Christmas Eve Worship Services December 24, 2014 4 and 6 p.m. 1
Welcome We are very glad to have you worshiping our gracious God with us today. To Our Guests, We especially welcome you today! More information about our church is available on our website at firstpresaugusta.org. Spiritual Care If you would like to speak to someone about what it means to know Jesus Christ or you have any spiritual need or question, please use one of the prayer cards in the pew rack to contact one of our pastors. Our church elders are also available to speak with you. An elder will be standing next to the pastor following the service. Nursery Nurseries are provided for infants and toddlers ages newborn to 3 years old during the Christmas Eve worship services. We also provide a Mother/Infant Room located beside Nursery 1 which is equipped with live video feed of the worship services. Ushers are available to direct you. Children s Check-in We are committed to the highest level of protection possible for the children placed in our care at all church events. For this reason, we require parents to check in their children before they go to the nursery. Several kiosks are available in the Welcome Center located behind the sanctuary through the double doors. The Advent Wreath Celebration Each Sunday during the Advent season we light a candle in our morning services and read the corresponding Scripture to focus our attention on Jesus and glorify him. We use three purple candles representing Hope, Love and Peace, and a pink candle representing the Joy that is ours because of Christ s coming into the world and into our hearts and lives. The white candle in the center of the wreath is lit on Christmas Eve and represents the birth of Jesus. This tradition, dating back to A.D. 600, reminds us that the center of the Church and the center of our Christmas celebration is Christ Jesus. 2
The Christmas Eve Services Leading the Services Rev. John Franks (4 p.m.) Rev. Mike Hearon (6 p.m.) ( Indicates the congregation standing) Interlude of Christmas Carols...arr. Pruitt Julia Pruitt, harp The Prelude Sweet Little Jesus Boy... Spiritual, arr. Robert MacGimsey Amy Patton, solo Sweet little Jesus Boy, they made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child, didn t know who you was. Didn t know you d come to save us, Lord, to take our sins away. Our eyes was blind, we couldn t see; we didn t know who you was. Long time ago, you was born, born in a manger low, sweet little Jesus Boy. The world treat you mean, Lord, treat me mean, too. But please, Sir, forgive us, Lord; we didn t know twas you. The Proclamation... Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. 3
The Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful...Adeste Fideles 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 heav n above; Glory to God in the highest; Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning: Jesus, to thee be all glory giv n; Word of the Father, late in flesh appearing; Latin Hymn Attr. to John Francis Wade, 1751 Tr. by Frederick Oakeley, 1841; alt. John Francis Wade s Cantus Diversi, 1751 The Invocation (Please lift hands) The Gospel Lesson... Luke 1:26-38 page 1588 in the pew Bible 4
The Solo O Holy Night...Cantique De Noel Amy Patton, solo Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel voices! Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born! Oh, night divine, oh, night, oh, night divine! Truly he taught us to love one another; His law is love and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother, And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise his holy name! Christ is the Lord! Oh, praise his name forever! His pow r and glory evermore proclaim! His pow r and glory evermore proclaim! (Sung by all) Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel voices! Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born! Oh, night divine, oh, night, oh, night divine! Words: John S. Dwight Music: Adolphe Adam The Lighting of the Advent Candle Christ 4 p.m... The Bogdanow Family Leslee and Josh; Lexi, Brewer, Carter 6 p.m...the Phelan Family Becca and John; Meggie, Jack 5
The Advent Response... Go, Tell It on the Mountain (Sung by All) Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born. Down in a lowly manger The humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation That blessed Christmas morn. The Children s Song The Friendly Beasts... Old English Carol Soloists Mike Murphy, Molly Drake, Luke Martin, Maggie Tabb, Sophia Coleman, Jordan Martin Jesus our brother, kind and good Was humbly born in a stable rude And the friendly beasts around him stood Jesus our brother, kind and good. I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown, I carried his mother up hill and down; I carried her safely to Bethlehem town. I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown. I, said the cow, all white and black I gave him my manger for his bed; I gave him my hay to pillow his head. I, said the cow, all white and black. I, said the sheep with curly horn, I gave him my wool for his blanket warm; He wore my coat on Christmas morn. I, said the sheep with curly horn. I, said the camel, yellow and black, Over the desert, upon my back, I brought him a gift in the wise men s pack. I, said the camel, yellow and black. I, said the dove from the rafters high, I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry; I cooed him to sleep, my mates and I. I, said the dove from the rafters high. Thus every beast by some good spell In the stable dark was glad to tell Of the gift he gave Emmanuel The gift he gave Emmanuel. Traditional English Carol 2000 Hal Leonard Corporation 6
The Carol Away in a Manger... Cradle Song Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes; I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. 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. Anon., Philadelphia 1885, 1892 William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895 The Gospel Lesson... Luke 2:1-16 page 1590 in the pew Bible 7
The Offering* (Please take a moment to sign the attendance register.) *The Offertory Labor of Love... Peterson It was not a silent night; There was blood on the ground. You could hear a woman cry In the alleyway that night On the streets of David s town. And the stable was not clean, And the cobblestones were cold, And little Mary full of grace With the tears upon her face Had no mother s hand to hold. It was a labor of pain; It was a cold sky above, But for the girl on the ground in the dark With every beat of her beautiful heart It was a labor of love. Noble Joseph by her side, Callused hands and weary eyes; There were no midwives to be found On the streets of David s town In the middle of the night. Allie Murphy So he held her and he prayed, Shafts of moonlight on his face, But the baby in her womb, He was the Maker of the moon, He was the Author of the faith That could make the mountains move. For little Mary, full of grace, With the tears upon her face, It was a labor of love. Words and Music: Andrew Peterson 2005 New Spring *Online giving is available at firstpresaugusta.org. 8
The Carol On Christmas Night All Christians Sing... Sussex Carol (Verses 1, 2, 4) Traditional English carol Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams 9
The Homily Son of Abraham... Dr. George Robertson Galatians 3:15-29 10
The Carol Silent Night...Stille Nacht 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, heav nly 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! Joseph Mohr, 1818 Franz Gruber, 1818 The Benediction (Please lift hands) (Please be seated following the benediction) The Postlude Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella... arr. Keith Chapman John L. Wilson, Director of Music and Arts CCLI License Number 425646 11
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