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The Nativity of Our Lord December 24, 2020

4:00 p.m.

Service for the Young and Young at Heart

The Rev. Gia Hayes-Martin, Rector Ms. Sara C. Seidel, Director of Music Ms. Carrie Troester, Director of Children’s Ministries

Welcome

We’re glad you took the opportunity to worship with us. Our hope is that you find a home among us, in a place where the love of God is shared, the mystery of grace is experienced, and the joy and laughter of the Christian life is taught.

Saint John’s Episcopal Church The Episcopal Diocese of S. Ohio 700 High St. Worthington, OH 43085 Telephone: 614-846-5180 Fax: 614-846-1564 StJohnsWorthington.org

Christmas Eve

Prelude Mary, Did You Know? Arr. Tiffany Envid Jones, after Carol Tornquist

Welcome Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Glory to you, Giver of all good gifts! We offer you glad thanks and praise for every blessing from your love, and especially for the best gift of yourself in the child Jesus. Amen. Opening Hymn Away in a manger James Murray

Opening Acclamation

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Welcome to this Service for the Young and Young at Heart

On this night when children of all ages are excited by the coming of Christmas, please know that we welcome their energy and enthusiasm as we

celebrate the birth of Jesus.

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Song of Praise 96 Angels we have heard on high Gloria

Collect of the Day

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit, he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

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Sequence Hymn 109 The first Nowell The First Nowell

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The Christmas Story Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones, paintings by Alison Jay

The Creed

I believe in God,

Who made the earth, and sky, and sea;

I believe in Jesus Christ,

Who comes to set me free;

The Holy Spirit, I believe,

Is God Who lives inside of me. Amen.

Prayers of the People

God of the prophets, give your church courage to speak truth, and to tell of your love. Hear us and help us.

God of the angels, give your church voice to sing your presence into the world. Give the world a freedom song, and help us to speak peace throughout the earth. Hear us and help us.

God of Mary and Elizabeth, give your church grace to be pregnant with hope and to bring forth new life for a barren world. Hear us and help us.

God of Zechariah and Joseph, give your church dreams and visions, and the courage to follow them. Hear us and help us.

God of the shepherds, give your church humility, and give to all who sit in darkness, alone and afraid, a light from heaven proclaiming peace. Hear us and help us.

God of the magi, give your church gifts, and the will to leave home to find you amongst the poor. Hear us and help us.

God of the Holy Innocents, give your church power to stand against violence and to protect the powerless. Hear us and help us.

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Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

We pray for those for whom our prayers have been asked, especially…

We pray for those who have died, especially…

We give thanks for all the blessings of this life, especially…

Celebrant: God our Sovereign, you are always coming into the world. Come to us now, soon, and forever, and let us receive you as the Child of holiness and the Wind of change, through whom, this night, we pray. Amen. Hymn 111 Silent night Stille Nacht

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The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, we desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. We remember your death, Lord Christ; we proclaim your resurrection; we await your coming in glory. Since we cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, we beseech you to come spiritually into our hearts. Cleanse and strengthen us with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let us never be separated from you. May we live in you, and you in us, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Announcements

Blessing and Dismissal Book of Common Prayer p. 366

Officiant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People Thanks be to God.

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Closing Hymn 100 Joy to the world Antioch

Postlude Christmas Medley arr. Tiffany Envid Jones

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Thank you for gathering online with St. John’s to worship!

Beloved stuffed animals belonging to the Sunday School children have joined us on the journey to Bethlehem.

Musician Credits: Prelude: Tiffany Envid Jones, harp

Carols: Members of St. John’s Choir

Postlude: Tiffany Envid Jones, harp

Copyrights and Credits: Away in a manger (27 in Lift Every Voice and Sing), words, Anonymous, music, James R. Murray, public domain, arr. Edythe Ethelynn Woodruff, used by permission; 96, Angels we have heard on high, words, French carol, public domain, music, Gloria, arr. Edward Shippen Barnes, public domain; 109, The first Nowell, words, English carol, 18th century, public domain; music, The First Nowell, English carol 17th century, public domain; 111, Silent night, words, Joseph Mohr, public domain, music, melody: Franz Zaver Gruber, harm. Carl H. Reinecke, public domain; 100, Joy to the world! words, Isaac Watts, public domain, Music, Antioch, George Frideric Handel, public domain; from The Hymnal 1982. Prelude: Mary Did Y ou Know? Arr. Tiffany Envid Jones, after Carol Tornquist, used with permission. Postlude: Christmas Medley, arr Tiffany Envid Jones, used with permission.

Prayers for the Lighting of Advent Candles: by Jennifer Phillips, http://aplm2013.blogspot.com/2013/11/prayers-for-lighting-

of-advent-candles.html

Song of the Stars: From the website of Song of the Stars' author. The publisher has granted blanket permission for online use of its

books through December 31, 2020.

Prayers of the People (adapted from Susan K. Bock, “Prayers of the People for Advent and Christmas,” from Awake My Soul: A Liturgical Resource for Children and Adults, ed. Julia Huttar Bailey and Ernesto Medina)