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THERE IS AN UPDATED 2023 VERSION OF THIS BLOG ENTRY - SEE MY ARCHIVE LIST AT LEFT.
Bible Readings:Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20
Theme: Rejoice/Light of the World
Decor:
White and gold cloth and floating tea lights in clear glass bowls.
Call to Worship/Proclamation: This, Tonight is the Meeting Place
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 83 (pictured in an earlier blog). We read this while playing Anthem Part 3 from the CD Powaqquatsi (pictured in an earlier blog) in the background.
Listening Song: Hope
Found on Jonathan Elias's compilation album, Prayer Cycle (pictured at left).
Listening Song: A Holy Night
By Point of Grace on the album, WOW Christmas (pictured in an earlier blog).
Listening Song: Mary, Did You Know?
By Kathy Mattea on the album, WOW Christmas (pictured in an earlier blog). One year we used this song as the framework for the whole Christmas eve service.
Listening Song: Life Uncommon
By Jewel on her album, Spirit (pictured in an earlier blog).
Listening Song: Gaudete
By Cantillation on the compilation CD, Peace on Earth.
Drama: In their Shoes
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 98 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Drama: The Incarnation
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 86ff (pictured in an earlier blog).
Meditation: Comfort My People
By Roddy Hamilton and found on his blog, Mucky Paws (see link at left) in his December 2005 archive.
Stories/Sermon: Four Shoes For the Nativity
By Roddy Hamilton and found on his blog, Mucky Paws (see link at left) in his December 2005 archive.
Story/Sermon: Good King Wenceslas
Use this carol as a parable. A great source for this is Good King Wenceslas by John Mason Neale and Christopher Manson, North South Books, 1994, ISBN 1558583211.
Story: Take Hold of Love
By Henry Carter in Christmas Stories of the Heart by Alice Gray (Ed.) Multnomah Books, 1997, ISBN 1576731847, page 28.
Poem: Mary's Song
By Lucy Shaw. I can't remember which of her books this poem comes from but you can find the poem at http://maggidawn.typepad.com/maggidawn/2006/12/poems_for_chris_2.html. I used the words with images and played Psalmus Ode by Vangelis from his CD, Reprise, as a backing (pictured at right)
Meditation: Image of the Invisible God
By Adrian Plass in his book And Jesus Will Be Born, Zondervan, 2003, ISBN 0007130511, page 123ff. I matched each line with an image and played Aeterna Lux by Libera on their self titled album, as backing.
Prayer for Others: In the Face of the Gospel
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 115 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Response Activity:
It would not be a Christmas Eve Service at our church if we did not light the Christ Candle on the stroke of midnight, light out tapers from it and then sing Joy to the World together in the candle light.
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