The Nativity of Our Lord

Transcription

1 The Nativity of Our Lord Lauren Wright Pittman 2018 A Sanctified Art, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Mary and Elizabeth December 24, pm

2 First Presbyterian Church Serving Christ and Neighbor in the Heart of Winchester & Beyond Please join in those parts of the service printed in BOLD. When this symbol precedes an element of the service, please rise in body or spirit. Ushers will collect prayer requests during the first hymn. Blue prayer card are located in pews. The Service of Nine Lessons & Carols 100 TH ANNIVERSARY Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is the Christmas Eve service held in King's College Chapel at the University of Cambridge, located in the United Kingdom. The Festival was introduced in 1918 to bring a more imaginative approach to worship. It was first broadcast in 1928 and is now broadcast to millions of people around the world. The service includes carols and readings from the Bible. The opening carol is always 'Once in Royal David's City', and there is always a new, specially commissioned carol. It is distinct from Carols from King's, which is a carol service pre-recorded for BBC television, also broadcast on Christmas Eve. Gathering PRELUDE MUSIC Variations on Puer Nobis Michael Burkhardt In the Bleak Midwinter Morgan Myers, soloist Eric Thiman Three Carols for Flute and Harpsicord Greensleeves Es ist ein Ros Sussex Carol Jen Galang, flute The Snow Lay on the Ground Morgan Myers and Sarah Levering, duet Lute Carol Peter Crisafull Arr. William Cutter Mary Caldwell O Holy Night David Meyer Adolphe Adam La Nativité Jean Langlais

3 CALL TO WORSHIP PROCESSIONAL HYMN, #140, SOLOIST, V. 1 CONGREGATION, VV. 2-4 Once in Royal David s City Katie Volkmann, soloist IRBY 1 Once in royal David s city 2 He came down to earth from heaven stood a lowly cattle shed, who is God and Lord of all, where a mother laid her baby and his shelter was a stable, in a manger for his bed: and his cradle was a stall; Mary was that mother mild; with the poor and meek and lowly, Jesus Christ, her little child. lived on earth our Savior holy. 3 Jesus is our childhood s pattern; 4 And our eyes at last shall see him, day by day like us he grew; through his own redeeming love; he was little, weak and helpless; for that child so dear and gentle tears and smiles like us he knew; is our Lord in heaven above; and he feels for all our sadness, and he leads his children on and he shares in all our gladness. to the place where he is gone. The Lighting of the Christ Candle A BIDDING PRAYER Leader: Beloved in Christ, at this Christmastide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the babe lying in a manger. Therefore, let us read and mark in holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought us by this holy Child. But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity and brotherhood within the church he came to build, and especially in this, our own community. And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those 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 before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one forevermore.

4 THE LORD S PRAYER Leader: These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us: All: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. BIDDING CAROL, HYMN #133, SOLOIST, V.1 CONGREGATION, VV. 2-3 O Come, All Ye Faithful Morgan Myers, soloist ADESTE FIDELES 1 Adeste fideles // Laeti triumphantes, 2 True God from true God, Light from light eternal, Venite, venite in Bethlehem; born of a virgin, a mortal he comes; Natum videte // Regem Angelorum. very God, begotten, not created! Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; Venite adoremus, O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! Venite adoremus Dominum. 3 Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! The Nine Lessons FIRST LESSON God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent s head. Genesis 3:8-15 HYMN #82, VV. 1-2 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL 1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus, 2 Born thy people to deliver, born to set thy people free; born a child and yet a king, from our fears and sins release us; born to reign in us forever, let us find our rest in thee. now thy gracious kingdom bring. Israel s strength and consolation, By thine own eternal Spirit hope of all the earth thou art; rule in all our hearts alone; dear desire of every nation, by thine all-sufficient merit joy of every longing heart. raise us to thy glorious throne.

