Casey L e r n e r, G r a d e 8 Christmas in Story and Song Norfield Congregational Church December 24, :00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Bernard R.

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1 Casey L e r n e r, G r a d e 8 Christmas in Story and Song Norfield Congregational Church December 24, :00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson, Senior Minister

2 Welcoming God and One Another Carol Prelude selected & arr. by Ellen Dickinson with Rachel Dorset Ringing of the Church Bell Christmas Prayer *Carol No. 41 O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES 1. 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, Christ the Lord! 2. Yea, Lord we greet thee, Born this happy morning. Jesus, to thee be all glory giv n. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! 3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation: Sing, all ye citizens of heav n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

3 Lighting of the Advent Candles and the Christ Candle Week by week, the advent wreath has grown in light. Tonight, we add the Christ Candle to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus. Leader: All: Leader: All: A light has dawned, and it fills the earth. God is doing a new thing, God has shared the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and it is good news for us. We who keep parts of ourselves in the shadows are invited into the light; to embrace the new life God shows us. Go to Bethlehem to see the embodiment of God s grace. Go to experience God s love in human form. The light of the world beckons to us. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among all whom God favors! (The four Advent candles are lit, and then the center, white Christ candle.) We are startled and surprised by the many ways you appear to us, gracious God. As we tend to our mundane tasks, the sudden brilliance of your revealing light awakens us to your presence. We rejoice in the good news you share with us: unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Like the shepherds, may we hasten to see the ways you are making all things new, and may we be inspired to rejoice and proclaim as we re-enter a world yearning to hear words of hope. Amen. Anthem Noel, Noel! Nan and Dennis Allen Norfield Music Makers

4 The Christmas Story Shadow Puppet Nativity Away in a Manger (Hymnal No. 25) 1. 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. MUELLER 2. The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my side until morning is nigh. Angels We Have Heard on High (Hymnal No. 23) 1. Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo. Gloria, in excelsis Deo. GLORIA 2. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo. Gloria, in excelsis Deo. Silent 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. STILLE NACHT 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.

5 Responding to the Gift of Jesus Our Christmas Gifts Offertory Music *Doxology GREENSLEEVES So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, one and all, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary. Prayer of Thanksgiving Lord, we thank you for these gifts, and we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. On this most Holy Night, we gather to give thanks for your great glory. May we carry forth your light into the world. Amen. Jesus is the Light of the World! *Carol Joy to the World ANTIOCH 1. Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let ev ry heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, 2. Joy to the world! The Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy 3. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love

6 Sending Forth *Carol Go, Tell it on the Mountain Spiritual Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born. 1. While shepherds kept their watching O er silent flocks by night, Behold throughout the heavens There shone a holy light. Refrain 2. The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! Above the earth, Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior s birth. Refrain Leaders of Worship Senior Minister The Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson Associate Minister for Children, Youth & Families Pastor Thomas C. Burke Director of Music & Worship Arts Dr. David H. Connell Associates for Youth Music Kaitlin Lazere and Ellen Dickinson Cherub Choir Leader Marcia Louis Narrator Pastor Thomas C. Burke Puppeteers Dr. David H. Connell and Haldan Dickinson with Rachel Dorset Usher Sandie Kinseley Deacon of the Day Adrienne A. Wallace Advent Candle Lighting The Dickinson-Dorset Family Shadow Puppet Nativity conceived, designed and written by Dr. David H. Connell. Thank you to Jane Gordon, Jim Miller, and David Connell for building the set for tonight s Christmas Story. We celebrate the musical gifts offered by our young musicians throughout the year: Quinn Ambrose, Clarisse Braun, Haldan Dickinson, Quinn Dickinson, A.J. Gross, Alice Gross, Emma Gross, Addy Kistler, Grant Mattinson, Kaeli Mecca, Serafina Rose Mecca, T.J. Mecca, Andrew Salem, Hadley Salem, William Salem, Perri Schleef, Peyton Schleef, Katie Scioscia, Gabriela Tracey, Mikayla Tracey, King David Wallace Special Thanks to our wonderful Wednesday Music Makers Ministry volunteers: Pastor Thomas C. Burke, Penny Anderson, Karen Moraitis, Barbara Cotter, Anneliese Lomas Our sound system carries the service into the Greene Room, directly behind the sanctuary. If you need to leave worship for any reason, you may go there and continue your worship experience. The Clergy and Staff of Norfield Congregational Church wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year!

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8 The Christmas Flowers, Greens, and Decorations are given in Joyful and Loving Memory of... Barron, Buss, & McGiffert Families, by the Bill and Jennifer Baron Our Parents, by Andy and Lynne Langlois Sandy Albin Bill Diener and Marilyn Plunkett, by Evelyn Paul Beloved sister, Susan Post, by John and Susan Moran Charles Brunell, by his daughters and their families Our Parents, by David and Kat McConnaughy Uncle Victor Quarless, by Adrienne A. Wallace Dave and Pat Brown, by the Kins Family Don Pop Pop Gary, by Phyllis Gary and Family Bill Langenheim, by the Kistler Family Our departed parents, by Bob Smits and Lucia Hoffman My mother, Terry Faulkner, by Elizabeth Salem Beloved uncle and brother, Paul Braun, by the Braun Family Doris and David Dodge, by Bayard Dodge Victor Dawson, by Adrienne A. Wallace Betty, Cecil, and Debbie Marsh, by Larry Marsh William Gluck, by the Gluck Family Rev. James W. Carter, by Mary Peniston Karl Paulus, by the Paulus-Schreder Family Roy and Jean Elmeer and Anne Sather, by the Sather Family Dottie Peterson and Nancy DeIacova, by the Scioscia Family Harold and Scott Anderson, by Art Lungo & Carol Anderson Lucian Johnson and Marlene Smith, by the Johnson Family The Christmas Flowers, Greens, and Decorations are given in Honor, Gratitude, and Celebration of Grateful for our grandchildren - Mia Jean, Christopher, Samuel, Penelope, Benjamin, & Iris Reilyn by, Rev. Dr. Bernard R. & Nereida Wilson Our Norfield Family, by Karen and George Moraitis With Love and Gratitude for the blessings of my children, Jonathan and Aaron, by Teri Gaberman Thankful for the Love of Norfield, by Bobbie Sassano My mother s 90 th birthday, by Kimberly Wilson Norfield s Volunteers, by Dr. David H. Connell Our Norfield Family, by Rev. Dr. Bernard R. & Nereida Wilson A donation to the Christmas Flowers, Greens and Decorations is given by... The MacWilliams Family The Sanders Family