Thank you for joining us for this live stream (or recording, as the case may be) of Christmas Eve worship. May it bless you! You may need to click “Play” to launch the stream, which will be live around 6:50 PM.
Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Christmas Eve
Candle Light Service, December 24, 2024
Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Please note that audio and video of this service are being live streamed on the Internet and will be recorded. The right rear section of the sanctuary will not be captured by any cameras. Please be aware that in other sections you may be visible at times.
Prelude: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels from the Realms of Glory Kayleen Yuda
Introit: Venite Adoremus/Tell Me, Gentle Shepherd (Children’s Choir)
Opening Carol #135: O Come All Ye Faithful (v. 1-4)
Lighting of the Christ Candle: Peng Family
Family Member: The waiting ends, and the festival arrives.
Family Member: The delivery comes, and the child is born.
Family Member: Our Advent season passes to Christmas.
Family Member: Our hearts awake to sing our Savior’s praise!
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
Family Member: In the first candle of Advent, we declare our Hope. In the second candle of Advent, we declare our commitment to Peace. In the third candle of Advent, we proclaim our Joy. In the fourth candle of Advent, we celebrate the Love of God. And now we light the candle in the center, the one which glows for Christ, in the center of our wreath as Christ lives at the center of our hearts. This candle glows for Hope. This candle glows for Peace. This candle glows for Joy. This candle glows for Love. This candle glows for all the world.
Unison Prayer: In Hope we raise our prayers, O God. May we ever worship you, and ever live among our neighbors, in your Peace. Let Joy lend ardor to our singing. Let Love soothe our wounded hearts and then open our hearts to share generously with the world. You have come to us in Jesus Christ, a wonder and a marvel. Bless our worship tonight with Christ’s spirit. Amen.
Service of Lessons and Carols
Please remain seated while singing these carols
Anthem: Noel Festival Holy Cross Singers
First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Jane Kawazoe
Carol #116: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (v. 1-2)
Second Lesson: Luke 1:26-35, 38 Gloria Kobayashi
Anthem: Away in a Manger Bell Choir
Third Lesson: Luke 2:1, 3-7 Mace Peng
Anthem: O Holy Night Kanako Okita
Tom Mirenda
Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:8-16 John Narruhn
Carol #144: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (v. 1-2)
Fifth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12 Joyce Nakamoto
Carol #139: The First Nowell (v. 1-3)
Sixth Lesson: John 1:1-5, 14 Stefan Tanouye
Carol #132: Joy to the World
Meditation Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Christmas Prayer Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Service of Candlelight
Carol #134: Silent Night (v. 1-3)
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Joy to the World/Hallelujah Chorus Kayleen Yuda
Permissions
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels from the Realms of Glory,
arr. Albin Whitworth
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
O Come All Ye Faithful
Text: Latin attrib. to John Francis Wade, 18th cent.
Trans. by Frederick Oakeley, 1841
Tune ADESTE FIDELES 18th cent. English melody
Public Domain
He Shall Feed His Flock
by George Friedrich Handel
Public Domain
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Text from Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 1710
Trans. by John Mason Neale, 1852
Tune VENI EMMANUEL, 15th cent. French melody
Public Domain
Away in a Manger
Text Anon., 1885
Tune MULLER attrib. to James R. Murray, 1887
Public Domain
O Holy Night
by Adolphe Adam, 1847
trans. by John Sullivan Dwight, 1855
Public Domain
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Text by Charles Wesley, 1739
Tune MENDELSSOHN by Felix Mendelssohn, 1840
Public Domain
The First Nowell
Trad. English text
Tune THE FIRST NOWELL trad. English melody
Public Domain
Joy to the World!
Text by Isaac Watts, 1719
Tune ANTIOCH by Lowell Mason, 1836
Public Domain
Silent Night
Text by Joseph Mohr, 1818
Trans. by John F. Young, 1863
Tune STILLE NACHT by Franz Gruber, 1818
Public Domain
Joy to the World/Hallelujah Chorus, arr. Albin Whitworth
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company
Text: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company, assigned to Lorenz Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Soloist Tom Mirenda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki
Ruth Niino-DuPonte, Bob Smith
Chapel Decorations
Mahalo nui to the following people who donated our Poinsettias for the Christmas season.
Please take your flowers home after the Christmas Eve service.
Nalyn Ang and Ming Peng
Eric Anderson
Cindy Debus
Janet Fujioka
Barbara Iwami
Jane Kawazoe
Anna Kennedy
Woody and Jean Kita
Gloria and Ray Kobayashi
Joyce Nakamoto
Tim Shintani
Moira Tanaka
Jean Tanouye
Stefan and Jen Tanouye
