Vision Statement As Everybody s Church we commit ourselves to serving Christ by cultivating mission, inclusion and community. December 24, 2018 8:00 pm Christmas Eve PRELUDE WELCOME Congregational Carol Singing CAROL 114 Away in a Manger CAROL 121 O Little Town of Bethlehem CAROL 127 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing CAROL 140 Once in Royal David s City SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 9:2 7 Dr. John Judson CHORAL INTROIT Ding Dong! Merrily on High Wood Ensemble CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Joanne Blair and Roger Blair 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! 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. 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 One: The angels came to proclaim that the Christ had come And they sang hallelujah. One: The shepherds came to proclaim that the Christ had come And they praised God. One: The Wise men came to give gifts to the king And they worshiped Jesus. One: As we light the Christ candle let us remember that the child born in the stable is the one who would give his life for us and for the world and become the cornerstone of our lives. Unison Prayer: Redeeming God, this evening allow our hearts to be attuned to the angels music, the shepherds words and the King s praise that we too might offer our lives to your Son once again. Amen. 1
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! EXCHANGING THE CHRISTMAS PEACE Please exchange a sign of peace with those near you. UNISON PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 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! Please follow along with the reading on page 58 of the New Testament in your Pew Bible. ANTHEM See Amid the Winter s Snow Forrest Alleluia. Alleluia. See, amid the winter s snow, Born for us on earth below, See the tender Lamb appears, Promised from eternal years. Hail, thou ever blessed morn, Hail redemption s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem. Alleluia, Alleluia. Lo, within a manger lies He who built the lofty skies, He, who, throned in light sublime, Sits amid the cherubim. Hail thou ever blessed morn, Hail, redemption s happy dawn, Sing throughout Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Alleluia, Alleluia. Sacred infant, all divine, Tender love was Thine, Thus to come from highest bliss, Down to such a world as this. Hail thou ever blessed morn, Hail redemption s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. GOSPEL READING 2 Luke 2:8-20 One: The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! MEDITATION Hope Dr. John Judson OFFERING INFORMATION Members and guests, please sign the Fellowship Pads to let us know of your presence with us. OFFERING Christmas Offering MUSICAL OFFERING The First Nowell Wilberg (The words are found in Hymn 147.) 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. TEXT your contribution to 248.600.4919, or contribute online through the giving tab on the website. Click on the E-Giving button. 2
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 Rev. Bethany Peerbolte 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. 113 Angels We Have Heard on High Hymntune: GLORIA 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. 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. 3
One: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. 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 I Saw Three Ships Behnke FPC Ringers PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Still, Still, Still Luboff 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. 4
BLESSING 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 Prelude on Es ist die schönste Zeit des Jahres Morales Andrew Herbruck, Director of Music Ministries, is playing the service this evening. Mary Beth Jones is conducting the. The ushers are Joe, Katie, Jenny, Grace, Lilly Schlafhauser, Ken Swarthout, Patrick White. We invite you to worship with us Sunday, December 30 at 10:00am (one service only) in Knox Auditorium. 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. 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. Please see our website for more information about the church: www.everybodyschurch.org 5