LANGLEY UNITED CHURCH

̶= 0;Guided by the Holy Spirit, we are called together by Jesus:<= /p>

to worship God; to gr= ow as disciples of Christ; to serve the world and each other;

and to offer hospitali= ty and welcome to all.”

=

Minister Rev. Rod Mac= Kinnon 604-530-5912

December 24^{th, 2009
6 pm}

Christmas Eve

We Gather in God’s Name

(Memorial candles = may be lit anytime during the service)

Prelude:&nbs= p;   Christmas Fanfare - Tim and Shar= on

Greetings and Announcements

Preparation for Worship, Quiet Meditation, C= andle Lighting

Introit:&nbs= p;     VU #37 Gloria

Call to Worship:

      One:     Come, let us follow the Bethlehem star.

      <= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>All:      Once again, we follow with eagerne= ss the star that

      leads u= s to the Bethlehem stable.

One:     There we will be = able to gaze in awe at the Christ child,

      born in a manger,

       All:     and to celebrate with Mary and Joseph

                &= nbsp;       this miraculous event.

      = One:     With angels and shepherds we will praise this

            holy birth.

Hymn: =      VU #36 Angels, from the Realms of Glory

Lighting the Christ Candle:

      It is Christmas Eve.

      The time of waiting is over. =

      The candles of hope, peace, joy, and love are lit.

      Only one remains, and it is the Ch= rist Candle.

      We light it now, in awe and wonder.   (The candle is lit)

      May Jesus, born so long ago in a stable,

      &n= bsp;     be born in our hearts this night.

      May his birth bring to our world t= he gifts of his life

      &n= bsp;     and justice, peace, and hope for all.

Opening Prayer of Approach and Confession:

      = We gather this evening, O God, with

        &= nbsp;   the wonder of the angels,

      &nb= sp;    the fear of the shepherds,

      &nb= sp;    the apprehension of Mary and Joseph, and

      &nb= sp;    the joy of hope filled people.
      We come to experience again the mystery of

      &n= bsp;   God With Us.

    On this night of nights,

        &= nbsp;   when your promise to our world <= /p>
        &= nbsp;   was revealed in the birth of the Christ child,

      &nb= sp;    we reflect on those times when we have

&nb= sp;          broken promises to those we love and

        =     most especially our promises made to you.=

&nb= sp;    We are sorry that we have not always followed

&nb= sp;          the example set by your child, Jesus.

&nb= sp;    Open us this night to a new life, a life filled with

&n= bsp;         hope, peace, joy and love.     Amen<= /span>

Words= of Assurance:

&nb= sp;     One:     Rejoice and be glad! Hear the Good News.

                  Christ is born! Emmanuel! God with us!

                  We are a forgiven people.

      All:      Thanks be to God!

Passi= ng the Peace of Christ:

&nb= sp;     One:     The Peace of Chri= st is with you.

&nb= sp;     All:=     And also w= ith you.

Sung Response:   VU #37 Gloria

Hymn: VU #64 O Little Town of Bethlehem

We Listen for God’s Word<= /o:p>

The Reading= from the Prophet:     &= nbsp; Isaiah 9: 2-7
The Angel’s Story

Solo:   Before the Marvel of the Night, Emily Hewitt

The Gospel Lesson: &n= bsp;     Luke 2: 1-20
The Shepherd’s Story=

Time with Children

Children’s Choir:      Away in a Manger, = The Rocking Carol

We Respond to God’s Word<= /o:p>

Prayers of the People

Our Lord’s Prayer:

      Our Father,= who art in heaven,

        &= nbsp;   hallowed be thy name.

      Thy kingdom= come        &= nbsp;

        &= nbsp;   thy will be done

        &= nbsp;   on earth as it is in heaven.

      Give us thi= s day our daily bread;

            and forgive us our trespasses,
        &= nbsp;   as we forgive those that

        &= nbsp;   trespass against us.

      And lead us= not into temptation

        &= nbsp;   but deliver us from evil:

        &= nbsp;   for thine is the kingdom and the power,

        &= nbsp;   and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

Presenting Our Gifts

Offertory:&n= bsp;     The Birthday of a King, Irene Reed

Doxology:&nbs= p;     VU 55 (vs. 4) What Can I Give Him? =

We Go Forth to Serve

Closing Hymn:    VU #38 Angels We Have Heard on High =

Commissioning and Benediction:

Go out into the starry night and remember what you

            have seen and heard, and may the love of God

           surround you, = the peace of the Christ child calm you,

           and the inspir= ation of the Holy Spirit hold you and

           enfold you.

      Go forth rejoicing! Christ has come!

Threefold Amen:       MV #208 Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen!

Hymn: VU #67 Silent Night, Holy Night

Postlude:&nb= sp; Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Toccata) by Mendelssohn (Please remain seated during the Postlude)

A Christmas Affirmation of Faith
by

We believe in Jesus Christ, and the beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem.

We believe in the One whose spirit glorified a little town, and whose spirit brings music to people all over the world in communities both large and sma= ll.

We believe in the One for whom the crowded inn could find no room, and we conf= ess that our hearts still sometimes want to exclude Christ from our lives today= .

We believe in the One whom the rulers of the earth ignored and the proud could never understand, whose life was among common pe= ople, whose welcome came from persons of hungry hearts.

We believe in the One who proclaimed the love of God to be invincible; whose cradle was a mother’s arms, whose modest home in Nazareth had love as its only wealth.

We believe in the One who looked at people and made them see what God’s = love saw in them, who by love brought sinners back to purity, and who lifted hum= an weakness up to meet the strength of God.

We confess our ever-lasting need of God, the need for forgiveness for our selfishness and greed.

We acknowledge our need for life for our empty souls, and the need for love in hearts grown cold.

Amen.