Category Archives: Congregrational Ministries

Christmas Eve suggestions
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December 16, 2016

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Congregrational Ministries, General Baptists

Christmas Eve Planning Tips

With Christmas on Sunday this year more churches than usual will offer a Christmas Eve Service as an alternative worship setting. Despite this periodic increase, Christmas Eve services have become one of the most popular means of reaching unchurched and dechurched families in our communities. Here are a few general suggestions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship Services.

1. Will the church offer both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services?

If a Christmas service is designed to reach the unchurched or dechurched it probably will do so best on a pre-Christmas date. Many churches will also feature a Christmas Eve-Eve service on December 23 to avoid conflict with family Christmas traditions. With Christmas on Sunday and Christmas Eve on Saturday it may be realistic for many churches to offer similar services on both days with the hope that members will attend at least one of the services.

2. Will the church print a special bulletin or program?

A brightly colored bulletin or program cover lends a festive air to the service. Some will prefer a more utilitarian approach of a simple handout that guides the worshipper. Others will opt for verbal instructions or the use of a projection system to guide the worshippers.

3. How will Invite Cards be distributed?

The special rules that guide the production of any Invite Cards apply here: proof—proof—proof, include contact information, include service times. Invite Cards should be distributed to the congregation on Sunday, December 18. If these cards can coordinate with the bulletin cover and other themes the worshipper is more likely to enter into the spirit of the worship theme.

4. How will information from guests be gathered?

A Communication Card that is completed by all in attendance is one of the most non-threatening means of gathering guest information. Once again standard rules of operation apply: keep the card simple but be sure there is adequate space to fill in the blanks, do not leave the date line blank, explain the card with some version of “complete as much information as you are comfortable sharing.”

5. Will an offering be received?

If the strategy of two similar services is used then the offering instructions for Christmas Eve will probably be very similar to the offering instructions for Christmas Day. If, however, Christmas Eve is treated as a special or an “extra” service then consider the offering to be designated for some benevolent or charitable purpose. If large numbers of guests are expected please remember that these Christmas guests may be very generous if they know the specific needs being addressed by the special Christmas offering. After all giving is a required part of a secular Christmas celebration too!

6. Will Communion or the Lord’s Supper be served?

Many Christmas Eve services feature a Candlelight Communion as the climax of the service. If Communion is served be sure to be clear with instructions since guests may come from a variety of church and non-churched backgrounds. In General Baptist churches the Lord’s Supper is always prefaced with a general invitation for all believers to take part. If servers are limited, then invite the worshippers to come forward where a more ‘self service’ approach can be taken if needed.

7. Will candle lighting be part of the service?

The lighting of candles at the conclusion of a Christmas Eve service is a moving experience especially as one person lights another person’s candle with the declaration “Jesus Christ is the Light of my life!” Then to sing Silent Night as the benediction becomes a powerful statement of faith and worship. Candle lighting supplies are readily available from Christian bookstores and suppliers but be sure to order yours in advance so they will be on hand for your special event.

8. Will creative elements be used?

Creative elements may be provided by members of the congregation or by friends from the community. Creative elements are available for purchase on-line or from many bookstores.

  • www.SkitGuys.com offers several Christmas themed video productions.
  • www.hymncharts.com will acquaint the shopper with the possibility of purchasing music scores for an entire service including special background music for Scripture readers.
  • www.YouTube.com remains an ever popular site for video elements. Just type in “Christmas Worship Songs” and view 735,000 possibilities!
Suggestions for a Special Christmas Eve Service
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December 13, 2016

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Christian Life, Congregrational Ministries

A Special Christmas Eve Service

The following outline of a Christmas Eve Service uses Scripture readings interspersed with carols, praise choruses and/or special music to tell the Christmas story. Musical selections can be adapted to selected stanzas and any available music can be easily inserted in the flow as worshippers alternately read and sing the Christmas story. This particular guide uses traditional carols but other music may be easily substituted to meet the preferences of the worship leader. People who read the selected passages can be recruited in advance. A microphone set up on floor level might aid them in their presentation. Be sure to give advance notice, a copy of the part to be read, and instructions about arriving early for a short sound check prior to the arrival of worshippers. Consider selecting older children, teens and senior adults who are often overlooked for these kinds of readings. Of course you may rely on the few people who are always willing but why not save them for last minute substitutes if someone can’t make it?

Candles and Carols: A Christmas Celebration

Opening Carol — “O Come All Ye Faithful”

Welcome

The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional)

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Prophets:

Isaiah 9:2, 7; Micah 5:2
Song: “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”

Christmas Eve Offering

Readings from the Gospel:

Luke 1:26-35
Song: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Matt. 1:18-25
Song: “Away in a Manger”

Luke 2:1-7
Song: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Luke 2:8-14
Song: “Angels We Have Heard on High”

Luke 2:15-20
Song: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”

A Reading from the Epistles:

Galatians 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Song: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Message: Three Types of Candles

Song: “Joy To The World”

The Lord’s Supper

An Affirmation of our Faith:

The Apostle’s Creed (Modern English Version)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord who was
• Conceived by the Holy Spirit
• Born of the Virgin Mary,
• Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
• Was crucified, died and was buried;
• He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in
• the Holy Spirit,
• the holy Christian church,
• the communion of the saints,
• the forgiveness of sins,
• the resurrection of the body,
• and the life everlasting. Amen

A Prayer of Consecration

We Remember Together

Candlelighting Scripture Reading: John 1:1-14
As you light the candle of the person next to you do so by declaring “Jesus Christ is the Light of my life.”

Benediction

Choral Benediction: “Silent Night, Holy Night”

An Unclosed Church
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December 9, 2016

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Church Growth, Congregrational Ministries

A Church Unclosed!

An Interview with Pastor Jerry Crowley of the Harmony Church in Ellsinore, MO.

Every year an estimated 1% of the churches in the United States close their doors. This means that about 4,000 churches annually cease to exist. Many times a new church will restart in the same site but only rarely does a congregation that closed its doors unclose those doors. In spite of National trends, the Harmony General Baptist Church in rural Carter County, Missouri is now unclosed!

We asked Pastor Jerry Crowley to tell part of the Harmony Church story as we celebrate with this UnClosed church.

Harmony GB Church - Unclosed!1 . Harmony Church is an older church. can you tell us about its early history?

The church actually started on Cane Creek about two miles away from its current location in July, 1927. This is actually the third church building that has been there. To find the church from Elsinore take Highway A to County Road 354 follow it about 2 miles, go through a wet weather creek and if the creek’s not too high (occasionally we have to postpone services due to high water), you’ll drive right up to the church.

2. Harmony Church closed its doors. About how long was the church closed?

The church closed for a few months. It wasn’t closed very long. Some folks moved away and others just quit coming.

3. What motivated you and others to reopen the church?

Well this was my old home church. I just couldn’t stand to see it closed. It’s been an old-time General Baptist church for a long time. I just couldn’t see it closed. Some people went there the Sunday before we started and Josh Francis actually got started and 4 or 5 others of us came along to help.

4. The church is located in a very rural area, in a sparsely populated county. Where did you find people to reopen the church?

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