December 24, 2017 6 & 8 p.m. A Service of Lessons and Carols
We are so happy you could join us for Christmas Eve at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church! Christmas reminds us that by being Christ s light today, we can brighten the darkness we find in our lives and in the world around us. We pray you find the hope, peace, joy and love of Jesus Christ this Christmas season! Rev. Matthew Ruffner
Preparation for Worship Love has come: a light in the darkness! Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies. See, all heaven has come to proclaim it, hear how their song of joy arises: Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on high. - Ken Bible, Love Has Come, Glory to God #110 Opening Voluntaries Noel Variations on Angels We Have Heard on High David Lowe Variations on O Come, All Ye Faithful Gaston Dethier Silent Night setting by Virgil Fox Welcome Lighting of the Christ Candle Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: People: God is here today. God promises wondrous things to the ones who wait. Our hearts sing a song of hope, peace, joy, and love; for we know that Jesus is here. Hope is what sustains us all; Peace is God s desire for creation; Joy is a gift from the Spirit; Love is the music of our souls. Jesus is the hope of this world; Jesus shows us how to make peace; Jesus is the reason for our joy; Jesus is love incarnate. We light this Christ candle as a reminder that Jesus is the light. Jesus is here; let there be light! Let us worship God. *Fanfare and Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES 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! Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given, 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! Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation! Sing, all ye citizens of heaven 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! First Lesson Isaiah 9:2-7 Anthem For Unto Us a Child Is Born from MESSIAH G.F. Handel The Sanctuary Choir For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:5) Second Lesson Isaiah 11:1-6 *Please rise as you are able
*Carol It Came Upon the Midnight Clear CAROL It came upon the 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. For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold, When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing. Third Lesson Luke 2:1-7 Anthem Still, Still, Still arr. Mack Wilberg The Sanctuary Choir with violin Still, still, still, His bright eyes softly close And Mary, breathless, Draws him sleeping To her heart, Made pure for keeping Still, still, still, His bright eyes softly close. Sleep, sleep, sleep, He hears, and sweetly smiles. And kneeling Joseph Joins in chorus With the angels Bending o er us Sleep, sleep, sleep, He hears, and sweetly smiles. Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, He breathes a tender sigh, For soon he ll wake The world from slumber Bringing life And endless wonder Sleep, Sleep, Sleep He breathes a tender sigh Sleep, Holy Jesus, Sleep Fourth Lesson Luke 2:8-16 Anthem Ding Dong! Merrily on High arr. Stuart Nicholson The Sanctuary Choir Ding dong! Merrily on high, in heavn the bells are ringing. Ding dong! Verily the sky is riv n with angels singing: Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! E en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen, And i-o, i-o,-i-o, by priest, and people sungen: Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime your evetime son, ye singers. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Fifth Lesson Matthew 2:1-12
*Carol The First Nowell THE FIRST NOWELL The first Nowell 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. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel. Then let us all, with one accord, sing praises to our heavenly Lord, That hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood our life hath bought. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel. Sixth Lesson John 1:1-14 *Carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN 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 angel host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king! Hail! The heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail! The sun of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with his healing 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 newborn king! The Homily Rev. Matthew Ruffner Offering If you are interested in making a Christmas Joy offering, you will find designated envelopes in the pews. Offertory Anthem O Holy Night arr. John Rutter The Sanctuary Choir and harp and violin O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His Name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name!
*Sharing the Light of Christ Lighted candles should be held upright. When passing candlelight from one to another, please lean the unlit candle into the light. When extinguishing your candle, use care not to spill wax on the floor or cushions. Following the benediction, place the extinguished candle in a collection box at the door. *Carol Silent Night STILLE NACHT 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! 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. *Benediction *Benediction Response Joy to the World ANTIOCH Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the world! The Savior reigns. Let all their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy; repeat, repeat the sounding joy! He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love. Closing Voluntary Flourish on Joy to the World! Michael Dell Worship Leaders: Rev. Matthew Ruffner Rev. Dr. Ewen Holmes Rev. Sarah Johnson Rev. Kathy Lee-Cornell Rev. Sarah Are Rev. Margaret Watkins Jessie Light-Wells Steve Jobman, Director of Music Bradley Hunter-Welch, Organist Advent Wreath (6 p.m.) Bert, Betsy, Alex, Colin and Emily Colter Advent Wreath (8 p.m.) Scott, Regan, Jack and Scotty Drake Musicians: Adam Gordon, trumpet Leigh Anne Hunsaker, trumpet Chris Oliver, trombone Greg Waits, trombone Andy Downing, French horn Jill Levy, harp Bruce Patti, violin Michelle Price, percussion Judy Melson, percussion
UPCOMING AT PRESTON HOLLOW Race (Still) Matters Small Group Book Study Read America s Original Sin and attend one of our six-week sessions to talk about race issues in America. www.phpc.org/adultformation A Night With Glennon Doyle Speaker, author and blogger Glennon Doyle will come to PHPC on April 24, 2018. Tickets on sale at www.phpc.org/glennon Masterworks Concert Join us on March 11, 2018 for a concert featuring the Sanctuary Choir and Bradley Hunter Welch under the direction of Craig Jessop. www.phpc.org/music PHPC Kids Summer Registration for our PHPC Kids summer programs begins on January 28! www.phpc.org/kidssummer Presbyterian Women Mad Hatter s Tea Save the date! Join us on April 28, 2018 for an all-church tea party thrown by PW! Youth Ministry Presents Shrek Our Youth will perform Shrek from February 23-25! Check out more Youth offerings at www.phpc.org/youth. Worship at Five Sundays at 5 p.m. in Founders Hall. It s a different kind of contemporary service! www.phpc.org/five Young Adult Retreat Weekend Adults 20-39 are invited to a retreat April 27-29. More information at www.phpc.org/ youngadults Mission Trip to Nicaragua Join us on February 4 to learn more about the summer mission trip to Nicaragua (June 2-9). Individuals & families with youth are invited. Email kleecornell@phpc.org
Rev. Matthew Ruffner Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Ewen Holmes Interim Executive Pastor Rev. Sarah Johnson Associate Pastor, Discipleship Rev. Kathy Lee-Cornell Associate Pastor, Mission and Outreach Rev. Sarah Are Associate Pastor, Youth and Young Adults Jessie Light-Wells Monie Pastoral Resident Rev. Margaret Watkins Parish Associate Rev. Dr. Bob Poteet Parish Associate Steve Jobman Director of Music Bradley Hunter Welch Organist and Artist-in-Residence Michael Groff Associate Director of Music Zach Light-Wells Associate Director of Music Worship: 8:15, 9:30 and 11 a.m., (Sanctuary) 5 p.m. (Founders Hall) Watch our services live at 9:30 and 11 a.m. at www.phpc.org/streaming Listen to our broadcast on WRR 101.1 at 11 a.m. 9800 PRESTON RD. DALLAS TX 214.368.6348 PHPC.ORG