4 PM Christmas Eve Family Service
Christmas Eve Children and Family Service
First Presbyterian Church – St. Petersburg, Florida
December 24, 2022 – 4 p.m.
Interim Pastor, Rev. Ginny Ellis
Prelude
Words of Welcome and Announcements - Ginny Ellis
Call to Worship - Ginny Ellis
Let us go, in heart and mind, to see what has come to pass. Let us go with the shepherds:
Let us go to find the Savior!
Let us go with the wise ones:
Let us go to find God's promise, born for us!
Let us go with the poor and humble:
Let us go to find our King, born in a lowly manger.
Let us go with all the world, with all the peoples of the nations. Come, let us worship;
Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
*Opening Hymn #133: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” vv. 1, 3 - Matt Clear, Music Director, pianist
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; O come let us adore him (3 times), 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, O come let us adore him (3 times), Christ the Lord!
Special Music: “Gifts” - The Joyful Noise Music Makers (Children’s Choir) - Barbara Brownlee, Director, Diedra Flora, Accompanist
Lighting the Advent and Christ Candles - Ginny Ellis
Christmas Prayer - Ginny Ellis
The Christmas Pageant: The Story of Jesus’ Birth told through Scripture & Song
Special thanks to Ben, Emily and Eloise (“Lucy”) Leininger and Lucy’s brother Finn
The Journey to Bethlehem - Luke 2:1-3 - Tai Specie
All Josephs, Marys, and their “assistants” come forward.
Hymn #82: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” vv. 1 & 2
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the Earth thou art.;
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.
Jesus is Born - Luke 2:4-7 - Tai Specie
All the stable animals (donkeys and cows) come forward.
Hymn #115: “Away in a Manger” 3 verses
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 poor baby wakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by my side until 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.
Shepherds in the Field - Luke 2:8 - Dave Hunt
All shepherds and sheep come forward.
The Angels Bring News - Luke 2:9-14 - Tai Specie
All angels come forward.
Hymn #113: “Angels We Have Heard on High” vv. 1, 2
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo! Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?
Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo! Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo!
The Shepherds Go to Bethlehem - Luke 2:15-20 - Dave Hunt
*Hymn #113: “Angels We Have Heard on High” v. 3
Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo! Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo!
The Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-5 - Tai Specie
All kings and wise men come forward.
Hymn #151: “We Three Kings” v. 1
We Three Kings of Orient Are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
The Wise Men Arrive in Bethlehem - Matt. 2:7-12 Dave Hunt
All animals, shepherds, angels, kings, and wise men may return to their seats.
Solo: “O Holy Night” by Adophe Adam - Barbara Brownlee, soprano
Offering - Dave Hunt
...Let us pray together:
Good and gracious God, on this holy night you gave us your son, Lord of the universe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Savior of all, lying in a manger. Continue to draw all of us into the mystery of your love. Bless these gifts and the lives we offer that your loving presence may be made more real every day in and through us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Please switch on your candles now for the remainder of the service.
*Hymn #122: “Silent Night”
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! Wondrous star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing Alleluia to the King!
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
*Closing Litany - Ginny Ellis
It has been done! The News has been shared!
A young maiden will bear a child, and she will call him Jesus.
But that is the beginning of the story, a story that has not yet ended.
A story that includes us, a story of which we are a part.
So we go out now to live the story,
to tell of the Hope that is being born among us this Christmas,
to share the Love of the season with the world,
to be agents of Peace in times of trouble,
to sing songs of deep and abiding Joy, all the while letting our lights shine!
Benediction - Ginny Ellis
Postlude: “Joy to the World”