MERRY CHRISTMAS December 24, 2017 4:00 pm Worship Service Worship Readers: Chandler and Geneva Todd Ushers: Brent and Katherine Williams PRELUDE... Pastorale Symphony... Patricia Oakley, organ - G.F. Handel to Church of the Good Shepherd, an Open and Affirming church of the United Church of Christ. We invite you to participate in today s service as you feel comfortable by praying and singing with us as we celebrate this day of joy together. We value inclusive language in our church, and we also value you! If you know different words to the hymns than those that are printed in your programs, please know that you are welcome to sing the words that are familiar to you. Today s service will be broadcast in the Hospitality Room across the hall. Should you or someone with you get cranky or uncomfortable and need to leave the sanctuary, you can still participate in the service from next door. We will be lighting candles at the end of the service. Please be mindful of those around you. The safest way to light a candle is by tipping the unlit candle to the lit candle. I. WELCOME AND PRAYER...... Rev. TevisTownes ***CONGREGATION SINGS... Hymn #135... O Come, All Ye Faithful Verses 1 and 3 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O come now, O Come now to Bethlehem Come and behold the ruler of all angels: O come in adoration, O come in adoration, O come in adoration, Christ is Lord! Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation Sing, all ye messengers of heavenly love Glory to God, all glory in the highest : O come in adoration, O come in adoration, O come in adoration, Christ is Lord!
MUSICAL OFFERING... What Songs Were Sung... Curtis Storm, tenor -by John Jacob Niles We cannot tell, we do not know What stars shone down so long ago, When Mary birthed her own sweet Son And peace and love became as one. The Son of God, as scriptures said, Was holy born in a tiny shed, Where simple shepherds stood hard by While heav nly sound filled up the sky. Now let us stand, uncovered all, Before this creche in lowly stall, Where kings and angels dignify God s gift, God s Son, in humility. We do not know, we cannot tell What songs were sung, what starlight fell, Or why the holy mystery Stands for so many years in so many lands. We cannot tell, we do no know What stars shone down so long ago, When Mary birthed her own sweet Son And peace and love became as one. II. SCRIPTURE...... John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through him, and without him, not one thing came into being. Life has come into being through him, and the life is the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome it. ***CONGREGATION SINGS... Hymn #116... O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Verse 1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Child of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
III. SCRIPTURE...... Luke 1:26-33 In those days, an angel was sent by God to a young woman named Mary, who was engaged to Joseph. The angel came to her and said, Greetings, favored one! God is with you. But she was greatly perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. SCRIPTURE...... Matthew 1:18-21 An angel of the Lord also appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus, Emmanuel, which means God with us. MUSICAL OFFERING... Dream a Dream... Lydia Grindatto -by Shirley Elena Murray arr. Lori True and Curtis Storm, duet Dream a dream, a hopeful dream, as children do on Christmas Eve, imaginings, surprising things to hold and to believe. Dream a time, this Christmas time, when no one s hungry or afraid; that weapons go and harvests grow, that friends are met and made. Dream a peace, our planet s peace, the greening of the earth at play, the holy ground where life is found, where God has touched the clay. Dream a gift, the Christmas gift that changes every thing we see: the shimmering of angel wing, the Child, the Mystery.
IV. SCRIPTURE...... Luke 2:1-5 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. CONGREGATION SINGS... Hymn # 131... It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Verses 1 and 3 It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold; Peace on the earth, good will to all, Great news of joy we bring. The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. MUSICAL OFFERING... The Little Road to Bethlehem... Curtis Storm, tenor -- lyrics by Margaret Rose, music by Michael Head As I walked down the road at set of sun, The lambs were coming homewards, one by one. I heard a sheepbell softly calling them Along the little road to Bethlehem. Beside an open door, as I drew nigh, I heard sweet Mary sing a lullaby. She sang about the lambs at close of day And rocked her tiny King among the hay. Across the air the silver sheepbell rang, The lambs are coming home, sweet Mary sang, Your star of gold, your Star of gold is shining in the sky, So sleep, my little King, go lullaby. As I walked down the road at set of sun, The lambs were coming homewards, one by one. I heard a sheepbell softly calling them Along the little road to Bethlehem. And you, beneath life s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil a long the climbing way, With painful steps and slow, Look now, for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing; O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing.
VI. SCRIPTURE...... Luke 2:8-14 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of God stood before them, and the glory of God shone around them, and they were terrified. V. SCRIPTURE...... Luke 2:6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David the Messiah, Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all! MUSICAL OFFERING... O Night Divine... Joyful Noise Bell Choir -arr. Sandra Eithun
***CONGREGATION SINGS... Hymn #132... Joy To The World Verses 1 and 3 Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth its praises bring; Let every heart prepare Christ room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Christ rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of God s righteousness And wonders of God s love, And wonders of God s love, And wonders, wonders of God s love. MUSICAL OFFERING... A Time for Joy... Joyful Noise Bell Choir by Cynthia Dobrinski SHARING OUR GIFTS OFFERTORY... I Wonder as I Wander... Curtis Storm, tenor Appalachian Carol arr. Niles I wonder as I wander out under the sky, Why Jesus brought love to live here on earth, why? For poor on ery people like you and like I, I wonder as I wander out under the sky. When Mary birthed Jesus, twas in a cow s stall, With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all. But high from God s heaven a star s light did fall, And the promise of ages it them did recall. If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing, A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing, Or all of God s angels to heav n for to sing, He surely could have it, cause he was the King.
VII. SCRIPTURE...... Luke 2:16-20 When they heard the news of Jesus Birth, the shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.. When they saw this, they made known what had been told to them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. MUSICAL OFFERING... Rocking... Lydia Grindatto, soprano -by John Carol Case Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir: we will lend a coat of fur, We will rock you, rock you, rock you, We will rock you, rock you, rock you. See the fur to keep you warm, snugly round your tiny form. Mary's little baby, sleep, sweetly sleep, sleep in comfort, slumber deep; We will rock you, rock you, rock you, We will rock you, rock you, rock you. We will serve you all we can, darling, darling little man. SHARING THE LIGHT The safest way to light a candle is by tipping the unlit candle to the lit candle. CONGREGATION SINGS... Silent Night... Hymn #134 Verse 1, 2, and 3 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, Child of God, love's pure light, Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Christ, at Thy birth, Jesus, Christ, at Thy birth. BENEDICTION
Thank You For Joining Us! Please Come Again. Church of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ Rev. Sarah TevisTownes, Pastor and Teacher 7834 Tennyson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122 Tel: 505-856-1004 www.ucccogs.org