Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) (begins at 6:55)
Welcome
Centering
Prelude
"Christmas Time is Here"
by Vince Guaraldi
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words
“A Christmas Prayer”
by Rev. Josh Pawelek
Inspired by and expanded from “A Christmas Prayer”
by the Rev. Maureen Killoran
Opening Carol
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
French Carol, words by Earl Marlatt
#231 in Singing the Living Tradition
David Klotz, hymn leader
Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
(Chorus)
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see? What glad tidings did you hear?
(Chorus)
See him in a manger laid whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while we raise our hearts in love.
(Chorus)
Reading
Luke 2:1-14
Musical Interlude
Story
"Lullaby for the King"
by Nicki Grimes
illustrations by Michelle Carlos
shared by Emmy Galbraith
Carol
#246 “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Words: Phillip Brooks
Music: Lewis H. Redner
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth.
Let praises ring: from God they bring goodwill to all on earth.
How silently, how silently the wonder is made known,
when God imparts to human hearts the gift that is our own.
No ear may hear that coming, but in this worldly din,
when souls are truly humble, then the dear babe rests within.
Offering
As is our custom, our Christmas Eve Offering is dedicated to UUSE’s Ministers Discretionary Fund. The fund’s primary purpose is to support UUSE members and friends, as well as friends in the wider community, who encounter economic hard times.
Offering Music
“O Holy Night”
based on a poem by Placide Cappeau
music by Adolphe Adam
Homily (Rev. Josh Pawelek)
Carols
“The First Noel”
English carol
Music: William Sandys’s Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern
The First Noel, the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
"In the Bleak Midwinter"
Words ad. by John Andrew Storey from Georgina Rosetti
Music by Gustav Theodore Holst
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
Christ a homeless stranger,
So the gospels say,
Cradle in a manger
And a bed of hay
In the bleak midwinter
Stable-place sufficed,
Mary and her baby,
Jesus Christ.
Once more mother and child
Weave their magic spell,
Touching hearts with wonder
Words can never tell.
In the bleak midwinter,
In this world of pain,
Where our hearts are open
Love is born again.
“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”
Words by Edmund Hamilton Sears
Music by Richard Storrs Willis
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold!
Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing.
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
"Silent Night, Holy Night"
Words by Joseph Mohr
Music by Franz Xaver Gruber
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.
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.
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Extinguishing the Chalice
Closing Circle
May faith in the spirit of life
And hope for the community of earth
And love of the light in each other
Be ours now, and in all the days to come.
Comments