhymer, arranged by David Angerman)
Gospel Reading-Luke 2:8-20
Special Music, “Away In A Manger” (performed by Todd Johnson)
Meditation
Hymn—#277 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Verse 1
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 th'angelic hosts proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Verse 2
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of the Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail th'incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Verse 3
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n 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 newborn King
Verse 4
Come Desire of nations come
Fix in us Thy humble home
Rise the woman's conqu’ring seed
Bruise in us the serpent's head
Adam’s likeness now efface
Stamp Thine image in its place
Second Adam from above
Reinstate us in Thy love
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Charles Wesley | Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 468823
Communion
Candle Lighting
Hymn—#253 “Silent Night”
Verse 1
Silent night holy night
All is calm all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mildSleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Verse 2
Silent night holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Verse 3
Silent night holy night
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Verse 4
Silent night holy night
Wondrous star lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Franz Xaver Gruber | John Freeman Young | Joseph Mohr
Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 468823
Benediction