For Christmas Eve

CALL TO WORSHIP

Stop! Listen! Do you hear it?

Hear what?

The song drifting over the snow. It started in low then it started to grow....

Yes I hear it! It sounds so happy. What does it mean?

Something wonderful has happened, A baby is born.

Let us go and see!

Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the new-born King

LIGHTING THE CANDLES/OPENING PRAYER

In the dark of winter we look for light.

We light candles to bring light into our world.

The light of Hope, of Peace, of Joy, of Love (light the four outside candles)

And now there is one light left.

On this night of glory we remember that God is born in our midst,

the Light of the world shines in our communities.

And so we light our centre candle, remembering the Babe who is the centre of our celebration, the Christ who is the centre of our faith (light centre candle)

God of angels and starlight, God of shepherds and stables, God of Christmas glory,

tonight we gather to hear the story we have heard so many times.

God who comes to live among us, God who chooses to share our joys and sorrows, to share our lives,

as we listen for angels sharing Good News awaken hope in our lives.

God who is at work in the world, as we celebrate the birth of Christ,

remind us that the Good News the angel shares is for us, for all the people.

For to US a Child is born, to Us a Son is given. May his birth-light shine in and for and through us.

Glory to God in the Highest! Amen.

COMMISSIONING:

The story has been told, the angel's words echo in our heads, our hearts, our souls.

We go back out into the night with a song in our hearts.

Go! Tell it on the mountain, over the fields and everywhere!

Jesus Christ is Born!

And as you go, carry the light of the Christmas glory with you,

to share with everyone we meet.

Glory to God in the highest!

And on earth, peace, goodwill among humanity. Amen.