December 24, 2017, 8pm Christmas Eve

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1 Vision Statement As Everybody s Church we commit ourselves to serving Christ by cultivating mission, inclusion and community. December 24, 2017, 8pm Christmas Eve PRELUDE WELCOME Congregational Carol Singing CAROL 132 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice CAROL 113 Angels We Have Heard on High CAROL 121 O Little Town of Bethlehem CAROL 140 Once in Royal David s City Dr. John Judson When this symbol precedes an element of the service, please rise in body or in spirit. Turn to First Things at the back of this bulletin for more information on the life of this church. SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 9:2 7 CHORAL INTROIT Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Willcocks Ensemble CALL TO WORSHIP The Clark/White Family One: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. Many: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? One: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Many: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Let us worship God! Please join in reading or singing those parts of the service printed in bold. We are an intentionally inclusive congregation and value the richness of worshiping with all God s people. There are times in the sanctuary when shouts or other loud noises may occur. We accept these without judgment, unless they are signs of distress in need of attention. 133 O Come, All Ye Faithful Hymntune: ADESTE FIDELES LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE UNISON PRAYER Loving God, on this Christmas Eve, help us to see your love all around us, and help others to see your love in us. In Jesus name, Amen. OUR RESPONSE 110 vs. 1 Love Has Come Love has come: a light in the darkness! Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies. See, all heaven has come to proclaim it. Hear how their song of joy arises: Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on high! 1

2 EXCHANGING THE CHRISTMAS PEACE Please exchange a sign of peace with those near you. UNISON PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Rev. Joanne Blair One: The Lord be with you. Many: And also with you. Loving God, your light has come into the world. Allow the words we read this evening to shed that light into our lives. In Jesus name, Amen. GOSPEL READING 1 Luke 2:1-8 One: The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! ANTHEM What Child Is This? Halley 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. Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, come Peasant, King to own Him. The King of Kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him. GOSPEL READING 2 Luke 2:8-20 One: The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! Please follow along with the reading on page 58 of the New Testament in your Pew Bible. MEDITATION Dropping By Dr. John Judson 147 vs. 1, 2, 6 The First Nowell Hymntune: THE FIRST NOWELL OFFERING INFORMATION Members and guests, please sign the Fellowship Pads to let us know of your presence with us. OFFERING Christmas Offering MUSICAL OFFERING Bring a Torch, Janette, Isabella Latona Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella. Bring a torch, to the cradle run! It is Jesus, good folk of the village; Christ is born and Mary's calling. Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the Mother. Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the Child! It is wrong while the Child is sleeping. It is wrong to talk so loud; Silence, all, as you gather around. Lest your noise should waken Jesus. Hush! Hush! See how fast He slumbers! Hush! Hush! See how fast He sleeps! If you wish to designate your gift tonight to the Christmas Joy Offering, please use the envelopes provided in the pews or use the memo line of your check. All undesignated gifts will be shared equally between the Christmas Joy Offering and the Alcott Shop N Drop ministry. 2

3 Through the doorway softly filing, to his manger bed we come. Torches glowing the Babe discloses, fair as snow with cheeks like roses! Soft! Soft! See how the Infant slumbers. Soft! Soft! Watch the Infant sleep. Skies are glowing, the heavens are cloudless, bright the path to the manger bed! Hasten all who would see the Child Jesus, shining bright as yonder star! Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the Mother. Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the Child! RESPONSE 150 vs. 3 As with Gladness Men of Old As they offered gifts most rare, At thy manger, rude and bare, So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin s alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heavenly king. INVITATION TO COMMUNION The Lord s Supper is an ancient practice in which we meet Christ at the table and are renewed and strengthened for faithful living. All are welcome at Christ s table. 119 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hymntune: MENDELSSOHN THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING One: The Lord be with you. And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. One: Why do we give thanks and praise before this Table? We give thanks for God s work of creation, liberation, and salvation. One:... who forever sing to the glory of your name. CAROL 113 Angels We Have Heard on High (Refrain only) Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo! A prayer of thanksgiving for the ministry of Jesus, offered by the pastor. One: Why do we eat bread at this Table? On the night before he died, Jesus took bread. After giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat. This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. One: Why do we drink from the cup at this Table? The same night, Jesus took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me. One: What do we remember at this Table? We remember God s gracious love for us, Christ s death and resurrection for us, and the Spirit s tender care for us. One: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. 3

4 A prayer calling on the Holy Spirit, followed by prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and supplication. 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. THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE The Lord s Supper demonstrates the all encompassing love of God. All persons are invited to come forward and partake first of the bread, and then the cup in order to be strengthened by Christ s presence and power in the sacrament. All of the bread is gluten-free. MUSIC DURING THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen FPC Ringers Away in a Manger Stephenson Wilberg PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION CANDLELIGHTING Please tip the candle that isn t lit toward the candle that is lit to prevent hot wax dripping. Before leaving the sanctuary, please extinguish your candle and place it in the receptacle at the exit. Thank you. 122 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. Hymntune: STILL 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. 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. BLESSING 4

5 134 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. Hymntune: ANTIOCH 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. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, And wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love. POSTLUDE Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light Bach Andrew Herbruck, Director of Music Ministries, is playing the service this evening. Mary Beth Jones is conducting the. The liturgists this evening are Amy Clark and Patrick White. Amy and Patrick are long-time members at FPC Birmingham. Amy has recently joined the Finance Committee and she is an elder and an ardent member of FPC Ringers. Patrick is an elder, a member of the 8:30 usher team and serves on First Foundation. They have two adult sons, Christian and Michael. Welcome in Christ s name to First Presbyterian Church! You are welcome here just as you are at whatever place in your spiritual journey that you find yourself. If you have any questions about who we are, what we believe or what we do please ask one of our elders or pastors. They will be pleased to visit with you. The ushers are Steven Coddington, Mark Grobbel, Terry Lanzen, Peter Miller, Michael and Christian White, Patrick White, Leader. We invite you to worship with us Sunday, December 31 at 10:00am (one service only) Weekly Worship Sundays at 8:30am (with Communion) Sundays at 10am (with church school) Child care is available Rejoicing Spirits Worship Service (Casual attire) on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the Month at 5pm with dinner following worship 5