You would want to set the camera with the flash off. Your flash will only light up a very short space in front of you plus, you are trying to take a picture of light. A flash will only wash that out and force a shutter speed that is far too fast to capture the lights you are trying to expose.
I just took a look at the manual online and don't see that the camera offers a lot of options for night photography. I would experement a a bit. The camera should set the shutter speed (or the amount of time the lens is open) automatically. Also, I'd use a tripod or set the camera on a stable surface. You will probably not be able to hold the camera still enough youself to avoid jiggling since the exposure will be fairly long compared to what you would be used to in the day or with flash.
If you have a christmas tree up already that would be a good experimantal subject! Turn the flash off, point the camera at the tree and take a picture to see what happens. The further away you get the less bright the lights will seem so try some across the room or even outside to see how it goes. The great thing with the digital is that you can see the results right now! Too close and the picture will be too bright, to far or too short of an exposure and you will have a picture of dark.
I've done some night shots will a couple digital cameras and have been suprised. They come out pretty well but there is no way I can hold the camera steady enough myself!
Now if you want to take pictures of unlit stuff you will need the flash on. But, get close, within 3 to 5 feet to start. The flash, even the big ones, are not as bright as you might think! I've taken pleanty of pictures of "dark". Again, If you are too close your picture will be overexposed or very bright...I've taken a good number of pictures of "light" too! On the other hand, I've taken pictures of stars, the moon, buildings and fireworks. With some experimentation you should be able to get it.
I see that your flash has a couple setting options, Auto means that the camera will determine if you need flash or not. In the dark it will decide that you do. If you are taking a shot of unlit things it may work fine but will not work well with lit things like lights or fireworks. You also have a "fill" option. This is a lower brightness flash that is good to add some light to a subject when it is bright behind them. It might also be handy at night to light the forground but still allow the background (lights and things) to come through. Worth some experimentation to see how you camera acts in that case. You also have red-eye reduction, good when taking pictures of people, especially at night, and flat out off.
Good luck and keep tying. The digital gives a lot of flexability to work though your options and will let you get down what you need to do so you are not disappointed when the time comes. Toss the bad pictures, charge the batteries and keep going!
I've looked in my instruction booklet and can't find it. 
). The beanie helps him get the right angle (in case you want to tip the camera up to take pictures of fireworks, for example). Sounds like a good excuse to get a mini Mickey beanie, doesn't it?
