FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 136 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 Co-pastors Rev. Jan Hawkins and Rev. Dr. Thomas Hawkins Christmas Eve Communion Service 7:00 p.m. December 24, 2017 PRAYER FOR TONIGHT Holy God, as you came at night when all was still, so enter our lives tonight. Illumine our paths with the light of Christ s presence, that we may clearly see the way before us, the truth to speak, and the life to live for him, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. --The Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Common Worship WE WELCOME YOU to our Christmas Eve worship service and are delighted to be celebrating the birth of the Messiah together tonight. GATHERING IN GOD S NAME PRELUDE I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Johnny Marks and Wadsworth Longfellow WELCOME AND GREETING I bring you news of great joy! This day, in the city of David, a child has been born for us. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, the Prince of Peace. Once we were no people; now we are God s people! Once we walked in darkness; now we have seen a great light! Pastor Jan LIGHTING OUR ADVENT CANDLES We welcome Amanda and Dan as they lead us in lighting the Christ candle. Sung response (Tune: #115 Away in a Manger) We honor Messiah with Christ candle s flame. Our Christmas Eve candles, glad tidings proclaim. O, come all you faithful, rejoice in this night, as God comes among us, the Christian s true light. Used by permission of the author, Sandra Dean (1986) *HYMN #134 Joy to the World!
*PRAYER Living God, on this holy night we gather: to stand with shepherds amazed at your glory; to sing with angels, rejoicing in your work; to wait with Joseph, trusting in your promise; to sit with Mary, pondering these things in our hearts. May the good news of this night inspire us to tell the world of our great joy: for to us is born a Savior, the Messiah. Glory and praise to you forever! Amen. *HYMN #133 O Come, All Ye Faithful PRAYER OF CONFESSION Pastor Jan Having beheld God s glory and grace, we are confident to offer our prayers of confession before God, praying together God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ you came among us. We confess that we have not welcomed the light, nor trusted the good news to be good. We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt and renew our hope, so we may receive the fullness of your grace, and live in the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen. ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS On this winter night, the coming of the light into the world has brightened weary hearts with peace. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. In the name of Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven! *SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST Being reconciled to God, let us also be reconciled to one another. May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Please greet your neighbor with a sign of Christ's peace. *SONG OF COMMUNITY: #95 Sing twice Prepare the Way of the Lord Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord, and all people will see the salvation of our God.
HEARING GOD S WORD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Glory to you, Gracious God: On this night the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth, that we might become your people. By the power of the Holy Spirit, open our hearts and ears that as we read from your Word, your will might become flesh in our lives. Amen. HYMN #121 O Little Town of Bethlehem HEBREW LESSON: Isaiah 9:2-7 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. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. SOLO O Holy Night Jennifer Fijal GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 2:1-20 Pastor Jan GOSPEL RESPONSE Gloria, Gloria Hymn #583 Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, Gloria, alleluia, alleluia! MEDITATION Pastor Jan RESPONDING TO GOD S WORD OFFERING INVITATION Come with gratitude and joy to the table of the Lord. Bring the works of your hands and the gifts of your lives as an offering of praise.
*DOXOLOGY Tune: #145 GREENSLEEVES Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. OFFERTORY Child of the Poor Scott Soper *PRAYER OF DEDICATION We give you thanks, Holy One, for all good things: for this universe and for Earth itself, for creatures and plants, for water and food, for Jesus, our brother, who enlarged our vision, setting himself before us as the bread and wine of abundant life; and for the Holy Spirit, who comes to us in baptism and moves in our midst with the power to lead us to you. Turn our offerings to your good will, and turn us always to you in gratitude. Amen. INVITATION TO THE LORD'S TABLE Tune: #145 GREENSLEEVES What feast of love is offered here, what banquet come from heaven? What food of everlasting life, what gracious gift is given? This, this is Christ the king, the bread come down from heaven. O, taste and see and sing! How sweet the manna given. What wine of love is offered here, what crimson drink from heaven? What stream of everlasting life, what precious blood is given? This, this is Christ the king, the sweetest wine of heaven. O, taste and see and sing! The Son of God is given. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The presider continues in prayer on behalf of the people, praising God, giving thanks to God for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and calling on the presence of the Holy Spirit. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest. (Hymn #552) THE LORD S PRAYER ( debts/debtors ) SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP BY INTINCTION All are welcome at this table where Christ alone is host and we are all guests. As you come forward, receive a piece of bread and dip it into the cup to partake. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION -from A Wee Worship Book, Iona Community, pg. 90 Christ's food in our souls, our food shared like his. Christ's life in our hands, our lives shaped by his. Christ's love in our hearts, our love warmed through his. Christ's peace on our path, our path following his. *HYMN #113 GOSPEL OF THE INCARNATION: John 1:1-14 Angels We Have Heard on High *HYMN #122 Silent Night, Holy Night Please light your candle from your neighbor s candle. We will begin singing, once everyone s candle is lit and the sanctuary lights are darkened. After we finish singing, please extinguish your candle and leave it in the box by the door. *BLESSING WITH DISMISSAL *POSTLUDE Joy to the World! If you purchased a Poinsettia, you may take it home with you this evening! Merry Christmas!
SILENT NIGHT 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. The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass.
The Gospel According to Luke 2:1-20 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors! When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
CHURCH STAFF Rev. Jan Hawkins jandhawkins@gmail.com (217) 508-7760 Rev. Dr. Thomas Hawkins revthomashawkins@gmail.com (217) 549-6012 Jennifer Fijal, Music and Arts Director jennifer.fijal@gmail.com (413)218-5851 Ruth Van Anden, Office Manager fpchartfordct@sbcglobal.net (860)246-2224 Shannon Hopkins, Nursery Director shlyhop73@comcast.net (860)658-6624 John Du Pont, Sexton fpcsexton@hotmail.com Anthony Trujillo, Yale Divinity School intern anthony.trujillo@yale.edu (206)291-2239 First Presbyterian Church, 136 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 https://firstpreshartford.org www.facebook.com/ fpchartford We are a member church of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Synod of the Northeast, Presbytery of Southern New England.