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- Oh Come All Ye Faithful- Mark
Introduction: Welcome to our Christmas Eve Service. We are glad to have you celebrate Christmas with us and we hope you are encouraged at the message of hope that is in Christ. The theme of our service is the Stories of the Carols. We are going to share with you some familiar Christmas carols and how they came about and how they point to Christ. We hope it will bring significance to things you might have forgotten or assume.
The first carol we will look at is Oh Come, All Ye Faithful” is one of the most triumphant and theologically rich Christmas carols in Christian history, calling believers to joyfully worship the newborn King. The hymn originated in the mid-18th century and is most commonly attributed to John Francis Wade (1711–1786), an English hymn writer.
The song was a summons for persecuted believers to gather and rejoice in Christ’s birth. The carol is deeply grounded in Scripture. Its central imagery flows directly from the Nativity accounts in Luke 2:8–20 and Matthew 2:1–12. The call, “O come, let us adore Him,” mirrors the posture of the shepherds who hurried to Bethlehem and the wise men who bowed before the child. The line “God of God, Light of Light” draws from John 1:1–14, connecting Jesus’ birth to His eternal divine nature. The phrase “begotten, not created” intentionally echoes the theological language of the Nicene Creed (A.D. 325), emphasizing that Christ is fully God, not a created being.
What makes “O Come, All Ye Faithful” especially powerful is how clearly it points to the Gospel. It is not merely an invitation to admire a baby in a manger, but a call to worship the Savior of sinners. The hymn proclaims that the child born in Bethlehem is “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,” meaning that God Himself has come near to rescue fallen humanity. By calling all people to adore Christ, the carol is issuing the Gospel invitation: turn from lesser hopes, come to the true King, and respond in worship, repentance, and faith.
We are invited to celebrate the birth of the Savior. He welcomes all who come to him. Its similar to the invitation the Lord gives to us in Isaiah,
Read Scripture- Mark
1“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Is 55:1,6–8.
We are now going to light the Christ candle to recognize the light Jesus provides, and his invitation to come to him.
- I Heard the Bells- Andrew.
Christmas is a wonderful time of being with family. But it can also be difficult as we often find ourselves celebrating without people. We live in a world with tragedy. The Bible doesnt hide the fact we live in a fallen world, and neither do the carols.
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a Christmas carol rooted not only in Christian hope but also in deep personal grief and the national trauma of the American Civil War. The text was written by the celebrated American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) on Christmas Day, 1863, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Longfellow’s life in the early 1860s was marked by immense sorrow: in July 1861, his wife Fanny Appleton Longfellow died tragically after a fire in their home, an event that left Longfellow physically burned and emotionally devastated. Two years later, in November 1863, his son Charles was severely wounded while serving in the Union Army.
It was during this season of grief that Longfellow heard the church bells of Cambridge ringing out across the town on Christmas morning. Their sound—joyful, persistent, and unchanged—contrasted sharply with his despair, inspiring him to write the poem originally titled “Christmas Bells” published in 1865, shortly after the end of the war.
The poem’s structure moves through a journey of faith. It opens with a traditional, almost nostalgic reflection on Christmas bells proclaiming “peace on earth, good will to men,” echoing the angelic message of Luke 2:14. But Longfellow confronts the brutal reality of a nation torn apart: “And in despair I bowed my head; / ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said.” These lines reflect both his personal anguish and the wider suffering of the Civil War years.
The turning point comes in the final stanza. Longfellow declares that “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep,” expressing renewed confidence in the sovereignty and justice of God. The bells become symbols of divine assurance, proclaiming that righteousness will ultimately triumph, and that God will right the wrongs of a broken world.
Jesus came into a broken world torn apart by war and strife and sin, but the darkness could not overcome the light. With the first sin came enmity, strife, death and judgment. But God also promised to redeem the world, and in Jesus come peace, blessing, life and freedom. God is not dead. He has acted in Christ.
Thus, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” stands as a powerful testimony that the message of Christ endures even in the darkest of times, speaking peace into grief, conflict, and uncertainty.
John 16:33 (ESV)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- What Child is this- Amanda
“What Child Is This?” is a profoundly reflective Christmas carol that invites listeners to ponder the true identity of the baby lying in the manger. Written in 1865 by English poet and insurance manager William Chatterton Dix (1837–1898), the hymn emerged from a season of deep personal crisis. While living in Glasgow, Scotland, Dix fell gravely ill and spent months recovering, during which he battled severe depression. It was during this period of physical weakness and spiritual searching that he experienced a renewed encounter with the grace of God.
The hymn first appeared in printed form in 1871. Dix’s lyrics were set to the beloved 16th-century English melody “Greensleeves,” a tune already well known throughout England. The union of Dix’s meditative text with the plaintive minor-key melody gives the carol its distinctive emotional weight—a mixture of wonder, reverence, and quiet sorrow.
