PRELUDE/ENTRANCE
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
*OPENING SONG
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” UMH 89
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Christ is born; give him glory! People: Christ has come down from heaven; receive him! Christ is now on earth; exalt him!
Liturgist: O you earth, sing to the Lord! People: O you nations, praise him in joy, for he has been glorified! (TRADITIONAL BYZANTINE CHRISTMAS PRAYER, ALT.)
OPENING PRAYER (Together)
O almighty God, by the birth of your holy child Jesus you gave us a great light to dawn on our darkness. Grant that in his light we may see light. Bestow upon us that most excellent Christmas gift of love to all people, so that the likeness of your Son may be formed in us, and that we may have the ever brightening hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. (THE BOOK OF WORSHIP 1965, ALT.)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
*FIRST SCRIPTURE Isaiah 60:1-6
SECOND SCRIPTURE Matthew 2:1-12
MESSAGE “The Wise Still Seek Him”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*SONG OF RESPONSE
"We Three Kings" UMH 254
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“Go, Tell It on the Mountain” UMH 251
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE “Shalom to You” UMH 666