Trout Lake Community Christmas Eve Service

December 24, 2021 ~ 7:00 PM

Exchange of Greetings and Brief Zoom Orientation ~ Pastor Scott

Gathering Music: Hymn # 110 “Love Has Come”

Welcome ~ Pastor Scott

A Litany for Advent using Carol #88 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”[1]

VERSE ONE:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

READING 1: ~  Warren
Answer our yearning, O God, Emmanuel.
We are a lonely and isolated people
Separated by our ego and by our sin,
Physically distanced by our love and concern for each other.
We want connection. We want to hold and to be held.
We want you to be with us, O God, Emmanuel.

VERSE TWO:
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

READING 2: ~ Carolyn
Answer our yearning, O God, Emmanuel.
There is a heaviness among us, the weight of cascading crises.
We count deaths and with each one a thousand stories come to an end,
A lifetime of memories gets frozen in time.
We are ready to play again. We want to dance. We want to feel alive.
We want you to be with us, O God, Emmanuel.

VERSE THREE:
O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

READING 3: ~ Scott
Answer our yearning, O God, Emmanuel.
Division, disunity and distrust are feeling too normal.
We compete rather than cooperate.
We lift ourselves up on the backs of others.
Our eyes betray suspicion and wariness.
We want to be one again. We want to love and enjoy our sisters and brothers.
We want the fabric of our lives to be whole again.
We want you to be with us, O God, Emmanuel.

Repeat Verse One:

O come, O come, Emmanuel; and ransom captive Israel …

A Christmas Prayer followed by the Lord’s Prayer: ~ Pastor Scott

Please join me in prayer: Holy One, giver of all light, lift up our hearts and minds to Christ, the morning star that never fades. By the light of your Holy Spirit reveal to us your saving Word and lead us to offer our lives to you in service and in love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught his disciples to pray, saying: “Our Father, who art in heaven . . . (Feel free to use your tradition’s word choice)

Hymn of Praise #132: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!

Lighting of the Advent Wreath for Christmas Eve

Pastor Scott: We gather in our homes and light candles to warm our hearts with the Holy Spirit and remember God’s promises. We light the Christ candle this holy night in which we remember Christ’s birth so long ago.

ALL: We light this candle for the Christ child (light the Christ candle).

Pastor Scott: Christ’s light enables all lives to be kindled for God’s heavenly reign. From this, we light the Advent candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

Reader 1: Bijee -Our first candle is the candle of Hope. “The light of hope shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.”

ALL: We light this candle for Hope (light the first candle).

Reader 2: Joannie- Our second candle is the candle of peace. This candle glows with a calm steadiness that centers our minds and bodies on Christ.

ALL: We light this candle for Peace (light the second candle).

Reader 3: Abby- Our third candle is the candle of Joy; this candle sparks praise in our souls for Christ is with us and has been with us ever since Mary replied to the angel, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.”

ALL: We light this candle for Joy (light the third candle).

Reader 4: Thomas Furholm – Our fourth candle is the candle of Love; this candle reminds us that Jesus is love. He is with us always and loves us unconditionally through all the events in our lives – in birth and death, in joy and sorrow.

ALL: We light this candle for Love (light the fourth candle).

Hymn #112: “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing” verses 1-4

NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS ~ Introduction by Doug Anderson

First Lesson:Genesis 3:8—15: The beginning of our need for redemption. ~ Read by Doug

Hymn #108 “Of The Father’s Love Begotten” vs. 1&2

Second Lesson:Genesis 22:15–18: By Abraham’s descendants, all nations shall be blessed. ~ Read by Lloyd

Hymn #82 “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus” vs. 1&2

Third Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7: Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah. ~ Read by Carolyn

Hymn #123 “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” v. 1 only

Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 11:1–9: The coming kingdom as described by Isaiah’s vision. ~ Read by Warren

Hymn #129 “Lo, How a Rose is Blooming” v. 1 only

Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26–38: The angel Gabriel salutes the virgin Mary. ~ Read by Judy Smith

Hymn #135 “There’s A Star in The East” v 1&2

Sixth Lesson: Matthew 1:18–23: Joseph receives an angelic dream to continue his wedding plans~ Read by Joannie

Hymn #122 “Silent Night” vs. 1-4

Seventh Lesson: Luke 2:1-7: Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem and Jesus is born. ~ Read by Janet

Hymn #115 “Away In A Manger” vs. 1-3

Eighth Lesson: Luke 2:8–16: Angels appear to shepherds watching their flocks in the fields ~ Read by Carolyn

Hymn #118 “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” vs. 1-4

Ninth Lesson: John 1:1–14: John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation.  ~ Read by Pr. Scott

Hymn #133 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” vs. 1&4

Benediction ~ Pastor Scott

Hymn of Response #134 “Joy to the World!” vs. 1-4

Ringing of the Bell

[1] By Rev. Brian Heron, Executive Presbyter for Vision and Mission, Presbytery of the Cascades