Covenant Presbyterian Church
Christmas Day
December 25, 2022 – 10am
Covenant is an accepting, welcoming community sharing the glory of God’s love with all.
PRELUDE “Carol Lullabies” arranged by Rouse
(quoting Still, Still, Still, What Child is This, and Silent Night)
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: I have good news!
People: I have good news!
Leader: Christ is born!
People: Christ is born!
Leader: Joy is alive!
People: Joy is alive!
Leader: God is here.
People: God is here.
Leader: Thanks be to God.
People: Thanks be to God.
Leader: Amen.
People: Amen.
HYMN#119 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (verses 1-3)
1 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 the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain:
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king!”
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ. the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate deity,
pleased in flesh with us to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel. [Refrain]
3 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. [Refrain]
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, too often we feel as if change is hopeless. The problems of this world feel too big, the path forward is unclear, and we are not confident that we can truly make a difference. We give up hope.
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing hope.
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing peace.
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing joy.
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing love.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS
TALK WITH CHILDREN
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
THE GOSPEL READING Poetic Reading of John 1:1-5
REFLECTION Rev. Charles B. Hardwick, Ph.D., Synod of the Covenant Executive
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC “Bring A Torch” arr. Courtney Whitney Dodds
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Fum, Fum, Fum” arr. Hayes
Through Him, All Things
by Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman
Inspired by John 1:1-14
Block print with oil-based ink over gouache painting