At the heart of the hymn lies a single, searching question: Who is this Child? This echoes the central question of the Gospels. Again and again, people who encountered Jesus were forced to wrestle with His identity—“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Dix draws the listener into the nativity scene in Bethlehem, standing among the shepherds as they behold the newborn Christ. The first verse paints a picture of serene innocence: a sleeping infant, watched over by His mother, welcomed with joy and awe by humble shepherds.
But the hymn does not romanticize the moment. The second verse confronts the paradox at the center of the Incarnation—the Child who rests peacefully in a manger will one day suffer and die for the sins of the world. “Nails, spear shall pierce Him through; the cross be borne for me, for you” connects the cradle to the cross, reminding us that Jesus came not merely to be born, but to redeem: the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes is the Lamb of God who will bear the sin of humanity at Calvary.
The final verse moves from proclamation to response. “Let loving hearts enthrone Him” is a call to worship, surrender, and devotion. Just as the magi offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the hymn invites every listener to offer Christ the gift of faith and obedience. He is the King of Kings, worthy of honor, trust, and allegiance.
If this Child truly is the One the hymn proclaims—God in the flesh, the Savior who came to bear our sin and conquer death—then He calls us to respond. The proper response is not merely admiration, but repentance and faith. To repent is to turn from sin, to acknowledge our need for forgiveness, and to lay down our claim of self-rule. To trust in Christ is to believe that His death on the cross paid our debt, and that His resurrection offers us new life. He brings light into our darkness.
2 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.
…
6 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.
7 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.
Is 9:1–8.
- Oh Holy Night- Keith
I want to thank you for spending Christmas Eve with us. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. God comes in the flesh- in carne. This is amazing and it is deeply encouraging.
It is encouraging because it means God has seen us and identified with our struggle. God is holy, righteous and perfect- he does not tolerate sin nor does he allow it into his presence. God’s holiness separates himself from the unholy. The reason we live in a world of hardship and suffering is because people turned from God and in order to be just he brought judgment on the world. But he did not remain indifferent.
He loved his people and chose to redeem them. (Ill- lego). People were under his authority and rule, and when they broke it they were liable. And so only one under the law could regain God’s favor. God the Father sent his eternal Son into the world, to live under the law, to identify with his people in both obedience and suffering, and to redeem them by living a perfect life. Jesus is God’s chosen Savior, who would deliver his people and teach them how to live.
Second, it means that every thing can and will be healed. Jesus created all things and in him all things hold together. The only one who could fix things is the one who created them. He is making all things new– the world and cosmos. But he is also making us new. He can heal our minds, bodies, emotions, and everything else. He does that as we submit all things to him. “There is not one square inch in all creation that he does not cry mine!” sometimes we think certain parts of life are off limits to him. Its like we try to vacuum seal parts of life. Those seal keep the air out and keep whats inside impervious to what is going on outside.
Second, it means we are healed as we look to Christ. In him is life. In him is light. In him is healing and restoration. That means you look to him. You admire him. In amazement as you may look to beautiful Christmas decoration. Tree- kids love to wake up and just look it. But its more than just admiration. It is allegiance. Sports teams. We follow him. He takes the place of ultimate importance. He is the authority for our lives. We look to him and his ways.
At the birth of Jesus, angels appeared to shepherds and told them where the Christ could be found. They went and beheld him. There were others like king Herod who saw the authority of a Savior threatened his autonomy. He told others he wanted to go worship the Savior, but everyone knew he was not interested in worshipping him. Jesus threatened his own well being. Jesus can seem that way to many. They are so fixed on their own glory and agenda and unwilling to change that he becomes a threat. The life he offers threatens the life they want- and that is the prime evidence that our hearts have not surrendered to him. Reject the life and light of God.
Christmas is one of the most beautiful, holy, sacred, but also demanding events in history. It begs us not just acknowledge the one who came, but to submit our lives to him. This means Jesus is just another person or image you endlessly scroll past. He is one you stop on, you stay on, and you surrender. The more you dwell on the more amazing the event becomes. I've heard it said that our world is constantly entertained and constantly bored. We are bored with entertainment that doesn’t require effort. Bored means we don’t have anything to live for. There are endless spectacles, but nothing holy, nothing sacred, and people are starving for hope. Here it is- Jesus is God in the flesh and has come to save you from your sins. That is the most profound thing you will ever hear.
But will you walk away entertained, amused, indifferent, threatened, or devoted to him. Will you call this a holy event, a holy moment.
