Veradale United Church of Christ
An Open & Affirming Congregation
Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace
“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here!”
7:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight, December 24, 2023
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10:20 Gathering and Prelude
Jan Young and Scotty Patton, Musicians
Joe McSwain, AV and Usher
Jerry Brines, Usher
Don Young and Jan Young, Christ Candle Message
Don Young, Candle lighter
Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor
________, Fellowship Set-Up
Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up
Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor
10:30am Land Acknowledgement
We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day. We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.
Worship begins (Isaiah 9:2)
One: The people who walked in darkness
ALL: have seen a great light;
One: those who walked in the land of deep darkness –
ALL: on them light has shined."
*Welcoming the Light of Christ
*Hymn: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” verses 1 and 2 p. 20 Carol Booklet
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him born the King of Angels:
Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, (3×) Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation. Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest: Refrain:
Lighting of the Christ Candle
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of people. That light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
Message from Jan and Don Young
Prayer at the Lighting of the Christ Candle
All: Tonight, we declare that God’s light, known to us in Christ, shines in our longest nights. Surrounding the light of Christ is Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. May the light of Christ be re-lit in us this night. May we find room in our hearts and our lives to welcome Emmanuel, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Community Prayer
124 (NCH) verse 3: Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care and fit us for heaven to live with you there.
Prayers of Gratitude
124 (NCH) verse 3
Prayers of Concern
124 (NCH) verse 3
Silent Prayer
124 (NCH) verse 3
The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or
Our Father (Creator) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Response: 812 (NCH)
Amen. Amen. Amen.
A Time of Offering
An Invitation to Share
Poinsettias dedications:
In Memory of Brother Ricky, Dad Wayne, Mom Wanda, Mom’s Father Grandpa Mears, Grandpa & Grandma Brines, Great Grandson (infant), Grand Son Anthony, Son Robert
from Jerry Brines
In Memory of Our Parents from
Rocky and Sue Ferrozzo
In Memory of Ray, Gertrude & Diane Salt from Charlie Salt
Iin Memory of Steven DeAngelo from
Stephanie Wallis
In memory of Karl & Lola Masters
and Sam & Marian Young from Don and
Jan Young
Offering Acclamation Hymn # 132 (NCH)v. 3
Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of God’s righteousness and wonders of God’s love, and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love.
Dedication prayer:
Beloved Jesus, bless these offerings to the work of this congregation and the needs of our communities. May your light shine through us and may these gifts be multiplied to fulfill your vision of a just and peaceful world. Amen
Listening for God
The Gospel of Luke 2
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator
Mary and Joseph Enter
Meet inn keepers
ALL: Away in a manger verses 1 and 2 p. 6 Carol Booklet
Away in a manger no crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; The stars in the sky looked down where he lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh.
Shepherds and Angels
ALL (a multitude of Angels): Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
ALL: Angels We Have Heard on High p. 5, Carol Booklet
1. Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? Say what may the tidings be, which inspire your heav’nly song? Refrain:
3. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain:
Shepherds go to Bethlehem
ALL: The First Noel verses 1 and 2, 139 (NCH)
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 in a manger Emmanuel.
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 in a manger Emmanuel.
Cast members take a bow and the church claps.
Reflections with Pastor Gen
Silence
Sharing the Light of Christ
Acolytes come forward
Prayer - Receiving the Light
(The unlit candle is turned to receive the flame from the lit candle. DO NOT turn the lit candle on its side as the wax will drip. FURTHER, if anyone at any time is acting in a way that makes their candle a danger, BLOW OUT the candle. It is easier to deal with tears of disappointment than it is with a serious burn.)
Carol: “Silent Night” p. 25 Carol Booklet
(Please sing in the language of your choice)
1. 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.
2. 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!
3. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light; Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Silence
Prayer
(CANDLES ARE BLOWN OUT)
Benediction
Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the afflicted. Honor all people. Love God and serve the Lord, rejoicing always in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Silent Meditation with Postlude
Be Yourself.
Grow in Christ.
Live with Compassion.
Please, Join us for our Cookie Potluck in Fellowship Hall
IMPORTANT Scam Security Notice: Please, know that Pastor Gen would NEVER send a text, email, letter, postcard or any other form of communication asking for money. NEVER EVER.Scammers are becoming even more skilled in their deception. They have used pictures from our website to try to convince people and have used our Facebook site to see who is connected to our community. They also do this with personal accounts including, potentially, your friends and family. Thus, if you get such a communication from a friend or family member, call them on a trusted number. Scammers create convincing email addresses and can fake a caller ID of friends, family, pastors, and anyone else they think will get your attention. Simply, be aware.
FLASH MOB PLAY
Luke 2
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator
_______Joseph, No speaking part
________Mary, No speaking part
_______, ___________, and Jerry 3 Innkeepers (small speaking part)
Don You, Shepherd 1, (small speaking part)
Tom, Shepherd 2, No speaking part
Sue, Angel 1, (small speaking part)
Naomi, Angel 2, (small speaking part)
Mike, Angel 3, (small speaking part)
(A slide of Bethlehem”)
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. (Enter ________Mary and _________Joseph from the back of the church. Joseph might carry a lantern of some kind.) 4 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. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. (Have up to 3 inn keepers at the ends of three pews. They stand as the family approaches.)
_______Innkeeper 1: “No Room.”
_______Innkeeper 2: “No Room.”
Jerry Innkeeper 3: “ No Room here but follow me" (and then leads family to Nativity/barn on the chancel)
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator: 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
(Mary takes Baby doll from place hidden. If she is wearing something like a choir robe, the doll can be hidden in her sleeve. Or the doll can be hidden somewhere on the chancel near where she sits by the manager)
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator: 7 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.
Congregation and choir sing “Away in a manager” verses 1 and 2
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator: 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (enter Shepherds and Angels from opposite sides infant of the chancel) 10 But the angel said to them,
Sue Angel 1: (have this on a card for the first angel to read) “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
Naomi Angel 2 (have this on a card for the second angel to read) 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord.
Mike Angel 3 (have this on a card for the third angel to read) 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator: 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying,
(Have this on the screen or in the bulletin for everyone to read as they become the multitude of angels)
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[c]
Choir and Congregation sing “Angels We have heard on high”
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator: 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
Don Young, Shepherd 1 Accompanied by Shepherd 2(have this on a card for the shepherd to read)“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Kelly Cuilla, Narrator: 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Choir and Congregation sing “The First Noel” verses 1 and 2
Everyone takes a bow and the church claps as they return to their seats.