Hanging of the Christmas Green
A Service for the Beginning of Advent
Monte Nabors and Kelly Yates
with additions by Dennis Bratcher
Opening Prayer
The Meaning of the Service
Congregational Song: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Christmas In America
Lessons of Christmas
Congregational Song: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing!
The Call to Celebration (Responsive Reading) – Pastor Dale
based on John 1:5 and Eph. 3:21
(Congregation standing)
Leader: Christ has come! Christ was dead! Christ has risen! Christ will come again
People: This is the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ!
Leader: when we look at the world around us, we see the darkness of war, captivity, greed, and broken relationships.
People: We long for Christ to come again and bring light to our world.
Leader: The Word of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ lives among us, bringing truth and light as a present reality.
People: We worship as those who have a glimpse of that reality, and we long for its fullness. We are those who labor to make Christ’s light more visible on earth.
All: Let us praise God, that the light of Christ shines on in the darkness, which has never overcome it. To God be the glory in Jesus Christ and in the church forever and ever. Amen.
The Sanctuary Evergreens
Congregational Song: Go, Tell It On The Mountains
The Christmas Tree
Special Music: O Christmas Tree
The Christmas Poinsettia
Special Music: I Wonder As I Wander
The Paraments and Advent Colors
Congregational Song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The Advent Candles
Congregational Song: Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
The Nativity
Congregational Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem,
The Gifts of Christmas
Congregational Song: We Three Kings
The Bells of Christmas
Congregational Song: Come On Ring Those Bells
Christmas Caroling
Congregational Song: Angels We Have Heard on High
The Christ of Christmas
Special song: The Birthday of a King
Concluding Prayer
The Blessing
Dennis Bratcher, Copyright ©, Dennis Bratcher, All Rights Reserved
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We were going to have a “Hanging of the Greens” service several years ago, but Dave and Sue Green protested.