FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Pleasant Valley and Camden Avenues

Moorestown, New Jersey

Christmas Eve 2006 8:00 P.M. Candle Lighting Service

LARGE PRINT BULLETINS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX

Welcome! We are happy that you have come to worship here this Christmas Eve.

We invite you to open your heart to the message of the birth of Christ,

proclaimed in word and music, and to sing with us the songs that proclaim his birth!

PRELUDE Christmas Carol Medley Hakes

Youth Handbell Ringers

WELCOME AND PRAYER

OPENING HYMN 240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

THE PROPHET ISAIAH SPEAKS "...For unto us a Child is born." Isaiah 9:1-7 Isaiah wrote these words 700 years before the birth of Jesus!

HYMN 211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Vs. 1 - 4

THE PROPHET'S HOPE OF PEACE Jeremiah 31: 31 - 34

Jeremiah describes what the Messiah will bring...

HYMN 219 What Child is This?

What Child is this who laid to rest, So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,

on Mary's lap is sleeping? Come, peasant, King to own Him.

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, The King of kings salvation brings,

while shepherds watch are keeping Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

(Chorus) This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing.

Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary.

THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR Luke 2:1-7

"...she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth,

and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

HYMN 234 O Come, All Ye Faithful verses 1, 3, 6

THE ANGELS SING Glory to God in the Highest! Luke 2:8-14

HYMN 204 Emmanuel

THE SHEPHERDS VISIT Luke 2:15-20

"Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place,

which the Lord has made known to us."

PRESENTATION OF OUR CHRISTMAS OFFERING

OFFERTORY Born ‘Neath a Star Gray

Sing We Noel Osman

Youth Choir

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE “Signs…” Pastor Donat

CANDLE LIGHTING AND CAROL SING

See insert for words for carol sing...

CHRISTMAS PRAYER

CLOSING HYMN 246 Joy to the World!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;

let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ;

while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,

repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;

he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found,

far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove

the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,

and wonders, wonders of his love.

Following hymn, please extinguish all candles.

*BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE

ACOLYTE: Katie Clawges

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH STAFF

Steve Donat, Senior Pastor

HeyYoung Horton, Associate Pastor

Glenn Rodgers, Director of Music

Karen Murray, Deacon, Dir. of Christian Education

Joan Armstrong, Office Administrator

Karen Halligan, Membership Secretary

Sue Harris, Parish Nurse

Curt Diehl, Property Maintenance Coordinator

We worship here each Sunday morning at 8:30, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m.

Saturday Vespers at 5:30 p.m.

Come and worship with us!

Have a blessed and Christ-centered Christmas

NEW YEARS EVE COMMUNION - WATCH NIGHT SERVICE

A service of Holy Communion will be held in our Sanctuary on Dec. 31, at 9:00 p.m.

We would like to encourage you to make this a part of your evening’s agenda, as we remember our family in Christ, and our only true source of hope, as we welcome in a New Year.

Church Office Contacts

Phone: 856-235-0450 Fax: 856-235-2722

E-mail: church@meetwithGod.com Website: meetwithGod.com (CCLI License No. 782839)