Christmas Eve 2025

 Christmas Eve: Cycle C

December 13, 2025 

Presider: Juanita

Responder: Marita

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87935930592?pwd=qZlKA506MIS9okXQQxBkaKsyhsZJDV.1

Go Tell it on The Mountain | Fountain View Academy

https://youtu.be/GBLnqyc2hWo?si=f2hsRXwrdQNyy0iB

Janet:  Christmas Eve December 24, 2025

We gather on this special night to celebrate the birth of Jesus into the world. A world rife with conflict and death, with pain and suffering, but also a world full of beauty and kindness, of hope and love. We celebrate this child who grew into a person who came to understand that Divine Love lived within him, and that his call was to share that understanding with the world in which he lived. Thousands of years later, it is for us to embrace that truth, that Divine Love is in each of us. We are daughters and sons of God and followers of Jesus, recognizing our call to spread hope and love to today’s world. Let us celebrate Emmanuel, God-with-us. 

Galen: Candle Lighting: (All light candles (light a white candle From “The Mood of Christmas…” by Howard Thurman

I will light Candles this Christmas,
Candles of joy despite all the sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all year long. Amen.

Presider: Opening Prayer 

As we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This is such a special time, a time of peace and love. Let us pray:

We believe that for generations

people have gathered together

on this holy night, because there is something about this story

that speaks to the deepest parts of us.

We believe in bundling up this hope,

this good news, and passing it on—

to our children, to our neighbors,

to the world around us.

I believe my voice can make a difference, just like I believe this story can make a difference, so I will not stay quiet.

I will tell this story—of a love that makes room for all.

I will sing this story—of a love that knows our name.

I will live this story—because love has come again.

I believe that words have power.

I will not stay quiet.

AMEN.

The People That Walk in Darkness - Bob Dufford, S.J.

https://youtu.be/KDbTEvLqSbk?si=kG4PUIogsOOlgzyl

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah 9:1-6  John:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

upon those who dwell in a land of gloom the light has shone.

You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing,

as they rejoice before you at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils.

For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulders,

and the rod of their oppressor

you have smashed as at the defeat of Midian.

For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us, an heir is given us; upon whose shoulder dominion will rest.

They will name this one Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,

Savior-Forever, Ruler of Peace.

This dominion - and this peace — will grow without end,

on David's judgment seat, and over David's realm,

confirmed and sustained with judgment and justice,

both now and forever.

The zeal of Our God of Hosts will do this!

The Word of God. R/. Thanks be to God.

Karen: Our Psalm Response is:

R: Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Born.

Dave:  Your Love, my God, is my song and I’ll sing it!

With forthright voice, I will proclaim Your goodness to all generations.

Your Love endures beyond time,

your faithfulness extends beyond the heavens.

From the beginning of time, Your covenant encompasses all who choose to walk the path of Love.

And to all generations that honor Your Way and Your Truth,

Love will make Itself known.

R: Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Born.

Dave:  The heavens praise your marvels, O Loving Creator,

the heavenly hosts sing of your faithfulness.

Who in the skies is comparable to You?

Who among heavenly beings, among stars and galaxies of stars, is like You?

You are immeasurable, infinite and infinitesimal.

Who is like You, awesome beyond knowing?

Who is like You, humble and in our midst?

R: Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Born.

Dave: A long time ago, You spoke in a vision.

You made Yourself known to Your faith-filled, saying

“Here is my Heart, my Servant,

whom I will anoint with holy oil.

Here is My ruler-child

who will lead warriors into peace,

and lead all in the ways of peace.

Here is my Gift for you:

My firstborn who will teach you to Love,

and will be kept forever in My love.”

R: Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Born.

Dave: Through the Heart of all hearts, You open the way to Life.

Your love will shine even when stars are no more;

Your love will outlast the cosmos.

We will know You as Loving Companion Presence now

and in the life to come.

R: Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Born.

A reading by Jane Keener-Quiat and Rex Hunt: Lucia

We celebrate tonight God-with-us
beyond our words, beyond our images,
for we know God is beyond those things.

But tonight, we find joy in the image of God coming to us in the form of a child.

We sense God’s presence in creation
and in the immensity of our universe,
in the incredible display of life on this planet, and in our consciousness of something far greater than ourselves.

As Christians we rejoice in the birth of Jesus.
In him we see the fullness of possibility
to make God visible in our lives.

Like all of us he grew in wisdom as he aged. He questioned. He searched for meaning.
He shaped his convictions.

He experienced love and came to know
love’s connectedness with God.

He stood firmly in his own religious tradition and preached good news to all people dreaming of a better humanity.

We rejoice that he taught us not to imagine a manipulative, intervening God,

but one who is as close as breath
and as soft as a whisper,
yet as powerful in the focus of our lives,

as were the mighty (prophets) in the Old Testament drawing us toward the good.

We rejoice that Jesus led people to discover the sacred in the ordinary,

in the lowly, in everyday life,

in human yearnings to be better people,

and in being neighbor to one another.

These are the inspired words of Jane Keener-Quiat and Rex Hunt, and the community affirms them with Amen.

