Christmas Eve
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
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MUSIC Curated by Kevin Borst
Mavrick City Music - Fear Is Not My Future
Hillsong Worship - Joy To The World
Hillsong Worship - Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Jeremy Riddle - O Come All Ye Faithful
Hillsong Worship - O Holy Night
Francesca Battistelli - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Sarah Kroger - Silent NightCANDLE LITURGY Written by Bobbi Salkeld
HOPE
On Christmas Eve, we anticipate the arrival of hope, love, joy, and peace.
First, we light the candle of Hope.
We hope for something new to capture our imagination in an old story.
We hope for lightness in the burdens we carry.
We hope for the coming light of Christ to make a difference in our darkness.
May God give a hopeful word to our souls this Christmas Eve.
May God approach you to affirm the beauty of your humanity.
Amen.
LOVE
On this Christmas Eve, we light the second candle – the candle of Love. We contemplate the ways God comes to us in human form, and what love requires from us in preparation.
We have prepared for love’s unexpected interruption.
We have prepared for love’s unguarded vulnerability.
We have prepared for love’s outstretched arms.
May God give us a loving word for our souls this Christmas Eve.
May God come to you with love in your need and gratitude.
Amen.
JOY
On this Christmas Eve, we light the third candle – the candle of Joy. In our waiting, there is a halfway point where we sense the mood of our anticipation shift toward joy.
We rejoice in the miracle of small changes.
We rejoice in the practicality of mutual care.
We rejoice in the fulfillment of our desires.
May God give us a joyful word for our souls this Christmas Eve.
May God grace your adventures with laughter and divine delight.
Amen.
PEACE
On Christmas Eve, we light the fourth candle – the candle of Peace. Our attention has been attuned to our need for approaching peace.
We work for peace where there is oppression.
We work for peace where there is injustice.
We work for peace where there is disturbance.
May God give us a peaceful word for our souls this Christmas Eve.
May your peacemaking be always-growing as we anticipate the renewal of all things.
Amen.