THE WORSHIP OF GOD Candlelight Christmas Eve December 24, 2017 9:00 p.m.v Sanctuary
THE PRELUDES THE WORSHIP OF GOD Candlelight Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24, 2017 v 9:00 p.m. Sanctuary Selections by the Lake Minnetonka String Quartet Of the Father s Love Begotten Kraig Windschitl (Organ) + Indicates an invitation to rise in body or in spirit. arr. Wilbur Held THE CHIMING OF THE HOUR THE INTROIT Once in Royal David s City Gauntlett Chancel Choir arr. Linda Pratt THE CALL TO WORSHIP Rustin Comer + THE PROCESSIONAL CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful Blue #132 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, Christ the Lord. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be glory given! Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above! Glory to God, glory in the highest: O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. + THE CHRISTMAS LITANY Lindy Purdy Leader: God of glory, God of light, on this holy night of wonder, open us to receive the deep mystery of Your love; born in us, born among us, through Your son Jesus. All: Open our ears to hear the triumphant songs of angels. Leader: Open our eyes to follow the brilliance of Your guiding star. All: Open our hearts to behold the awe and reverence of the shepherds. Leader: Open our spirits to find the determination of the traveling magi. All: Open us once again, O God, to receive the deep mystery of Your love born in Jesus, the Christ Child. Leader: Alleluia! All: Amen!
+ THE PRAISE CAROL Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Red #137 Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased on earth with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace. Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays his glories by, born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! GREETING John Ross ANTHEM Jesu, Thou the Virgin-Born Gustav Holst Chancel Choir, MacKenzie Lyon, Christopher Hanson (Soloists) THE FIRST LESSON Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Heather Page CAROL It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Red #149 It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold! Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven s all gracious King! The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing. And ye, beneath life s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow. Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing! For lo! The days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold, When, with the ever-circling years, shall come the Age of Gold; When peace shall over all the earth, its ancient splendors fling, And all the world give back the song, which now the angels sing. THE SECOND LESSON Micah 5:2-4 Jim Cada
CHRISTMAS PRAYER AND THE LORD S PRAYER Danielle Jones 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. OFFERTORY ANTHEM Oculus non vidit Rihards Dubra Chancel Choir Tonight s cash offerings and checks designated for Neighborhood Program in the memo line will be given to our mission partner IOCP to help build a Community Room at Kimberly Meadows. THE THIRD LESSON Luke 1:26-35, 38 Emily Dyrdahl CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem Red #151 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. How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born to us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. THE FOURTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7 Katherine Poindexter ANTHEM Domine fili Unigenite, from Gloria Antonio Vivaldi Chancel Choir & Lake Minnetonka String Quartet THE FIFTH LESSON Luke 2:8-14 John Linden MEDITATION Born To You This Day John Ross ANTHEM O Holy Night Adolphe Adam Chancel Choir, David Walton (Tenor Soloist)
THE SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:15-20 Barbara Burwell + THE RECESSIONAL CAROL What Child is This? Blue #140 What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe the Son of Mary. Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear, for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading. This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe the Son of Mary. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, come peasant, king to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him. This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe the Son of Mary. THE SEVENTH LESSON John 1:1-5 The Johnson-Stewart Family LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE After the Christ Candle has been lit the light will be passed throughout the congregation. Please assist with care the passing of the light. CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night Red #142 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! BENEDICTION John Ross POSTLUDE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice! J.S. Bach, BWV 729 Kraig Windschitl (Organ)
Thank you for returning your candles to the baskets provided at the doors. v WORSHIP LEADERS Preacher Clergy Lay Readers Deacon Music Head Usher Rev. Dr. John F. Ross, Senior Minister Rev. Rustin Comer, Rev. Danielle Jones, Rev. S. Lindy Purdy, Kai Brewster, Seminary Intern, Hilary Flynn, Seminary Intern Heather Page, Jim Cada, Emily Dyrdahl, Katherine Poindexter John Linden, Barbara Burwell, Johnson-Stewart Family Heather Page Chancel Choir; Adam Reinwald, Interim Director Kraig Windschitl, Organist Lake Minnetonka String Quartet Maisie Block (Violin) David Block (Violin) Charles Krenner (Viola) Darin Anderson (Cello) Steve Beachler & Jim Cada