A Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols Idlewild Presbyterian Church December 24, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.
Assemble in God s Name *Those who are able please stand. STRING QUARTET PRELUDE ORGAN PRELUDE TWO CHORALE PRELUDES FROM THE LITTLE ORGAN BOOK GOTTES SOHN IST KOMMEN, BWV 600 God s Son is Come DER TAG DER IST SO FREUDENREICH The Day, It Is So Full of Joy Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 1750) *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL SUNG IN PROCESSION ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID S CITY IRBY Please stand as choir moves forward. ONE: 1. Once in royal David s city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her, little child. ALL: 3. And, through all his wondrous childhood, He would honor and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms he lay: Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as he. WOMEN AND CHILDREN: 2. He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor and meek and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy. 4. For he is our childhood s pattern; Day by day, like us he grew; He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew; And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness. 5. And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love, For that Child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in Heav n above, And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone. Soloist: Pamela Schnell 6. Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see him; but in heaven, Set at God s right hand on high; Where like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around. C.F. Alexander
*CALL TO WORSHIP IN CHRIST S LIGHT THE REVEREND DR. STEPHEN R. MONTGOMERY We have prepared ourselves for the days when the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares. We light this candle for hope. We have prepared ourselves for the days when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb. We light this candle for peace. We have prepared ourselves for the days when the wilderness and the dry land shall rejoice and be glad. We light this candle for joy. We have prepared ourselves for the days when a young woman shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, God with us. We light this candle for love. 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. We light this candle for Christ's advent among us. Let us walk in the light of the Lord. *THE BIDDING PRAYER CHOIR CAROL I SAW THREE SHIPS arr. Malcolm Archer I saw three ship come sailing in, I saw three ship come sailing in, Our Saviour Christ and His lady, Our Saviour Christ and His lady, All they sailed in to Bethlehem, All they sailed in to Bethlehem, And all the angels in heaven shall sing, And all the angels in heaven shall sing, And let us all rejoice again, And let us all rejoice again, -Traditional English And what was in those ships all three? And what was in those ships all three? Pray whither sailed those ships all three? And where they sailed those ships all three? And all the bells on earth shall ring, And all the bells on earth shall ring, And all the souls on earth shall sing, And all the souls on earth shall sing,
Proclaim God s Word God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent s head. GENESIS 3:8 15, 17 19 THE REVEREND REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR CHOIR CAROL TWAS IN THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED CHARLES WOOD (1866 1926) Twas in the year that King Uzziah died, A vision by Isaiah was espied; A lofty throne, the Lord was set thereon; And with his glory all the temple shone. With twain did he now hither, thither fly: And thus aloud did one to other cry: Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth, Full of his glory are earth and heaven, both. Bright seraphim were standing round about Six wings had every of that quire devout; With twain he awesome veiled his face, and so With twain he dreadful veiled his feet below. And at their cry the lintels moved apace, And clouds of incense filled the holy place. Isaiah vi, vv. 1-4 God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. GENESIS 22:15 18 THE REVEREND ANNE H.K. APPLE *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 129 LO, HOW A ROSE E ER BLOOMING ES IST EIN ROS ISAIAH 9:2, 6 7 The Prophet foretells the coming of the Savior. MS. ELIZABETH H. DOOLIN CHOIR CAROL ALLELUYA: A NEW WORK IS COME ON HAND MICHAEL EMERY Alleluya, a new work is come on hand Through might and grace of Godès son To save the lost of every land. For now is free that erst was bound. We may well sing Alleluya! Alleluya, this sweetè song Out of a green branch it sprung; God send us the life that lasteth long. Now joy and bliss be him among That thus can sing Alleluya! anonymous Now is fulfilled the prophecy Of David and of Jeremy And also of Isaiah. Sing we therefore both loud and high Alleluya!
