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A Christmas Eve Nativity

For the last several days, maybe two weeks, I have responded to all questions with, "Not until I survive the Christmas Eve Service."

There is some liturgy yet to write, but otherwise I think I have it figured out. This year, our service is based around the visual of the nativity. During the hymn of each of the sections children will bring the non-breakable nativity figures forward to the table.

Alternating hymns and readings while setting out the nativity is super simple, so I am posting this now in case anyone out there is frantically googling.
_______________

Prelude
Gathering
Welcome
O come, all ye faithful  212
Opening Prayer
Hearing the Story
Light
Call to Worship John 1: 1-5 
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, 
Men: and the Word was with God, 
Women: and the Word was God. 
Leader: He was with God in the beginning. 
Men: Through him all things were made; 
Women: without him nothing was made that has been made. 
Leader: In him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind. 
All: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Lighting the Christ Candle
O come, O come, Immanuel       172 (v. 1, 5 and 6)



Setting
Responsive Reading Matthew 2:4a-6 
Leader: [King Herod] inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. [The magi] told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
People:  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.
O little town of Bethlehem 191
Mary
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel 180
Joseph
Matthew 1:18-23
It’s Christmas Day (insert)
Manger
Luke 2:2-7
What child is this 215
Angels
Luke 2:8-14
Congregational Response:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
     and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 3x
Hark! the herald angels sing 201
Shepherds
Luke 2: 15-20
The first Noel, the angel did say 199
Jesus
Old Testament Readings and Prophecies
Leader: Psalm 98; People: Numbers 24:17a; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 61:1; Isaiah 11:6
Ps 98
1 Sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
    have worked salvation for him.
I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near—
a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
2 The Lord has made his salvation known
    and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.
He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war any more.
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
    to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and release to the prisoners;
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
    let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
    the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
    and a little child shall lead them.
Joy to the world 318
Reflecting
Reading
Distributing and lighting the candles 
Silent night, holy night 193 (v. 1, Stille Nacht, Noche de paz, v. 2-4)
Sending
Prayer
Announcements
Blessing

Postlude

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