Our Nativity The beautiful nativity set on the communion table has been a part of the Christmas season in this church for many years. The Hummel figurines of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the Three Wise Men, two shepherds, and the animals were given to the church by Paul and Helen Humphreys. Paul made the stable to complete the set. The Humphreys were long time members of our church. Paul served on many committees and held many offices in this church. Helen was known for her great love of music, and her many decades as a member of our choir. 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.
Prelude Choral Introit Call to Worship Hearing devices and large print bulletins are available, ushers will be glad to assist you. Christmas Eve 2017 Order of Worship 7 p.m. O Holy Night Traditional O Come to Set Us Free by Mary McDonald *Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful #41 *Prayer of Invocation Leader: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Leader: Let us pray. All: Great God, as you came at night when all was still, so enter our lives this night. His Birth and Our New Birth Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us. Matthew 1:23 His Birth in History. that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord s birth was an advent the appearance of God in human form. His Birth in Me. My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a Bethlehem for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. You must be born again (John 3:7). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me. And once Christ is formed in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me. God Evident in the Flesh. This is what is made so profoundly possible for you and for me through the redemption of man by Jesus Christ. From My Utmost For His Highest devotional by Oswald Chambers
W elcome to worship tonight. We are glad you chose to celebrate the birth of our Lord with us. If you are visiting for the first time we hope you will return. Sunday morning worship is 10:00 a.m. with child care provided. Our Sunday School, which resumes on January 7, has classes for all ages at 9:00 a.m. + + + + + + + + + + + + + The flower arrangements today are in loving memory of Barrie White from her family. 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 *Hymn Joy to the World! #40 Responsive Reading Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; 11:1-9 Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; People: those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined. Thanks go to: Our Readers: Jen Colvin, John Merritt, Lou White Our Ushers: Lions Club members: Leif Nicolaisen, Chuck Pendleton, Douglas Rosekrans, and Joe Todd Leader: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; People: authority rests upon his shoulders; Leader: and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. People: His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. Leader: He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. People: The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Leader: A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. People: The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (2)
Leader: His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; People: but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Leader: Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. People: The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. Christmas Meditation Anthem Offering Offertory Anthem The Rev. Mr. Wattles Jus A Little Farther to Go by Dennis Scott Arranged by Conway Bolt Song of the Angel English Folk Song Arranged by Douglas Wagner Leader: The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. People: The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. All: They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. First Lesson: Matthew 1:18-25 NT page 1 *Hymn What Child Is This? #53 Second Lesson: Luke 2:1-7 NT page 54 *Hymn Still, Still, Still #47 Third Lesson: Luke 2:8-20 NT page 54 *Hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #31 *Offering Response *Prayer of Dedication (The people sing as the ushers come forward) O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord. O Come, All Ye Faithful, refrain *Closing Hymn: Silent Night #60 (Instructions for Candle-lighting: In order to avoid wax from spilling on either carpet or pews, please tip your unlit candle into the flame. Please keep your *Benediction candle upright at all times and use the paper guard.) (Following the benediction please extinguish your candle by cupping your hand around the flame and blowing gently.)
In loving memory of Jane and David Alvord from the Alvord family. In loving memory of the Whipple family. In loving memory of the Merrell family. In loving memory of the Thorpe family. In loving memory of Frank and Gladys Merrell from their children and grandchildren. In loving memory of Susan Merrell Froass from her family. In loving memory of Mom, Dad, Doug and Tom from the West and Pendleton families. In loving memory of Robert E. Moyer Sr. from his wife, Ellen. In loving memory of Catherine Barnes, my sister and life-long best friend, from Ellen Moyer. In loving memory of my dad, Harry Northway from Ellen Moyer. In loving memory of Amy Little from her family. In loving memory of Doug Ewen from Becky Ewen
In loving memory of the George and Betty Maycock family and the Eastwood family from Sandy Glynn. In loving memory of John Vincent James from Nancy and family. In loving memory of Lillian and Robert Nadeau from Lori, Bernard and Brian Nadeau. In loving memory of Dorothy and Victor Johnson Sr. from Nancy James, Victor Johnson Jr. and Peter Johnson. To the glory of God and in loving memory of Joyce and Larry Yeoman from Mike, Michelle, Amanda and Jenelle. In loving memory of our daughter, Kara Sweet Gobron, from her parents, Judy and Jim Sweet In loving memory of my mother, Doris Bailey from Debborah Owens. Dedicated, with love and sadness, to my dear, dear friends, Mary Blydenburgh Guinn and Grace Esther Scott who passed away this year, from Ginny Drake In loving memory of Edward Merriman from Lucille and Michael. In loving memory of Rick Tianello from Lucille and Michael Merriman.