Christmas Eve 2017 A Candlelight Christmas December 24th, 2017 6:00pm & 8:00pm Norfield Congregational Church Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson, Senior Minister Mikayla Tracey, Grade 3
Christmas Eve 2017 A Candlelight Christmas December 24, 2017 6:00 p.m.& 8:00 p.m. We welcome you to this special Christmas Eve service at Norfield Congregational Church. We hope that the mystery and comfort of the incarnation will be born in you this night as we tell the story of how God came to be with us in Christ Jesus. May God Bless you and your family as we worship together. *All who are able, please stand in body or in spirit. Prelude A Maiden Most Gentle Andrew Carter Ringing of the Church Bells O Holy Night Adolphe Adam Jeremy Hetzler, tenor Invocation Isabella Gary *Carol No. 41 O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES 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! 2. Yea, Lord we greet thee, Born this happy morning. Jesus, to thee be all glory giv n. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! 3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation: Sing, all ye citizens of heav n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Lighting of the Advent Candles and the Christ Candle Leader: All: Leader: All: A light has dawned, and it fills the earth. God is doing a new thing. God has shared the gifts of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace, and this is good news for us. We who keep parts of ourselves in the shadows are invited into the light; to embrace the new life God shows us. Go to Bethlehem to see the embodiment of God s grace. Go to experience God s love in human form. The light of the world beckons to us. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among all whom God favors! All: (The four Advent candles are lit, and then the center, white Christ candle.) We are startled and surprised by the many ways you appear to us, gracious God. As we tend to our mundane tasks, the sudden brilliance of your revealing light awakens us to your presence. We rejoice in the good news you share with us: unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Like the shepherds, may we hasten to see the ways you are making all things new, and may we be inspired to rejoice and proclaim as we re-enter the world yearning to hear words of hope. Amen. The Christmas Prayer The Lord s Prayer 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Choir Carol The Sans Day Carol arr. Martin Shaw The holly bears a berry as white as the milk, And Mary bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk. The holly bears a berry as green as the grass, And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross. The holly bears a berry as black as the coal, And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all. The holly bears a berry as blood it is red, Then trust we our Savior, who rose from the dead.
The First Lesson Luke 2: 1-11 1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 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. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 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. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. The Second Lesson Matthew 1: 18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us. 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. Anthem Child in a Manger John Rutter Angels are singing songs of rejoicing, greeting the Infant born of God s love. The Third Lesson Luke 2: 12-20 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors! 15 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. 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
*Carol No. 31 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN 1. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born 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 new-born King! 2. Christ, by highest heav n adored, Christ, the ever-lasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King! 3. Hail the heav n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King! Sermon Tis Love That s Born Tonight! Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson featuring In the Bleak Midwinter by Harold Darke and Some Children See Him by Alfred Burt *Carol No. 44 O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS 1. 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. 2. For Christ is born of Mary; And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the King, And peace to all on earth. 3. How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is giv n! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heav n. No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in. 4. 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!
OUR CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS Offertory Anthem For Unto Us a Child Is Born George F. Handel from Messiah *Doxology GREENSLEEVES So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, one and all, 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. Prayer of Dedication Lord, we thank you for these gifts, and we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. On this most Holy Night, we gather to give thanks for your great glory. May we carry forth your light into the world. Amen. *Carol No. 40 Joy to the World ANTIOCH 1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav n and nature sing! 2. Joy to the world! the Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy! 3. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings known Far as the curse is found. 4. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.
SHARING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST Please note that the sanctuary will darken at the lighting of the candles. Leader: People: Jesus is the light of the world. As his followers we are called to receive his light and carry it forth into the world. We join in this most holy night of the year proclaiming, Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace. Our hearts are filled with joy and wonder as we celebrate the Savior s birth. Carol Silent Night STILLE NACHT Christmas Blessing 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, Alleluias to our King; Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ the Savior, is born! All: Tonight, we have lit candles reminding us of the wonder and joy of Jesus birth. Grant that our lives may be filled with your Spirit, at Christmas and throughout the year. Amen. Postlude Joy to the World Handbell Ensemble
Leaders of Worship Senior Minister The Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson Associate Minister The Rev. Kelly Hough Rogers Director of Music & Worship Arts Dr. David H. Connell Handbell Ensemble Director Ellen Dickinson 6:00pm - Service Deacon of the Day- John Ruane Advent Candle Lighters Don & Isabella Gary Confirmand Reader Isabella Gary Scripture Readers Rachael Buddenhagen & Don Gary Ushers Stanley, Cameron, & Simeon Okoro 8:00pm - Service Deacon of the Day Dan Klein Advent Candle Lighters Ian Sanders & Family Scripture Readers Ian Sanders & Bayard Dodge Ushers Bartosic & Casellas Families Instruments: Steve Cuomo & Tom Hoffman, trumpets Jim Birch & David Connell, flutes Handbell Ensemble: Carol Bogard, Audrey Braun, Blake Braun, Clarisse Braun, David Connell, Marie Copeland, Ellen Dickinson, Madeleine Hensinger, Sam Hensinger, Jeremy Hetzler, Kaeli Mecca and T. J. Mecca The Sanctuary Choir: Bill Barron, Jennifer Barron, Lois Bechtel, Jim Birch Carol Bogard, Rainy Broomfield, Marie Copeland, Jean Davis-French, Bayard Dodge, Jane Gordon, Carol Hamilton, Jeremy Hetzler, Kaitlin Lazere, Jim Miller, Shelby Miller, Ina Montelius, Karen Moraitis, Susan Moran, Mary Peniston, Whitney Stewart Our sound system carries the service into the Greene Room, directly behind the sanctuary. If you need to leave worship for any reason, you may go there and continue your worship experience. Hearing Assistance amplifiers are available. Please speak with an usher if you would like to use one. The Clergy and Staff of Norfield Congregational Church wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year!