First Parish Church, Congregational On the Village Green Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts Rev. John G. Hughes, II, Senior Pastor Donald R. Dunn, Director of Music-Organist Judy Haley, Pastoral Assistant Priscilla Duda, Christian Education Director Jared Hamilton, Youth Director Church office: 978-526-7661 ext. 1 Fax: 978-526-7882 Email: office.fpchurch@verizon.net Website: First Parish Church Congregational
MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE Christmas Day December 25, 2011 10:00 a.m. PRELUDE: Interlude on the Coventry Carol William S. Lloyd Webber (1914-1982)) *[Please stand for the Presentation of the Flame ] CALL TO WORSHIP This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! O come, let us worship and bow before our Savior; Let us sing God s praises continually! *HYMN: Hark the Herald Angels Sing PH 120 ANNOUNCEMENTS *PRAYER OF INVOCATION: (unison) Welcome, welcome, Jesus Christ our infant savior, baby who blesses all of humanity and makes every birth holy. May we, who like the shepherds witnessed a new kind of love and presence, return to our work with joy. May we for whom the heavens have opened and for whom the angels have sung their proclamation, know that God has done a marvelous thing. May we like Magi, who came following a miraculous vision, find the homage we need and bow down and find our lives transformed so that we may journey by a different path. May all we find in the Christmas experience,
allow us to return to our lives as instruments of your peace and joy, day by day. Amen. *THE LORD'S PRAYER (trespasses) 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen. *GLORIA PATRI "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen." SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 98 ANTHEM: Gesu Bambino (The Infant Jesus) Music and text: Pietro A. Yon (1886-1943) English lyrics: Frederick Herman Martens Paul Knox, baritone When blossoms flowered mid the snows, Upon a winter night, Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light. The angels sang, the shepherds sang; The grateful earth rejoiced. And at His blessed birth the stars Their exultation voiced. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Again the heart with rapture grows To greet the Holy night, That gave the world its Christmas Rose, Its King of Love and Light. Let every voice acclaim His name,
The grateful chorus swell. From paradise to earth He came That we with Him might dwell. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. SCRIPTURE READING: John 1:1-14 MORNING PRAYER As we are glad, O Creator God, when the dawn reveals the world to us, innocent and fresh; So may we discover the infant in the manger, and in delight be ready to start anew. Born in the night, a long way from home, born in a borrowed room; Yet, the clear light shining from the infant s face, strangely guides our path in the dawning of this Holy Day. The truth of our lives is realized this day, our God is good. Hope of this world, come and reign in our lives, come walk the dark passage ways of our minds, come inhabit the depth and breath of our souls, this we ask this we pray. God, who never tires of birthing love in this tired world, has come to us as a child. Let us offer our thanks and praise. Amen. SILENT PRAYER - PASTORAL PRAYER - CHORAL RESPONSE *HYMN: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen PH 122
SERMON: A Joyous Day of Song MOMENT OF MEDITATION OFFERTORY SENTENCE OFFERTORY ANTHEM: In the Bleak Mid-Winter Words by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) Music by Harold Darke (1888-1976) In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Our God, Heav n cannot hold him Nor can earth sustain; Heav n and earth shall flee away When he comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ. Enough for him, whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk, And a mangerful of hay; Enough for him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. What can I give him, Poor as l am? If I were a shepherd I Would bring a lamb If I were a Wise Man I would do my part, Yet what I can I give him, Give my heart. *DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God, all creatures here below, Praise God, above ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. OFFERTORY PRAYER *HYMN: Angels We Have Heard on High PH 116 *[The Removal of the Flame ] ORGAN POSTLUDE: Noël in G Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772) The greeter and lay reader this morning is Deirdre Henderson.
