Today (January 6) is Epiphany: the traditional day to celebrate the magi visiting baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). We invite you to listen to Mary singing We Three Kings to celebrate the day.
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.