December 24, 2021 11pm Traditional Candlelight Service
Thank you for joining us on this holy night, as together we celebrate the birth of Christ! We hope this service will help you experience the hope, peace, love, and joy of Christmas. Our celebration will continue on Sunday morning with a special service of poetry and carols. Christmas Poetry & Carols Sunday, December 26 10:00 am
Or join us every week for Sunday worship together! 9:00 am Contemporary Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School for All Ages 11:00 am Traditional Worship Service
All of our services are livestreamed at brunswickumc.com/live.
New Hope United Methodist Church 7 S. Maryland Ave., Brunswick, MD 21716 , website brunswickumc.com 301-834-7320 | newhopebrunswick@gmail.com The church office is open Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 am to 1 pm. Rev. Katie O’Hern Hamilton, Pastor cell: 301-834-2762 | pastorkohamilton@gmail.com
PRELUDE
Before the service begins, please enjoy special organ music.
WELCOME LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
In God’s house, there is hope: for God loves us too much to leave us just as we are. In God’s house, there is peace: and all that separates us from God falls away. In God’s house, there is joy: because God knows us by name and delights in us. In God’s house, there is love: because God is love, and God has enough love for us all. God is in the center of our hope, peace, joy, and love. God came to this earth to dwell among us. Here, we are home.
*OPENING HYMN
O Come, All Ye Faithful
234 v. 1-3, 6
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. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, lo, he shuns not the Virgin’s womb; Son of the Father, begotten, not created; Refrain. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; Refrain. Yea, Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be all glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: Refrain. CHRISTMAS PRAYER
CAROL
O Little Town of Bethlehem
230 v. 1, 4
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 streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. FIRST READING
CAROL
The Birth
Away in a Manger
Luke 2:1-7
217
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes; I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. 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. SECOND READING
The Angels
Luke 2:8-14
CAROL
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
240
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 host 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 th’incarnate Deity, pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” Hail the heavenborn 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 newborn King!” THIRD READING
CAROL
The Shepherds
Angels We Have Heard on High
Luke 2:15-20
238 v. 1-3
Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
SERMON CAROL
“A Home for Us All” Make of My Heart a Stable Make of my heart a stable, a house for the Holy, a warm and sturdy place for Christ to live and grow. Make of my life a stable, a house of the Holy, a warm and sturdy place for Christ to live and grow.
Make of our church a stable, a house for the Holy, a warm and sturdy place for Christ to live and grow. INVITATION TO OFFERING OFFERTORY *CHRISTMAS DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly 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.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of every good gift, in this season when so many gifts are given and received, we are grateful for the gift of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Receive these humble gifts we offer now. Use them to keep building your home here. Help us to share your good news of great joy with all people. In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.
SHARING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST CAROL
Please tip unlit candles toward candles that are already lit. Glow sticks are available for young children; please ask an usher. 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. 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! 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. 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!
239
*CAROL
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, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. 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. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.
*BENEDICTION POSTLUDE
Usher Scripture Readers Organist
Richard Greenwood Jacquelyn Ebersole, Chris Greenwood, Richard Greenwood Bonnie Moore
246