THE OLIN T. BINKLEY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH CAROLS, CANDLELIGHT, AND COMMUNION SERVICE DECEMBER 24, :00 PM

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1 THE OLIN T. BINKLEY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH CAROLS, CANDLELIGHT, AND COMMUNION SERVICE DECEMBER 24, :00 PM

2 BECOMING AWARE Under a Full Moon on Christmas Eve The neighborhood is quiet this night. There is no traffic and no sound. Everyone is waiting and watching. Everything is silent. Like so many other Christmas Eves, there is still no room available in this broken-down, beat-up, shabby inn of my heart. All the rooms are taken, occupied by my old friends Shame, Fear, Pride, and Weariness. I wonder if they will ever check out and make time and space for Mercy, Forgiveness, Laughter, Acceptance. Again this night the cold straw and the smell of sweat and dung await Joseph. The moon watches in the darkness. In the distance, I hear a Great Star. Magi are coming. King Herod stirs. Come, thou long expected Jesus. Jesu, joy of my deepest longings. Logan C. Jones, from his collection of poems, No Man s Land

3 THE WORSHIP OF GOD CHIMING THE HOUR PRELUDE Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming Michael Praetorius North Carolina Chamber Music Institute String Quartet * THE CALL TO WORSHIP & LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE The Swanson Family Our Advent waiting is over-- Christ is born! Who gave lodging to Mary and Joseph that night long ago? Lodging we give now with much joy, enter blessed Mary, enter with good Joseph. While in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 1:6-7) Will the child be born tonight out on a street corner or alleyway? Do you have lodging? I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. (Rev. 3:20) We light the Christ candle this holy night of love and light. * INVOCATION * CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful 148 AROUND THE WORD MADE FLESH THE FIRST LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 THE SECOND LESSON John 1:1-5 SOLO Away in a Manger Alexi Batchelor The text is that of hymn 147. SERMON A Las Posadas Christmas: Marcus McFaul When Light Knocks

4 AROUND THE TABLE Stephanie Ford The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Let us pray joining our voices with the heavenly hosts this Christmas night, singing: THE GREAT THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION Tonight we celebrate communion by the ancient practice of intinction. All bread is gluten free. Starting with the front pews in each section, move forward by way of the left aisle to receive the bread and dip it into the cup, returning to your seat by way of the right aisle of each section. Bethlehem, which means house of bread, is open to all and closed to none who desire hope, peace, joy, and love on this holy night of light. MUSIC DURING COMMUNION O Come O Come Emanuel The First Noel Plainsong Traditional

5 AROUND GIFTS WELCOME & WORDS ABOUT THIS EVENING S OFFERING Dale Osborne SOLO AT THE OFFERTORY Some Children See Him Stephenie Sanders & Mike Davis Some children see him lily white, the baby Jesus born this night, with tresses soft and fair. Some children see him bronzed and brown, The Lord of heav'n to earth come down, with dark and heavy hair. Some children see him almond-eyed, this savior whom we kneel beside, with skin of yellow hue. Some children see him dark as they, sweet Mary's son to whom we pray, and, ah, they love him, too. The children in each diff'rent place will see the baby Jesus' face like theirs but bright with heav'nly grace, and filled with holy light. O lay aside each earthly thing, and with thy heart as offering, come worship now the infant king. 'Tis love that's born tonight. Alfred Burt, arr. Marlowe * PRESENTATION CAROL Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 150 * PRAYER OF DEDICATION SOLO O Holy Night Jack Carmichael O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining till He appeared and 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! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! 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, he guardeth us from danger, Behold your King! Before the lowly bend! Adolphe Adam AROUND THE LIGHT CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night insert SILENCE We will pass light as we begin singing Silent Night. Please tip unlighted candles to receive the flame from the lighted ones. We remain seated for the carol, but lift and raise our candles on the final stanza. BLESSING AND BENEDICTION * CAROL Joy to the World! insert POSTLUDE Caroling, Caroling Alfred Burt, arr. Joyce Merman Upon leaving the sanctuary, please be mindful of those choosing to use the postlude as their final act of worship.

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8 PARTICIPANTS The Reverend Dr. Marcus McFaul, Senior Minister The Reverend Dr. Stephanie Ford, Minister of Christian Formation The Reverend W. Dale Osborne, Associate Minister Bo Lloyd, organ Alexi Batchelor, soprano Stephenie Sanders, soprano Mike Davis, piano Jack Carmichael, baritone North Carolina Chamber Music Institute String Quartet Neha Vangipurapu, violin Joydeep Mukherjee, violin Eesha Barua, viola David Dongha Kim, cello * The Congregation standing as each is able. Hearing assistance devices and children s worship bags are available in the Narthex before service begins. About This Evening s Offering This evening s offering will be allocated among three projects: Fifty percent will go to Binkley families in need; thirty percent will go to the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) to assist migrant laborers recovering from Hurricanes Florence and Michael who often do not have access to other hurricane relief funds, and twenty percent will go to Wi am Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center, a grassroots civil society organization located at the Separation Wall. In Arabic, wi am means cordial relationships. The Center reaches out to children and families in Bethlehem to provide a safe space for learning and playing, and varied educational and recreational activities including drama, music therapy. We are grateful for your generosity to these worthy causes.