Celebration Service December 24 , 2024 – 5 pm

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Prelude Chris Vigneau

 

Welcome

 

The Lighting of the Christ Candle          The Haugh Family           

Leader: We wait with hope for justice and righteousness of God.

All: We wait with peace for God’s shalom to fill the world.

Leader: We wait with joy, celebrating all that God has done for us and our world.

All: We wait with love, humbled by the love that God shows to all people.

Leader: Tonight we light this candle to celebrate the energy that God has sent into the world through the love and life of Jesus.

All: O God of hope, and peace, and joy, and love, from that stable so long ago your light shines into every corner of the world. Help us to sing with the angels at the joy of your coming. Help us to live by your light not only today, but throughout the whole year, so that tidings of peace and good will to all will truly renew the whole creation. 

 

Hymn* “O Come, All Ye Faithful”  

 

Children’s Message Taryn Noelle

 

Special Music “My Grown Up Christmas List”  

by David Foster/Linda Thompson

Addison Kneale, soloist

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Words of Introduction

 

Scripture Lesson Luke 2:1-7 Nancy Jeffries-Dwyer

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Hymn* “O Little Town of Bethlehem”    

 

Special Music    “Mary Did You Know”     Mark Lowry/Buddy Greene

Evie Song, soloist

 

Scripture Lesson Luke 2:8-14

   

For the next two hymns we invite the children to come up front to ring bells while we sing the hymns. 

 

Hymn “Angels We Have Heard on High” 

 

Scripture Lesson Luke 2:15-20

 

Hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

 

Message “The hopes and fears” Rev. Dan Haugh

 

Offertory: “Noel”         Chris Tomlin/Lauren Daigle

Lydia Matson, soloist

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Offertory Prayer

 

Christmas Prayer

 

Hymn “Silent Night, Holy Night”  Joseph Mohr, John F. Young, Franz Gruber

(As we sing, “Silent Night” receive the light for your candle from the aisle

and pass it down your pew, dipping the unlit candle into the flame.)

 

Benediction

(Please blow out your candle before exiting the sanctuary and deposit in the basket in the narthex. Thank you!)

Postlude Chris Vigneau

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Announcements

 

Our church experienced tremendous growth in 2024!   To help fund this growth, we ask that you prayerfully consider making a one-time end-of-year gift to enable us to finish 2024 strong and begin 2025 with healthy finances. Place your donations in the offering plate, visit our website or scan the QR code that is in the bulletin.

 

Beverages are allowed in the sanctuary however, please do not put your cup on the hymnals, bibles, or pew cushions.  Place them on the floor by your feet.  

 

If you, or someone you know, would like prayers for comfort or healing, the members of the Prayer Team are ready to support you. Please fill out the prayer request form in the pew and put it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher to deliver to the office.  

 

The staff of Stowe Community Church wishes you and your family a peaceful and joyous Christmas!

 

Reflections:

“The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young, the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air, when the song of angels is sung.”- Phillips Brooks (author of O Little Town of Bethlehem)

 

"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." —Washington Irving

 

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." —Norman Vincent Peale

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2024 Poinsettias given by

In memory of Alan & Becky

Matt & Leslie Anderson in memory of Jack Turner, our loving parents, and Michelle LaBow and Lynn Baumrind

Anne Bongiorno in memory of Priscilla Watson and Ruth Lewenthal Bongiorno

Cilla Bouchard in memory of Howard, Gwendolen, Ken, and Bob Young

Ben Brayton in memory of Rev. Dou and Eliner Brayton

Bob and Marlene Davison in memory of our son, Robbie

Annie-Vera D. Frye in memory of Pierre A. Frye, parents Arnold & Suzanne Frye, Roald & Fera Dysthe, Jean Roald Dysthe

Judith Grosvenor in memory of Florence, John, Peter and John G. 

Carollynne & Bob Kirch in memory of our parents

Bob & Amy Marshall in memory of the Beres and Marshall family

Karen Monsen in memory of Peter Monsen

Greg Morrill in memory of George and Ruth Morrill

Greg Morrill and Meg Scotti in memory of Adrienne Chamberlin

Dave and Nan Myers in memory of The Myers family and the Ayers family

Laura Nichols in memory of Alice Kruidenier

Sandy and Scott Noble in memory of Phyllis and Jack Knittle and Kathryn and Joe Noble

Walter & Dorothy Pesaresi in memory of Doug Schoning

Steve & Kathe Rhinesmith in memory of our parents

David and Ruth Roy in memory of our parents and broth-in-law, in honor of our children and grandchildren

Meg Scotti in memory of Frank and Joan Scotti

Nancy Small and Roger Keller in memory of Christine Houghtaling

Travis and Rebecca Spaulding in memory of Jerry and Mary McDermott, Gerry Spaulding and William Robidoux

Elizabeth Teffner in memory of Ted Teffner

Lynne von Trapp in honor of my family

Dian Williams in memory of Martha Chesson & Reynold Spruill, my parents

Jessie and Jacob Winters in memory of Alice Kruidenier

Bernadette & Lori Wyman in memory of Bill Wyman and Dick & Marcia Johannesen

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Hymn “O 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;
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, all glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born for our salvation,
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

 

Hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth.
Your voices raise to God in praise; and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the joys of highest heaven.
No ear may hear Christ coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our God, Emmanuel.
Hymn “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er 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 heav’nly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem and see Christ, who comes in lowly birth.
Come adore on bended knee Jesus, joy of heav’n and earth.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
See within a manger laid, Christ, whom choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

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Hymn “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; Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing, alleluia to our King;
Christ, the Savior, is born, Christ, the Savior, is born.