Worship Guide
God Calls Us Into Worship
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Christmas Eve
Zion
P. La Grand
Wake, awake, O Zion
Tonight, tonight, your Savior is born
This dark night in Bethlehem
The skies are full of angels
Singing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
The shepherd boys were terrified
The glory of the Lord
Cut through the night
Wise men came by starlight
And whispered to the newborn child
A hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Sing, O sing, with heavenly host
The wonder of our Savior’s birth
Peace be to all humankind
On this the holiest of nights
Sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Introduction & Prayer
Jeremy Goodwyne
Director of Worship
Joy to the World
G. F. Handel | I. Watts
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heav’n and nature sing
And heav’n and nature sing
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
Away in a Manger
W. J. Kirkpatrick | M. Luther | J. T. McFarland
Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on 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
Till morning is nigh
Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask thee to stay
Close by me for ever
And love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children
In thy tender care
And fit us for heaven
To live with thee there
Infant Holy Infant Lowly
E. M. G. Reed
Infant holy, Infant lowly
For his bed a cattle stall
Oxen lowing, little knowing
Christ the babe is Lord of all
Swift are winging, angels singing
Nowells ringing, tidings bringing
Christ the babe is Lord of all
Christ the babe is Lord of all
Flocks were sleeping
Shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story
Tidings of a gospel true
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow
Praises voicing, greet the morrow
Christ the babe was born for you!
Christ the Babe was born for you!
We Respond with Faith & Thanksgiving
The Giving of Offering
Every December Uptown joins with other churches in our denomination to participate in a special Christmas Eve Offering. All giving collected into the General Fund during our Christmas Eve service that isn’t otherwise designated will be sent to the PCA Ministerial Relief Fund, which you can read more about here.
Gifts to the Ministerial Relief Offering enable Ministerial Relief to assist needy retired and disabled pastors, missionaries, church lay workers, their widows and dependent children in the PCA. The deacons invite you to prayerfully consider participating in this offering!
Song of Preparation
Mary’s Lullaby
W. Adkins
Sleep and rest your eyes, my love
Let me warm you in my arms
Sleep and rest your eyes, my love
Let me warm you in my arms
The world is rushing all about
Tonight such peace is in your eyes
The world is rushing all about
Tonight such peace is in your eyes
O, my son, how still you lay
I wonder what you dream
O, my God, the world is yours
Why have you chosen me?
Sleep and rest your eyes, my love
Let me warm you in my arms
Sleep and rest your eyes, my love
Let me warm you in my arms
The world is weeping all about
Tonight such peace is in my heart
The world is weeping all about
Tonight such peace is in my heart
Hallelujah, hallelujah
You are the morning star
Hallelujah, hallelujah
How beautiful you are
Hallelujah, hallelujah
You are the morning star
Hallelujah, hallelujah
How beautiful you are
God Feeds Us With His Word
The Reading of the Word
Matthew 1:17-25
Leader:
This is the Word of the Lord.
People:
Thanks be to God!
The Homily
“Finally… Rest, for a Restless World”
Rev. John Sittema
God Blesses Us and Sends Us Out
Song of Response
Silent Night
F. X. Gruber | J. Mohr | J. F. Young
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
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
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
Silent Night! Holy Night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior, is born!
Christ the Savior, is born!
Benediction
Rev. John Sittema
Zion © 2006 Peter La Grand – CCLI # 5705993 | Joy To The World © Public Domain – CCLI # 24016 | Away In A Manger © Public Domain – CCLI # 322031 | Infant Holy Infant Lowly © Public Domain – CCLI # 162538 | Mary’s Lullaby © 2009 Wilder Adkins | Silent Night © Public Domain – CCLI # 27862