The joy of salvation
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
First Lesson: Isaiah 62:6-7, 10-12
Theme: The joy of salvation
Call to Worship
Pastor: Open your hearts, my friends. Let salvation enter.
People: God has sent his Son to save us! We are God's people because he has redeemed us.
Pastor: The Savior is born. Let the whole world know that God loves his people, and rejoice.
People: Joy is bursting our hearts! May all who hear of our Savior's birth prepare for his redeeming love.
Collect
Gracious God, who fills our hearts with the joy of salvation through the birth of your Son: Let the glad songs we sing fill the air; that our world may hear, and receive the salvation your Son has brought to all who will receive him. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
It is easy, Lord, to sing from memory, and rejoice from habit when we celebrate Christmas. Often our hearts are crowded with concerns contrary to our Savior's birth. Forgive us when our praises become impersonal replays of prepared rituals. Let the songs we sing and the joy we share come from our hearts in response to the salvation you have given to us through your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All My Heart This Night Rejoices"
"Good Christian Men, Rejoice"
"Joy To The World"
"Let All Together Praise Our God"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Second Option)
Second Lesson: Titus 3:4-7
Theme: New life in Christ
Call to Worship
Pastor: God's grace and mercy has come alive in the birth of God's Son, Jesus our Savior.
People: Praise God for the birth of his Son!
Pastor: We enjoy a right relationship with God, not because of our righteousness, but because God has shared himself with us in the birth of his Son.
People: May the life we live reflect the joy we celebrate in the birth of our Savior.
Collect
Merciful God, you have shared your grace and mercy with us through the birth of your Son. Stir our hearts anew as we celebrate our Savior's birth; that we may learn to live a new life in reconciliation with you. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
You have given us new life, O God, in the birth of your Son. We celebrate his birth with joy, but quickly return to living the old life. Forgive us when we take only the celebration, and leave your grace and mercy unclaimed. Help us to experience the real Gift this Christmas, and live the new life which Jesus has brought to us. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"
"Love Came Down at Christmas"
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Second Option)
Gospel: Luke 2:8-20
Theme: The Baby, a sign of salvation
Call to Worship
Pastor: Think again of that wonderful night when angels sang to shepherds.
People: It must have been a wonderful experience for them to see heaven unfold before their eyes.
Pastor: What the shepherds saw at the manger was only a sign of what was happening. It is still happening today.
People: Today we still experience the wonderful salvation that God has shared with us through his Son. How wonderful God is!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son left his glory in heaven to share your glory with us: Draw us to the manger today, not to worship a baby, but to say "yes" to our Savior; that we may bring pleasure to you, and experience the peace Christ came to bring. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Lord, we have often come to the manger to see the Christ Child. But so many times we have not seen the sign of our salvation clearly enough to accept it. Forgive us for Christmases that are holidays instead of Holy Days. Save us from sin as we open our hearts to your Son, our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Angels from the Realms of Glory"
"Silent Night, Holy Night"
"The First Noel"
"While Shepherd Watched Their Flocks"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Third Option)
First Lesson: Isaiah 52:7-10
Theme: The announcement of salvation
Call To Worship
Pastor: Christ is born!
People: Christ is born indeed; salvation has come!
Pastor: Shout to our world the good news. God has brought peace to our world!
People: May our whole world see God's powerful love in the gift of his Son.
Collect
Merciful God, you have announced to our world the good news of salvation for all people. Help us to be faithful messengers of that good news; that our world may hear, and rejoice in the gift of your Son, Jesus, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Generation after generation, Lord, has heard the good news. We are blessed with peace, comfort, joy, and love. Yet generation after generation acts as if nothing has happened. Forgive our indifference which has kept us from hearing the real message of Christmas. Give us open ears and receptive hearts to the salvation which you have sent in your Son, Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Away in a Manger"
"God Rest You Merry Gentlemen"
"There's a Song in the Air"
"What Child Is This?"
Theme: The joy of salvation
Call to Worship
Pastor: Open your hearts, my friends. Let salvation enter.
People: God has sent his Son to save us! We are God's people because he has redeemed us.
Pastor: The Savior is born. Let the whole world know that God loves his people, and rejoice.
People: Joy is bursting our hearts! May all who hear of our Savior's birth prepare for his redeeming love.
Collect
Gracious God, who fills our hearts with the joy of salvation through the birth of your Son: Let the glad songs we sing fill the air; that our world may hear, and receive the salvation your Son has brought to all who will receive him. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
It is easy, Lord, to sing from memory, and rejoice from habit when we celebrate Christmas. Often our hearts are crowded with concerns contrary to our Savior's birth. Forgive us when our praises become impersonal replays of prepared rituals. Let the songs we sing and the joy we share come from our hearts in response to the salvation you have given to us through your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All My Heart This Night Rejoices"
"Good Christian Men, Rejoice"
"Joy To The World"
"Let All Together Praise Our God"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Second Option)
Second Lesson: Titus 3:4-7
Theme: New life in Christ
Call to Worship
Pastor: God's grace and mercy has come alive in the birth of God's Son, Jesus our Savior.
People: Praise God for the birth of his Son!
Pastor: We enjoy a right relationship with God, not because of our righteousness, but because God has shared himself with us in the birth of his Son.
People: May the life we live reflect the joy we celebrate in the birth of our Savior.
Collect
Merciful God, you have shared your grace and mercy with us through the birth of your Son. Stir our hearts anew as we celebrate our Savior's birth; that we may learn to live a new life in reconciliation with you. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
You have given us new life, O God, in the birth of your Son. We celebrate his birth with joy, but quickly return to living the old life. Forgive us when we take only the celebration, and leave your grace and mercy unclaimed. Help us to experience the real Gift this Christmas, and live the new life which Jesus has brought to us. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"
"Love Came Down at Christmas"
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Second Option)
Gospel: Luke 2:8-20
Theme: The Baby, a sign of salvation
Call to Worship
Pastor: Think again of that wonderful night when angels sang to shepherds.
People: It must have been a wonderful experience for them to see heaven unfold before their eyes.
Pastor: What the shepherds saw at the manger was only a sign of what was happening. It is still happening today.
People: Today we still experience the wonderful salvation that God has shared with us through his Son. How wonderful God is!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son left his glory in heaven to share your glory with us: Draw us to the manger today, not to worship a baby, but to say "yes" to our Savior; that we may bring pleasure to you, and experience the peace Christ came to bring. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Lord, we have often come to the manger to see the Christ Child. But so many times we have not seen the sign of our salvation clearly enough to accept it. Forgive us for Christmases that are holidays instead of Holy Days. Save us from sin as we open our hearts to your Son, our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Angels from the Realms of Glory"
"Silent Night, Holy Night"
"The First Noel"
"While Shepherd Watched Their Flocks"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Third Option)
First Lesson: Isaiah 52:7-10
Theme: The announcement of salvation
Call To Worship
Pastor: Christ is born!
People: Christ is born indeed; salvation has come!
Pastor: Shout to our world the good news. God has brought peace to our world!
People: May our whole world see God's powerful love in the gift of his Son.
Collect
Merciful God, you have announced to our world the good news of salvation for all people. Help us to be faithful messengers of that good news; that our world may hear, and rejoice in the gift of your Son, Jesus, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Generation after generation, Lord, has heard the good news. We are blessed with peace, comfort, joy, and love. Yet generation after generation acts as if nothing has happened. Forgive our indifference which has kept us from hearing the real message of Christmas. Give us open ears and receptive hearts to the salvation which you have sent in your Son, Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Away in a Manger"
"God Rest You Merry Gentlemen"
"There's a Song in the Air"
"What Child Is This?"
