Christmas Day - Evening - Christian Worship Tools

“GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US BY A SON”

Hebrews 1:1-4

GREETING (Hebrews 1:1-3a)

Long ago, God, you spoke to our ancestors,

in many and various ways by the prophets.

Now in these last days, you speak by a Son,

whom you appointed heir of all things,

and through whom you created the worlds.

Jesus is the reflection of your glory, Father,

and the exact imprint of your very being.

He sustains all things by his powerful word.

We hear your voice and see your heart in Jesus,

and before you both, we bow in worship.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE

(Optional – light all the Advent candles, including the white candle. You might want to start humming the following hymn as you light the candles, and when finished, break into full song.)

HYMN 228 “He Is Born”

PSALM 98:1-3

PRAYER

(Think back to the beginning of this day. Start there, and mentally walk through the day again, while you thank God for the day's blessings and God's continuous work of love. Confess and repent of those times when you forgot, ignored or rebelled against God. Continue to pray with your personal prayer list.)

SCRIPTURE LESSON

(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)

Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.

Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.

Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.

Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.

PRAYER

Jesus, you are the holy God who reaches down to us,

and you are the holy human who lifts us up to God.

At Christmas our loneliness finds its needed relief.

and with your church we celebrate God’s company.

We had wandered off, were lost and dying alone;

but you have come to us, and lead us back to God.

In you, God shies not from our ignominy or shame,

In you, God joins us to your eternal honor and glory.

From that humble manger, God reaches out to us,

embraces our grief and comforts our every sorrow.

In your humanness, God sings eternal love to us,

and from your glorious Christmas story, joy finds us,

To sinners you bring grace, hope, faith and peace,

and now forgiven sinners know God smiling on us.

You came to a race forever lost to sin and death,

now reflecting your glory we race to the city of God.

Shepherds and magi saw you begin in Bethlehem.

Now your kingdom beginnings are seen everywhere.

Many are the eyes looking to you for a new creation.

Billions pray for your return. Come, Savior, come.

Jesus, you are the holy God who reaches down to us,

and you are the holy human who lifts us up to God. Amen.

SILENCE AND COMMITMENT

(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)

HYMN 242 “Love Came Down at Christmas”

CLOSING PRAYER

On this Christmas evening, Father,

we discover our lasting peace in you.

You have made your love so evident,

even the blind see it, the deaf hear it.

We thought we were all alone here,

but you have proved us wrong again.

Now the dark night is ahead of us,

and we will not be alone there either.

Peace, love, joy you have brought,

but the greatest gift is your company. Amen.