Trinity United Church of Christ 27-29 Manchester Street Glen Rock, Pennsylvania 17327 Church Office: (717) 235-1906 Church Email: trinity@nfdc.net Website: southernyorkcounty.com/churches/trinity Sunday School from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Trinity United Church of Christ 27 Manchester Street Glen Rock, Pennsylvania Christmas Eve December 24, 2015 HOLY COMMUNION/CANDLELIGHTING SERVICE 7:00pm (We will be using the BLUE hymnals) *Those who are able, please stand. Christmas is a time to reflect on the gift that God gave to the world in Jesus Christ. John, the Gospel writer, tells us that in the person of Jesus Christ was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:4-5). PRELUDE Stars Over Bethlehem Peery O Little Town of Bethlehem Redner Christmas Pastorale Demorest Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Picardy Ukrainian Bell Carol Leontovich Once In Royal David s City Gauntlett Christmas in My Home Town Jon Nicklow The Sounds of Christmas Jon Nicklow *PROCESSIONAL HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful P. 100 *SOLEMN DECLARATION *CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) God reigns; let the earth rejoice. God saves; may all humankind respond with joy. We are the people of God, rescued and redeemed. God sends light to guide us on our way. Give thanks to God s holy name. Praise God s goodness and loving kindness. We are called to prepare the way for others; we have good news to share with the world. A child comes as God s sign of peace. Glory to God in the highest. We have come to see what God is doing. Let us glorify and praise God in our worship. Let us worship God! *CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Amazing God, we confess our fear to let down our guard, to feel the wonder, to believe the good news. Why would Love choose to live among us, who are so unloving in our words and deeds? Why would you choose to place Trusting Innocence in the hands of sinners like us? We are afraid to bow down, lest we be accused of sentimental weakness. We hesitate to embrace Joy, lest it turn to disappointment in the cruel realities of this world. Forgive us and awaken the child within us, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. (Time for personal confession) *ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS L: Amen! P: Thanks be to God! *GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO (refrain) Glo - - - - - - - - - - ria in excelsis Deo! Glo - - - - - - - - - - - - ria in excelsis Deo! *INVOCATION (unison) Gracious God, you keep surprising us. Just when we get settled into our routines, you offer us a transforming birth. While we focus on greatness, you appear in humble circumstances among ordinary people. Amid the noise of our busyness, the angel song suddenly penetrates our dulled awareness, and we must listen again. O God, keep us from fear or cynicism, lest we miss this opportunity to hear good news that is meant for us, and for all this world in which we live. Amen. LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE For weeks we have listened to obscure messages from ancient prophets. In their words we have caught glimpses of the light that is promised. Now, though the wreath is ablaze and all the candles of anticipation have been lit, still there is one last prophecy to hear. All: With eyes wide open, ears attuned and hearts unguarded, we gather around the wreath one last time, longing to receive the Word within the words. A reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 9, verses 2 to 7. All: This night these words are fulfilled in our hearing and in our living for the promise of God has come to us. Our lives are the manger in which the Christ child is born. No longer do we seek light from another source; now the light burns in our hearts and we become love s lamp. So, we light the candle at the center of our wreath and our faith. We light it in the name of the One who is the light, and, as Mary did so long ago, we name this light Jesus.
Prayer (Unison): We thank you, God, for your gift of Jesus Christ to the entire world. We thank you that Christ s coming makes hope, peace, love and joy possible for every person in every nation. Encourage us to do our part to bring goodwill and peace to our families, our churches, our neighborhoods, and the world. Now let your Spirit put us in touch with you, the living God, through the words and music we hear tonight. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. CHRISTMAS CAROL What Child Is This? P. 94 CHILDREN S TIME SR CHOIR ANTHEM O Holy Night Arr. by Mauldin SCRIPTURE READING John 1:1-14 Luke 2: 1 20 CHRISTMAS CAROL Hark! The Herald Angels Sing P. 93 CHRISTMAS MEDITATION: Three Kinds of Candles CHRISTMAS CAROL It Came upon the Midnight Clear P. 90 SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION (All who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are invited to participate in the elements of Holy Communion.) INVITATION Beloved in Christ, the Gospel tells us that on the first day of the week Jesus Christ was raised from death, appeared to Mary Magdalene, on that same day sat at the table with two disciples, and was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Men and women, youth and children, come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and gather about Christ s table. This table is for all Christians who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God s people. COMMUNION PRAYER L: God be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We lift them to God. L: Let us give thanks to God Most High. P: It is right to give God thanks and praise. L: We give you thanks.we praise you with joy, singing: SANCTUS: (Sing twice) Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores you! My heart is glad to say the words: you are holy, God.
