Sunday,  December 21, 2025
Christmas Eve/Day Year A
Isaiah 9:2-7| “From This Time Onward”

Call to Worship (Inspired by Isaiah 9 and Psalm 96)
One: Sing to the Holy One, a new song. Sing praises to the Creator, Maker, and Sustainer of all things seen and unseen.
Many: From the depth of deep hope, a great light shines. We shine the light of hope.
One: For a child has been born named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Many: From the depth of deep peace, a great light shines. We shine the light of peace.
One: Honor and majesty are before the Glorious God; strength and beauty are in God's sanctuary.
Many: From the depth of deep joy, a great light shines. We shine the light of joy.
One: For great is the Righteous and Just God. Declare the marvelous works and wondrous ways of God with Us!
Many: From the depth of deep love, a great light shines. We shine the light of love.
We shine the light of Christ! Glory to God!

Invocation
Emmanuel, we enter your Holy Presence to be with you, to delight in your goodness, to celebrate and honor your name, to witness to the world that love, joy, peace, and hope have a home with you. May our worship reach your heart with praise and thanksgiving for the gifts that you continually give. May our songs and prayers reflect faith, trust, and commitment for your way is our path, your power is our strength, and your rest is our sanctuary. Kindle all the embers of energy within us that our collective light may ignite our lives, illuminate this world, and reflect your glory. Amen.

Prayer for Transformation and New Life
Holy and Just God, you reign in righteousness. You come into the world to redeem, reconcile, and restore your creation. We pray for the incarnational life to be renewed in us. Make us agents of redemptive hope, reconciling peace, and restorative joy so that your love may spread through us as participants in the world that you have never abandoned. Let us remain true and faithful to your kindom. 

Words of Grace
Beloved, the grace of God has appeared and dwelt among us. The One who was and is and is to come knows temptation,experienced life, and companions with us on the journey. Receive that grace that observes no limits and love that transcends condemnation and shame with mercy and compassion. Be made new in Christ Jesus. 

Lighting the Christ Candle 
We light the Christ candle.

Many of us consider this to be 
the most holy moment of the season.
As we watch the candles of 
hope, peace, joy, and love be lit, 
a familiar wonder fills our hearts.

There is a lifting tonight, 
a gentleness of spirit 
making space for each of us 
to bring our inner children before God.

These children within might be
damaged, lonely, unsafe.
They might be hungry and crying,
bewildered and afraid.
None of us arrives tonight unscathed.
We are all touched by the hardships of the world,
which is why this moment is so sacred. 

Just as Jesus comes to us in the manger,
we stand here together, 
rapt with the miracle of this season.
God sent to us a son, a human being
born of a vulnerable young woman
with no rights, no healthcare –
not even a woman by her side 
as she gave birth to the Christ child.

Yet she survived. 
Mary did what so many of us cannot –
she allowed her faith to become everything when she was afraid.
She conceived her child, confessed to her husband
that the child she carried was not his, 
then gave birth to a son, who two millennia later, 
is still changing our lives. 

As we light our Christ candle tonight
and spread the flame to each person here,
let us hold the courage of Mary in our hearts.
Now, and throughout this year,
let her mother us all and renew our faith in Christ.

Invitation to Generosity
Glory to God in the highest! Let us give today with the joy of salvation in our hearts. Let us give today good gifts for the benefit and nurture of God's beloved, our neighbors in creation. Let us give with the compassionate care for our community implanted in us by the Generous One! 

Prayer of Dedication and Thanksgiving
Generous God, thank you for every good and perfect gift that we have received from you. We offer our gratitude that you invite, enable, and empower us to bless others through these gifts. Amen.

Benediction
“The Work of Christmas” by Howard Thurman
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.

From This Time Forward  Service Prayers for Christmas Eve/Day Year A was written by the Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, Minister for Worship and Theology for the United Church of Christ.

Lighting the Christ Candle for Christmas Eve A was written by Maria Mankin.

The poem, “The Work of Christmas” is excerpted from Howard Thurman’s The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations and is used by permission of Friends United Press. All rights reserved.