Online Worship for Christmas Eve: December 24, 2021

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021. Feel free to follow the service text by scrolling down, or you may download and print the service in PDF format below.

Christmas Eve Online Worship
December 24, 2021

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

Welcome                                                                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Prelude: Carol Medley—R. Hughes (based on familiar carols)     Kayleen Yuda

Carol #135: O Come, All Ye Faithful

Lighting of the Advent Candles

Lay Reader                                                                                                Barbara Iwami

Four Sundays have passed in our Advent season,
a season that for some has passed so quickly,
preparations accelerating
as time grew ever brief.
For some, these weeks have seemed
to crawl. “How long, O Lord,” they’ve asked,
“before the joyful day arrives?”
Prepared or not, impatient or not,
the joyful night is here, the night
of celebration and of praise.

We light once more the candles that
have gradually glowed these last four weeks:

A candle for hope, proclaiming that God’s future is bright.

A candle for peace, proclaiming that God yearns for our contentment.

A candle for joy, proclaiming God’s delight in all Creation.

A candle for love, because God loves us best in Christ.

[Light the four candles]

Lay Reader                                                                                                Barbara Iwami

In the illumination of hope, peace, joy, and love
we human beings might accomplish such great things.
But greater still is the light of Christ,
though veiled in the flesh of Bethlehem’s child,
showing us the brighter faith, the greater charity,
the wider forgiveness, the higher grace.
Tonight we light the candle of Jesus,
our friend, our teacher, our Savior, our God.

[Light the Christ Candle]

All sing:
O come, O come Emmanuel
The shadows of our hopelessness dispel
Let peace take root within every frame:
With joy we now your love and grace proclaim.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel has come to us, O Israel.

Tune: VENI EMMANUEL

Let us pray together                                                                             Barbara Iwami
O Holy God, we light the Christ candle.
It shines on smiles and tears.
It shines into the lives of everyone.
It shines and we remember the story.
It shines around angels
who sing for the most vulnerable,
and guides the long traveling
of those from far away.

It shines on a manger,
a child and parents,
with animals gathered all around.
It shines on here and now people
just like Bethlehem long ago.

It can never be extinguished,
because, Christ, you are tonight’s candle,
and we promise –
to lift our wicks to tomorrow’s flame. Amen.

Anthem: A Wor Emon King (There is a King)                               IYAA

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7                                                                     Barbara Iwami

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.
For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 His authority shall grow continually,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Music: Grown Up Christmas List, Foster & Jenner                      Rachel Edward, soprano
                                                                                                                        Kanako Okita, piano

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7                                                                 Pohnpeian reading by Rev. Bensis Henry

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Carol #124: Away in a Manger

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20                                                                          Barbara Iwami

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Carol #132: Joy to the World!

Meditation                                                                                                 Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Music: Piano Trio in G major, 1^st mvt. K. 564– W. A. Mozart       Kanako Okita, piano
                                                                                                                        Kelly Stuart, cello
                                                                                                                        Cathy Young, violin

Christmas Prayer                                                                                   Rev. Bensis Henry, UCCP

Christmas Prayer                                                                                   Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Carol: Silent Night                                                                                   Movement led by Genie Phillips

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Joy to the World/Halleluja Chorus (arr. Whitworth) Kayleen Yuda

Permissions

Carol Medley
Contributor: Robert J Hughes
Tune: © 1984 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. By Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

O Come, All Ye Faithful
Text: trans. from Latin by Frederick Oakeley, 1841
Tune ADESTE FIDELES, 18^th century
Public Domain

Grown Up Christmas List
by David Foster & Linda Thompson Jenner
© Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co.
Streamed by permission: CCS License #: 13303

Away in a Manger
Text: Anonymous, 1885
Tune AWAY IN A MANGER attrib. to James R. Murray, 1887
Public Domain

Joy to the World
Text: Isaac Watts, 1719
Tune ANTIOCH by Lowell Mason, 1836
Public Domain

Piano Trio in G major
by W. A. Mozart, 1788
Public Domain

Silent Night, Holy Night
Text: Joseph Mohr, 1818; trans. John F. Young, 1863
Tune STILLE NACHT: Franz Gruber, 1818
Public Domain

Joy to the World/Halleluja Chorus
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company
Text: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company, assigned to Lorenz Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Christmas Pageant Video

If you have not yet seen our Sunday School’s Christmas Pageant video, we invite you to take another four minutes to appreciate this perspective on the birth of Jesus – and to enjoy the talent and sharing of our keiki. Merry Christmas!