Sunday Order of Service

DECEMBER 24, 2024

ORDER OF SERVICE – 3:30

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

PRELUDE & PROCESSIONAL      On Christmas Morning      by Raffi & Chris Whitely

                                                            Old Toy Trains                            by Roger Miller

                                                           Christmas Magic                      by Betsy M. Zavell

                                                        The Christmas Wish     by Danny Allen Wheetman

Angelyn Rhode, vocals

Alissa Rhode, piano/vocals

Molly Rhode, string bass/vocals

Chase Stoeger, guitar/vocals

Silvia Stoeger, percussion/vocals

 

WELCOME                                                         The Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson

Minister of Religious Education

 

*CAROL                                     “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”

 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.

Come and behold him,

Born the King of angels;

Chorus

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God,

Glory in the highest;

(Repeat chorus)

 

OPENING WORDS                   “For So the Children Come”       by Sophia Lyon Fahs

The Rev. Dena McPhetres

Associate Minister

 

CHALICE LIGHTING

 

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHRISTMAS                       The Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom

Senior Minister

 

INTERLUDE                                       Fall Softly Snow                            by Jean Surrey

 

READING                                                                                          Luke 2: 1, 3-7

  

CAROL                                               “The First Noel”

 

The First Noel the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three magi came from country far
To seek for a king was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel!

 

READING                                                                                             Luke 2: 8-14

 

*CAROL                               “Angels We Have Heard on High”

 

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’ver the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

*READING                                                                                                  Luke 2: 15-20

 

*CAROL                                           “Joy to the World”

 

Joy to the world! The Lord has 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 earth! 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.

 

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.

  

OFFERING AND OFFERTORY                O Holy Night            music by Adolphe Adam

lyrics by John Sullivan Dwight

 

Tonight’s entire offering will be split between three worthy organizations:

Interchange Food Pantry, a food pantry that FUSM founded in 1971 along with a group of neighboring churches, is committed to helping provide healthy food to low-income residents of Milwaukee in a compassionate and supportive environment.

Guest House of Milwaukee provides shelter, housing, education, and services to Milwaukee’s homeless who seek to transform their lives with dignity and purpose.

Walkers Point Youth and Family Center provides youth in crisis with an inclusive and stable space where they are empowered to create a safe and healthy life through counseling, case management, shelter for youth, and housing for young adults.

STORY                                                                              The Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom

 

CONGREGATIONAL CANDLELIGHTING

 

*CAROL                                     “Silent Night, Holy Night”

 

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin, mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

 

 Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia,”
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

 
Silent night, holy night!

Child of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

 

*CLOSING WORDS

To limit the hazard of fire, please extinguish your candle following the Closing Words and feel free to take it home with you or deposit it on a table on your way out.

*EXTINGUISHING THE CHALICE AND CANDLES

*POSTLUDE & RECESSIONAL     Falalalala and many thanks!                                    

*Please rise in body or spirit.