The flowers on the altar are given in Celebration of the birth of the Christ Child and in loving memory of Dr. Wilson E. Hughes, Ernest W. and Gladys Mander, and Barbara Jean Robinson, by the Rev. John and Marilyn Hughes and their family. The flowers in front of the pulpit are given in loving memory of Dr. Joachim Kraft and Dr. Sarah Williams from Christiane and Joseph Alsop. Thank you to all who donated to purchase poinsettias to beautify our Sanctuary for the Christmas season. Donations to the Diaconate Fund were $140. For the Diaconate Fund Jane Pearson Jolene & Kate Larsen Richard & Ann Greenleaf and Family Chip & Pam Price Alrie & Vin Terrill Family In Celebration of Jan & Al Ireton The birth of Andrew Lauren Breakiron The Gudonis Family Anne & Charles Murphy In Loving Memory of Sally Curry In Loving Memory of Guy & Doris Willmonton, George Willmonton, Harriet Ernest, Richard &
Emily Greenleaf Glenn J Loucks Larry L Larsen Richard & Ann Greenleaf and Family His son Glenn Jolene & Kate Larsen Hildegarde Sterling Jen & Erich Buddenhagen Peter, Jim, Fred & Effie Bachman, Leo & Dorothy MacKenzie Dottie & Fran Bachman Carl A O'Brien Mary-Lou O'Brien and Family Carla Zilbersmith, beloved aunt & sister Jason Smith & Allison Moir-Smith Bill & Barbara Simmons Pauline Bzdula & Ted Bzdula Margit Breakiron Our Loved Ones Antone S DeMoura Jr, Florence Lincoln DeMoura Shirley McColgan Richard & Barbara Smith Paula Bzdula The Gudonis Family Mary, David, Ryan & Rebecca Lumsden David DeMoura Mac McColgan Henrietta T. Burnett, Frederick Peterson, Robert, Gloria & Marion Driscoll Paul Driscoll & Nancy Peterson Martha & Randolph Farmer, Lois & Bill Carhart Martha Farmer & Steve Carhart Rev. Lester & Alice Newman and Grace & Mickey Budrow Steve, Nancy & Shawn Newman Paul Lord, Ruth Lord & Doreen Johnson The Klebart Marcaurelle Family
Lance Walker as deacon. The sexton is Jennifer Gallagher. A warm welcome to all who worship here this morning. If you are a guest or visitor to our church, please fill out the Welcome Card in the pew, place it in the collection plate and sign the guest book located in the narthex. Please join us in the front of the church following the service for a coffee/tea social. SUNDAY SCHOOL January 8 Sunday school resumes January 18 One Room Schoolhouse FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR Please call Penny Lapham at 978-526- 7128, by Monday to be included in the following Sunday s bulletin. CARE TEAM, Have you shared the experience? Our Care Team provides meals, rides, & visits to sustain families in our Church Community through times of illness and loss. If you would like to become involved with this wonderful support system please call; Sheila Kafer 978-525-3253, smkafer@comcast.net or: Janet Groth at 978-526-8408 janbythesea244@gmail.com FAITH FORMATION - Growing Together, Thursday, 7:30 pm - Friday Bible Study, 4-5:30pm Spring Retreat speak to Judy Haley if you would be interested For more information, contact Judy Haley 978 937-8881 pastoralassist.fpchurch@verizon.net. COOKBOOKS Cookbooks make wonderful Christmas gifts. The Cookbooks is $18.00 each or 2 or more for $15.00 per copy. Please call Allison Walker at 283-4842, to order. Checks can be made payable to: First Parish Church, please note on the memo line: "cookbook". -The CE Committee.
UPCOMING EVENTS May be found on the calendar hung in the narthex, in the Church Bell or on the Church website: First Parish Church Congregational Monday, December 26 Office closed for holiday Tuesday, December 27 9:30 AM - Playgroup, FPC - Chapel 11:15 AM - 1:30 PM COA Lunch of the Month - Chapel Wednesday, December 28 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM COA Yoga - Chapel 7:30 PM - Choir Rehearsal -Chapel Thursday, December 29 6:30 PM - Diaconate Meeting Conf.Rm Friday, December 30, 2011 8:00 AM - 9:45 AM Yoga w/carla-chapel