2021 12 24 christmas eve
Friday, December 24, 2021 5:00 PM The Gathering Prelude “Adore Him” Arr. David Wise Greeting, Welcome and Announcements Call to Worship One: Good news! Great joy! All: Jesus Christ is born! One: Good news! Great joy! All: O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! Lighting of the Advent Wreath and Christ Candle Rustemeyer Family “Good news of great joy,” the angel said, “for to you a savior is born.” “Peace on earth,” the choir sang, “for God reigns in the highest.” “Follow me,” the star beckoned, “For Hope was born in Bethlehem.” One: As we light the Christ candle, All: we watch for the Christmas story around us. One: Emmanuel has come and is coming. All: Come, all ye faithful, and worship God. Hymn # 249 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (all verses) ADESTE FIDELES The Lessons and Carols First Lesson: Genesis 1:1-5 The Creation Peter Ellyin Solo: “Comfort Ye…” from Messiah Handel Stuart Barnes Jamieson, tenor Second Lesson: Isaiah 9:2,6-7 A Prophecy Isaac Bakou Chorus: “And the Glory of the Lord” from Messiah Handel Third Lesson: Micah 5:2-4 The Prophet Micah foretells the glory of Bethlehem Charlotte Tyre Hymn # 250 “O Little Town of Bethlehem" (verses 1-3) ST. LOUIS Fourth Lesson: Luke 1:26-35, 38 The angel Gabriel visits Mary Hilda Karam Offering of Music: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” arr. Anna Laura Page Handbell Choir Fifth Lesson: Luke 2:1-7 Luke Tells of the Birth of Jesus Sam Mirza Offering of Music: “Wachet Auf” (Sleepers Wake) J.S. Bach Elizabeth Brown, organist Sixth Lesson: Luke 2:8-20 The Shepherds go to the manger Jim Nadder and Noah Bakou Hymn # 278 “Angels We Have Heard on High” (all verses) GLORIA Call to Offering Offertory: “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion” from Messiah Handel Lindsay Mecher, mezzo soprano and Paul Christiansen, violin Doxology # 815 “Praise God” OLD HUNDREDTH Prayer of Thanksgiving All: Rejoicing in the birth of Christ our Savior, we give to God what we first received from God, the gifts of our lives. AMEN Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Sharing the Light Seventh Lesson: John 1:1-5 The Darkness to the Light Pastor Stuart Distribution of the Light Please remember to dip the unlit candle into the flame of the lit candle. Please be careful of those around you with your lit candle. *Hymn # 253 “Silent Night, Holy Night” STILLE NACHT Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child! Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven a-far. Heaven-ly hosts sing: “Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. *The Christmas Gospel Reading: John 1:14 Pastor Stuart *Hymn # 270 “Joy to the World!” ANTIOCH Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, Far as, for as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love. Charge and Benediction Postlude “Little Drummer Boy” Katherine Kennicott Davis Nott Family
