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

December 24, 2019 | 12:00pm

Christmas Eve Worship

A Disciples of Christ Congregation

Joy to the World

December 24, 2019 Christmas Eve

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

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

*Benediction

*Ringing of the Tower Bells

*PostludeJoy to the World • arr. Michael Bedford

Janet Pummill, organ

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 free of gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast, eggs, soy, nuts, and corn and we also use alcohol-free grape juice.

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.

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. The BHYLF is a wonderful way to celebrate Epiphany and ring in the New Year. Beautiful music, costumes and pageantry make the festival a unique experience you don’t want to miss!

January 4 and January 5

4:00pm | 6:00pm

44th Annual Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival

Join us for our next Worship Series starting January 5

Who are you?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.

You can find today’s

scripture readings on

page 638 of the Old

Testament and page 58

of the New Testament

in your pew Bible.

The Advent Wreath uses

candles to symbolize the

four weeks of Advent, the

time of preparation for

Christmas. Today as we

celebrate the birth of

Jesus, we light the Christ

candle in the center of

the wreath.

The homily is a message

based on scripture that

helps to strengthen faith

within the gathered

community.

The Passing of the

Peace is one of the

most ancient worship

responses. Having received

Christ’s peace, we pass it on.

PreludeFugue in A Minor (BWV 100) • J.S. Bach Sean McCrary, guitar

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing • Neil Harmon Dr. Amy Stewart, organ

Welcome Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman

Ringing of the Tower Bells

*Call to Worship (from Psalm 98) Rev. Jessica Vacketta

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 Faithful Hymn Tune: ADESTE FIDELES

Call to PrayerRev. Jamie Plunkett

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

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s PrayerAll: 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. Amen.

A Reading from the Prophets | Isaiah 9:2, 6-7Addison Gardner, reader

Congregational Hymn 164 | Good Christian Friends, RejoiceHymn Tune: IN DULCI JUBILO

Lighting of the Advent Wreath and Christ Candle

A Reading from the Gospels | Luke 2:1-20Andrew Darr, reader

Solo | Sweet Holy Child • Mary E. Caldwell Miles Baker, soloist

Homily | Let Heaven and Nature SingRev. Dr. Russ Peterman

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

*Hymn of Response 143 | Joy to the WorldHymn Tune: ANTIOCH

Call to Offering and Receiving of GiftsGreensleeves • traditional English Sean McCrary, lute

Prayer of Dedication

Communion Hymn 144, stanzas 1 & 4 | O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymn Tune: ST. LOUIS

Invitation to the Table and Words of Institution Prayers for the Bread & Cup

Elders: Tod Miller and Laura Miller

December 24, 2019 Christmas Eve