“O Holy Night” is one of the most beloved and powerful Christmas hymns, celebrated for its rich theology, emotional depth, and soaring melody. The origins of the carol trace back to 1843 in Roquemaure, France, when the local parish priest asked poet Placide Cappeau (1808–1877) to write a poem commemorating the renovation of the church’s organ. Cappeau, though not deeply religious, took the task seriously and produced a poem. Cappeau then asked his friend, the composer Adolphe Adam (1803–1856), to set the poem to music, resulting in the reverent and majestic melody now known worldwide.
The carol quickly gained popularity in France. However, when Cappeau’s political views and Adam’s heritage became controversial, church authorities briefly discouraged its use. Despite this, the song survived and grew in influence. In 1855, American abolitionist John Sullivan Dwight translated the hymn into English, creating the version we sing today. Dwight emphasized the hymn’s themes of justice and liberation—especially the line, “Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother”—making it resonate deeply with believers fighting for the rights of slaves, and emphasising the light of truth Christians should devote themselves to.
The message of the hymn is profoundly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It invites listeners to step into the night of Christ’s birth, recognizing it as a holy moment when God took on flesh to dwell among us.
The lyrics proclaim the central Christian truths of the Incarnation, God’s love made visible in Jesus, and humanity’s need for redemption. The hymn captures both the humility of Christ’s birthplace and the cosmic significance of His coming.
The call in the refrain—“Fall on your knees”—is not only poetic but theological. It reflects the biblical response to the presence of God, seen in shepherds who hurried to Bethlehem and magi who bowed before the newborn King.
FAll on your knees is a sign of awe and also of submission. Jesus demands our worship. Not just an acknowledgment. Acknowledge many people today. Mail man. Cashier. Neighbor. Genuine affection for them. But I would not bow down to them. Many resist him. Angry at his plan for them. There is freedom when we acknowledge who he is.
One of my all time favorite:
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Sin is turning from God. error pinning. “pining” = yearning, wasting away, suffering with longing. We error and we pine. When we turn from God, resist him it often leads us to pinning away.
But it also conveys the change that happens when we trust in Christ. There is a change in our heart. We recognize he died for sin. He took our judgement. He sets us free. It is as a chain being broken. We see his goodness, his love, his mercy. He is with us. He is for us. It’s like the sun rising in our hearts. And what motivates Christians is not the Ihave to go to church.
But a wow I get to do this. It is a thrill. We say no to the world and yes to Christ. His lights warms us, leads us, guides us, changes us, makes us radiant. This is what we celebrate at Christmas. He saves us from our boredom, after scrolling every feed, binging every show, streaming every song, and chasing every cheap thrill. The new boredom of being overstimulated yet underwhelmed. God has acted and spoken in Jesus Christ. He gives us purpose.
Consider this, if the incarnation is true, then you have a purpose of telling others how Jesus alone satisfies their hearts cravings, he calms every fear, saves them from pinning away, and he will fix everything broken. You have a purpose of
It was a sacred moment that he came into the world. It is a sacred moment when we recognize who he is and submit ourlives to him.
-the soul felts its worth. This event is not just out there. It comes inside of us and changes us. It is a message of profound hope.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through 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 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jn 1:1–14.
Dim the lights. We will light candles to symbolize the light of Christ entering a dark and weary world. The single flame spreading from one candle to another reminds us that the hope born in Bethlehem does not remain isolated—it is shared, carried, and multiplied among God’s people. In the quiet glow of these candles, we remember that Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12), and that His coming shines truth, peace, and salvation into every shadowed place in our lives and in our world.
Two volunteers to light the candles.
- Joyful Joyful- Keith
The last song we are doing tonight connects to the theme of joy in Scripture. The angels appeared to the shepherds and said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10. A savior, a hero, a rescuer has come to save us from all that is wrong in the world.
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” The text was written in 1907 by Henry van Dyke, an American pastor and theologian, while he was serving at Williams College. Van Dyke wrote the hymn as a deliberate response to what he felt were overly somber church songs, intending instead to capture the overflowing joy of Christian faith. He set his words to the melody of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” from his Ninth Symphony, pairing a well-known tune of celebration with explicitly Christian worship.
The hymn draws heavily from biblical themes of joy and creation’s praise. Its opening lines echo the Psalms, which repeatedly call all creation to rejoice before God (Psalm 95; Psalm 148). The imagery of God as the “Father of glory” and the source of light reflects James 1:17, while the emphasis on joy overcoming sin and sorrow aligns with the gospel message of redemption through Christ.
At its heart, the hymn proclaims the good news of the gospel: that through Jesus, joy is restored, brokenness is healed, and humanity is invited into grateful, joyful communion with God.
You are invited to sing. You are invited to celebrate Christ. You are invited to receive the salvation that is in Jesus. It is for all people, of all ages, of all backgrounds. Find you healing and purpose in him. You simply believe, trust him, and follow him. Find your place in partnering and serving God’s people.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the LORD, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Ps 98:4–9.