Christmas Eve 2017Riverview United Church

760 Highway # 2 Elmsdale, NSwww.elmsdalepastoralcharge.com

Minister – Rev. Catherine MacDonaldMusic Director – Martha Healy

Christmas Eve 2017 – 8:30 PM

(▲Rise in body or in spirit)(Responses in bold)

Words of Welcome

Acknowledging the Territory

As we gather this evening,let us pause to remember, that in this region,

we live and work and worship on landsthat are the un-ceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.

May we live with respect on this land,and live in peace with its people.

Call to Worship

The angels’ song rings loud and clear.Glory to God in the highest!For into our shadowed world

a holy light is shining.In a stable in Bethlehema child is born to us.

He brings us the light of hope for our futureAnd he shall be called Emmanuel, God is with us.

Let us worship God who comes among us this night.

Candle Procession

There are angels among us that may not meet the eyeThere are messages of love coming from a choir on high

But don’t just look up; for the way God worksis to plant more love right here on earth

just like it was with Jesus birth.There are angels among us, there are angels among us,

there are angels among us, bringing love on earth.Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid.Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid.

Prayer to Light the Candles

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Holy Living God, Blessed Jesus, Guiding Spirit,alight within us your flame this day.

Grant us openness to hear your message.Grant us courage to be your messengers in the world,

creating more hope, more peace, more joy, more love,

even in the midst of fear.And with the angel messengers above us,

among us and within us, we sing…Do not be afraidDo not be afraidDo not be afraidDo not be afraid

▲Hymn – Listen To the Angels Sing

Listen to the angels singNews of coming joy they bringHopes abandoned are restored

In the ever-birthing WordLonging hearts and lives are filled

Paths of wonder are rebuiltPeace drifts softly into place

Carried by the breath of graceListen to the angels sing

News of coming joy they bring.

Listen for the word of peaceWars will end and terror cease

No one’s child will be afraidBroken lives will be remade

Christ has come, will come againHoly is this in-between

Here we cast our lives in graceHere we touch the longing-place

Listen for the words of peaceWars will end and terrors cease.

Listen to the angels singNews of coming joy they bring

Mary’s yes and Joseph’s dream3

Carried Love through lives unseenIt is ours to make a place

To receive the Child of GraceIn the cradle of our lives

God with Us again arrivesListen to the angels sing

News of coming joy they bring.

LISTENING TO GOD'S WORD

The Story of Christmas

ResponseAnd the angels of God praised God and said:

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace and goodwill among all people!”

Ministry of Music – An African Alleluia

RESPONDING TO GOD IN LOVE

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

The Invitation

Sharing the Peace of Christ

▲Communion Hymn – Come and Gather at the Stable

Come and gather, at the stable

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They have journeyed far from homeMary, Joseph, young and ableTravelled ways as yet unknownWith a dream of untold promise

That great things would come to passIn the sureness of God’s blessingThey found peace and rest at last.

Come and gather, round the mangerWhere the Christ child gently lays.

Open up our hearts to wonderAt the glory of that day.

Visit him with thanks and promise,Peace and hope and love and joy

Take them daily into livingWrapped up in a baby boy.

Come and gather, at the tableWhere we seek him once again

Let us enter into mysteryNeeded now as needed then.

In the breaking of the sweet breadIn the pouring of the wine,

We meet him again among usWith a love so dear, divine.

Come and gather, in his footstepsWe will tread where he once went

With the lost and lonely peopleNow to them we’re also sent

Loving, working, tending, caringIn our Saviour’s name we prayIn our work and in our worship

We find hope in every day.

God be with you!And also with you!Lift up your hearts!

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We lift them up to God!Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

In the beginning you created light to shine in the void of darkness.The light of each day has become your reminder that you are with us always,

bringing hope in the midst of fear.On this night we remember the light of the star you set in the sky,

pointing to the sign of your Love-made-flesh.We look around and with the flicker of each candle,

we are reminded that your Spirit moves among us still.

And so we proclaim this ancient song with all of the saints and angels:Holy, holy, holy God!

God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory!

Hosanna in the highest!Blessed are you!Blessed are you!

You sent your Son, Jesus–your message-made-flesh to dwell among us:

Harbinger of Hope, Prince of Peace,Cup of Joy, Bread of Love.

Through Jesus you gave birth to your churchand sealed a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

With more anticipation and awethan any gift under our tree can give,

we remember your gift of Love and Grace for all.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Telling the Story

And so as we celebrate the birth of hope anew,we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died; Christ is risen;

Christ will come again.Touch us, O Spirit, with your transforming power.

Open us to your promise of resurrection from fear and death.

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In sharing the holy meal, let us become your messengers of hope, peace, joy and love for an anxious world, amen.

Sharing the Bread and Cup

Prayer Following Communion

We came to the table seeking and searching, we came hungry and wanting.

We came in need of celebration, inspiration, and vision. You have fed and nourished us, filled and sated us;

you meet our needs. We are gifted and fed, lifted and inspired. We go into your world to live in your love.

Thanks be to you! Amen.

GOING OUT IN CHRIST’S SPIRIT – SHARING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

Meditation on Silent Night VU # 67

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 Hallelujah,

Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour 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.

Christmas Blessing

All of us at Riverview United Church 7

wish you a very Merry Christmas and invite you to join us in January as we move into our

Living in the Light series.

The office is closed until January 2, 2018 in recognition of the extra hours that our minister and administrator put in

during the lead up to Christmas. If there is a pastoral emergency,please call Rev. Catherine MacDonald

@ 902-483-1422

Next Sunday, December 31, 2017Join us at Nine Mile River United Church @ 10 am.

Potluck Brunch to follow.We hope to see you there!

Sunday School resumes on January 7, 2018.

Call to Worship – Ali AnningsonAngels Among Us & Communion Liturgy– Marcia McFee

Listen to the Angels Sing – Catherine Smith Come and Gather at the Stable – Catherine MacDonald

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