This service is a lovely and meaningful blend of traditions, suitable for all ages. It will include beautiful music from our own members, readings and reflections from Revs. Linda and Leia, and end with a telling of the Christmas story of the birth of a babe in Bethlehem. Congregational children will be costumed and acting out the parts of all the characters – shepherds, angels, Magi, and even a baby!
The service ends with the singing of “Silent Night” as we see a video of members of our congregation passing lights from candle to candle. You can be included by sending in a video of yourself, or by lighting a candle in your home.
Christmas Eve Offering
It is the tradition at the UU Congregation of Charlottesville to designate the Christmas Eve offering to replenish the Ministers’ Discretionary Fund. That fund is used by the ministers to assist with emergency needs in our congregation or neighborhood, to tide individuals over until more permanent assistance can be located.
Sometimes it is used to help a church member who is facing an emergency shortfall in funds and needs assistance to pay a utility bill, to buy medicine, to afford groceries, or to be able to move in a crisis. The funds, distributed in confidentiality by the ministers, have also been used to help a congregant’s family, and to help neighboring clergy support needs for their food ministry to the hungry or to support other projects to people in crisis.
In the year since last Christmas, we gave more than $2,500 in emergency assistance, and we can foresee the need may be greater in 2021, due to remaining effects of the Covid crisis. Please give generously at our Christmas Eve service to replenish our funds for emergency relief to our members and neighbors. We do not want to turn anyone away.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Prelude What Child is This Ollie & Parker Gill
French Carol Ollie & Parker Gill
Ode to Joy August Gastinger
We Wish You a Merry Christmas Ollie & Bryce Gill
Silent Night Madeline Redick-Smith
Welcome Debby Norton, Worship Weaver
Elizabeth Breeden, Board Vice President
Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful UU C’ville Virtual Choir
Opening Words The Rev. Leia Durland-Jones
and the Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles
Chalice Lighting Mr. Santa Claus (aka Stephen Blair)
Song Star in the East Kelsey Cowger, soloist
Homily “Excitement Tonight” Rev. Linda
Song Let Christmas Come Scott DeVeaux & Katia Sol-Church
Reading “For So the children come” Ellie Ransom
words from Sophia Lyon Fahs
Prayer Rev. Leia
Invitation to the Offering Debby Norton
Offertory The First Noel Hazel & Sylvie Semmelhack
O Holy Night Hazel & Sylvie Semmelhack
Homily “Quiet Tonight” Rev. Linda
Song It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Kelsey Cowger and Matthew Carter
The Christmas Story
Rev. Leia & Hank Powers & Riley Epp Storytellers
and a cast of UUC’ville congregation*
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Katia Sol-Church and Amy Davis
Away in a Manger
Amy Nash and Kelsey Cowger
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Marvin Edwards
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Sharon Baiocco and Karen Bieber
Angels We Have Heard on High
Katia Sol-Church
What Child Is This?
Kelsey Cowger and Matthew Carter
We Three Kings
Scott DeVeaux and Fritz Hudson
Silent Night UU C’ville Choir
Benediction Rev. Linda
words from Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman
Social Time Following Service
*2020 Christmas Eve Pageant Participants
Storytellers: Hank Powers, Riley Epp
Caesar Augustus—Nancy Hurrelbrinck
Stars— Ariana Vasquez, Adam Schroder, Afton Van Hooser, Naomi McCleary, Jah
Special Star—Liam, Nora and Ciaran Little
Angels: Lillian Thompson (speaking), Zoe Halbert, Noura McElwain, Corinna Heins, Sam Cole, James Cole
Luisa Shoch, Amaya Garriott (speaking)
Sheep: Hannah Smith, Dana Redick, Jen Smith, Christine Gresser, Yvonne Chadwick-Mehta, Claudine Ebeid McElwain
Holy Family: Kelsey Cowger, Matthew Carter, Isaac Carter
Wise Person: Coco Powers (speaking part), Lucas Smith, Leila McElwain, Colin McElwain
Shepherds: Breck Gastinger, August Gastinger, Grant Gastinger, Ian Halbert, Dylan Halbert
Many thanks to the production team for Christmas Eve 2020 –
Sean Skally, AV tech recording and presentation
Lucy Gilbert, video creator and editor for carols and special music
Ellie Ransom, video creator and editor for Pageant and Passing of Candles
