Covenant Presbyterian Church
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2022 – 8pm
Covenant is an accepting, welcoming community sharing the glory of God’s love with all.
PRELUDE Christmas Concerto Op 6, No.8 arr. A. Corelli
“Fatte per la notte di natale” (Made for Christmas Eve)
“Carol of the Bells” by M. Leontovich, arr. M. Naughtin
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Candle
CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY
*CAROL #133 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (verses 1, 3, 4) Ribbon
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;
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest! [Refrain]
4 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]
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Cross
THE FIRST READING Isaiah 9:2-7 (CEB)
This is the promise of God to our ancestors and to us. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Shalom” by Dan Forrest
THE GOSPEL READING Luke 2:1-20 (CEB)
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” arr. Funderburk
PRAYER OF THE DAY †
God of rough hands
and hardened feet,
giving light to the daughters and sons of earth:
in agony of birth
and gentleness of newborn skin,
may we discover your ordinary beauty
in the heart of our longing world;
through Jesus Christ, the Icon of the Unseen God.
Amen.
SERMON “We Tell This Story”
SPECIAL MUSIC “Refugee King (Away from the Manger)” arr. Wilmington
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY “Heaven and Nature Sing!” arr. Wilmington
THE LORD’S SUPPER–See the back page of the hymnal
At Covenant, we believe the Lord’s Supper is for everyone. From newborns to our most mature, all are welcome at this table. The Presbyterian Church teaches, “The opportunity to eat and drink with Christ is not a right bestowed upon the worthy, but a privilege given to the undeserving who come in faith, repentance, and love. All who come to the table are offered the bread and cup, regardless of their age or understanding” (Book of Order, W-3.049).
MUSIC DURING DISTRIBUTION “O Holy Night” by A. Adam, arr. M. Naughtin
CELEBRATION OF THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
*CAROL #122 “Silent Night” (verses 1-4)
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 #134 “Joy To The World” (verses 1-4) Ribbon
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 earth, 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.
3 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.
4 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.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Joy to the World” arr. Bish
Unless otherwise noted, prayers by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
† From Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare. New York: Church Publishing, 2009
Assisting in Worship Today:
Terry Kennedy Mancini – Liturgist
Whitney Dodds – soprano
Jim Eder - bass
String Quartet - William Manley & Nicholas Locke, violins; Aky Locke, viola;
Cora Kuyvenhoven, cello
Advent Candle Lighter – The McLean family
Cherie Brooks – Director of Music & Technology
Katie Wynkoop – Organist/Pianist & Assistant Director of Music
Erin Wise – Director of Children’s & Youth Ministries
Brian Biller – Media Production Specialist
Rev. Joel A. Esala – Pastor
“How God Shows Up”
by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Inspired by Luke 2:1-20 | Silk painting with digital drawing and collage
