Christmas Eve Church Service for Home Worship ⛪
Welcome and happy Christmas Eve to you wherever you are. I’ve put together this Christmas Eve service in the hopes that anyone who finds themselves unable to attend a service in person, might still have the feeling of celebration and connection and community. Whether you can’t get to a service because you have other holiday commitments, or you haven’t been to church in a long time and don’t know if you feel comfortable going now, or if you have been made to feel that you aren’t welcome – you are welcome here and now.
I’m not a minister, preacher, reverend, priest, or any other type of clergy. I don’t go to church regularly and I’m not a perfect Christian. But I love my relationship with God. I have great memories of the Advent season and Christmas Eve services at our small rural United Churches back home, and I hope to share those feelings in this service.
Read along, from wherever you may be. Hit play on the videos and sing with the hymns. Stop when you need to, come back when you can. Add whatever prayers and scripture that you feel are right.
I would note, that because this isn’t a service in a church, there is no collection plate being passed around. However, if you are able, and you would like to make that part of your experience as well, please consider making a donation to local charities and initiatives in your area that assist new immigrants and refugees, vulnerable women, the LGBTQ+ community, at-risk youth, or any organization you believe in that spreads hope, please, joy, and love.
Thank you.
Tonight we celebrate the birth of Christ, God’s love made human and shared with all of us. We celebrate the culmination of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that are recognized during Advent. And we celebrate each other and what we can do when we come together with love and acceptance and purpose.
This is a time of great joy. As we read in the Gospel of John, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We are touched by that love, we are protected by that love, and we are thankful for it.
Hold that love with you as we celebrate the birth and life of a miracle baby and his heavenly father who gave him to us.
Hymn: Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Reading – Luke 2: 8-14
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Hymn: Away In A Manger
Reading – John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Christmas is a celebration. For all of the hardships and anxieties we may have, this is the season that we try to embrace and use to spread joy. We hang lights and decorations. We give gifts and visit loved ones. And as we reflect on Christmas Eve, we give thanks to God for the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ.
We all know the story, a travel-weary Mary and Joseph have no place to stay, no options, no friends or family to give them shelter. They are in a place that could easily be described as hopeless, except for the miracle baby. He was hope. Gabriel had told Mary of the greatness that her soon to be born son would embody. He was already a symbol of what would be in the future. He would be the light.
Jesus’ birth was celebrated. The angels spread the message. The shepherds left their flocks and travelled to his crib. The wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The north star lit the way and the heavens rejoiced. We look at the crèche and see it all laid out for us. We close our eyes and imagine the scene of a newborn babe, celebrated as the saviour with joy and hope and faith. We celebrate today with that scene in mind and the gift of God’s love in our hearts.
But we must remember that we can’t celebrate the birth of Christ without also celebrating his life.
Jesus was a preacher, a teacher, a healer, a leader, and a rebel. He offered eternal love through God for believing in him. He stood up for the weak, the sick, the vulnerable, and the outcasts. He stood up against the overbearingly powerful and corrupt and greedy. He gave and inspired others to give of themselves. His is an example that is not always easy to follow, but it undeniably righteous.
Today, I’m conflicted, and I don’t believe that I’m the only one that feels that way. We are bombarded with loud voices telling us that God’s way is in jeopardy. That we are losing him and the teachings of Jesus. The conflicting part comes when those voices are using those words to hold up a standard that directly opposes the love and support that Jesus taught us to give those in need. The conflict comes from zealots using God as an excuse to oppress rather than a reason to support and include. And it can be hard to stand up and claim that we are trying to do good in God’s name when it can so easily be compared to those who would do harm in it. But we can’t stop trying to do good.
It’s impossible to know for sure, but I sometimes imagine Jesus on earth with us today, and what his example would be. Would he welcome immigrants and refugees fleeing war, depression, famine, in search of a better life? Would he fight for accessible health care and choice for all, not just the wealthy? Would he clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and shelter the homeless? Would he condemn the greedy? Would he lift up the needy?
In my humble opinion, I believe the answer is yes to all of those questions. That is the picture of Jesus I see when I close my eyes. I see a man who was sent with love for all and taught love for all and would not stand by quietly as so many are left behind and needed support.
I see Christ as the welcomer and the redeemer. I see him opening his arms to those who have been cast aside. I see him supporting those who do the same and encouraging more of it. And I see him standing steadfast against those who would challenge that.
This Christmas Eve we celebrate the birth of the Son of God. We celebrate the gift of love and the light. We celebrate a baby who changed the world forever. And who we still gather to celebrate more than 2,000 years later. I ask that we all remember to celebrate his life as well and to do so by loving as he would have. Love your brothers and sisters. Love them without regard for their skin colour, their gender, their sexuality, their place of birth, or their expression of faith. Measure people based on their support for those who need it most, not for those who can give them the most. And when you are called upon to do right, try your best.
Hymn: Silent Night
Prayer
Let us pray.
Lord, we thank you today for the chance to celebrate Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love while we remember the birth of the baby Jesus. We are thankful for the chance to feel your love through him, and through our family and friends at this time, and at all times throughout the year. We are thankful for the reminders of hope in our lives when things are bleak. We are thankful for the peace in our lives when we feel its calming presence, and we pray for peace in the lives of those who need it most. We are thankful for the moments of joy in our lives when we are able to smile and laugh and feel the genuine happiness that comes with it.
We all know that the world is a complicated place with complicated issues. We know that there are those who feel threatened and scared by the changes that have come and are on the way. And we know that those who react with hate, bullying, anger, and fear need your love as much as we do. We pray that you continue to try to guide us, protect us, and love us all as we move forward together. We pray that the most vulnerable among us feel safe and at peace. We pray that those who fight the darkness of depression and sadness are able to see the hope and joy and love in the world. And we pray that the ones we love will be here with us in good health and happiness for as long as they can.
Thank you for the gifts that you have given us and for the legacy and lessons of your son, Jesus Christ. In his name, we pray.
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever
Amen
Hymn: Hark The Herald Angels Sing
As we end, I wish you all the best for tonight, tomorrow, and into the new year. I hope you feel the love in your heart that comes from your relationship with God and your faith. And I hope that you spread love to those around you.
You are loved. You are blessed. You are here and that is worth celebrating too.
Merry Christmas to you all.