Washington Mennonite Church

December 24, 2015

6:30 PM

 

Christmas Eve

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

Prelude

Welcome and Prayer

Congregational Song: HWB 172 O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Candle 1:

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18                      

Congregational Song: STS 26 Helpless and Hungry

Candle 2:

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

Congregational Song: HWB 178 Come, Thou Long

  Expected Jesus

 Candle 3:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:26-28

            Congregational Song: HWB 207 Niño Lindo

Candle 4:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23

            Special Music: What Child is this?

Candle 5:

In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 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. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. Luke 2:1, 3-4a, 5

Candle 6:

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. Luke 2:6-7

            Special Music: Light of the World

Candle 7:

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

Candle 8:

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 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!” Luke 2:8-9a, 13-14

            Congregational Song: O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angels voices!

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
with all our hearts we praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
O night, O night divine!

O night divine, O night, O night divine!

Christ Candle:

So [the shepherds] 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. Luke 2:16-19

            Congregational song: HWB 318 Joy to the World

            Congregational Song: HWB 193 Silent Night

Readers: Jarrett Bender, Mary Lou Farmer, Roger Farmer, Megan Miller

Worship leader: Amanda Beachy

Prelude: Emma, Grace, and Matthew Roth

Worship team:  Monte Asbury, Andrea Nussbaum, Amy Widmer, Angela Widmer

 

We welcome all to this place for the worship of God and for Christian fellowship.  Let us worship God in spirit and in truth, reaching out to one another in Christ’s love.  We welcome our guests and visitors and hope you will join us again soon.

Washington Mennonite Sunday Service, 9:30 AM

Centro Cristiano Sunday Service, 2:30 PM

Ministers:  All of God’s People

Pastors:                       Amanda Beachy                                     Grant Nebel

                                  319.325.4522 (cell)                               319.931.2579 (cell)

                                 abeach25 at gmail.com                     grant.edie at gmail.com            

Elders: Jon Widmer 653.4714, Myron Graber 653.1674, Mary Lou Farmer 653.2547

Church Secretary: Andrea Nussbaum 815.404.3363   Church Office Phone: 653.6041   

Church Website: www.washingtonmennonitechurch.blogspot.com

Church Office e-mail: washingtonmennonitechurch@gmail.com