A CANDLELIGHT FESTIVAL OF CAROLS AND CHRISMONS First Baptist Church Kernersville SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 Six thirty in the evening

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1 A CANDLELIGHT FESTIVAL OF CAROLS AND CHRISMONS First Baptist Church Kernersville SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 Six thirty in the evening HARP PRELUDE Frank Voltz CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 77 HYFRYDOL Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus BIDDING PRAYER Beloved in Christ, this Christmas season it is our duty and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels, and to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. Therefore let us hear again from Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our sin until the glorious redemption brought us by this holy Child; and let us make this house of prayer glad with our carols of symbols of his life. But first, because this of all things would rejoice Jesus heart, let us pray to him for the needs of the whole world, and all his people; for peace upon the earth he came to save; for love and unity within the one Church he did build; for goodwill among all peoples. And particularly, at this time let us remember the poor, the cold, the hungry, the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and all who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love. Lastly let us remember all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one. These prayers and songs let us humbly offer to the throne of heaven, in the words that Christ himself has taught us. THE LORD S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. AMEN.

2 THE CHRISMON TREE The word Chrismon is a combination of Christ and monogram. The first Chrismon ornaments were developed not far from here in 1957 by Frances Kipps Spencer at Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia. She was looking for a way to decorate the church s Christmas tree to make it more suitable for a sanctuary, one that would reflect the Christian faith. Mrs. Spencer was inspired to visually celebrate the birth of Christ as one might by writing the honoree s name on a decorated white birthday cake. She decided to place the name of Jesus and his title, Christ, on the tree using Greek monograms rather than using English. Thus the Greek Chi Rho became one of the earliest Chrismons because they are monograms for Christos, the Greek word for Christ. These simple monograms and some crosses decorated the first Chrismon Tree. White was chosen as the Church s color for Christmas, and gold symbolizes Christ s majesty and glory. Other designs were developed over the years using signs and symbols utilized by the early Christians. As these designs increased in number, they included references to Jesus life, ministry, and teachings. Mrs. Spencer held that the ornaments should be made by hand and not commercially produced and that the tree was not complete until it had been displayed and used to explain the life and ministry of our Lord and Savior. THE FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15, God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent s head. CHRISMON: CHI-RHO CAROL Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Sandra Ford Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand. King of kings, yet born of Mary, As of old on earth He stood, Lord of lord, in human vesture, In the body and the blood, He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food. Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way, As the Light of Light descendeth From the realms of endless day, That the powers of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away. At His feet the six-winged seraph; Cherubim, with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the presence, As with ceaseless voice they cry, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord, Most High! Amen.

3 THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18 God promises to Abraham that by his descendants all nations on earth shall obtain blessing. CHRISMON : ALPHA & OMEGA CAROL Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree John Purifoy The tree of life, my soul hath seen laden with fruit and always green. The trees of nature, fruitless be, compared with Christ, the apple tree. This beauty doth all things excel, by faith I know, but ne er can tell the glory which I now can see in Jesus Christ, the apple tree. For happiness I long have sought, and pleasure dearly I have bought. I missed for all but now I see tis found in Jesus Christ, the apple tree. With great delight I ll make my stay, there s none shall fright my soul away. Among the sons of men I see, there s none like Christ, the apple tree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, it keeps my dying faith alive. Which makes my soul in haste to be with Jesus Christ, the apple tree. I m wearied with my former toil, here I shall sit and rest awhile, under the shadow I will be of Jesus Christ, the apple tree. THE THIRD LESSON 9:2, 6-7 The prophet foretells the coming of the Saviour. Isaiah CHRISMON: STAR OF DAVID CAROL What Sweeter Music John Rutter What sweeter music can we bring Than a carol, for to sing The birth of this our heav nly King? Awake the voice! Awake the string! Dark and dull night, fly hence away, And give the honour to this day That sees December turn d to May. Why does the chilling winter s morn Smile, like a field beset with corn? Or smell like a meadow newly shorn Thus on the sudden? Come and see The cause, why things thus fragrant be: Tis he is born, whose quick ning birth Gives life and lustre, public mirth, To heaven and the underearth.

4 We see him come, and know him ours, Who, with his sunshine and his show rs, Turns all the patient ground to flow rs. The darling of the world is come, And fit it is, we find a room to welcome him. The nobler part of all the house here, is the heart, Which we will give him; and bequeath This holly, and this ivy wreath, To do him honour; who s our King, and Lord of all this revelling. What sweeter music can we bring Than a carol, for to sing The birth of this our heav nly King? THE FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9 The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown. CHRISMON: DOVE CAROL Candlelight Carol John Rutter How do you capture the wind on the water? How do you count al the stars in the sky? How can you measure the love of a mother, Or how can you write down a baby s first cry? Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star glow Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Angels are singing: the Christ child is born. Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him, seraphim round him their vigil will keep; Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Saviour, But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep. Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star glow Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Angels are singing: the Christ child is born. Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger: Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay, Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation: A child with his mother that first Christmas Day. Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star glow Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Angels are singing: the Christ child is born.