COMMUNION PRAYER (continues) We remember..restore the earth with your grace that is able to make all things new. PRAYER RESPONSE (unison) Be present with us as we share this meal, and throughout all our lives, that we may know you as the Holy One, who with Christ and the Holy Spirit, lives forever. Amen. LORD S PRAYER (use debts and debtors) BREAKING BREAD AND POURING CUP SHARING THE ELEMENTS (Communion elements will be distributed by the Elders. Grape juice is white; wine is red.) COMMUNION BLESSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (unison) Almighty God, we give you thanks for the gift of our Savior s presence in the simplicity and splendor of this holy meal. Unite us with all who are fed by Christ s body and blood that we may faithfully proclaim the good news of your love and that your universal church may be a rainbow of hope in an uncertain world; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. CHRISTMAS CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem P. 92 OFFERING OFFERTORY It Came Upon The Midnight Clear Willis *OFFERING RESPONSE We Three Kings We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION SERVICE OF CANDLELIGHTING Distribution of the Light (The church will be darkened with the exception of the Christ Candle. Pastor Fred will light a candle from the Christ Candle and light the candles of the Deacons. The Deacons will distribute the light to the first person in each pew, beginning in the rear of the sanctuary. The light will then be passed to each worshiper. Remember, the lighted candle stays upright; tip the unlighted candle to receive the light. Candles will be extinguished after we have sung the Christmas Benediction.) CHRISTMAS CAROL Silent Night! Holy Night! P. 85 (The carol will begin when all the candles are lit. Candles are held high on the last two measures of music on the first line of each verse.) CHRISTMAS BLESSING
CHRISTMAS BENEDICTION Along the olden Christmas road we journey year by year; We sing again the carols sweet, to mem'ry ever dear O blessed Christ of Bethlehem, give us, we humbly pray, Thy song to cheer, thy star to guide us in thy holy way. Amen. *RECESSIONAL HYMN Joy to the World! P. 87 *CHIMES *POSTLUDE Postlude On A Christmas Carol Wilson <>< <>< <>< Please fill out a communion card and place it in the offering plate with your offering. MINISTERS INTERIM PASTOR ORGANIST PIANIST SECRETARY SEXTON GREETERS ACOLYTES LAY READER THE PEOPLE REV. FRED WALTHOUR GWEN TROUT DARRYL ENGLER VICTORIA WAUGH DALE SMITH DALE AND LINDA SMITH CRAIG BRENNEMAN AND JUSTIN MILLER SANDI PRUEITT
We welcome everyone to this evening s worship and pray God s blessing upon each of us. If you are visiting, you are invited to sign our guest register in the lobby or a visitor s card in the pew rack. Altar Flowers and Bulletins in memory of Mom and Dad by Linda, Dale & family. The Flowers on the Credence Shelf are in honor of Mary and Charlie Bailey's 73 rd Wedding Anniversary from Linda and Dale Smith. Prayer List: The entire congregation of Trinity UCC, our friends and loved ones, our shut-ins, our military personnel and their families, Raylene Ballard, Steve Becker, Parker Bowman, Joan Boyer, Lisa Eavey, James and Lucille Fager, Faye Forry, Claire Hanegraaf, Tracy Hanegraaf, Jim Hoover, Richard Hupper, Hailey Kehoe, Dylan Keister, Levi Krodel, Brynna Landry, Pam Lentz, Marge Lerew, Kim Markle, Dorothy Mays, Mary Lou McCann, William McCauley, Shirley McCullough, Arlene Miller, David Mumert, Gloria Poff, Angie Proctor, Gary Reichart, Helen Rohrbach, Jeff Rohrbaugh, Nora Rohrbaugh, Troy Rosenzweig, Allen Roser, Bill Shamberger, Donald Shue, Deb Smith, John H. Smith, Linda Rae Spangler, Barto Sweitzer, Shari Taylor, Mason Thibault, Floyd Weist, Jason Welch, Daphne Williams Announcements: Thank you, Gwen Trout, Darryl Engler, Jon Nicklow, and Senior Choir for sharing your musical talents with us this evening. Christmas Eve envelopes are designated to the Current Expenses Fund. Your New Offering Envelopes should be picked up. Please wait until 2016 to use them. At that time, discard any old envelopes you might not have used, and use only your new envelopes. Sunday, December 27 o 8AM fellowship breakfast. All are welcome! o 9AM Sunday School for all ages. o 10:15AM Traditional worship. Wednesday, December 30: Senior choir rehearsal at 7PM.
The Staff of Trinity United Church of Christ would like to thank you for all your love and support throughout 2015. May the love, joy and peace that only He can bring be yours at Christmas and always.
In memory of Loved Ones by Louise Brodbeck In memory of Loved Ones by the Brian Miller family In honor of our grandchildren: Toby, Ashley, Levi, Chloe, Logan and Greyson by Charlie & Jane Bubb In honor of Kayla and Iain Murray by Gregory &Deborah Smith In honor of our wedding anniversary by Nelson & Virginia Alpaugh In honor of Loved Ones by the Brian Miller family In honor of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ by Rev. Fred & Linda Walthour To the Glory of God by the Case family POINSETTIA ALTERNATIVE SOUTHERN YORK COUNTY PANTRY In memory of Loved Ones by the Donald Day family In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Mervin L. Williams by Pat, Darryl & Lori Engler In memory of Loved Ones by Bob & Bonnie Nicklow In memory of Harry Forry by the Harry Forry family In memory of Marlyn Henry by Shirley Henry In memory of our parents by Rodney & Marilyn Sides In memory of my sister, Mary, by Helen L. Wills In honor of Jamie Smith by Gregory and Deborah Smith In honor of our grandchildren by Tom & Ellen Dougherty To the Glory of God by Bill &Mary Bruaw