K H P C (U.S.A.) HOLY NIGHT SERVICES CHRISTMAS EVE 2018 This shall be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. Luke 2:12
A CHRISTMAS PRELUDE What Sweeter Music I Wonder As I Wander Fantasia on What Child is This The Sleep of the Infant Jesus So Blest a Sight So blest a sight it was to see ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR CHRISTMAS EVE 8:30 & 11:00 p.m., Sanctuary How Mary rocked her Son so free. So fair she rocked and sang by by: My own dear Mother, sing Lullay. Lullay, Jesu, Lullay, Lullay; Mine own dear Mother, sing Lullay. Patricia Masri-Fletcher, harp Victor Huls, cello; Pa i Masri-Fletcher, harp John Ru er, arr. Pa i Masri-Fletcher Appalachian carol, arr. Pa i Masri-Fletcher Ralph Vaughan Williams Henri Büsser traditional English carol, arr. Alice Parker Mine own dear Son, why weepest Thou thus? Is not Thy Father King of Bliss? Have I not done what in me is? Mine own dear Mother, sing Lullay. Lullay, Jesu, Lullay, Lullay; Mine own dear Mother, sing Lullay. 2 Fantasia on Christmas Carols This is the truth sent from above, The truth of God, the God of love; Therefore don t turn me from your door, But hearken all, both rich and poor. The first thing which I will relate Is that God did man create, The next thing which to you I ll tell, Woman was made with man to dwell. Then, after this, twas God s own choice To place them both in Paradise, There to remain, from evil free, Except they ate of such a tree. And they did eat, which was a sin, And thus their ruin did begin, Ruined themselves, both you and me, And all of their posterity. Thus we were heirs to endless woes, Till God the Lord did interpose, And so a promise soon did run, That he would redeem us by his Son. Come all you worthy gentlemen That may be standing by, Christ our blessed Saviour Was born on Christmas day. The blessed Virgin Mary Unto the Lord did pray. O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy! Ralph Vaughan Williams Christ our Blessed Savior Now in the manger lay He s lying in the manger, While the oxen feed on hay. The blessed Virgin Mary Unto the Lord did pray. O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy! On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the new angels bring: News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King s birth. When sin departs before thy grace, Then life and health come in its place. Angels and men with joy may sing, All for to see the newborn King. God bless the ruler of this house And long on may he reign, (From out of darkness we have a light, Which make the angels sing this night,) Many happy Christmases he live to see again! God bless our generation, Who live both far and near ( Glory to God and peace to men, And we wish them a happy New Year! Both now and evermore, Amen. )
O Holy Night O holy night! the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Savior s birth; Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! oh hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born, O night divine! O night, O night divine. Adolphe Adam, arr. John Ru er Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand; So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the wise men from the Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our friend; He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger; Behold your King! before the lowly bend! Behold your King! your King! before him bend. Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name. Christ is the Lord, then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory evermore proclaim, His power and glory evermore proclaim. Interlude, from Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Bri en THE PLACING OF THE MISTLETOE BOUGH AT THE ALTAR In Medieval times in York Minster, at the festival of the Nativity, a bough of mistletoe gleaming with berries was carried into the church on the shoulders of the celebrants and placed at the high altar, as symbolic of the Guidhel of All-heal of the Gospel of incarnate grace, an effective cure for every root of bi erness. * All stand at the ringing of the tower bell. * CAROLS IN PROCESSION Once in Royal David s City (Stanzas one and two, choir alone; stanzas three, four, five and six, all.) Once in royal David s city And through all his wondrous childhood, Stood a lowly ca le shed, He would honor and obey, Where a mother laid her baby Love, and watch the lowly maiden, In a manger for his bed: In whose gentle arms he lay; Mary was that mother mild, Christian children all must be Jesus Christ her li le child. Mild, obedient, good as he. Irby 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, Lives on earth our Savior holy. And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above; And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone. For he is our childhood s pa ern, Day by day like us he grew, He was li le, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew, And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness. Nor 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; When like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around. 3
O Come, All Ye Faithful 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: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him: Christ the Lord. God of God, Light of Light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin s womb; Very God, Bego en, not created: O come Adeste Fideles Sing, choirs of Angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God In the highest: O come... Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory given. Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: O come... * OPENING PRAYER 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. Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth, peace among those whom God favors. There s a song in the air. Will you sing it? Let us sing to the Lord a new song. There s a star in the sky. Will you follow it? Let us abandon our darkness and embrace the light. There s a mother s deep prayer. Will you breathe it? Let us repent our shallowness and ponder his coming. And a baby s low cry. Will you adore him? Let us worship the Lord Jesus Christ. * CHORAL RESPONSE Forest Green O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel. LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE The Libcke Family (8:30 p.m.) The Brinks Family (11:00 p.m.) We light this candle for the newborn Christ, reawakening hope and faith the Word embodied for our time. God, we receive your promise, light and hope. HYMN 132 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice In dulci jubilo (Stanzas 1 & 2 only) 4
