Opening Prayer

Father in Heaven,

Giver of every good and perfect gift;

Pursuer of lost and longing hearts;

Author and Sustainer of each life in this room…

We bless Your name.

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Spirit of God,

Illuminator of the glory of Christ;

Bringing conviction for sin;

Helper to those in the family of God…

We look to You.

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Christ our Redeemer,

Gently and lowly in heart;

Humbling Yourself to become Emmanuel, God With Us;

Sacrificing Your very life to purchase ours…

We give You thanks.

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Today, on Christmas, give us eyes to see the beauty of Your story. 

Give us hearts to receive the gift of Jesus.

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Amen.

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A Reading from the Scriptures | Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

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A Song to Sing Together | 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

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O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

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Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation

Sing all ye citizens of heaven above

Glory to God, glory in the highest

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O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

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Child for us sinners, poor and in a manger

He would embrace thee with love and awe

Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly

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O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

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Yea Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing

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O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

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Closing Prayer: For the Giving and Receiving of Gifts

(written by Grace Thweatt | songwriter + founder of Renewed Motherhood)

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Christmas morning, 

and an offering of gifts

from home to home are

presented to the ones we adore. 

As I partake in this sacred act of love,

I consider: if I, imperfect as I am, 

long and love to give,

how much more, Father God,

will you gift good things

to those you love?

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This I can I trust

because you’ve already given

Emmanuel, God with us. 

We celebrate this gift of all gifts,

in the darkest days of the year,

and we remember that the Light is here.

Jesus, you descended 

from heaven’s glory to this shadowed earth.

You took on our nature,

and then you took our darkness to the cross.

Eternity’s dawn has broken,

and the glow of your glorious reign

is growing still until 

one day, we will have no need

for lamp or sun. 

Yes, this I can trust:

you will graciously give us all things,

you who gave your son. 

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