Christmas Eve 2025
Mountain Community Mennonite and H2O Tri-Lakes
Gathering music - Jay Liew
Welcome and prayer - pastors Shawn Benson and Vern Rempel
O Come, All Ye Faithful #241 - Vern Rempel
Comfort, Comfort, O My People #212 - Don Graber
Lighting the Advent Candles
Christmas reading - John 1:5 - John Beck?
Mary Did You Know - Dennis Book
Lesson 1
You Have to Know Your Body as the Home of God - Wilmer Villacorta
—By Rebecca Parker
You have to know your body
as the home of God
And this is the purpose of Christmas.
The rose blossoming in the wilderness
is the unfolding of your pleasure
as the fingers peel an orange and sweetness buds in the mouth.
The bright star in the night sky
is the sudden clarity of your instinct for joy.
The birth cry in the night
is your child,
falling into the dark,
and your arms holding her.
The terror of Herod’s murderous intent
is your rage that would prefer death to change.
The singing angel is your voice at church,
not sure of the tune
but certain, for a moment, that there is glory.
The animals, breathing their warm breath
in the fragile stable are your emotions
kneeling into the body of earth
at ease in the presence of God.
Mary is you
God in your body.
Joseph is you
sheltering God in the world.
This is the key to the mystery,
The Word became flesh.
We are the dwelling place.
O Little Town of Bethlehem #245, vss. 1 & 4 - Dennis Book
Lesson 2
John 1:1-5 - congregational reader
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 overcome it.
Angels We Have Heard on High #249 - Dennis Book
Lesson 3
Isaiah 11:1-3 - Joy Syme
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
What Child is This? #267 - Joy Syme
Lesson 4
Luke 2: 1-20 - congregational readers (3)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming #216 - Connie Rempel and Joy Syme (duet on verse 2)
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing #247, vs. 1 - Don Graber
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Candle prayer
Silent Night #244, vss. 1 & 2 (lights dimmed, turn on your candles) - Joy Syme
Sending blessing
Joy to the World #240 - Joy Syme and Connie Rempel
Postlude
Jay Liew
Refreshments
Welcome and prayer - pastors Shawn Benson and Vern Rempel
O Come, All Ye Faithful #241 - Vern Rempel
Comfort, Comfort, O My People #212 - Don Graber
Lighting the Advent Candles
Christmas reading - John 1:5 - John Beck?
Mary Did You Know - Dennis Book
Lesson 1
You Have to Know Your Body as the Home of God - Wilmer Villacorta
—By Rebecca Parker
You have to know your body
as the home of God
And this is the purpose of Christmas.
The rose blossoming in the wilderness
is the unfolding of your pleasure
as the fingers peel an orange and sweetness buds in the mouth.
The bright star in the night sky
is the sudden clarity of your instinct for joy.
The birth cry in the night
is your child,
falling into the dark,
and your arms holding her.
The terror of Herod’s murderous intent
is your rage that would prefer death to change.
The singing angel is your voice at church,
not sure of the tune
but certain, for a moment, that there is glory.
The animals, breathing their warm breath
in the fragile stable are your emotions
kneeling into the body of earth
at ease in the presence of God.
Mary is you
God in your body.
Joseph is you
sheltering God in the world.
This is the key to the mystery,
The Word became flesh.
We are the dwelling place.
O Little Town of Bethlehem #245, vss. 1 & 4 - Dennis Book
Lesson 2
John 1:1-5 - congregational reader
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 overcome it.
Angels We Have Heard on High #249 - Dennis Book
Lesson 3
Isaiah 11:1-3 - Joy Syme
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
What Child is This? #267 - Joy Syme
Lesson 4
Luke 2: 1-20 - congregational readers (3)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming #216 - Connie Rempel and Joy Syme (duet on verse 2)
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing #247, vs. 1 - Don Graber
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Candle prayer
Silent Night #244, vss. 1 & 2 (lights dimmed, turn on your candles) - Joy Syme
Sending blessing
Joy to the World #240 - Joy Syme and Connie Rempel
Postlude
Jay Liew
Refreshments