Christmas Eve, 4PM. Live Nativity and the Star

Lodi United Methodist Church
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
4:00pm, December 24, 2021

ENTRANCE WITH LIGHT
PRELUDE Rhea Lind & Mitch Richards
CALL TO WORSHIP w/ ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING
Star Child (The Faith We Sing #2095, stanza 1) Kira Ludlum, solo
Star-Child, earth-Child, go between of God,
love Child, Christ Child, Heaven’s lightning rod,
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!

The Krueger family: Come, Lord Jesus, Come. All: Come into our hearts today. (Light a candle for hope)

Star Child (st 2) Beanie Ludlum, solo
Street child, beat child, no place left to go,
hurt child, used child, no one wants to know.
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes to everyone, everyone alive!

The family: Open our hearts today, Lord Jesus. All: Help us to receive you. (Light a candle for peace)

Star Child (st 3) All People Together
Grown child, old child, memory full of years,
sad child, lost child, story told in tears,
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas Comes for everyone, everyone alive!

The family: Help us to reach out to each other, Lord Jesus. All: Illuminate our path tonight. (Light a candle for joy)

Star Child (st 4) Beanie & Kira Ludlum, duet
Spared Child, spoiled child, having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child, knowing joy in store,
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas Comes for everyone, everyone alive!

The family: Remind us of the needs of the world, Lord Jesus.
All: Help us to witness to your Light by serving others. (Light a candle for love)

Star Child (st 5) All People Together
Hope for peace Child, God’s stupendous sign,
down to earth Child, Star of stars that shine,
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
The family (together): Sing glory to God.

(Please stand if you are able)
All: We praise you, God of Christmas, for the great wonders you have sent us:
for shining star and angel’s song, for infant’s cry in lowly manger.
We praise you for the Word made flesh in the Christ Child,
the helpless babe who cracks the world asunder.
We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.
Glory to you, O God of Light, God of Love.
Let us sing praises to our God. Amen.

* SONG OF ADORATION O Come, All Ye Faithful (United Methodist Hymn #234, st. 1 & 3)
1. 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;
Refrain: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest; [Refrain]

CHRISTMAS STORY
Narrator: Pastor Peace Kim Three Voices: Steve, Sheila, and Katie VanLankvelt
Holy Family: Emily & Matthew Niesen with baby Rosemary (7 months old)
Shepherds: Vince and Kim Niesen with grand daughters Josephine (5 yr) and Eloise (3 yr). Angel: Carrie Niesen

After Joseph’s monologue and before Mary’s, the congregation sings
Away in a Manger (United Methodist Hymn #217, st.3)
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
SPECIAL MUSIC What Child Is This, Child of the Poor Beanie & Kira Ludlum, duet
Jongjin Jun, guitar. Rhea Lind, piano
CHRISTMAS STORY (continues)
O Little Town of Bethlehem Nick Miskimen, saxophone. Rhea Lind, piano

Shepherd hears Angel say the good news of Christmas
Narrator: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
All: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors

* Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (United Methodist Hymn #240) All stand for singing
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born 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 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 th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born 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 we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!”
Mary and Joseph with the baby. Shepherds join the family.

CHRISMTAS OFFERING

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE w/ CHILDREN
Children are invited to come and receive LED candles. Each candle has a number printed for a different paper slip of “Jesus is our …”
LIGHTING OUR CANDLES AND PASSING THE LIGHT
* CAROL Silent Night Holy Night (United Methodist Hymn #239)
1. 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.
2. Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight; glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!
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.
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!

* CAROL Joy to the World (United Methodist Hymn #246, st. 1&2)
1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King
let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

* CLOSING LITANY
We live in the darkness of fear and doubt; but we have the light of hope and faith.
I will pass on the light.
We live in the darkness of injustice and hatred; but we have the light of peace and justice.
I will pass on the light
We live in the darkness of alienation and loneliness; but we have the light of love and community.
I will pass on the light.
We live in the darkness of greed and indifference; but we have the light of sharing and caring.
I will pass on the light
Christ, the true light of the world, the source of our love and hope, is with you.
Let’s LIVE the light! Let’s BE the light for the world.

* POSTLUDE Nick Miskimen, saxophone. Rhea Lind, piano

Merry Christmas to you and yours!