5 THE FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:26-35, 38 The angel Gabriel salutes the blessed virgin Mary. CHRISMON: IHS CAROL All My Heart This Night Rejoices Brian Buda All my heart this night rejoices as I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices: Christ is born, their choirs are singing, till the air, ev rywhere now their joy is ringing. Hark! a voice from yonder manger, soft and sweet, doth entreat, Flee from woe and danger. Brethren, come; from all that grieves you: you are freed; all you need I will surely give you. Come, then, let us hasten yonder. Here let all, great and small, kneel in awe and wonder. Love Him Who with love is yearning. Hail the star that from far bright with hope is burning. Blessed Savior, let me find Thee! Keep Thou me close to Thee, cast me not behind Thee. Life of life, my heart Thou stillest, calm I rest on Thy breast, all this void Thou fillest. Thee, O Lord, with heed I ll cherish: live to Thee, and with Thee, dying, shall not perish; but shall dwell with Thee forever, far on high, in the joy that can alter never. THE SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:1, 3-7 St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus. CHRISMON: MANGER CAROL Joy of Every Longing Heart Lloyd Larson Of the Father s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore! O that birth forever blessed, when the Virgin, full of grace, by the Holy Ghost conceiving, bore the Savior of our race; and the Babe, the world s Redeemer, first revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore! O ye heights of heav n adore Him, angel hosts His praises sing. Evermore! Evermore! Pow rs, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, ev ry voice in concert ring: joy of ev ry longing heart. Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving, evermore and evermore!

6 THE SEVENTH LESSON Luke 2:8-16 The shepherds go to the manger. CHRISMON: SHEPHERD S STAFF CAROL The Coventry Carol Gerhard Schroth Soloist: Andrew Martin Lully, lullay Thou little tiny Child, By, by lully, lullay, Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, By, by, lully, lullay. O sisters too, how may we do, for to preserve this day, This poor youngling, for whom we sing, By, by, lully, lullay. Herod, the king in his raging, Charged he hath this day, His men of might, in his own sight, All children young to slay. Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee, And ever mourn and say, For Thy parting, nor say, nor sing, By, by, lully, lullay. THE EIGHTH LESSON Luke 2:17-20 The Shepherds tell of the birth of Jesus. CHRISMON: BUTTERFLY CAROL The Shepherds Sing Bob Chilcott Soloist: Mary Ruth Martin The shepherds sing: and shall I silent be? My God, no hymn for thee? My soul s a shepherd too; a flock it feeds, of thoughts, and words and deeds. The pasture is thy word: the streams, thy grace enriching all the place. Shepherds and flocks shall sing, and all my pow rs outsing the daylight hours. Then we will sing, and shine on our own day, and one another pay. His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine, till ev n his beams sing and my music shine.

7 THE NINTH LESSON John 1:1-5 Christ is the Light of the World. CHRISMON: SCROLL CAROL Breath of Heaven Craig Courtney Soloist: Vivian Nunn I have traveled many moonless nights, cold and weary with a babe inside. And I wonder what I ve done. Holy Father, You have come and chosen me now to carry Your Son. I am waiting in a silent prayer. I am frightened by the load I bear. In a world as cold as stone must I walk this path alone? Be with me now, be with me now. Breath of Heaven, hold me together, be forever near me, Breath of Heaven. Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness, pour over me Your holiness for You are holy, Breath of Heaven. Do you wonder, as You watch my face, if another should have had my place? But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan. Help me be strong, help me be, help me. Breath of Heaven, hold me together, be forever near me, Breath of Heaven. Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness, pour over me Your holiness for You are holy, Breath of Heaven. THE TENTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-6 Wise men from the East follow the star to find the Christ. CHRISMON: CROWN CAROL Carol of the Magi John Rutter Soloist: Michael Horne We rode all night thro fields of darkness, Our guiding light the Eastern star; We came to Bethlehem, we all were weary: We d travelled far that night, we d travelled far. We heard that here we d find Messiah, Foretold by seers from days of old; We looked for palaces: and found a stable: Could it be here, so bare and cold, so bare and cold? We entered in and there we saw him; It seemed we d known him from long before: A child like any child, yet somehow diff rent: The face of ev ry child in him we saw, the face of ev ry child we saw.

8 We d brought him gifts, and now we offered them; We knelt down low in silent prayer. With eyes that seemed to know both joy and sadness The child looked down as we knelt there, the child looked down as we knelt there. So long ago, yet I remember That child who lay at Mary s knee; How strange that ev ry child seems so much like him: His is the face I seem to see. THE ELEVENTH LESSON Matthew 2:7-12 The wise men find the baby Jesus and offer their gifts. CHRISMON: FISH CAROL Carol for Christmastide Stan Pethel On this day earth shall ring with the song angels sing, He is born, Christ our King, born on earth to save us. His the doom, ours the mirth when He came down to earth. Bethlehem saw His birth in a lowly manger. Gloria! Gloria! Sing in excelsis Deo! God s bright star overhead, wise men three to Him led, kneeling low by his bed, lay their gifts before Him. On this day angels sing with their song earth shall ring, praising Christ, heaven s King, born on earth to save us. Hear the angels singing, Gloria in excelsis Deo! THE TWELTH LESSON Revelation 22:1-6 The reign of the Lamb shall be eternal. CHRISMON: TREFOIL THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISMON TREE CAROL All Is Well Lloyd Larson All is well, all is well. Angels and men rejoice! For tonight darkness fell into the dawn of love s light. All is well, all is well. Let there be peace on earth. Sing for Christ is come, go forth and tell that he is in the manger. All is well, all is well. Lift up your voice and sing. Born is now Emmanuel. Born is our Lord and Savior. Sing alleluia! All is well!

9 DISMISSAL AND BLESSING Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor everyone; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you, and remain with you always. Amen. ORGAN POSTLUDE Presented by the Chancel Choir Staff: Dr. Stephen Martin, Pastor; Rev. Anita Laffoon, Minister of Church Life; Rev. Rich Lowder, Minister of Music; Sheila Moose, Organist; Jacob Dishman, Interim Pianist Instrumentalists: Anamarie Diaz, flute; Natalie Parker, cello; Frank Voltz, harp Sound: Andy Lazare Many thanks to all who contributed time and effort in decorating our Sanctuary for this special service.