Keeping Promises Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church Candlelight Service December 22, 2013
Prelude: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Ferguson) Angels We Have Heard on High (arr. Tyndall) "What Child Is This" (arr. Tornquist) Silent Night (arr. Everson) Gesu Bambino (Yon, arr. Bober) O Holy Night (Adam) In the Bleak Midwinter (arr. Ivory) Welcome and Introduction *Processional: Once in Royal David s City 87 *God s Greeting and the Passing of the Peace Opening Prayer, beginning and ending with My Soul in Stillness Waits 63 God promises to remember Readings: Isaiah 11:1-5 and John 1:32-34 Hymn: O Day of Peace 487 Choir: Emmanuel, Come Soon (Jordan/Angerman) The four winds carry whispers to the ocean. The oceans hear and rush to tell the shore. The mountain quakes and forest tells the desert He s coming soon, the Promised One, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace! The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, and He shall judge with righteousness and might. The world will learn the ways of war no longer. He s coming soon, as God has willed, the prophecy shall be fulfilled. Come, come. Emmanuel, come soon. Come, come, Emmanuel, come soon!
A desert rose will blossom in the winter. A King will come to reign forevermore. His light will shine to lead us into glory. He s coming soon, the Promised One, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him. The bearer of salvation He shall be. And earth shall overflow with truth and knowledge. He s coming soon, as God has willed, the prophecy shall be fulfilled. Come, come. Emmanuel, come soon. Come, come, Emmanuel, come soon! Emmanuel, come soon! God promises to bring salvation Readings: Psalm 18:1-3 and Matthew 1:20b-23 Choir: O Come, Redeemer of the Earth (Getty/ arr. Nichols) O come, Redeemer of the earth and bring to us Your holy birth. Break through the shadows of the night with heaven s pure and radiant light. O come, our long awaited King, as songs of adoration ring. May voices join with ev ry age to tell the wonders of Your grace. O come, Redeemer of the earth, where sorrows weep and longings thirst. Release us from the chains of sin that we may live in joy again. Fulfill the ancient promises, Your words of life and righteousness. Long loved by those who fear Your name and look towards Your endless reign. O come, Redeemer of the earth, O treasure of eternal worth. Come dwell within our kneeling hearts, restore and flourish ev ry part. You give that though we die, we yet shall live and glorify Your name, all earth reclaim. O Come, Redeemer, come. *Hymn: Hark, the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes 60:1, 2, 4
God promises to shine light on those living in darkness Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 1:76-79 Hymn: Blessed Be the God of Israel 67 God promises to send an Eternal King Reading: Luke 2:1-7 Presentation of the Christ Candle Choir: Judah s Land (arr. Johnson) To thee with joy I sing, Sweet Child that heav n did bring, now Judah s land shall ring with thy praises. Gentle Stanger, in that manger, in Judah s land we find thee, infant Savior. I greet thee, Prince of Peace: from sin give thy release! Nor shall my tongue e er cease from thy praises. Gentle Stranger, in that manger, in Judah s land we find thee, infant Savior. Thy crib can scarce contain thy love, our precious gain; may hymns new heights attain with thy praises. Gentle Stranger, in that manger, in Judah s land we find thee, infant Savior. Now twilight quietly comes: the Baby lies asleep; play softly, flute and drums, to his praises. Gentle Stanger, in that manger, in Judah s land we find thee, blessed Savior. Hymn: Away in a Manger 86:1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; the star in the bright sky looked down where he lay; the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Reading: Luke 2:8-20 Choir: I Wonder as I Wander (McDermid) I wonder as I wander, out under the sky, how Jesus the Savior did come for to die for poor ordin ry people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under the sky. When Mary birthed Jesus, twas in a cow s stall, with wise men and farmers and shepherds and all. But high from God s heaven a star s light did fall, and the promise of the ages it then did recall. If Jesus had wanted to any wee thing, a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing, or all of God s angels in heav n to sing, he surely could have had it, cause he was the King! I wonder as I wander, out under the sky, how Jesus the Savior did come for to die for poor ordin ry people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under the sky. We proclaim God s promises to the world! Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 *Hymn: Joy to the World 92:1, 4 Choir: Brazilian Carol (Drennan) Sing Noel! Sing Noel! Noel! Sing Noel to the tiny Baby. Sing Noel to God s Holy Son. Sing to Him praises. Sing Him a song. Oh, sing Noel to the holy, perfect One. Come, let us worship. Come let us praise! Sing Hallelujah! Our voices we raise. Sing out a joyful song. Sing out loud and strong, Jesus is born! Sing Noel to the tiny Baby. Sing Noel to God s Holy Son. Sing to Him praises. Sing Him a song. Oh, sing Noel to the holy, perfect One. Sing out a joyful song. Sing out with voices strong, Baby Boy born in Bethlehem. Come, let us worship Him, the Baby born in Bethlehem.
Come, let us worship. Come let us praise! Sing Hallelujah! Our voices we raise. Sing out a joyful song. Sing out loud and strong, Jesus is born! Sing Noel to the tiny Baby. Sing Noel to God s Holy Son. Sing to Him praises. Sing Him a song. Oh, sing Noel to the holy One! Offertory Prayer: Deacon Tish Patterson Presentation of Offerings for: Degage Ministries Musical Offering: The First Noel (arr. Ivory) Carol Sing: O Come, All Ye Faithful 76:1 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! O Little Town of Bethlehem + O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. The First Noel ++ The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay: in fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel born is the King of Israel.
Peace, Peace/Silent Night 85:1, 2, 3 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! *Closing Prayer *Benediction *Postlude: Silent Night (arr. Ivory) *Those who are able, please stand. + Words: Phillips Brooks. Music: Lewis H. Redner. P.D. ++ Words: traditional English carol. Music: John Stainer. P.D. Becky Hoeksema, organ; Sarah Hendriksen, saxophone; Jeannette Kelderman, piano; Tressa Meyer, oboe; Cheryl Scott, clarinet; Lyn Hoeksema, piano; Steve and Rachel Tuit, guitar and flute; musicians Sean Ivory, organist and pianist Neland Choir: Marlyce Snyder, director; Dawn Hendriksen, accompanist; Willem Mudde, cello Pastor Ruth Boven, Paul Mudde, Chloe Selles; readers Will Van Wingerden, Christ Candle Dick and Flo Koster, Pat Westveer; sanctuary decorations Ed de Jong, cover photo and sound system Hearing Loop System available. Switch hearing aid to T-coil.