Christmas Carols Service Outline

Usually on the last Sunday of advent before Christmas Eve our church will do a service almost entirely of Christmas Carols. On some occassions we’ve used the same format for a Christmas Eve service using the carols to tell the Christmas nativiy story.

So if you’re looking for a service outline of Carols, readings, and videos, here’s a list of some carols you can use.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

This can be a fun way to start the service, check out this ‘Jig Style’ arrangement we’ve used.

WELCOME – ANNOUNCEMENTS

Usually after announcements there is an opportunity to focus the congregation towards a more reflective mood. That is sometimes done with an advent candle reading and lighting, or you could start with a prayer.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

This song works great to set the mood for the service. You can play the entire song with an Em drone, or at least playing the notes E and B on a bass or keyboard.

Here’s an optional arrangement that’s a bit more rhythmic.

Angels

Angels We Have Heard On High (D)

Hark The Herald (E)

Angels From The Realms of Worship (G) – I like the Chorus added by the band ‘Downhere’

Luke 2:8-20New International Version (NIV)

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night…. (read the whole passage here)

Wisemen

We Three Kings (Em)

What Child is This (Em)

Matthew 2:1-12 New International Version (NIV)

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,Magi^a] from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him… Read the whole passage here