- At Duke University Chapel. Recognizing that our congregation tonight represents an especially broad cross section of visitors and hometown worshipers alike. We invite each of you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 11 o'clock here at the Chapel. We are indebted to many generous contributions of energy and spirit too numerous to mention who have made this service possible tonight. Our heartfelt thanks go out to each of them. And now let us join our hearts in prayer as we prepare to worship. Our kind and gracious God, in the darkness of the virgin's womb the Holy Child has grown. In the darkness of the world's pain the blessed light has begun to kindle. In the darkness of our own skepticism the great hope has begun to rise that thou wilt come to us truly, the Prince of Peace in a world full of strife. Oh Lord our God open our eyes to see the coming of Thy glory and our ears to hear the angels singing, that our hearts may be transformed by Thy love. Be born among us that we ourselves may be born. We ask it in the Holy Child's name. Amen. (inspiring music) (heartwarming music) (encouraging music) (encouraging music) (uplifting music) (tender music) (heartwarming music) (uplifting music) (inspiring music) (sentimental music) ♪ Once in royal David's city ♪ ♪ Stood a lowly cattle shed ♪ ♪ Where a mother laid her baby ♪ ♪ In a manger for His bed ♪ ♪ Mary was that mother mild ♪ ♪ Jesus Christ her little Child ♪ ♪ He came down to earth from heaven ♪ ♪ Who is God and Lord of all ♪ ♪ And His shelter was a stable ♪ ♪ And His cradle was a stall ♪ ♪ With the poor and mean and lowly ♪ ♪ Lived on earth our Savior Holy ♪ ♪ And through all His wondrous childhood ♪ ♪ He would honor and obey ♪ ♪ Love and watch the lowly maiden ♪ ♪ In whose gentle arms He lay ♪ ♪ Christian children all must be ♪ ♪ Mild, obedient, good as He ♪ ♪ For He is our childhood's pattern ♪ ♪ Day by day like us He grew ♪ ♪ He was little, weak and helpless ♪ ♪ Tears and smiles like us He knew ♪ ♪ And He feeleth for our sadness ♪ ♪ And He shareth in our gladness ♪ ♪ And our eyes at last shall see Him ♪ ♪ Through His own redeeming love ♪ ♪ For that Child so dear and gentle ♪ ♪ Is our Lord in heaven above ♪ ♪ And He leads His children on ♪ ♪ To the place where He is gone ♪ ♪ Not in that poor lowly stable ♪ ♪ With the oxen standing by ♪ ♪ We shall see Him but in heaven ♪ ♪ Set at God's right hand on high ♪ ♪ Where like stars His children crowned ♪ ♪ All in white shall wait around ♪ 

- Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmas Eve our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message the angels. In heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass and with the Magi, adore the Child lying in His mother's arms. Let us read and mark in holy scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God. From the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought us by this Holy Child. And let us make this Chapel glad with our carols of praise. But first let us pray. For the needs of this hold world, for peace and goodwill over all the earth, for unity and brotherhood within the church He came to build. And let us at this time remember in His name the poor, and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed, the sick in body and in mind, and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children, and all who know not the Lord Jesus. Lastly let us remember for before God all those who rejoice with us but upon another shore and in an even greater light. That multitude which no one can number, who's hope was in the Word made flesh. And with whom in this Lord Jesus we forevermore are one. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven in the words which Christ Himself have taught us. 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 forever and ever. Amen. The Almighty God bless us with His grace. Christ give us the joys of everlasting life. And unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of angels bring us all. Amen. (heartwarming music) ♪ O holy night the stars are brightly shining ♪ ♪ It is the night of our dear Savior's birth ♪ ♪ Long lay the world in sin and error pining ♪ ♪ Till He appeared as the soul felt its worth ♪ ♪ A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices ♪ ♪ For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn ♪ ♪ Fall on your knees ♪ ♪ O hear the angel voices ♪ ♪ O night divine ♪ ♪ O night when Christ was born ♪ ♪ O night divine ♪ ♪ O night ♪ ♪ O night divine ♪ ♪ Led by the light of faith serenely beaming ♪ ♪ With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand ♪ ♪ So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming ♪ ♪ Here came the wise men from the Orient land ♪ ♪ The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger ♪ ♪ In all our trials born to be our friend ♪ ♪ He knows our need ♪ ♪ To our weakness is no stranger ♪ ♪ Behold your King ♪ ♪ Before Him lowly bend ♪ ♪ Behold your King ♪ ♪ Before Him lowly bend ♪ ♪ Truly He taught us to love one another ♪ ♪ His law is love and His gospel is peace ♪ ♪ Chains shall He break ♪ ♪ For the slave is our brother ♪ ♪ And in His name all oppression shall cease ♪ ♪ Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we ♪ ♪ Let all within us praise His Holy name ♪ ♪ Christ is the Lord ♪ ♪ Then ever ever praise we ♪ ♪ His power and glory evermore proclaim ♪ ♪ His power and glory evermore proclaim ♪