5 SECOND LESSON God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed. Genesis 22:15-18 HYMN #88, V.1 & 7 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, 2 O come, Desire of nations, bind and ransom captive Israel, all peoples in one heart and mind; that mourns in lonely exile here bid envy, strife, and discord cease; until the Son of God appear. fill the whole world with heaven s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. shall come to thee, O Israel. THIRD LESSON Christ s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah. Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 CAROL #145, V. 1 What Child Is This 1 What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary! FOURTH LESSON The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown. Isaiah 11:1-9. CAROL #110, VV.1-2 Love Has Come 1 Love has come: a light in the darkness! 2 Love is born! Come, share in the wonder. Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies. Love is God now asleep in the hay. See, all heaven has come to proclaim it; See the glow in the eyes of his mother; hear how their song of joy arises: what is the name her heart is saying? Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers. Love! Love! Glory to God on high. Love! Love! Jesus, Emmanuel. BRING A TORCH FIFTH LESSON The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem. Micah 5:2-4 CHOIR Pieta Joseph M. Martin SIXTH LESSON The angel Gabriel salutes the virgin Mary. Luke 1:26-38 SOLO Mary, Did You Know? Sandy Tromm, soprano Lowry & Greene

6 SEVENTH LESSON Luke tells the birth of Jesus. Luke 2:1-7 HYMN #117, VV. 1 & 6, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night 1 While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around. 6 All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace; good will to all from highest heaven begin and never cease! EIGHTH LESSON The shepherds go to the manger. Luke 2:8-16 CAROL #119, VV. 1-2, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing WINCHESTER OLD MENDELSSOHN 1 Hark! The herald angels sing, 2 Christ, by highest heaven adored, Glory to the newborn king. Christ the everlasting Lord, Peace on earth and mercy mild, late in time behold him come, God and sinners reconciled! offspring of the virgin s womb Joyful all ye nations, rise; Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; join the triumph of the skies; hail the incarnate deity, with the angelic host proclaim, pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king! Glory to the newborn king! NINTH LESSON John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation. John 1:1-14 PLAINSONG Of the Father's Love Begotten David Meyer & Sarah Levering SERMON OFFERING Christmas Eve Offering will benefit FPC's Helper Fund Mission. Created in the early 1990's by an individual donation, the Helper Fund (HF) is now part of the mission outreach legacy of FPC. The HF provides limited emergency assistance to persons who have exhausted their resources. It is administered by the church office staff under the guidance of the pastors and Mission Council in coordination with C-CAP and Highland Food Pantry referrals. HF monies go directly to third party providers of basic necessities such as utilities, rent, medical expenses and transportation, giving hope and helping neighbors in need. OFFERTORY O Who s That Yonder? John F. Wilson

7 PRAYER AND BLESSING Leader: O God, who makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our Redeemer, so we may, with sure confidence, behold him when he shall come to be our Judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. May he who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with the sweetness of inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen. After the Prayer and Blessing, the sanctuary lights will be extinguished. The pastor will light a candle from the Christ candle. The ushers will light their candles from the pastor's candle and so light the candle of each worshiper nearest the aisle. The congregation will sing "Silent Night" as the light from the Christ candle spreads through all the sanctuary. All are invited to lift their candles high on the singing of v. 4. HYMN #122, ENSEMBLE, V. 1 CONGREGATION, VV. 2-4 Silent Night Sofia Aikens, soloist Kimberly Aikens, guitar William Aikens, mandolin STILLE NACHT 1 Silent night, holy night, 2 Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright shepherds quake at the sight; round yon virgin mother and child. glories stream from heaven afar, Holy infant, so tender and mild, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! sleep in heavenly peace, Christ the Savior is born, sleep in heavenly peace. Christ the Savior is born! 3 Silent night, holy night, 4 (a capella) Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light; Wondrous star, lend thy light; radiant beams from thy holy face With the angels let us sing, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Alleluia to our King: Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Christ the Savior is born, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Christ the Savior is born! Please extinguish candle. POSTLUDE In Dulci Jubilo J.S. Bach

8 We enjoyed having you this evening for worship. Please worship with us again soon! First Presbyterian Church is located at 116 South Loudoun Street of Winchester, Virginia zip You can reach us by phone or You can find us on the web fpcwinc.org and on Facebook facebook.com/firstpresbyterianchurchwinchester 2019 Sunday Worship Schedule We're open all year. Come as you are we choose welcome! 7:30 am Traditional Worship in Boyd Chapel 8:30 am Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall 9:45 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Traditional Worship in Sanctuary Sunday If a month has a fifth Sunday, we will worship together! 9:00 am Sunday School for all ages Except Sunday, December 30 no Sunday School for Christmas break 10:00 am Worship Join us for 5SB Fifth Sunday Brunch a potluck brunch after worship in Fellowship Hall. Bring a favorite brunch dish to share, if you are able. The church will provide coffee.