
Welcome to Worship
December 24, 2020
Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Worship Service
Lighting the Advent Wreath: The Christ Candle
Cathie and Mary Burke
Baptism
Worship Meditation (pre-recorded): Some Children See Him
Cathy Stracener
Christmas Offering for International Missions Video: Together
Welcome and Prayer: Rev. Peggy Peek
Worship Song (pre-recorded): O Come, All Ye Faithful
Traditional Worship Team
Musical Meditation: The Holly and The Ivy
David Wang, violin and Marilyn Jordan, piano
Scripture: Hebrews 10:5-7
Sermon Series: The First Songs of Christmas
Sermon Title: The Song of Christ
Rev. Mark Adams
Sermon Notes:
The Bible is full of songs inspired by God’s interaction with mankind.
“The Lord is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING!” —Zephaniah 3:17
5 – Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said [or SANG]:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
but a body You prepared for Me;
6 – with burnt offerings and sin offerings
You were not pleased.
7 – Then I said, ‘Here I am–it is written about Me in the scroll—
I have come to do Your will, O God.’” —Hebrews 10:5-7
What do the lyrics of Jesus’ song of Christmas tell us?
1.) Jesus lived the kind of life we were
to live.
“I have come TO DO YOUR WILL, O God.” —Hebrews 12:7
“We all, like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” —Isaiah 53:6
“I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” —John 15:10
2.) Jesus died the death we
die.
The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flow’r
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our dear Saviour
The holly bears a berry, as red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good
The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all —Lyrics to “The Holly and the Ivy”
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” —Philippians 2:8
“The law is a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.” —Hebrews 10:1ff
“Jesus is Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” —Revelation 13:8
3.) JESUS knew
He was being born.
“It was the Lord’s will to crush Him.” —Isaiah 53:10
“‘Here I am—it is written about Me in the scroll—I have come to do Your will O God.’” —Hebrews 12:7
The Lord’s Supper
Sharing of the Light: Silent Night
Traditional Worship Team
Christmas Eve Responsive Reading: Rev. Kevin Freeman
(As the people respond, “Jesus is the Light of the World,” lift your candle high.)
Leader: “Arise, shine, for your Light has come.”
People: “Jesus is the Light of the world.”
Leader: “The glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”
People: “Jesus is the Light of the world.”
Leader: “In Him is life, and that life is the Light of all the people.”
People: “Jesus is the Light of the world.”
Leader: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
People: “Jesus is the Light of the world.”
Benediction: Rev. Mark Adams
Now, may the Light of Christmas that illumines our souls,
Shine and make plain your way, until the light of your life
Is joined with that Light that is beyond all light,
And we see even as we are seen,
And we know even as we are known,
And we are made perfect,
Even as the Son of God is perfect
And heaven and earth are one.