December 24, 2019 | 8:00pm and 11:00pm

Christmas Eve Worship

Joy to the World

2720 S University Drive • Fort Worth, TX 76109 • 817-926-6631 • UniversityChristian.org

A Disciples of Christ Congregation

December 24, 2019 Christmas Eve

Anthem All My Heart This Night Rejoices • arr. Trevor Manor

Service of LightThe light of Christ will be shared with the ushers who will in turnshare it with the entire congregation. Worshippers pleaseextinguish your candles following the benediction.

*Closing Hymn 145 | Silent Night, Holy NightHymn Tune: STILLE NACHT

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. shepherds quake at the sight, glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing alleluia; 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 thy light; with the angels let us sing, alleluia to our King; Christ, the Savior, is born, Christ, the Savior, is born.

*Benediction and Choral Response

*Ringing of the Tower Bells

*PostludeJoy to the World • arr. Dan Marvin

University Christian Church is a welcoming faith community, and we are so happy you chose to worship with us today. We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and pray with hope that the New Year will bring more peace, love, and joy to our world.

Join us for our next Worship Series starting January 5:

Who are you?Sundays, January 5-February 23

The New Year not only brings peace and joy

from Christ’s birth, it also brings UCC’s 44th

Annual Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival.

Come celebrate the triumph of good over

evil and the true meaning of Christmas the

first weekend of January.

January 4 and January 5

4:00pm | 6:00pm

The beginning of a new calendar year is a time when we often reassess direction and ask questions yet again about who we are and where we are going in life. In this season of Epiphany, we’ll seek a renewed spirit and imagine what amazing transformation can happen when we live our best, most authentic lives.

Welcome to University Christian Church, we’re glad you’re here!

The information in these margins will help guide you through worship. If you have any questions, please ask a minister or anyone with a name tag.

Red text is read by the congregation.

Asterisks (*) indicate times when you are invited to stand. Feel free to remain seated if need be.

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. It asks God to help us be generous, thankful, and humble. We say this prayer together at the end of the Pastoral Prayer.

Tonight, we celebrate the birth of Jesus by lighting the Christ candle in the center of the Advent wreath.

Tonight’s anthem is the second movement of “Gloria” by French composer, Francis Poulenc (1899-1963). This animated piece is exceedingly playful, being inspired by frescoes of angels sticking out their tongues and Benedictine monks playing soccer. It embodies the childlike joy of Christmas!

The Passing of the Peace is one of the most ancient worship responses. Having received Christ’s peace, we pass it on.

The Lord’s Supper (also called communion) is a celebration of Christ’s love for the world. Christ is the host and invites all to share in this meal. Our communion bread is gluten free and we also use alcohol-free grape juice.

PreludeJoy to the World • arr. Jackson Berkey Carol Rhapsody • Richard PurvisSussex Carol • arr. Richard LindVariations on a French Bell Carol • Jerry WestenkuehlerFestival Prelude on Hark the Herald Angels Sing • Neil HarmonO Holy Night • Adolphe Adam Nathan Little, flugelhorn

Joy to the World • arr. Michael Bedford Janet Pummill and Dr. Amy Stewart, organ

Welcome Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman

Ringing of the Tower Bells and Procession of the Acolytes(8:00pm) Ella Stallings and Halle Anne Stallings

(11:00pm) Madelyn Prickett

*Call to Worship (from Psalm 98) (8:00pm) Rev. Shannon Moore (11:00) Rev. Renee Hoke

One: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; All: We shall break forth into grateful songs of praise! One: Sing songs of praise extolling God’s love; All: We lift up our hearts with gratitude and joy!

*Processional Hymn 148 | O Come, All Ye FaithfulHymn Tune: ADESTE FIDELES

Call to Prayer(8:00) Rev. Kera Watts (11:00) Rev. Jamie Plunkett

One: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit. One: Let us pray.

Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer, and Choral ResponseAll: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy

kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

A Reading from the Prophets | Isaiah 9:2, 6-7(8:00pm) Orlew Lauger, reader • (11:00pm) Jeanne Duke, reader

*Congregational Hymn 150 | Hark! the Herald Angels SingHymn Tune: MENDELSSOHN

Lighting of the Christ Candle(8:00pm) Allen/Lawrence Family • (11:00pm) Avis Herndon and Wendy Hall

A Reading from the Gospels | Luke 2:1-20

(8:00pm) Kelli Peterman, reader • (11:00pm) Harry Parker, reader

AnthemLaudamus Te (from “Gloria”) • Francis PoulencChancel Choir and Dr. Todd Prickett, choirmaster

Homily | Let Heaven and Nature Sing Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman

*The Peace One: The peace of the Lord be with you. All: And also with you.

*Congregational Hymn 143 | Joy to the WorldHymn Tune: ANTIOCH

Call to Offering and Receiving of Gifts(8:00pm) In the Bleak Midwinter • arr. Martha Lynn ThompsonUCC Bell Ringers

(11:00pm) Once in Royal David’s City • arr. Bob BurroughsAd Deum Handbell Choir and Eric Mullins, director

Prayer of Dedication

(8:00) Service of Communion

Communion Hymn 164, stanzas 1, 3 & 4 O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymn Tune: ST. LOUIS

Invitation to the Table

Words of Institution and Prayers for the Bread and Cup Elders: Cheryl McDonald and Tim Lee

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup Good People All, This Christmas Time • arr. Richard Lind

December 24, 2019 Christmas Eve