THE WORSHIP OF GODBuild Your Own Christmas Nativity

December 24, 2017 • 9:00 a.m.

THE WORSHIP OF GODChildren’s Build Your Own Christmas Nativity

December 24, 2017 • 9:00 a.m.

PRELUDE Christmas Medley TraditionalMark Mueller

WELCOME John Ross

+ GATHERING CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels!

Chorus: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!Glory to God, all glory in the highest

(Chorus)

THE RETELLING OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY Jodie Nyberg READING The Angel Visits Mary (Luke 1:26-38) Rustin Comer

+ CAROL Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King;Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity,Pleased on earth with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!

READING And Joseph (Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25) Jodie Nyberg

+ CAROL It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold;

Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven great news we bring. The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

READING The Trip to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5) Rustin Comer

CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem (seated)

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

READING The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:6-7) Jodie Nyberg

CAROL Away in a Manger (seated) (Children dressed as Mary, Joseph, or Stable animals are invited to come

forward to join the Holy Family during verses 2 & 3 of Away in a Manger)

Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.The stars in the 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 forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

READING The Angels Appear to the Shepherds (Luke 2:8-14) Rustin Comer

CAROL Angels We Have Heard On High (seated)

(Children dressed as Shepherds, Angels, and Sheep are invitedto follow the Shepherd puppets forward at this time)

Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains. (continued)

Chorus: Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?Say what may the tidings be, which inspire your heavenly song. (Chorus)

Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing;Come adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. (Chorus)

READING The Three Kings visit Jesus (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11) Jodie Nyberg

CAROL We Three Kings of Orient Are (seated) (Children dressed as Kings, Camels, Stars and Little Drummer Boys

are invited to follow the King puppets forward as we sing)

We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afarField and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star

Chorus: O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to Thy Perfect Light.

Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice; Alleluia! Alleluia! sounds through the earth and skies. (Chorus)

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE The Comer Family

CAROL Joy to the World G.F. Handel Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth receive her King.

Let ev’ry heart, prepare Him room, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the world! The Savior reigns: let earth her songs employ; Let fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, repeat the sounding joy.

Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations proveThe glories of his righteousness, and wonders of His love.

OFFERTORY MUSIC What Child is This? Steve Ruedisili & Hanna Rose Harbison

Today’s cash offerings and checks designated for “Kimberly Meadows” in the memo linewill be given to our ministry partner to help build a Community Room.

CHRISTMAS PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER ClergyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

+ CLOSING CAROL Silent Night (Holy Family departs)

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.

(Shepherd and King Puppets depart)

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.

+ BENEDICTION John Ross

POSTLUDE Mark Mueller, piano

This special Christmas Eve Service is a tradition at Wayzata Community Church. For the children, it is a chance to celebrate the story of Jesus’ birth with their church family in a way even the youngest can take part.

For the adults, it is a chance to let go of all but the child in us and come to God as our simplest selves, just as Jesus said we should.

For all of us, it is a chance to receive God’s gift with new eyes to see the holy in the ordinary, to hear the still small voice

in the thunder of the children’s voices, to know the Christ child is born to us tonight

in a loud and joyful hall as well as in a quiet stable.

WORSHIP LEADERS Liturgists Rev. Dr. John F. Ross, Rev. Rustin Comer, Jodie Nyberg Deacon Nancy McCabe Music Mark Mueller, Hannah Cruzen, Hilary Flynn, Autumn Toussainat Puppeteers Jordan Masters & High School Volunteers Head Usher Peggy Douglas Holy Family Steve Reudisili, Ann Harbison, Zachary James Reudisili

Christmas Eve WorshipChristmas Eve in Wakefield Chapel 1:30, 3:00, and 5:00 pm. Chapel

A traditional service with organ, soloists,and Christmas message by Rev. Dr. John F. Ross.

Candlelight Christmas Eve 1:30, 3:00, and 5:00 p.m. SanctuaryThis celebratory, family friendly experience

includes music led by our contemporary music team, Tapestry, Children’s Ensemble, and Celebration Singers, traditional carols, candle lighting during Silent Night,

a special moment for children, and a Christmas message from Rev. Dr. John F. Ross.

Festival Christmas Eve 9:00 p.m. SanctuaryWith fanfare and joy we hear the Christmas story in festive music

by the Chancel Choir and Organand a Christmas message from Rev. Dr. John F. Ross.

Midnight Christmas 11:00 p.m. SanctuaryA joyous and contemplative welcome of the midnight hour

and the beginning of Christmas Day.We will hear a meditation by Rev. Dr. John F. Ross

Christmas Day Worship 10:00 a.m.Come as you are on Christmas morning

for warm, welcoming, and joyous Christmas Day worship. Hear Lindy Purdy’s heartwarming story, uplifting music, and celebrate baptisms.

Join in a Christmas carol sing-along, followed by Christmas cookies in Colonnade.

The Sunday After - New Year’s Eve Day8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Join us for The Sunday After with special music guests, The Peterson Family!Rev. Rustin Comer will preach on “ONE Word” for 2018. What if instead of resolutions, our

hopes for the year ahead centered on who God wants us to become, and the transformation process needed to get there? Join us and claim your word for 2018!