The Congregational Church of Westborough United Church of Christ Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24, 2015-7:00 pm Pastor Paul Sangree, Senior Pastor Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani, Associate Pastor
December 24, 2015 Christmas Eve 7:00 PM *The Congregation is invited to stand. SERVICE OF PREPARATION PRELUDE "O Little Town of Bethlehem" arr. by Ricky & Julie Valadez. Audrey Lord & Andrew Christmann on cello WELCOME BELL INTROIT Carol of the Bells arr. L.R. Lamb Festive Four: Kathy Leblanc, Rachel, Max & Jennifer Keeler Dir. by Sue Menzel *LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE Janet, Paul and Dana Rivard Leader: We first relight four candles representing the four weeks of Advent as we awaited the blessed hope of our Savior, Jesus Christ. (Lighting of the Four Candles.) People: These candles symbolize the gifts of Jesus Christ to us: Hope, peace, joy, and love. Leader: Tonight we light the Christ Candle: in Christ, the grace of God has appeared to us, bringing the good news of salvation for all. People: Come to us, Lord Jesus this night, and be born in our hearts, our minds and our lives! *CAROL HYMN # 148 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; Refrain: 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 heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; Refrain Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger, We would embrace thee, with love and awe; Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly? Refrain 1
SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS (Please remain seated for carols) LESSON 1: Isaiah 9:2-4; 6-7 (Bible page 555) ANTHEM No Room Beall/Althouse Chancel Choir LESSON 2: Isaiah 11:1-9 (Bible page 558) CAROL HYMN #153 It Came upon the Midnight Clear (vs.1,4) CAROL 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, goodwill to all, from heavens all gracious King!" The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing. For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years, shall come the time foretold, When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing. LESSON 3: Luke 1:26-35, 38 (Bible page 831) ANTHEM O Holy Night Sarah Bock, soloist LESSON 4: Luke 2:1-7 (Bible page 832) CAROL HYMN # 147 Away in a Manger (vs. 1-3) AWAY IN A MANGER 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 in 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. 2
LESSON 5: Luke 2:8-14 (Bible page 833) CAROL HYMN # 150 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (vs. 1-2) MENDELSSOHN Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Christ, by highest heav'n adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, off spring of a Virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!" LESSON 6: Luke 2:15-20 (Bible page 833) CAROL HYMN # 151 The First Noel (vs. 1-2) THE FIRST NOEL The First Noel, the angel did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel! They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel! LESSON 7: John 1:1-14 (Bible page 862) MEDITATION Prince of Peace Pastor Paul Sangree A CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING Invitation: Let us bring our gifts before God with joy! (Our offering tonight will go to support three local ministries in our area-the local food pantry, Dismas House, which helps ex-prisoners adjust to society, and Inter- Faith Hospitality Network, which ministers to the homeless.) Please fill out the black book in your pew and pass it to the person next to you. If you have been here before, just put your name down, but if you are new tonight, please let us know who you are. 3
Offertory Anthem Lullaby for Christmas Grudzina/Kern Chancel Choir Edited by Raymond *PRAYER OF DEDICATION We present these gifts to You, O God, and pray that they be used for Your reign of peace. For all of Your blessings of life and relationship, we give You thanks and praise this night, Amen. SHARING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST We come to a special portion of tonight s service. As Christ comes bringing the light of God s love, we light our individual candles to signify our individual and collective commitment to live as Christ s faithful in the world. The light will be brought to the end of each row, tip your unlit candle into the flame so that it may take hold. Do not tip your lit candle! Pass the light along your row until every candle is lit. As the candles are lit we will join in singing. CAROL HYMN # 145 Silent Night, Holy Night (vs. 1-3) 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, 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 of thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus Lord at thy birth. As the lights are dimmed, let us hold up our candles One candle is but a flicker, but together, we create a bright flame of Christ s light in the world. Consider the beauty of our lights shining together. Christ is the light of the world and the hope of all our tomorrows! May we be witnesses of the light Christ brings. MOMENT OF SILENCE As you gently extinguish your candle, carry the light of Jesus love with you. *BENEDICTION Leader: A green shoot will sprout from Jesse s stump, from his roots a budding Branch. The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him. Christ is born! Merry Christmas to all! ALL: CHRIST IS BORN! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! 4
CAROL HYMN # 143 Joy to the World ANTIOCH 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. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 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. Patty Wyner is liturgist tonight. Deacons tonight are Cathie and Steve Achorn Pastor Paul Sangree, Senior Pastor phsangree@gmail.com Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani, Associate Pastor - revelaineg@aol.com Linda Hartley, Student Minister - lhartley@ants.edu Sue Menzel, Hand bell Director westcongmusic@gmail.com Wendy Reardon, Director of Children s and Youth Ministries - wendysreardon@yahoo.com Clayton Heidbreder, Minister of Music/Organist claytonlh1@gmail.com Serena Leiser, Seminarian sleiser1@verizon.net Mike Jaworski, Seminarian send2mjsinbox@gmail.com Peter Graham, Seminarian petegrahamiam@icloud.com Doug Uhlman, Director of Men s Ministry uhly222@aol.com Lisa Coffey, church office - westboroucc@verizon.net Bonnie Rossi, church office - brossi6@verizon.net Rev. Matt Carriker, Mission Pastor for Agape Spiritual Community mcarrike@hotmail.com Office hours: Mon & Fri 9-1, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9-2, Church office phone 508/366-2000 General Church email westboroucc@verizon.net Church website www.uccwestboro.org www.facebook.com/thecongregationalchurchofwestborough 5