Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m. Service (Bulletin & YouTube Link)

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Welcome to Christ Episcopal Church
The Nativity of our Lord

December 24th, 2021

5:00 p.m. Family Service with Holy Eucharist

Voluntary Noëls Jean-François Dandrieu (1682-1738)

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: We gather to celebrate the birth of the one who is the light of the world. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

People: He is also called Emmanuel, for in him God is with us.

Celebrant: We light the candle of hope to remind us of the promises made by all the prophets that God would raise up a savior for his people Israel.

People: Christ is our hope and our salvation. He calls us to share our hope in him with each other.

Celebrant: We light the candle of peace to remind us that it is only with God and by following in his path that true peace can be found.

People: Christ brings the peace of God to us. He calls us to share the peace he gives with each other.

Celebrant: We light the candle of joy to remind us that God gives joy to every heart that abides in him.

People: As Mary rejoiced in the birth of Jesus - so his birth in us brings us joy. God calls us to share the joy he gives with each other.

Celebrant: We light the candle of love to remind us that Jesus is God's gift of love to us - and that in him, the light of love triumphs over darkness.

People: Love never fails - it transforms all those who give it and receive it. God calls us to share his love with each other.

Celebrant: We light the Christ candle to remind us that the light of the world was born this night.

People: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness – on them a light has shined.

Liturgy of the Word

Processional Hymn “O Come, All Ye Faithful” ADESTE FIDELES, Hymnal 83 v. 1-3

Blessing of the Christmas Crèche

Processional Hymn “O Come, All Ye Faithful” ADESTE FIDELES, Hymnal 83 v. 4-6

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis Hymnal S280

Proclamation of the Word of God

The Collect of the Day

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 9:2-7

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Hymn of Praise “Good Christians friends rejoice” IN DULCI JUBILO, Hymnal 107

New Testament Reading Titus 2: 11-14

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn “While Shepherds watched their flocks” WINCHESTER OLD

Hymnal 94

The Christmas Pageant

The Nicene Creed

The Prayers of the People

Reader: Glorious Lord. People: Grant us Your Peace.

The Peace

Celebration of the Holy Communion

The Offertory “Go Tell it on the Mountain” GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

Hymnal 99

At the Presentation GREENSLEEVES

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

This, this is Christ, the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Children’s Eucharistic Prayer

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give you thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, living and loving God, for calling our world into being -- for making earth and water, plants and animals, and then for making each and every one of us in your image -- every woman, and man, every girl and boy, of every race and place, rich and poor. We thank you for the gift of children, for the way in which each one is wonderfully made, a gift from you.

On this Day, we thank you because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, was born to Mary so that we might be free to serve God, be forgiven for our sins and live in love toward all.

And so we join Angels and Archangels in singing your glory, to God.

Sanctus Hymnal S130, BCP 362

The celebrant continues.

We praise you, O God. You sent your beloved child Jesus to enter our world as a baby, to grow as a child in mind and body, to tell all people that it is only being like a child that we may enter God's Kingdom, to heal children and adults to be a friend to the poor and anyone left out by others. Jesus out of love for us died for us on the cross and was raised from the dead so that we might know new life in him.

One night before he died, Jesus was at supper with friends. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, and said: "Take, eat: This is my body which is given for you. Do this and remember me."

As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again he gave thanks, gave it to them, and said: "Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all, for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink, remember me.

Around your table here, as your children, O God, we remember Jesus Christ, who came in love, lived in love, and died in love, rose from the dead and is to come. We offer to you these gifts of bread and wine, and we offer to you our lives.

Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts that they may be for us the Body and Blood of Christ, that they strengthen us to welcome all people, to show your love, to work for our justice, May we be made holy. Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer BCP 364

The Fraction Anthem: Agnus Dei Hymnal S164

The Communion of the People

Communion Hymns Hymnal 79, 101

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post Communion Hymn "Silent Night, Holy Night" STILLE NACHT, Hymnal 111

Blessing

Processional Hymn "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" MENDELSSOHN, Hymnal 87

Dismissal

Voluntary Variations to Adeste Fidelis Raynor Taylor (1747-1825)

I cannot tell you how the light comes, but that it does. That it will. That it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you, though it may seem long ages in coming or arrive in a shape you did not foresee. And so may we this day turn ourselves toward it. May we lift our faces to let it find us. May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes. May we open and open more and open still to the blessed light that comes.

⁠—Jan Richardson

Announcements

Please Note: Mother Elizabeth will be on sabbatical from January 10th - March 1st, 2022. Worship, pastoral care, outreach and the fellowship & work of the church shall continue.

Please Note: The Church office will be closed from November 24th - January 2nd.

Christ Church YouTube Link

You can view the livestream for this service Friday, December 24th at 9:00 p.m. or watch it any time after the live stream via our YouTube page: Christ Episcopal Church Binghamton (link)

Worship Schedule Through Epiphany

December 24th: Christmas Eve Service

5:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant