As Advent season draws to a close, God s people express our longing and need for the Arrival of God s promised one. Without God s light we are lost.

Transcription

1 A Christmas Eve Service of Candles and Carols December 24, :30 p.m. Candlelight Service We approach the worship of God this evening with a hushed awareness of Christ s presence in our midst. God again breaks through the calm and darkness to be revealed to us in the stillness of our hearts. Let the praises of your heart and the songs of your voice be joyful yet restrained that we might be sensitive to the quiet indwelling of God s Spirit. As Advent season draws to a close, God s people express our longing and need for the Arrival of God s promised one. Without God s light we are lost. Greeters The Streb Family Ushers Jennifer DeVoe Earl Repp Ruth McNamara Jeri Powell Please be careful. Candles and candle wax can be dangerous. Make sure you hold the lit candles upright and allow the unlit candle to transfer the flame. -2-

2 Order of Worship *Those who are able, please stand PRAYER OF PREPARATION We affirm that Jesus was born of woman as is every child, yet born of God s power as was no other child. In the person and work of Jesus, God himself and a human life are united but not confused, distinguished but not separated. The coming of Jesus was itself the coming of God s promised rule. Through his birth, life, death, and resurrection, he brings about the relationship between God and humanity that God always intended. FROM A DECLARATION OF FAITH *GATHERIING HYMN No. 195 O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES WE GATHER IN GOD S NAME L: This is the day the Lord has made. P: Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Tidings of the Church We invite visitors to sign the pew register. PRELUDE Variations on In dulci jubilo DENIS BéDARD CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 98 L: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; P: break forth into joyous song and sing praises. L: For God s Word became flesh and lived among us. P: And we have seen his glory, L: the glory of God s only son, P: full of grace and truth. *HYMN of PRAISE No. 196 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing ELDER KEN STREB MENDELSSOHN *PRAYER of CONFESSION (unison) -John 1: 1-14 ELDER KEN STREB Lord Jesus Christ, you alone are the Word of life. You showed us the way, but we did not follow you. You taught us the truth, but we did believe you. You called us your own, but we did not accept you. You gave us yourself, but we did not receive you. Forgive us, we pray. Grant us a new beginning. -3-

3 *ASSURANCE of PARDON ANTHEM Sing We Now of Christmas TRAD. FRENCH ARR. JOHN RICKETTS noel sing we hear! Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear. Sing we noel, the King is born, noel. sing we now noel! Angels called to shepherds, Leave your flocks at rest, journey forth to Bethl hem, find the child so blest. Sing we noel, the King is born, noel. sing we now noel! In Bethlehem they found him, Joseph and Mary mild, seated by the manger watching the holy child. Sing we noel, the King is born, noel. sing we now noel! From the eastern country came the kings afar, bearing gifts to Bethl hem guided by a star. Sing we noel, the King is born, noel. sing we now noel! Gold and myrrh they took there, gifts of greatest price; there was ne er a stable so like paradise. Sing we noel, the King is born, noel. sing we now noel! *SHARING of the PEACE of CHRIST L: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. P: and also with you. *HYMN No. 217 What Child Is This? GREENSLEEVES EPISTLE READING Titus 2: ELDER KEN STREB GOSPEL READING Luke 2: 2-24 (15-20) ELDER KEN STREB THE SCOTT WOODS MEMORIAL BELL CHOIR and HOMER LOFVERS HAND CHIMES ANTHEM - ARR. MARTHA LYNN THOMPSON O Come, O Come, Emmanuel/Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH with CHILDREN S TIME & THE LORD S PRAYER - pg. 570 hymnal REV. THOMAS BALLARD -4-

4 WE PROCLAIM GOD S WORD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION TANAKH READING Isaiah 9: 2-7 REV. THOMAS BALLARD L: The Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God. SERMON The Unlikely Chosen REV. THOMAS BALLARD WE RESPOND TO GOD S WORD AFFIRMATION of FAITH The Apostles Creed PAGE 566 HYMNAL *HYMN of REFLECTION No. 193 O Little Town of Bethlehem FOREST GREEN PRESENTATION of TITHES and OFFERINGS OFFERTORY *DOXOLOGY and PRAYER of THANKSGIVING ANTHEM 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, 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 fragrance be: Tis he is born, whose quick ning birth Gives life and lustre, public mirth, To heaven and the underearth. We see him come, and know him ours, Who, with his sunshine and his show rs, Turns patient ground into flow rs, Turns the patient ground into flow rs. -5-

