FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 24, 2017 9:30 A.M.
All those who are able, please stand. 9:30 a.m. December 24, 2017 WELCOME & NEWS OF THE CHURCH Rev. Christopher Please print your name in the Friendship Register provided in your pew. POURING OF THE WATER L: Jesus is the Living Water. P: Praise be to God. PRELUDE No Room John Peterson Carrie Malovich - soloist INTROIT We Wait in Hope Joel Raney Sanctuary Choir All creation lies in waiting, in the stillness of the night, with hope anticipating the Advent of Eternal Light. CALL TO WORSHIP Cal and Katy Danhof Leader: Advent is a time to praise. People: Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits. Leader: During Advent we remember God s past faithfulness. People: Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits. Leader: During Advent we remember God s present goodness. People: Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits. Leader: During Advent we remember God s future promises. People: Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits. LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLES CHOIR AND CONGREGATION SING WE WAIT IN HOPE We praise with hope for the morning light, for the love of Christ to illuminate the night. We praise with joy for the Savior s birth; we praise with hope for peace on earth.
ADVENT PRAYER HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful Adeste Fideles 41 YOUTH CHAT Rev. Dr. Lloyd THE CHRISTMAS STORY THROUGH THE SOUNDS OF CAROLS Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-5 Rev. Medina HYMN Once In Royal David s City (v. 1) Irby 49 ANTHEM Night of Silence arr. John Ferguson Congregation when invited Cold are the people, winter of life, we tremble in shadows this cold endless night. Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping, flowers that will echo the sunrise. Fire of hope is our only warmth, weary, its flame will be dying soon. Voice in the distance, call in the night, on wind you enfold us, you speak of the light. Gentle on the ear you whisper softly, rumors of a dawn so embracing. Breathless love awaits darkened souls, soon will we know of the morning. 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. Scripture Reading Luke 2:6-7 Rev. Dr. Horton HYMN Still, Still, Still Still, Still, Still 47 ANTHEM Away in a Manger arr. Paul Sjolund Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay 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. And fit us for heaven to live with thee there. Scripture Reading Luke 2:8-14 HYMN Angels We Have Heard on High (v. 1) Gloria 23 ANTHEM Angels Carol John Rutter Have you heard the sound of the angel voices ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear? Have you seen the star shining out so brightly as a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here? Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven to the humble shepherds who have waited long? Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels sing their joyful song. He is come in peace in the winter's stillness, like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night. He is come in joy like the sun at morning filling all the world with radiance and with light. He is come in love as the child of Mary in a simple stable we have seen his birth. Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels singing 'Peace on earth.' He will bring new light to a world in darkness, like a bright star shining in the skies above. He will bring new hope to the waiting nations when he comes to reign in purity and love. Let the earth rejoice at the Savior's coming. Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn. Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing 'Christ is born.' Hear the angels singing 'Christ is born.' Scripture Reading Luke 2:15-16 HYMN Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow (v.1) 50 ANTHEM The Shepherds Carol arr. Dan Forrest Carols so sweet, angels did sing. As lately we watched o'er our fields through the night. A star there was seen of such glorious light. All through the night, angels did sing carols so sweet of the birth of a King. All through the night, angels did sing carols so sweet of the birth of a King. His throne is a manger, his court is a loft. But hosts of bright angels, in strains sweet and soft, him they proclaim, our Christ by name, and earth, sky, and air straight are filled with his fame, earth, sky, and air proclaim. Then shepherds, be joyful, salute your new King, let hills and vales ring to the song that ye sing. Blest be the hour, welcome the morn for Christ our dear Savior on earth now is born. All through the night, angels did sing carols so sweet, for the birth of a King. Carols so sweet, for the birth of a King. Scripture Reading Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11 HYMN We Three Kings (v. 1) 66 ANTHEM Carol of Magi John Rutter We rode all night thro' fields of darkness, our guiding light the eastern star. We came to Bethlehem, we all were weary. We'd traveled far that night, we'd traveled far. We'd traveled far. We heard that here we'd find Messiah, foretold by seers from days of old. We looked for palaces, and found a stable. Could it be here, so bare and cold? So bare and cold?
We entered in and there we saw him. It seemed we'd known him from long before. A child like any child, yet somehow different. The face of ev'ry child in him we saw, the face of ev'ry child we saw. We'd brought him gifts, and now we offered them, we knelt down low in silent prayer. With eyes that seemed to know both joy and sadness, the child looked down as we knelt there, the child looked down as we knelt there. So long ago, yet I remember the child who lay at Mary's knee. How strange that ev'ry child seems so much like him. His is the face I seem to see, his is the face I seem to see. Scripture Reading Luke 1:68-70, 74-75, 78 ANTHEM Echo Carol Hugh Livingston Jr. While by our sleeping flocks we lay, there came an angel bright as day. Awake with joy! (Wake with joy!) Joy, joy, joy! (Joy, joy, joy!) Praise ye the Lord on high with joy! (Praise ye the Lord on high with joy!) Spake then the angel, "News I bring of Israel's long expected King!" Great be your joy! (Be your joy!) Joy, joy, joy! (Joy, joy, joy!) Praise ye the Lord on high with joy! (Praise ye the Lord on high with joy!) Grace, truth and right his rule attend. His kingdom knows no earthly end. Great be your joy! (Be your joy!) Joy, joy, joy! (Joy, joy, joy!) Praise ye the Lord on high with joy! (Praise ye the Lord on high with joy!)
Peace upon earth, good will toward men. Let the world shout the loud Amen! Come share our joy! (Share our joy!) Joy, joy, joy! (Joy, joy, joy!) Praise ye the Lord on high with joy! (Praise ye the Lord on high with joy!) HYMN Joy to the World (v. 1-2) Antioch 40 MEDITATION Rev. Christopher PRESENTATION OF TITHES & OFFERINGS/ PRAYER OF DEDCATION *If you haven t already done so, please print your name in the Fellowship Register. OFFERTORY Shepherds Pipe Carol John Rutter Marie Valade - soloist BENEDICTION HYMN Joy to the World (vs. 3-4) Antioch 40 POSTLUDE Postlude on In Dulci Jubilo! arr. Gilbert Martin
Thank you to our volunteers! Coffee Fellowship Gail Gesell, Janice Potter Chris Raymond Bill & Nancy Sproull Medical Team Marvin Clark Owl Express Cara Bissell Welcome Centers Royce & Joyce Lambert Please remember those currently or recently hospitalized: Jim Bruner, Bob Kern Poinsettias given by: See Insert Today there is no Children s Sunday School (the nursery is open). Children are invited to remain in the sanctuary to hear the beautiful music. Also, there is no Adult Sunday School class after worship today. Rev. Mark Medina will not hold office hours on Wednesday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at Coyote Grill at San Ignacio Golf Club for the next two weeks. Noisy Offering is next Sunday, December 31st. Please gather your loose change and toss it into the buckets during our noisy offering. The proceeds will go to Presbyterian Campus Ministry. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!