Grace Upon Grace

After a year of this kind, Christmas can feel out of place.  How do we enter into a season of joy when the year has been so hard?  Christmas can seem like an intrusion from another world.  And in many ways, it is.  Christmas is an interruption of grace into a world that has none to generate of its own.  Christmas is the visitation of God into the world he made, bringing with him news of a better kingdom to come.  And so let men their songs employ!  There is joy for the world!

If viewing at home, have a candle you can light nearby for our candlelighting at the end of the service!

Download the Order of Worship

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TCC Christmas Eve Order of Worship, 12.24.20

live stream:    youtube.com/c/TrinityCommunityChurchLibertyville

WELCOME 

ADVENT READING

O ANTIPHONS READING

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence. 

O Lord, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm 

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer  

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death 

O Dayspring, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.  

O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one. Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay 

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God 

Joy To The World

Verse 1

Joy to the world the Lord  is  come

Let earth receive her King

Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing and heaven and nature sing

And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Verse 2

Joy to the world the Savior reigns

Let all their songs employ

While fields and floods rocks hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy repeat the sounding joy

Repeat repeat the sounding joy

        Chorus

        Joy unspeakable joy

        An overflowing well no tongue can tell

        Joy unspeakable joy

        It rises in my soul never lets me go 

Verse 3

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love and wonders of His love

And wonders wonders of His love

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Verse 1

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn king

Peace on earth, and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled

Joyful all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn king

Verse 2

Christ by highest heav'n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of the Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with men to dwell

Jesus  our Emmanuel

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

Verse 3

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace

Hail the Sun of Righteousness

Light and life to all He brings

Risen with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

HOMILY

Behold The Lamb Of God/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Verse 1

We who walk in darkness deep

Now see the light of morning

The mighty God the Prince of peace

A child to us is born

Chorus

Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away our sin

Behold the Lamb of God The life and light of men

Behold the Lamb of God Who died and rose again

Behold the Lamb of God who comes To take away our sin

Verse 2

Wanderers in the wilderness

O hear a voice is crying

Prepare the way make straight the path

Your King has come to die

Bridge

Son of God--Emmanuel

Son of Man--we praise you

Behold the Lamb

The hope of man

Behold the Lamb!

Verse 1

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,

Remember Christ our Savior was born upon this day;

To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone a - stray.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;

O tidings of comfort and joy.

Verse 2

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace;

And no more walking shadow your sins have been erased,

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;

O tidings of comfort and joy.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;

O tidings of comfort and joy.

Angels We Have Heard On High

Verse 1

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’er the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains

Verse 2

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heav’nly song

CHORUS

Gloria In excelsis Deo

Gloria In excelsis Deo

Verse 3

Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ whose birth the angels sing

Come adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King

Verse 4

See Him in a manger laid

Whom the choirs of angels praise

Mary, Joseph, lend you aid

While our hearts in love we raise

O Holy Night

Verse 1

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Chorus 1

Fall on your knees,

Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine,

O night when Christ was born!

O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Verse 2

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

Led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Will come the wise men from Orient land

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our Friend

Chorus 2

He knows our need

To our weakness is no stranger

Behold your King

Before Him lowly bend

Behold your King

Before Him lowly bend

Verse 3

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us praise His holy name

Chorus 3

Christ is the Lord O praise His name forever

His power and glory Evermore proclaim

His power and glory Evermore proclaim

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES

Silent Night

Verse 1

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

Verse 2

Silent night holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia

Christ the Savior is born

Christ the Savior is born

Verse 3

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

Christ the Savior is born

BENEDICTION