Welcome to Worship! Our worship service this morning is thanks to Simpson College, who produced this Service of Lessons and Carols to be shared with congregations.
Simpson College’s Service of Lessons and Carols, filmed at Smith Memorial Chapel (Indianola, IA)
Join us for worship on Christmas Eve! If you have an advent wreath set up at home, please light the candles with us when directed to. You may also want to have a candle for each person in your household to light during the singing of silent night. A flashlight (traditional or on a phone) works, too.
If you are unable to join us for our online Christmas Eve service, we invite you to join us in worship of the Christ Child using this service, based on the outline of our online service, but adapted to be used at home.
Please join us for our online Christmas Eve service, featuring our virtual choir (pictured above) and lots of other friendly faces from near and far. The service will be posted here, on our Youtube Channel (GLL UMCs) and our Facebook Pages by mid-day Christmas Eve. You can use it for your Christmas Eve worship any time after that. The order of worship is provided below:
Order of Worship for the Online Christmas Eve Service 20201
Glidden, Lanesboro Community and Lohrville United Methodist Churches
PREPARING FOR THE SERVICE: If possible, before you begin the video, assemble an advent “wreath” of five candles: four candles surround a center, “Christ” candle. The candle can be of any color, shape, or size. Also have an additional candle, or flashlight, glowstick of smartphone with a flashlight app available for each person.
PRELUDE “I heard the bells on Christmas Day”
INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
Zechariah feared that he and his wife Elizabeth were too old to be of use.
Light the first candle while saying:
We heard the angel say, “Fear Not, Zechariah; Fear Not.”
Mary feared that the task she was given was impossible; but nothing is impossible with God.
Light the second candle while saying
We heard the angel say, “Fear Not, Mary; Fear Not”
Joseph feared embarrassment and the disdain of others.
Light the third candle while saying
We heard the angel say, “Fear Not, Joseph; Fear Not”
The shepherds feared the unexpected interruption to their lives
Light the fourth candle while saying
We heard the angel say, “Fear Not, shepherds; Fear Not”
Tonight, Christ is born
Light the middle candle while saying
He is the answer to all our fears. He is God with us, and so we Fear Not
CAROL: O Holy Night: Schroeders
PRAYER
Gracious God, source of our hope, and answer to our fears,
help us hear again the story of the birth of Jesus,
so that we may be filled with joy and share the good news with all the world.
We will be offering several ways to worship with us on Christmas Eve:
An Order of Worship for the Home will be emailed and mailed out on December 22. If you aren’t on our mailing list, please let us know that you would like to be.
An Online Worship Service, featuring many of our members and friends, will be posted on this website, on our youtube channel (GLL UMCs) and on our Facebook pages. Plans are to post by mid-day Christmas Eve; you may use the video to worship anytime following that.
Lohrville will be playing Christmas music outdoors from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, December 24. You are invited to come park at the church to listen and share in the Christmas spirit with everyone from a distance.
Lanesboro will hold a brief outdoor service at 6pm on Christmas Eve. Please wear a mask, and bring a bell if you have one. Because we will be outside and masked, we will be able to sing! If you will be gathering on the church lawn, please park on the north side of the church building or the far south part of the south lot. If you prefer to remain in your vehicles, park on the street just east of the building, or park in the south lot facing the building. Everyone is welcome!