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown. ISAIAH 11:1 9 THE REVEREND MARGARET BURNETT *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 144 IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER CRANHAM The Angel Gabriel salutes the blessed Virgin Mary. LUKE 1:26 35, 38 CHOIR CAROL MATER ORA FILLIIUM HARRISON OXLEY Mater ora Filium Mother pray thy Son Ut post hoc exilium that, after this exile, Nobis donet gaudium He may grant us the joy Beatorum omnium of all the blessed ones. Fair maiden, who is this bairn That thou bearest in thine arm? Sir, it is the Kinges Son That in heav n above doth won. Man to Father he hath none, But himself God alone; Of a maid he would be born. To save mankind that was forlorn. Three kings brought him presents, Gold, myrrh, and frankincense, To my Son full of might, King of kings and lord of right. Fair maiden, pray for us unto thy Son, sweet Jesus, That he will send us of his grace In heav n on high to have a place. Irish traditional Soloists: Donia Rachelle Wade, Nancy Thompson, Ginger Hopkins Luke tells of the birth of Jesus. LUKE 2:1, 3 7 MS. ABEL LAMAR CHOIR CAROL ROUND THE GLORY MANGER They turn way Mary an a Joseph, way from the inn. An that s what made the Glory Manger. Hallelujah, Lord! Wasn t that a right mornin, all round the Glory Manger. They laid my pretty little Jesus down in the straw, An that s what made the Glory Manger. Hallelujah, Lord! Wasn t that a right mornin, all round the Glory Manger. Soloist: William Compton AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL, ARR. K. LEE SCOTT (B. 1950)
*CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 119 HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING MENDELSSOHN The angels announce the birth. LUKE 2:8 14 MS. APPLE CHOIR CAROL THE LAMB JOHN TAVENER (1944 2013) Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee? Gave thee life and bid thee feed. By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing wooly bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice! Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee? Little Lamb I'll tell thee, Little Lamb I'll tell thee! He is called by thy name, For he calls himself a Lamb: He is meek and he is mild, He became a little child: I a child and thou a lamb, We are called by his name. Little Lamb God bless thee. Little Lamb God bless thee. William Blake The shepherds go to the manger. LUKE 2:15 20 MS. DOOLIN *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 133 O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL ADESTE FIDELES The Wisemen are led by the star to Jesus. MATTHEW 2:1 11 MS. BURNETT *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO 142 TWAS IN THE MOON OF WINTERTIME UNE JEUNE PUCELLE John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation. JOHN 1:1, 4 5, 14
CHOIR CAROL LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS LEO SOWERBY Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine, Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign? Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign. Christina Rosetti (1830 1894) DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND OFFERTORY PRAYER MS. ABEL LAMAR OFFERTORY ANTHEM O HOLY NIGHT ADOLPHE CHARLES ADAMS Soloists: Dottie Pounders and William Myers OFFERTORY RESPONSE 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. Raise, raise the song on high. The virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary! CANDLE LIGHTING Ushers will light the first candles on each row, then the light will be passed down. Please watch children carefully when the candles are lit. CONGREGATIONAL CAROL SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT! STILLE NACHT 1. 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. 2. 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! 3. 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. 4. 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.
*CONGREGATIONAL CAROL JOY TO THE WORLD ANTIOCH 1. 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. 3. 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. 2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 4. 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. *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE CARILLON DE WESTMINSTER LOUIS VIERNE (1870-1937) No photography or video during the worship service. Remember to turn off your cell phone. Please leave your candles in the baskets and boxes by the doors. We are grateful for our guest musicians: Julie Morrison (violin), Mary Dunlap (violin), Roxanne Dawes (viola), and Ann Lesser (cello). Ringing handbells are David Schnell, Diana Shows, and Elizabeth Shows. This evening s offering is for our Compassion Collection. This fund is used to help guests who come to the church seeking assistance with different needs. Assistance may include food, shelter, utilities, school uniforms and supplies, or bus tickets. Please give generously so that we can continue to care for God s people in need. The 11:00 Christmas Eve Service is a festive celebration led by senior high youth and clergy. Music, readings, and the Lord s Supper lead to the joyous lighting of candles at midnight. All are welcome! (Childcare is not available.) IDLEWILD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) 1750 Union Avenue / Memphis TN 38104 / www.idlewildchurch.org 901-726-4681 / Recreation 725-4165 The mission of Idlewild Presbyterian Church is to pursue, personify, and practice as Presbyterians the good news of reconciliation and salvation in Christ through worship, education, fellowship, and outreach.