SCRIPTURE LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 CAROL Mary Had a Baby spiritual, arr. William Dawson Oh, Mary had a Baby, Mary had a Baby, Born in a manger What did they call Him? King Jesus, What did they call Him? King Jesus. Oh, Mary had a Baby, He was called King Jesus. Mary had a Baby, oh yes! Where was He born? Born in a manger, Where was He born, Oh, Mary had a baby Born in a manger He is called King Jesus, Mighty Counsellor, King Emanuel, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. SCRIPTURE LESSON Luke 2:1-20 * HYMN 115 Away in a Manger Mueller PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE LORD S PRAYER ( debts, debtors ) * HYMN 128 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly W żłobie leży PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS MISSIONAL INVITATION Hope Against Trafficking is looking for 20 volunteers each Saturday of January from 9:00 am noon to clean and paint a new home to serve survivors of human trafficking. If interested, please e-mail Amy Davis at adavis2005@comcast.net. * PRAYER OF DEDICATION CAROL Jesus Child John Rutter Have you heard the story that they re telling bout Bethlehem, Have you heard the story of the Jesus child? How he came from heaven and was born in a manger bed? Mary was his virgin mother pure and mild. Sing alleluia, brothers, sing alleluia, sisters, Worship the Jesus child and praise his mother mild. Glory to God on high! the angel hosts above are singing: Listen to the story of the Jesus child. Have you heard the story of the poor humble shepherd men, Si ing on the hillside with their flocks at night? Suddenly the angel tells them: Hurry to Bethlehem; Go and find the Jesus child, the world s new light. 5
Jesus child, lying at Bethlehem, Sleeping safe at Mary s knee, Save my soul and bring me to paradise, Let me join the angels singing glory to thee. Have you heard the story of the kings from the orient, Following the star that s shining over his head? Offering their precious gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense, Kneeling with the ox and ass before his bed? Brothers, let us celebrate the birth of the Jesus child, Sisters, come and welcome him, the newborn King; Praise the Lord who sent him down from heaven at Christmas time; Young and old and rich and poor, his praises sing. HOMILY A Story for Christmas Dr. N. Phillips LIGHTING OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CANDLES (The pastors will share the light from the Christ candle with people seated near the end of the pew. Please tilt the unlighted candle towards the lit candle to ensure safety.) CAROL Christmas Night John Ru er SCRIPTURE LESSON John 1:1-5, 14 Softly through the winter s darkness shines a light, Clear and still in Bethlehem on Christmas Night Round the stable where a virgin mother mild Watches over Jesus Christ the holy child. Shepherds kneel in adoration by his bed; Seraphim in glory hover round his head. Wise men, guided by the leading of a star, Bring him gifts of precious treasure from afar. Choirs of angels sing to greet his wondrous birth: Christ our Lord in human form comes down to earth. Glory to God in highest heaven their joyful strain: Peace on earth, goodwill to men the glad refrain. Lullaby! the child lies sleeping: sing lullaby! Safe in Mary s tender keeping: sing lullaby! Guardian angels keep their watch till break of day: Lullaby! sweet Jesus sleeps among the hay. Alleluia! let the earth rejoice today! Christ is born to take our sins and guilt away. Praise the Lord who sent him down from heaven above: Holy infant, born of God the Father s love. 6
* HYMN 122 Silent Night, Holy Night Stille Nacht * COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE * BENEDICTION 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 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. God our Father, Whose glory is sung in the highest heaven, And whose peace is offered to a hurt and broken world: So fill us this day with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ That all our thoughts and words and deeds May be acceptable in your sight, And all our lives bring honor to your name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen. * HYMN 119 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn (Please extinguish candles during the organ introduction.) CHORAL ORISON 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 midwinter, long ago. Gustav Holst What can I give Him, poor as I 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 Him my heart. VOLUNTARY Toccata on Vom Himmel hoch (Hymn 111) Garth Edmundson 7
K H 1340 W L L R B H, M 48302 (248) 626-2515 kirkinthehills.org Office Hours Monday Friday, 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. The office is closed the week of Christmas. Open Door Hours Wednesday Friday, 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Instrumentalists: Andrew Wu & Anna Bernston, violins; Jasper Zientek, viola; Victor Huls, cello; Patricia Masri-Fletcher, harp ON THE COVER Holy Family, Margret Ho einz-döring, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Margret Ho einz-döring (1910 1994) was a German painter and graphic artist. She created about 9,000 paintings, images and portraits, presented in more than 100 exhibitions. Her experimental ʺstructure paintingʺ, repainting fabric collages and frames, is a notable technique used by Ho eiz-döring. She earned nationwide renown with different drawing cycles about Goetheʹs Faust, using various techniques. Sunday, December 30 A worship service will be held in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. only. No Sunday School. Nursery available. Stay connected with Kirk in the Hills 8 Rev. Dr. Nathaniel D. Phillips, Senior Pastor Rev. Fernando Rodríguez Rev. Angela Ryo Rev. Jasmine L. Smart Rev. Dr. Norman M. Pritchard, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Keith O. Provost, Parish Associate Glenn A. Miller, Director of Music & Organist Dennis N. Curry, Associate Director of Music & Carillonneur