CHRISTMAS

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Saturday, December 25, 2010 or Sunday, December 26, 2010

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

The birth of Christ is foretold in the Old Testament, and in Luke the story of the birth of our Savior unfolds. The response of that day was praise for the birth. Today, our response can be no less.

With most households facing economic pressures and having to do more with less, consider keeping your Christmas worship service simple this year. No huge drama or play and no weeks and weeks of choir rehearsals. Focus instead on the true blessings of Christmas; that Christ’s coming, his presence in our lives, has enriched us and everyone who comes to know him. This service should be characterized by praise and celebration, not pageantry.

• Have a simple service of praise built around congregational singing of Christmas hymns, spirituals, and other songs, with Scripture or other readings.

• Use the stories of your own congregation that reflect the blessings of God. This is certainly not a new idea, but one that creates more of a participatory worship experience that draws the congregants into the Christmas story.

1. Litany or Congregational Reading
Music for Processional
(a) The King Is Here (Rejoice). By Michael L. Speights

What a Labor of Love

Creator God,

In the beginning, you spoke all that is into existence, and breathed life into the world. You made light in the midst of darkness and all that you made was good.

What a labor of love.

You sent John the Baptist to be a witness to the light you would send into the world.

What a labor of love.

The Light of the World, through whom all things were created, came into the world, but the world did not recognize him. The Son came to his own people and they rejected him.

What a labor of love, you loved until it hurt.

When you invite us each by name to draw near to you to find life in you, we turn away. We cause harm to others and scoff at your sweet grace and mercy each day. You continue to love us, protect us, and wait patiently as we find our way home to you.

What a labor of love, you love us though it hurts.

You give us opportunity to be called daughters and sons of the Most High God. You call us to believe in the One you sent to us—a reflection of you, who reveals your love. Though we constantly reject you, and find love hard, though our thoughts and deeds are often evil, you still find ways to care for us and call us your own.

What a labor of love, you love us even when we are hurtful.

“And the word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

What a labor of love.

What a labor of love.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. By Charles Wesley. Tune, (MENDELSSOHN), by Felix Mendelssohn

(b) Angels, from the Realms of Glory. By James Montgomery. Tune, (REGENT SQUARE), by
Henry Smart

3. Children’s Christmas Hymn
‘Twas on a Night (A Children’s Christmas Hymn). By Analise Stoddart. This precious little hymn was composed (lyrics and tune) by an 8-year-old child. It is a wonderful selection for your children’s choir and children’s Christmas program.

4. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) African Christmas Spiritual. By Herb Frombach

(b) Go Tell It on the Mountain. Traditional Spiritual

(c) He Came Down. Cameroon traditional

(d) Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow. Negro Spiritual

(e) Certainly Lord. Traditional Spiritual

(f) I’m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing. Spiritual. Arr. by Howard Helvey

(h) Shout for Joy. Traditional

5. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) I Pray on Christmas. By Harry Connick, Jr.

(b) The King Is Here (Rejoice). By Micah L. Speights

(c) Celebrate Jesus. By Doug Williams

6. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) A Not So Silent Night. By John Stoddart. This is a high-spirited, celebratory arrangement of
Silent Night.

(b) Take Me to Jesus. By Andraé Crouch and Scott V. Smith

(c) Hark. By Luther “Mano” Haynes and Israel Houghton

7. Anthems
(a) African Gloria. By Benjamin Harlan. For SATB, with optional percussion

(b) Glory, Glory, Glory to the Newborn King. By Moses Hogan. For SATB DV, a capella

(c) Is a Light Shinin’ in the Heavens? African American Spiritual

8. Modern Songs
(a) Here I Am to Worship. By Tim Hughes

(b) Savior Christ the King. By Craig Gower

(c) Ring the Bells. By Ronnie Freeman, Cindy Morgan, Tony Wood, and Mark Hammond

9. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Celebrating New Life. By Cliff Jones and Dave “Daveyboy”

(b) Joyful, Joyful. By Anthony Criss

10. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Is There Any Room in Your Heart for Jesus? By Wyatt Tee Walker

(b) Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne. By Emily E. S. Elliott. Tune, (MARGARET), by Timothy R. Matthews

(c) Sweet Little Jesus Boy. Traditional. Instrumental

(d) My Christmas Prayer. By Greg Bieck, Tyler Hayes Bieck, and Benjamin Winans

11. Sermonic Selection
(a) O Come Immanuel. By John Mason Neale. Arr. by John Stoddart

(b) Without Him. By Melonda Pace

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
He Is Here. By Kirk Talley

13. Benediction Song or Instrumental
Jesus, the Light of the World. Text and Tune, (WE’LL WALK IN THE LIGHT), by George D. Elderkin. Verses by Charles Wesley

14. Audio Visual Suggestions
(a) Look for African American Christmas images for use on screens and bulletins.

(b) Display Christmas testimonies of praise and/or thanks on the screens. Keep these short—2–3 sentences.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

The song that accompanies the Christmas image is “Go Tell It On the Mountain” sung by Mahalia Jackson.