Virtual Bulletin | Grace UMC

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December 24, 2025 – The Vigil of the Feast of the Nativity

The Celebration of Holy Communion

At Grace, all are welcome, which means we affirm people of every age, race, language, nationality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, family structure, or economic, social, immigration, and marital status.

Welcome to Grace UMC! We’re blessed by your presence for worship. Please register your attendance using the red attendance pads in the Sanctuary or the link above. If you are in-person and need an assisted listening device, they are available at the back of the Nave. Please ask an usher or greeter. During worship, we use three hymnals: The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, and Worship & Song.

+Please rise in body or spirit

Welcome – The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

Prelude – Anita Lockwood

"Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" by Robert Lau

Introit – Chancel Choir

"Sing We Now of Christmas"

+Opening Hymn – UMH 228

"He is Born"

+Opening Prayer

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.

+Acclamation – UMH 228

"He is Born"

Prayer of Confession

God of grace and glory, we confess that we have not fully welcomed the light of your Son into our lives. We are distracted by the busyness of this season and fail to prepare our hearts for your coming. Forgive us for turning away from your love and for neglecting the needs of others. Cleanse us, renew us, and make room in us for Christ to dwell, that we may shine with your light and reflect your glory in the world. Amen.

Silence for personal confession and assurance of pardon.

Special Music “An English Carol” arr. Arnold Sherman

Grace Ringers Handbell Ensemble

Kids Time

The First Reading Isaiah 52:7-10

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices; together they shout for joy, for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth; shout together for joy, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

This is the word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 98

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.

His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

The Lord has made known his victory;

he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. R.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

with the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. R.

Let the sea roar and all that fills it,

the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands;

let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord,

for he is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity. R.

+Hymn of Preparation – UMH 240

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" vs. 1,2

+The Gospel Reading John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 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. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

This is the word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

+Hymn of Preparation – UMH 240

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" v. 3

Homily – The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

“Home By Another Way: Because Love Came Down” Click here for text.

Prayers of the People

God among us,

hear our prayer.

The Offertory – The Chancel Choir

“Still, Still, Still” arr. David Paxton

Still, still, still, can you hear the falling snow? For all is hushed, the world is sleeping, holy star its vigil keeping. Sleep, sleep, sleep, ’tis the night of the Savior’s birth. The night is peaceful all around us. Close your eyes, let sleep surround us. Dream, dream, dream of the joyous day now come. While heavenly angels without number watch us as we sweetly slumber.

+Doxology – Lasst Uns Erfreuen

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Celebration of Holy Communion

In our United Methodist tradition The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is a gift from our abundant God. This is not Grace’s table or the United Methodist Church’s table, but it is God’s table. All that we ask is that you love God, earnestly repent of your sin, and seek to live in peace together. There is a gluten free station for persons who need that.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets. In the fullness of time you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior, and at his birth the angels sang glory to you in the highest and peace to your people on earth.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. As Mary and Joseph went from Galilee to Bethlehem and there found no room, so Jesus went from Galilee to Jerusalem and was despised and rejected. As in the poverty of a stable Jesus was born, so by the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

As your Word became flesh, born of woman, on that night long ago, so, on the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us, not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Giving of the Bread & Cup

Prayer after Communion

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+Candlelight Carol – UMH 239

“Silent Night"

First verse sung by soloist in Spanish, congregation joins on first verse in English.

+Christmas Blessing

May Almighty God, who sent his Son to take our nature upon him, bless you in this holy season, scatter the darkness of sin, and brighten your heart with the light of his holiness. May God, who sent his angels to proclaim the glad news of the Savior’s birth, fill you with joy, and make you heralds of the Gospel. May God, who in the Word made flesh joined heaven to earth and earth to heaven, give you peace and favor.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

+Hymn of Celebration – UMH 246

“Joy to the World"

+Dismissal

Christ is born this night! Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Let us rejoice and be glad! Thanks be to God.

Postlude – Anita Lockwood

"On Christmas Night All Christians Sing" by David Anderson

Worship Leaders

The Rev. Seth O’Kegley, celebrant

The Rev. Stacy Collins, Pat Moore, liturgists

Steven Burchard, Director of Music