Christmas Eve Service

Prelude – Something from the green book

Welcome

Welcome. Murakaza neza. Karibu. This is a service of Remembrance. Observation. And most
importantly, Celebration. It is a night where we will all gather together around what unifies us the most.
Our love and devotion to God, and more importantly, His unending love and devotion to us.

Introductory song – O Come All Ye Faithful

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of Angels
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
sing all ye citizens of Heaven above.
Glory to God in the Highest
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
Hail Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus to thee be glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
A Reading – Luke 1:26-35
25
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee
names Nazareth. 26He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man names Joseph,
who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. 28The angel came to her and said, “Peace be
with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!” 29Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s
message, and she wondered what his words meant. 30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God
has been gracious to you. 31You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him
Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a
king, as his ancestor David was, 33and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his
kingdom will never end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How then, can this be?” 35The angel
answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God’s power will rest upon you. For this reason, the
holy child will be called the Son of God. 36Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot
have children, but she herself is now sic months pregnant, even though she is very old. 37For there is
nothing that God cannot do.” 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have
said.” And the angel left her.
26
Igihe Elizabeti yari afite inda y’amenzi atandaty, Imana ituma umumarayika Gaburiyeli my
mujyi wo muri Galileya witwa Nazareti. 27 Imutuma ku mukobwa wari warasabwe n’uwitwa Yozefu wo
mu muryango wa Dawidi, uwo mukobwaakitwa Mariya. 28Nuko umumarayika amusanga mu nzu
aramubwira ati: “Ndakuramutsa mutoni w’Imana! Nyagasani ari kumwe nawe.” 29Mariya yumvise iryo
jambo arikanga, yibaza icyo iyo ndamutso ishaka kuvuga. 30Umumarayika aramubwira ati: “Mariya,
witinya kuko Imana yagutonesheje! 31 Dore ugiye gusama inda, uzabyara umuhungu uzamwite Yezu. 32
Azaba umuntu ukomeye, ndetse azitwa Umwana w’Isumbabyose. Nyagasani Imana asamugabira infoma
ya sekuruza Dawidi, 33ategeke urubyarorwa Yakobo kugeza iteka ryose. Koko ubwami bew ntibuzangira
iherezo.” 34Mariya abwira umumarayika ati: “Ibyo bizashoboka bite ko nta mugabo tubaonana?”
35
Umumarayika aramusabiza ati: “Mwuka muzirangege azakuzaho, n’ububasha bw’Imana Isumbabyose
bukubumbatire. Ni cyo gituma umwana uzabyara azaba umuziranege, yitwe Umwana w’Imana. 36Dore
mwene wanyu Elizabeti na we atwite umwana w’umuhungu kandi ari umukecuru, ubu afite inda y’amezi
atandatu kandi bamwitaga ingumba. 37Ereganta kinanira Imana!” 38Mariya aravuga ati: “Jyewe ndi umuja
wa Nyagasani. Bimbereuko ubivuze.” Umumarayike amusiga aho arigendera.

Children’s Choir – Mary’s Born Child

Luke 2: 1-6
1
At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman
Empire. 2When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. 3Everyone then, went to
register himself, each to his own town. 4Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town
of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of
David. 5He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, 6and
while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.
1
Muri icyo gihe umwami w’I Roma witwaga Ogusito, ategeka ko haba ibarura ry’abaturage bo
my bihugu byose byategekwaga n’Abanyaroma. 2Iryo barura rya mbere ryabaye igihe Kwirini yari
umytegetsi w’intara ya Siriya. 3Nuko abantu bose bajya kwiyandikisha, buri wese mu mujyi w’iwabo.
4
Yozefu na we ava mu mujyi wa Nazareti mu ntara ya Galileya agana mu ntara ya Yudeya, ajya mu mujyi
wa Betelehemu aho umwami Dawidi yavukiye, kuko yari uwo mu nzu no mu muryango wa Dawidi.
5
Yozefu ajya kwiyandikishayo ari kumwe na Mariya, umgeni yasabyewari utwitwe. 6Barkiri I Betelehemu
araramukwa

Decorating of the tree

In America and other countries throughout the world, decorating the Christmas tree is the time when a
family comes together to put parts of themselves on the branches of what becomes the focal point in
the home for the month of December. Being in community with each other, we are all each other’s
family in Christ. Being Christians, we use this tree as a sign of everlasting life in God. So tonight, we
invite all of you to take a paper ornament decorated by the Sunday school children and the choir from
this basket, find a branch and decorate our tree- together.

Here, everyone is welcome to take a paper ornament that is found in the basket and bring it up
to the front to help decorate the tree.

YAGM – The First Noel

Luke 2: 7
7
She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger – there
was no room for them to stay in the inn.
 7
abyara umuhungu we w’ompfura amufubika utwenda tw’impinja, amauryamisha mu mubure
kuko nta mwanya bari babonye mu icumbi.

