Saturday night December 24
Christmas Eve
Preparation
Opening response and confession of sin
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
A period of silence may be kept for reflection on the past day.
Most merciful God,
we confess to you,
before the whole company of heaven and one another,
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed
and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive us our sins,
heal us by your Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ. Amen.
Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.
Lord, come quickly and help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.
Hymn
Away with Our Fears
Charles Wesley
Away with our fears!
The Godhead appears
In Christ reconciled
The Father of mercies in Jesus the child.
He comes from above,
In manifest love,
Desire of our eyes,
The meek Lamb of God, in a manger he lies.
Immanuel’s birth
What triumph on earth!
Yet could it afford
No better a place for its heavenly Lord?
The Ancient of Days
Redeems a lost race:
His glory comes down
Self-humbled to carry us up to a crown.
Made flesh for our sake,
That we might partake
The nature divine,
Again in his image, his holiness shine.
A heavenly birth,
Experience on earth,
And rise on his throne,
And life with our Jesus eternally one.
Then let us believe,
And gladly receive
The tidings they bring
Who publish to sinners their Savior and king.
And while we are here,
Our King shall appear,
His Spirit impart,
And form his full image of love in our heart.
The Word of God
Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24
Refrain:
I entrust my spirit into your hands.
I take refuge in you, Lord.
Please never let me be put to shame.
Rescue me by your righteousness!
Listen closely to me!
Deliver me quickly;
be a rock that protects me;
be a strong fortress that saves me!
You are definitely my rock and my fortress.
Guide me and lead me for the sake of your good name!
Get me out of this net that’s been set for me
because you are my protective fortress.
I entrust my spirit into your hands;
you, Lord, God of faithfulness—
you have saved me.
How great is the goodness
that you’ve reserved for those who honor you,
that you commit to those who take refuge in you—
in the sight of everyone!
You hide them in the shelter of your wings,
safe from human scheming.
You conceal them in a shelter,
safe from accusing tongues.
Bless the Lord,
because he has wondrously revealed
his faithful love to me
when I was like a city under siege!
When I was panicked, I said,
“I’m cut off from your eyes!”
But you heard my request for mercy
when I cried out to you for help.
All you who are faithful, love the Lord!
The Lord protects those who are loyal,
but he pays the proud back to the fullest degree.
All you who wait for the Lord,
be strong and let your heart take courage.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain:
I entrust my spirit into your hands.
Psalm prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
when scorn and shame besiege us
and hope is veiled in grief,
hold us in your wounded hands
and make your face shine on us again,
for you are our Lord and God.
Scripture reading
John 1:4-5
Through the Word was life,
and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
Response
Lord, I entrust my spirit into your hands.
Lord, I entrust my spirit into your hands.
For you, Lord, God of faithfulness—
you have saved me.
I entrust my spirit into your hands.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, I entrust my spirit into your hands.
Watch me with the very pupil of your eye!
Hide me in the protection of your wings.
Silence may be kept.
Gospel canticle
The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon)
Refrain:
Alleluia. The Word became flesh, alleluia, and made his home among us. Alleluia, alleluia.
Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word,
because my eyes have seen your salvation.
You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples.
It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and a glory for your people Israel.
Luke 2:29-32
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain:
Alleluia. The Word became flesh, alleluia, and made his home among us. Alleluia, alleluia.
Brief silence.
Prayers
Thanksgiving and intercession
Open prayer is offered.
Silence may be kept.
Collect
We give you thanks, O God,
for the gift to the world of our Redeemer;
as we sing your glory at the close of this day,
so may we know his presence in our hearts,
who is our Savior and our Lord,
now and forever.
Amen.
Conclusion
We will lie down and fall asleep in peace
because you alone, Lord, let us live in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, O Christ.
May the love of the Word made flesh enfold us,
his joy fill our lives,
his peace be in our hearts;
and the blessing of God be with us
this night and always.
Amen.