-We Gather-

-Lessons and Carols-

CAROL Away in a Manger 217

CALL TO WORSHIP 1. GOD BLESSES CREATION Janice 8. LUKE’S NATIVITY Roger

When the world was dark and the city was quiet, you came. Genesis 1:26-27, 31 Luke 2:8-19
You crept in beside us.
CAROL People, Look East 202 ANTHEM Mary Did You Know Dana, David
And no one knew, only the few who dared to believe

that God might do something different. 2. THE BIRTH FORETOLD Tracy REFLECTION Mitch
Will you do the same this Christmas, Lord? Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
Will you come into the darkness of tonight's world;
 CAROL What Child Is This 219
not the friendly darkness as when sleep rescues us from tiredness,
 ANTHEM Do You Hear What I Hear Molly, Dana, David
but the fearful darkness,
 PRAYER Chloe
in which people have stopped believing 
 3. THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM Molly & Jacob
Listen.
that war will end or that food will come Isaiah 11:1-4a; 6-9
or that a government will change or that the Church cares? Angels say,
CAROL It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 218 Holiness is near.
Will you come into that darkness

to save your people from death and despair? Joseph says,
4. A PROMISE MADE TO BETHLEHEM Steffen Welcome mystery.
Will you come into the quietness of this town,
 Micah 5:2-4
not the friendly quietness as when lovers hold hands,
 The stars say,
but the fearful silence when the phone has not rung
 CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem 230 Open your eyes in wonder.
the letter has not come, the friendly voice no longer speaks,
 Shepherds say,
the doctor's face says it all? 5. THE ANNUNCIATION Kathy We who are poor are not afraid.
Will you come into that darkness, Luke 1:26-38
The sheep say,
to embrace your people? Hush.
READING The World I Live In Barb
Will you come into the dark corners 

I have refused to live Mary says,
and the quiet places of our lives? Iona Community
Your struggles are blessed.
locked in the orderly house of
CAROL O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211 v.1,2,6,7 reasons and proofs. The child says,
The world I live in and believe in Your flesh is my flesh.
CANDLE LIGHTING Dawn Is wider than that. And anyway, God says,
what’s wrong with Maybe?   I am here.
Light looked down and saw darkness. Steve Garnaas Holmes
"I will go there," said Light. You wouldn’t believe what once or
twice I have seen. I’ll just 9. MYSTERY OF INCARNATION Fred
Peace looked down and saw war.
tell you this: John 1:1-5, 14
"I will go there," said Peace.
only if there are angels in your head will you
Love looked down and saw hatred.
ever, possibly, see one. Mary Oliver
"I will go there," said Love.
So
 CAROL Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming 216
-We Are Sent-

the Lord of Light


the Prince of Peace
 6. JOSEPH’S DREAM Josiah MAKING A CIRCLE
the King of Love
 Matthew 1:18-25
LIGHTING OUR CANDLES
came down

and crept in
 7. JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM Narda
beside us. Iona Community Luke 2:1-7
CAROL Silent 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,
heav'nly 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 your holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at your birth, Jesus, Lord, at your birth.
v. 1-3
Thank you for worshiping with us tonight!
If this was your first time at Essex UMC, we hope tonight gave you a
A Candle Light
glimpse of who we are. We’re not an institution with lots of glitz or
claiming to have all the answers; we’re a community exploring the
Service of
Lessons and Carols
questions of Christian faith together; we’re people learning to live out
the questions in love and service to the world.
We worship on Sunday at 10:00 am.
Child care and Sunday school are available.
We are not taking a formal offering tonight, but there are offering
plates in the back of the sanctuary if you’d like to make a donation.
Tonight’s offering will be shared between Meals on Wheels and the
Aunt Dot’s.

BENEDICTION
Light shines in the darkness
and the darkness cannot overcome it,
proclaims the ancient word;
light stands firm against the dark landscape of reality,
warmth prances in rooms too long drafty.
Each of us holding a flickering candle;
seemingly insignificant one by one,
yet magnificent when held together.
Each of us making a choice to stand in the light; Essex Center Un-tied Methodist Church

proclaiming the indisputable presence of unquenchable light. A Reconciling Congregation

Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304 www.essexumc.com Art by Janet Mackenzie

Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox

POSTLUDE Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay

Essex Center
cell/text: 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net

OUTSIDE Setting Our Light to Flight Office Manager: Elissa Johnsen

Sunday School Coordinator: Krista Rochefort
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard Un-Tied Methodist Church
Song Leader: Dana LaClair Projection: Bob McLane Christmas Eve 2019 8:00 pm