Malagasi Family – 2 Songs

Prayer

Jesus Christ, at the beginning of time you brought forth light and form to all of creation. Come into our
hearts so that we might preserve and protect field and forest, sky and sea, animals and people of every
kind, and all that you have created. Jesus Christ, as our rabbi you came among us to gather your
followers for food and drink, healing and teaching. Be present in the midst of your church that we may
flock to your voice, heed your wisdom, be fed with your body and blood, and send us in joy to continue
your work in every nation and neighborhood. Jesus Christ, as our leader you came and met with those in
power of people and nations, working for justice, mercy and peace. Come to our leaders now to give
them the wisdom of your counsel and the compassion of your love. Jesus Christ, you came to us as a
baby in a manger, to live as we live, to share our joys and our sorrows, our laughter and our tears. Come
to us now, hold us when we cry, lift us up when we fall, and cradle us in your love. Bind all of our
wounds and restore us to health. Jesus Christ, you came to us on a cross, taking the stain of our sin to a
grave we made for you. Come to us now to wash us, to free us from the fears and prides that keep us
away from you, that we may be liberated into your service all of our days. Jesus Christ, you came to us
beside an empty tomb to comfort our sorrow and send us to share the good news of resurrection life in
you. Call our names so that we might turn to you when we grieve for those who are now with you in
eternity. In your name we pray, Amen.

Luke 2: 8-14
8
There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the
fields, taking care of their flocks. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, ant the glory of the Lord shone
over them. They were terribly afraid, 10but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good
news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day in David’s town your Saviour
was born – Christ the Lord! 12And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips
of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel,
singing praises to God: 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom
he is pleased!”
8
Muri akokarere hari abashumba barariraga intama zabo ku gasozi. 9Umumarayika wa Nyagasani
arababonekera, ikuzo rirabagirana rya Nyagasani rirabagota, maze bagira ubwoba bwinshi. 10Uwo
mumarayika ni ko kubabwira ati: “Mwitinya, dore mbazaniye inukuru nziza izashimisha cyane abantu
bose. 11Uyu munsimu mujyi wa Dawidi havukiye Umukiza wanyu, ari we Kristo Nuagasani. 12Dore ikiza
kumubabwira: muri busange uruhinja rufubitse utwenda ruryamye mu muvure.” 13Ako kanya hatunguka
umutwe w’ingabo nyinashi zo mu ijuru zisanga uwo mumarayika zisingiza Imana ziti: 14 “Mu ijuru Imana
nisingizwe, no ku isi abantu yishimira bagire amahoro.”

All Choirs – Silent Night

Silent Night holy night, all is calm, all is bright.

Round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
 Rya joro ryatowe, Intumwa z’Imana
zamenyesheje ba bungeri icyabonetse mw isi yacu
Yuko Yesu yavutse, yuko Yesu yavutse
Rya joro ryatowe umucyo w’ukuri
Twese waratumurikiye ng’udukure mu byaha byacu
Kuko Yesu yavutse, kuko Yesu yavutse
Rya joro ryatowe rituma twishima
Dufatanye n’abo mwijuru kuririmbir’ akana Yesu
Tuti Shimwa mukiza Tuti shimwa mukiza

Luke 2: 15-20
15
When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.” 16So they
hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. 17When the shepherds
saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child. 18All who heard it were amazed at
what the shepherds said. 19Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them. 20The
shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen; it had been just as the
angel had told them.
15
Abamarayika bamaze gusubira mu ijuru, abashumba barabwirana bati: “Nimureke tuhye I
betelehemu turebe ibyabaye, ibyo Nyagasani atumenyesheje.” 16Bagenda bihuta basangayo Mariya na
Yozefu, n’uruhinja ruryamye mu muvure. 17Babonye uwo mwana batekererza abantu ibyo
bamubwiweho. 18Ababyumvise bose batangazwa cyane n’ibyo abo bashumba bababwiraga. 19Mariya we
abika ibyo byose ku mutima, agahora abizirikana. 20Nyuma aashumba basubirayo bagenda basingiza
Imana, bayihimbaza kubera ibyo bumvise n’ibyo babonye byose, kuko babisanze iko bari babibwiwe.

Prayers

Oh merciful God. You who gave us Your only son, we ask that you grant us open hearts to embrace our
neighbors, our friends, and our enemies. We ask for the determination and the perseverance to do our
best in all things. Lord, in this community that you have brought together this night, we thank You for
sending us your child. We thank You for the gift of believing and faith in all things through You. We pray
You watch over our families, friends, and loved ones this night and every night. Amen.

Sending

May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the
eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever. We rejoice this day, for tomorrow, we
celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Turi Kumwe. We are one.

Go in peace Thanks be to God.

Pastor Prince then said something incredibly thoughtful about how thankful he was that I am part of
this community and how this service would be a beautiful new tradition every year in the church.