5 The darling of the world is come, And fit it is, we find a room To welcome him, 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 birth of this our heavenly King. JOYS and CONCERNS and PRAYER of INTERCESSION ANTHEM Sure On This Shining Night MORTON LAURIDSEN Sure on this shining night Of starmade shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground. The late year lies down the north, All is healed, all is health. High summer holds the earth. Hearts all whole. Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder Wand ring far alone Of shadows on the stars. Candlelight Service The Light of the World (PARTICIPANTS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO TIP A LIGHTED CANDLE; TIP ONLY THE UNLIGHTED CANDLES TO RECEIVE FLAME) Silent Night 1ST VERSE, CHOIR ONLY Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur das traute, hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh, Schlaf in himmelischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh, Schlaf in himmelischer Ruh! -6-

6 CONGREGATION JOINS FOR VERSES 2-4 EXTINGUISH CANDLES 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 afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Saviour is born, Christ, the Saviour 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. ANTHEM Midwinter BOB CHILCOTT In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, long ago. Our God, heav n cannot hold him nor earth sustain; Heav n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed. The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; But only his mother in her maiden bliss WE GO IN GOD S NAME Worshipped the beloved with a kiss. What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man I would do my part; Yet what can I give him - Give my heart. *GOING FORTH: HYMN No. 198 Joy to the World ANTIOCH, CM -7-

7 BENEDICTION Follow the light of hope s guiding star. Listen to the words of a heavenly host. Offer as gifts the best that you have. Peace be among us. God be with us. Amen. BENEDICTION RESPONSE POSTLUDE Festive Gloria AARON DAVID MILLER -8-

8 Given By Doug and Karen Angold Peg & Bruce Baker The Caine Family Debbie & Bill Carter Susan Connor Jen & Jim DeVoe Marilyn Drumm Sally Marsh Dussing Del & Jean Fix Leon Foster Kathy Greene Mary & Eric Hauptmann Barbara & Mike James Elizabeth McDonald Stella & Robert Megargle Pat & Len Myers Barbara and Mike Ordway Jeffrey S. Peters Jeri Powell Russell & Royetta Pulver Cathy Reinhard Mary Lou & Sean Reardon Mimi and Earl Repp Poinsettia Offerings In Memory of Loving memory of our parents Audra Claire Caine and Meghan Emily Wiesner Our Parents, Jack & Dorothy Huse & Curly & Jean Ann Carter Bonnie Bready Robert Whitman, father of Jen her sister, Anne Marsh Hoenig Eugene Foster & Stella Tillotson and Bonnie Bready Bonnie Bready Loving Memory of Amy Bonnie Bready Bonnie Bready Judy & Bonnie Frank Iu, father of Catherine, Thomas, Anthony and Christine Our parents: Russell & Irene Pulver and Royetta & Dana Hopkins her mom, Joan Prayer for parents: Leo & Rita Schlachter and Earl Repp -9-

9 Given By The Shares Family Shirley Van Den Bergh Children & Grandchildren of Poinsettia Offerings In Memory of Joe & Barb Westman Given By Anonymous Lou & Tom Ballard Bill & Debbie Carter Jen & Jim DeVoe Mary Haverfield Barbara and Mike Ordway Earl and Mimi Repp Jeffrey S. Peters Wendeth Willson In Honor of RAIHN Volunteers Reese Andrews granddaughter, Jean Ann Carter Abby s engagement to Joshua Birmingham Our Families Elizabeth & Katie our daughter, Sara Blessings for Eva, Katie-Rose and Stephanie Repp Carmella Iu, mother of Catherine My Parents, Philip C. & Patricia Peters Friends -10-

10 Scott Woods Memorial Bell Choir Members This evening s ringers are in boldface: Debbie Carter, Barb Chamberlin, Marilyn Drumm, Barb James, Kate Leipold, Alex Smith, Cindy Smith, Katherine Smith, Sue Smith, Gretchen Spencer, Colin Streb, Holly Hammond-Streb and Linda Verni Senior Choir Members Peg Baker, Lou Ballard, Jerry Buck, Lois Butler, Bill Carter, Marilyn Drumm, Mary Haverfield, Paul Johnson, Cecelia Manuli, Elizabeth Mc Donald, Stella Megargle, Mike James, Harry Price, Mary Lou Reardon, Mimi Repp, Eric Rounds, Phoebe Rounds, Marcia Robeson, Holly Hammond-Streb, Natalie Streb. Season s Greetings from the Staff of Summerville Presbyterian Church The Rev. Dr. Tom Ballard Interim Pastor Dr. Leon Foster Organist & Director of Music & Choirs Rhonda Wright Director of Bell Choir Deborah Carter Director of Youth & Education Kathy Greene Office Manager Rod Cutler Director of Maintenance Steve Hedges Bookkeeper Helen Jeffers Assistant Bookkeeper Marilyn Drumm Treasurer -11-