December 24, 2022 – 6:00PM Christmas Eve A Service of the Nativity

December 23, 2022 PAUL MZANDU

WORSHIPPING, CARING, GROWING, REACHING OUT, IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

We are people gathered by God from across the National Capital area, to be a witness of Christian hope at the centre of the region CHRISTMAS EVE 2022 |

A Service of the Nativity | Pageant and Carols

THE GATHERING: WE COME INTO GOD'S PRESENCE

Organ Prelude

Matthew Larkin, organist

Over 100 people, from the ages of 2 to 82 years old, were asked to fill in the blank for the

statement: “My story is….” From the voices of different generations, hear their answers:

Teenagers: Amazing! Children: Just beginning. Adults: A wee bit messy, with lots of love.

Older Adults: Privileged. Teenagers: Hopeful. Children: Full of silliness.

Adults: Still unfolding. Older Adults: Long, but good. Teenagers: One of resilience.

Children: Incomplete, thank goodness. Adults: Multilingual. Older Adults: A work in progress.

Teenagers: My story is not just mine, it is tied to yours.

Tonight we tell the story that we tell each year – the story of Christ’s birth, the story of love made flesh. It’s a story that weaves through every generation. It’s a story that picks up the bits and pieces of our narrative and braids us together.

Adults: So tonight we will tell the story and light the Christ candle, because from generation to generation, our story belongs to God.

All together: Thanks be to God for a love like that, Amen.

Hymn 159 Oh come, all ye faithful vv 1-3 “Adeste fideles” Anonymous

Words: Latin, John Francis Wade (1711-1786) trans F. Oakeley (1802-1880)

Prayers of Approach & Confession

Assurance of God’s Love

Prayer of Illumination

A Service of the Nativity

Scene 1: Mary hears from God

Luke 1: 26 - 38

Hymn 136 The first nowell vv 1,3,6 “The First Nowell” English traditional carol

Scene 2: Joseph must decide what to do

Matthew 1: 18 - 24

Scene 3: The Census Problem

Hymn 164 O Little Town of Bethlehem vv 1-3 “Forest Green” English traditional

Words: Phillips Brook (1835-1893)

Scene 4: The Bethel Inn

Hymn 153 Joy to the World “Antioch” Lowell Mason ( 1792-1872)

Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Scene 5: Message to the Shepherds

Luke 2: 1 – 7, 8 - 19

Our Response to the Good News of Great Joy

Scene 6: The Gifts of the Magi

Matthew 2: 1 - 12

Invitation to the Offering www.standrewsottawa.ca/one-time-gifts or envelopes are located in the pews

Offering Hymn 138 While shepherds watched “Winchester old” Este’s Psalter (1592)

Words: Nahum Tate (1652-1715)

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Lighting Christ Candle Insert Laurentine Mouchingham Mefire and family

Hymn 154 Silent night “Stille Nacht” Franz Gruber (1787-1863)

Words: German, trans. John Freeman Young (1820-1885)

The Sending: We Go out into God’s World

Charge and Benediction

Organ Postlude

(You are invited to STAND, if you are able, where indicated by )

The pageant portion of this service is inspired and adapted from Cloth for the Cradle,

Call to worship by Reverend Sarah Speed.