Good morning!  This page is intended to both serve as a continuing worship option for those participating in our worship service from home, and to serve in place of print resources during our in-person worship.  Following the worship service on Sunday, one or more video recordings from the service will be placed on this page, including the sermon.  This may take several hours, due to the time needed to process the videos.  We will email the congregation when the recordings have been posted.  If you would like to be added to our congregational email list, please contact pvcob.alive@gmail.com.

       

       

          • There will be a Deacon’s meeting on January 7 following morning worship.
          • Karis needs volunteers on Mondays to help with furniture pick up and delivery.
            They would be grateful to those who could help one to two Mondays per month frin 8:00 to 3:00.
              • Pastor Rebecca will be out of office until Wednesday, January 3. Please reach out to your Deacon with any needs or, in case of an emergency, contact our Church Board Chairperson, Jon Garber.
              • Our church office will be closed Tuesday, January 2. Please contact us via email or leave a voice message at our office and we will be in touch once we are back in the office. Thank you!

          Readings and Carols

          Gathering Music

          Gathering Prayer  – Homiletics, adapted

          Welcome & Announcements

            1st Reading                                       Isaiah 9:1-6 

            Carol

            O Come O Come Emmanuel   vs. 1, 3, 6                  172

            Sharing of Praises and Prayer Requests

            In Prayer Together  –   Homiletics, adapted

            Joy of the world, God of the cosmos, we come with thankful hearts this morning-

            Christ is born! Alleluia!

            Emmanuel – God be with us, we have prayed for so long,

            and now you are here.

            Yet, even when there is light, there is still shadow. You did not promise to cast away all shadow, but to walk with us in the shadow so that we can keep our eyes on you. When grief and loneliness come, when candlelight does not seem sufficient for the joy of this day, when the darkness gets too close,

            fill us with a peace only you can bring.

            Hear our requests in this silence.

            The Christ child came not only to redeem the world,

            but to walk beside each of us and all of us in times of darkness.

            So, we celebrate this time with exuberance or with quietness

            – because the Word is among us and we are given the gift of Light.

            In the surprise of a Child,

            in the wonder of two young parents,

            in the wisdom of sages and the humility of shepherds,

            in innkeepers who make room when there is no room,

            in all these narratives and more,

            we know your presence among us.

            Help us not forget, as papers and ribbons clutter our living rooms, what we know here and now.

            The ultimate gift is your Son:

            Christ is born in Bethlehem, wrapped in the normal blankets of a normal child, 

            yet containing deep within the genetics of joy, the seeds of peace, the DNA of salvation.

            Bless our own gift giving that it, too, may be marked with joy and filled with peace.

            May our gratitude to others show, and come straight from our gratitude for you.

            In the name of the Christ Child.

            Alleluia! Amen!

            2nd Reading                                               Luke 1:26-38

            Carol

                                       The Angel Gabriel                         180

            3rd Reading                                                 Luke 2:1-7

            Carol

                                       Away in a Manger                          194

            4th reading                                                Luke 2:8-20 

            Carol

                           Angels We Have Heard on High vs 1,3              197

            5th Reading                                            Matthew 2:1-12

            Carol

            We Three Kings Vs.1 , refrain, Vs.2 &3, refrain, Vs. 4 & 5, refrain

            Sharing our Gifts

            Invitation to Give

            Offering

            Presentation Gloria                   204

            Prayer

            6th Reading                                                John 1:1-14

            Carol

                                Oh, How Joyfully                209

            7th Reading                                         Matthew 28:16-20

            Carol

            Go Tell It on the Mountain 

            Sending