Sunday Gathering - Dec 24th 8 pm

Trinity United Church
Christmas Eve 8 pm
December 24, 2020
Zoom Worship  

“Connection not Perfection”  

WE GATHER

Greeting/Welcome

Prelude: Nativity Montage          CLICK HERE for video.

Acknowledgement of Territory
We humbly acknowledge that even as we gather digitally, we gather and live and work on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish People, Trinity United Church rests on the unceded territory of the Kwikwitlem First Nations.  

I invite you to take a deep breath. I invite you to take another deep breath and let it go. And one last time I invite you to take a deep breath and let it go.   

Advent Candlelighting
In the four Sundays of Advent, we have lit the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.   Tonight we relight the Christ Candle, signifying Christ’s birth, and the return of light to a dark world.   Let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship by singing, “Silent Night”:  

Hymn  “Silent Night”  VU 67  
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Lessons and Carrols  
Reading
Isaiah 9:2-7
2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For 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. 7His 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.  

Anthem: "Once in Royal David’s City" VU 62
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Reading  
Psalm 96:10-13
10Say among the nations, “The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.”
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.  

Hymn: "Angels We Have Heard on High" (vv1-3)    VU 38  
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Reading
Luke 2:1-7
2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph 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. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And 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.  

Hymn: "Away in a Manger"                                       VU 69
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Hymn: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"                                       VU 58  
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Reading
Luke 2:8-14
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,    
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’  

Hymn: "The First Nowell" (vv 1,2 & 6)                      VU 91
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Hymn: "While Shepherds Watched" (vv 1, 2 & 6)   VU 75
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Reading
Luke 2:15-20
15When 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.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.  

Hymn: "Angels, from the Realms" (vv 1, 2, & 4)     VU 36
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Hymn: "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" (vv 1 & 3)        VU 35
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Reading
Matthew 2:1-2, 5-6
2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men* from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,* and have come to pay him homage.’   5They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler    who is to shepherd* my people Israel.” ’  

Hymn: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (vv 1 & 4)     VU 64
CLICK HERE for video. 

Reading
Matthew 2:9-11
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,* until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped,* they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.   

Hymn: "As with Gladness Men of Old"                              VU 81
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WE RESPOND  

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
We remember before you, O God, Mary and Joseph, and in this season of Christmas, all travelers.
We remember before you the innkeeper, and in this season of Christmas, all those who are homeless or unwelcome.
We remember before you, Holy One, the shepherds and all those who work while we sleep or whose efforts provide for us food or warmth or health care or comfort or safety or freedom.
We remember before you the Magi, and in this season of Christmas, all who bear gifts and all who teach us to wonder and worship and give thanks.
We remember before you, O God of grace, the angels and their message of peace and light and goodwill.
We remember before you Herod, and in this season of Christmas, all those who are in positions of power, able to make decisions that affect the lives of many others.
We remember before you, O God of mercy, the children of Bethlehem, and in this season of Christmas, all who are victims of violence or oppression or fear.
We remember before you the Christ child, laid in a manger, and when he grew up, the sick who crowded around him; and in this season of Christmas, we remember all we know who come to him yet.
In this season of Christmas, O God, may your presence be known in us and in what se do.  Amen.* 

*written by Kathryn Eddy
Gathering A/C/E 2010-11
Used with permission.  

The Disciples’ Prayer  “The Mallote”        
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WE GO FORTH  

Hymn: “Joy to the World”           VU 59
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Sending Forth:
On this holy night, go with the grace of God.
Go with the beauty of the Christ child and with the blessings of the Holy Spirit.
Go this Christmas Eve in holiness and peace. 
Amen.***    

***Written by Elaine Bidgood Sveet
Gathering A/C/E 2010-11
Used with permission.

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