Christmas Eve
December 24, 2025
What I’d really like to give you for Christmas is a Star…Brilliance in a package,
something you could keep in the pocket of your jeans or in the pocket of your being,
something to take out in times of darkness, something that would never snuff out or tarnish,
something you could hold in your hand,
something for wonderment, something for pondering,
something that would remind you of what Christmas has always meant:
God’s Advent Light into the Darkness of this world.
But Stars are only God’s for giving,
and I must be content to give you words and wishes and packages without Stars.
From “Star Giving” by Ann Weems
(from "Kneeling in Bethlehem")
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Chris Zepp
WELCOMING STATEMENT
RISE believes that God has open arms, and so should we. Our Creator wants us to love, accept and affirm every human being, including persons of every age, race, ethnic background, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or socioeconomic status, educational background, religion or creed, and physical or mental ability. We celebrate our diversity and recognize the sacred worth and dignity of all. Everyone is invited and encouraged to join us as we seek to follow Jesus with mutual respect, understanding, and love.
*Read more about “Why Pronouns Matter” HERE.
OPENING Affirmation
~Rev. Sarah Speed
Like Mary,
we believe in cherishing good news.
Like the angels,
we believe in singing God’s praise.
Like the shepherds,
we believe that God’s presence in our life is something worth talking about.
Like generations before,
we believe that God is with us.
Like the generations to come,
we believe that God is with us.
God is here. God is love.
We believe. Thanks be to God!
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL”
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
All glory in the highest
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
“Il est né” (“He Is Born”)
~Traditional French Carol
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
Through long ages of the past,
prophets have foretold His coming;
through long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
O how lovely, O how pure
is this perfect Child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure,
gracious gift to humankind!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
coming as a Child among us;
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
grant to us Thy heavenly peace.
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
“Three Kings”
~Robbie O’Connell
Three Kings came riding from the East
Just as the Day was dawning
The newborn King of Kings to see,
All on a Christmas Morning.
A fiery star, it guided them,
Just as the Day was dawning
It brought them unto Bethlehem.
All on a Christmas Morning.
They came onto a stable there,
Just as the Day was dawning
And found a newborn infant there.
All on a Christmas Morning.
And down upon their knees they fell,
Just as the Day was dawning
The child he sweetly smiled on them.
All on a Christmas Morning.
Three gifts they gave him to behold.
Just as the Day was dawning
Of Frankincense and Myrrh and Gold.
All on a Christmas Morning.
“The Virgin Mary”
~West Indian Carol
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
The angels sang when the baby born (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
The shepherds came where the baby was born (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
The wise men came where the baby was born (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Scripture Reading
Luke 2:1-20 (CEB)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
8 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”
15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.
Advent Reflections
Alexis Ward Owens
Lighting the Christ Candle and the Advent Candles — Hope, Peace, Joy& Love
Advent Song
“Fragile” (The Christ Candle)
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
What were you thinking when you made yourself a child?
Instead of conquering might, you chose a baby meek and mild.
At first you needed constant care like any other babe.
You grew like countless other boys, and surely mischief made.
Then you broke upon the scene of synagogue and priest.
It was clear you wouldn’t rule; instead you'd serve the least.
You taught and healed and wonders made, soon making rulers scared
So they put you up upon a cross, no humiliation spared
Why did you save the world this way?
Sent as baby swaddled in hay?
So fragile, so precious, a gift freely given.
A child, a savior, from God in heaven.
And so you finally left this world the same way you came in.
A fragile, human body - just like ours, but without sin,
Yet somehow in this act of love, humanity was saved.
Hope and Peace and Joy and Love - all these and more you gave.
And so on Christmas we recall, the way in which you came
As one of us in human form, and so you lit the flame
A fragile light in fragile form, you’re presence here tonight
We celebrate as we light the Christ candle bright!
Why did you save the world this way?
Sent as baby swaddled in hay?
So fragile, so precious, a gift freely given.
A child, a savior, from God in heaven.
COMMUNION
Song
“It came upon the midnight clear”
It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when Christ shall come and all shall own
the Prince of Peace, their king,
and Saints shall meet him in the air,
and with the angels sing.
Prayer
~Homiletics, adapted
A POETIC READING OF JOHN 1: 1-5
~The ancient poetry of John 1, with contemporary poetic additions by Rev. Sarah Speed.
In the beginning was the Word,
way back, a long, long time ago,
before the stars,
before the day,
before the rivers were carved out of clay.
In the beginning,
way back in that beginning,
was the Word.
And the Word was with God,
And the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
In other words, we cannot say that love was born in a stable that day,
for love was born when the horizon was drawn.
It was born in the dark, long before dawn.
Love was born with the very first sea
and when God breathed life into you and me.
Long before Magi or shepherds or dreams,
long before sheep or angels that sing,
love was here – building a way,
then and now, and on Christmas day.
All things came into being through him,
and without him, not one thing came into being.
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
And so Jesus shined.
Like a light in the dark, or a star in the sky,
Jesus walked into this world and opened our eyes,
shining a light on social divides
and loving the scars we try to hide.
He lit up this world like it’s never seen, the light of all people,
Emmanuel, King.
The light shines in the darkness,
And the darkness did not overcome it.
Hatred did not overcome it.
Fear did not overcome it.
Greed did not overcome it.
The light shines in the darkness.
Envy did not overcome it.
Doubt did not overcome it.
Scarcity did not overcome it.
The light shines in the darkness.
Death did not overcome it.
Sickness did not overcome it.
Grief did not overcome it.
He was in the beginning with God,
way back, a long, long time ago,
before the stars,
before the day,
before the rivers were carved out of clay.
What has come into being in him was life.
So we cannot begin with Magis and sheep,
for this story begins at the brink –
of creation and light,
of you and me,
of beloved and love,
of being set free.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God,
and that light shines in the darkness.
It always has, and it always will…
Closing Song and Candle Lighting
“Silent Night”
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Darkness flies, all is light;
Shepherds hear the angels sing,
"Alleluia! hail the King!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born."
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Silent night, holy night,
Wondrous star, lend the light;
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.
Parting Blessing
~Rev. Sarah Speed, adapted
From generation to generation,
God keeps drawing near.
From generation to generation,
light shines in the darkness.
From generation to generation,
God’s love moves through the world.
So may we celebrate that!
May we rest in the promise and joy of this night,
and though it may be as fragile as a single flame
It CAN change us.
For God will be with us - every step of the way.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
Merry Christmas!
Portions of today’s service were written by: Rev. Sarah Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
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