Alleluia: Hallelujah Christmas Version 

https://youtu.be/fAgCERXmG74?si=faWN8zqw3gCWM4Xj 

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke. 

2:15-20

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this event which the Most High has made known to us." They went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger; once they saw, they reported what had been told them concerning this child. All who heard of it were astonished at the report given them by the shepherds.

Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.

The Good News of Salvation!

R. Glory and praise to our Savior Jesus Christ!

Homily: Juanita

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST:

Gerry:  As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. As bearers of LIGHT and HOPE, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your intentions beginning with the words, “I bring to the table…..” 

We bring these and all deeply held blessings, cares, and concerns to the table of friendship and peace. Amen.

SIGN OF PEACE: Chrys

Eternal wellspring of peace- May we be drenched with the longing for peace

That we may give ourselves over

As the earth to the rain, to the dew,

Until peace overflows our lives

As living waters overflow the seas.  (Marcia Falk)

 

Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave you.  My peace I give you.”  Let us now extend a sign of peace to one another as we say,  Shalom, Peace be with you.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

Offertory: 

Rita: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness  we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, It will become for us the bread of life, our Eucharist today.

R: Blessed be God forever

Gina: Blessed are you God of all creation, through your goodness

We have received this wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.

R: Blessed be God forever.

Linda: With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer as one voice:

(written by Jay Murnane) 

Holy One, you are continually creating the universe, continually giving birth to all of us. We sense the need to do the same, to set ourselves free from a sense of emptiness and barren hopelessness.

Penny: We celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your presence and all-ways care. We give thanks, and joined with your vision of harmony and peace, we sing:

Holy, Holy, Holy: Music by John Bacchus Dykes, Words by Peter Mayer video by Denise Hackert-Stoner

https://youtu.be/A4kiEGVb3E8 

John: Praise to you, all-giving Child, born of Mary.  You are the body and blood of woman.  We glorify you, our Creator, for the dawning of the sacred promise of the Anointed One, fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus, our newborn Emmanuel who came to give us fullness of life.  During this holy season we share the bread of freedom and lift the cup, the new wineskin of compassion. 

Presider: Please extend your hands over your gifts of bread and wine.

Penny: We now call the Spirit of the Living God upon the gifts of this Eucharistic Table. 

May the bread of the grain, and grape of the vine,  + become the nourishment we long for, nurturing afresh within us the discerning gifts of wisdom, light and truth.

Presider: As Jesus gave birth to the New Covenant, he took bread, gave thanks,  broke the bread, and shared it with all those present saying:

ALL: Take and eat, the bread of life for all who hunger for peace and justice. 

(pause)

Jesus then raised the cup of blessing, and spoke the grace saying:

ALL:

Take and drink the Cup of Compassion for a broken world.

Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. 

(pause)

This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing.  Through it we are 

nourished and we nourish each other.

What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives;

as we share communion, we will become communion,

both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.

Please receive the bread and cup with the words, you are the Body of Christ.

Frank Sinatra - Silent Night 

https://youtu.be/iUnWS9R2RUo?si=Q9OnbJMsrxuE4qnt

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith…

Presider: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Jay Cee: As we wait with joyful hearts for the fulfillment of your birthing power in our own lives,

we remember the prophets, martyrs, saints and mystics who have gone before us,

and all those we remember as heroes in our church who inspire us today, both living and dead.

Penny: Embrace us in our brokenness and help us celebrate Christ’s birth in our lives.

Impregnate the people of God with the power of a Spirit-filled community of faith.

Patti: May your Spirit birth a new world of peace and justice.  

May everyone feel accepted and welcome in our community.

May we give birth to the Word Made Flesh in us every day of our lives.  

May we give birth to the church of our dreams and hopes.

May we give birth to a deep reverence for earth, and live in harmony with 

all creatures.

 

Gina: For it is through learning to live as Jesus lived,

and why he lived,

and for whom he lived,

that we awaken to your Spirit within,

moving us to worship you truly,

O Holy Life-Giver,

at this time and all time and in all ways.  Amen!

Let us pray together the Prayer of Jesus:

Rita: O Holy One, you are within, around and among us.

We celebrate your many names.

Your wisdom come, your will be done,

unfolding from the depths within us.

Each day you give us all that we need.

You remind us of our limits, and we let go.

You support us in our power, and we act with courage.

For you are the dwelling place within us,

the empowerment around us,

and the celebration among us,

now and forever.  Amen.  (Sr. Miriam Therese Winter)

Blessing

Presider:Let us raise our hands in blessing as we go forth to bring glad tidings to the world. 

May our mothering God bring us to birth in every area of our living.  

May Emmanuel, God-with-us, fill us with radiant joy.

May we be creators of hope in our world, and may God bless us always with divine strength to walk justly and serve generously all those we encounter. 

And in so doing, may we be blessed in the name of the Divine.

Let us birth Christ anew in our world today, as we

go forth with faith to ponder in our hearts the mystery and the 

wonder of this holy season. Amen.

Dismissal: Jay Cee

Closing Song: Joy to the World

https://youtu.be/_N40D2pk-w0?si=jqVnkFXH-xhLUEAF