A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Organized in 1855 DECEMBER 24, :00 PM

Transcription

1 A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Organized in 1855 SERVICE FOR THE LORD S DAY CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24, :00 PM 302 N. Dunton Avenue Arlington Heights, IL mail@fpcah.org

2 Order of Worship December 24, 2011 ~ Christmas Eve 11:00 pm PRELUDE Ding Dong, Merrily on High arr. by Christine D. Anderson Kris Ward, handbells; Carol Frieburg, piano Amid the Cold of Winter Kris Ward, handbells; Carol Frieburg, piano Gesu Bambino JoAnn Thompson, soprano Silent Night Kris Ward, handbells; Carol Frieburg, piano Bret Rhoades Pietro Yon Joel Gingrich O Holy Night Adolphe Adam Jeff Goodlove, tenor WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP As shepherds watch over their flocks, an angel appears, bringing glad tidings of joy: A child is born who will bring peace to the nations. A multitude gathers to witness the event; they are filled with wonder and awe at God s merciful deed. From this time forth and forevermore, justice and righteousness shall flow like streams of living water. CAROL Once in Royal David s City Verse 1: Soloist Verse 2: Quartet Organ interlude (please stand) Verses 3 & 4: All Jesus is our childhood s pattern, Day by day like us He grew; He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears and smiles like us He knew: And He feels for all our sadness, and He shares in all our gladness. And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love; For that Child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above, And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone. PRAYER (unison) Great God of power, we praise you for Jesus Christ, who came to save us from our sins. We thank you for the hope of the prophets, the song of the angels, and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We thank you that in Jesus you became flesh and dwelt among us, sharing human hurts and pleasures. Glory to you for your grace-filled love. Glory to you, eternal God; through Jesus Christ, Lord of lords, and King of kings. Amen.

3 CAROLS O Come, All Ye Faithful O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord! 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! Joy to the World! 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. LIGHTING OF THE PROPHECY CANDLE Isaiah 9:6,7 Kirsten Allen Lauren Shaw SOLO The Birthday of a King by William Howard Neidlinger In the little village of Bethlehem There lay a Child one day. And the sky was bright with a holy light o er the place where Jesus lay. Alleluia, O how the angels sang! Alleluia, how it rang! And the sky was bright with a holy light; Twas the birthday of a King! Twas a humble birthplace, but O how much God gave to us that day! From the manger bed what a path has led, What a perfect holy way! Lydia Manteufel, soloist LIGHTING OF THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE Micah 5:2-5 Wes Carroll Selena Arpan CAROLS O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel! Men: Away in a Manger Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

4 Women: Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there. LIGHTING OF THE ANGEL CANDLE Luke 2:10-14 Jessi Sell Kylene Wolfe OFFERING OFFERTORY One of Us by Phil and Lynne Brower Silent night! Holy night! All the world is calm, all the stars so bright Did it happen on a night like this? Do you think the angels reminisce seeing Mary as she gently kissed the newborn King? One of us, the Holy Child was born, He became one of us on Christmas morning; The wonder of it all that in a manger stall that night in Bethlehem God became a man! Levi Velasco, soloist LIGHTING OF THE SHEPHERD CANDLE Luke 2:8-11 Morgan Treppa Lauren Kelley CAROLS Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Infant holy, Infant lowly, For His bed a cattle stall; Oxen lowing, Little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging Angels singing, Noels ringing, Tidings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Flocks were sleeping; Shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new Saw the glory, Heard the story, Tidings of a gospel true. Thus rejoicing, Free from sorrow, Praises voicing Greet the morrow: Christ the Babe was born for you. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around, And glory shone around. Fear not, said he for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and humankind, To you and humankind. All glory be God on high, And to the earth be peace: Good will to all from highest heaven begin and never cease! Begin and never cease. EVENING PRAYER Barbara Gorsky CAROL In the Bleak Midwinter In the bleak midwinter, Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago. Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak midwinter A stable place sufficed The Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.

5 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 I can I give Him; Give my heart. LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE John 1:1-5 Allyson Mares ANTHEM A Stable Lamp Is Lighted by David Hurd A stable lamp is lighted Whose glow shall wake the sky; The stars shall bend their voices, And every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry, And straw like gold shall shine; A barn shall harbor heaven, A stall become a shrine. This Child through David's city Shall ride in triumph by; The palm shall strew its branches, And every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry, Though heavy, dull, and dumb, And lie within the roadway to pave his kingdom come. Yet He shall be forsaken and yielded up to die; The skies shall groan and darken, And every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry, For stony hearts of men: God s blood upon the spearhead, God s love refused again. But now, as at the ending, The low is lifted high; The stars shall bend their voices and every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry, In praises of the Child By whose descent among us The worlds are reconciled. Alison Vernon, Lydia Manteufel, Jeffrey Goodlove, Levi Velasco, quartet; Charles Vernon, trombone THE CHRISTMAS STORY Luke 2:1-20 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. Beth Freese Dammers and People: Thanks be to You, O Christ. Kelly Holifield MEDITATION Dr. David L. Horne SOLO A Christmas Blessing by Philip Stopford May the joy of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, the worship of the wisemen and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas. May Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one all things earthly, all things heavenly, and fill you with joy and peace. And the blessing of God the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always. Amen. Alison Vernon, soloist; Charles Vernon, trombone THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION THE INVITATION THE THANKSGIVING One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them to the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give thanks and praise. 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 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. WORDS OF INSTITUTION

6 SERVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP (All baptized believers are invited to receive Holy Communion. The ushers will invite you to the table. Receive the elements by intinction. Take a piece of bread, dip the tip of bread in the juice, and consume. Avoid placing your fingers in the cup. The elements may be received in the pew with single serving cups. All bread is gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free.) COMMUNION SERVERS Jessie Bingaman, Rachel Hogan, Brad Koerner, Heidi Meier PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night 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 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. 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. BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Toccata on Adeste Fideles Richard Purvis Please stand as you are able. Pastors: David Horne, Beth Freese Dammers, Barbara Gorsky Ushers: Kirsten Allen, Allison Arthur, Marsha Arthur, Wes Carroll, Dave Crim, John DeWitt, Miranda Fanella, Allyson Mares, Jessi Sell, Bob Sell, Morgan Treppa Important Worship Reminders No photography or recording is allowed during our worship services. Please turn off all cell phones and pagers or put them on vibrate. Thank you. Membership Class If you are thinking about joining the congregation of First Presbyterian and would like to learn more about the church, sign up for the winter New Members Class. Class will meet Sundays, January 13 February 3, at 10:30 am in Room 102/104. Call the church office at to sign up.