GIBSON MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH

FREDERICTON, N.B.

December 24, 2011 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve

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WE GATHER FOR WORSHIP

*denotes standing for those who are able

PRELUDE WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS

WE APPROACH GOD

*GREETING and CALL TO WORSHIP:

I bring you Good News,

news of great joy for the whole nation.

Today there has been born to you in the city of David,

a Saviour – Christ, the Lord.

*OPENING HYMN: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” 60 by Anne Murray

ADVENT READING: (Light purple and pink candles)

God is here.

In a tiny baby -

God is here.

In the hope of a father -

God is here.

In the angel’s message of peace -

God is here.

In the joy of the shepherds -

God is here.

In the love of a mother -

God is here.

(Light white candle)

PRAYER

Thank you, God. Thank you for Christmas. Thank you for Jesus, who shows us your love. Help us to remember that Christmas is about your gift of love for us. Amen.

*HYMN: “A Candle is Burning” 6

2

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORDS

CONVERSATION TIME

*HYMN: “While Shepherds Watched” 75 by Cambridge Choir

BAPTISM (see insert)

HYMN: “Away in a Manger” 69 by the Stairwell Carollers

PRAYER: “A Christmas Prayer” VU 66

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

OFFERTORY and PRESENTATION OF OUR GIFTS

*THE DOXOLOGY: Grant Us, God, the Grace 540

Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.

*THE OFFERTORY PRAYER: (all)

We bring our gifts, O God.

We have so little.

And you give so much.

We give what we can.

We give our hearts

In thanks for your love. Amen.

*HYMNS & LIGHTING OF CANDLES:

“Silent Night” 67 by Sarah McLachlan

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.

3

2          Silent night! Holy night!

            Shepherds quake at the sight:

glories stream from heaven afar,

heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah,

            Christ the Saviour is born,

            Christ the Saviour 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.

“Joy to the World” 59

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 Saviour 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 earth 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.

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*CHRISTMAS BLESSING

As we go,

Let us make a joyful noise to God with all the earth,

Sing joyous songs of praise,

Let the trumpets ring, the seas roar and the mountains sing

For God has come among us, and love is born within us

Hallelujah!

POSTLUDE

Merry Christmas

And

Best Wishes

For

The New Year!