Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24, 2017 7:00 P.M. White 6:30 Pre-service Musical Ensemble Linda Adams, Jeff Grosser & Sarah Whitfield Obscure French Christmas Carols Prelude Welcome Choral Introit Away in a Manger Setting by David Maxwell Torches John Joubert *Call to Worship L: The Christ Child is born! Alleluia! P: Alleluia! We come to worship the Newborn King. L: With voices raised in praise, we celebrate this night! P: With hearts lifted, we rejoice! L: For in the midst of darkness, the Light of the World appears! That light is named Jesus. P: Gathered in the light and love of God, we come to adore Christ the Lord! *Processional Hymn O Come All Ye Faithful No. 132 Unison Invocation Prayer Gracious God, as we gather this evening in celebration of the Good News of Christ s birth, we pray for all who long to hear it again. May it refresh and renew our faith. We pray for all who long to hear it for the very first time. May it bear new life within. Lord, bless our journey once more to the manger in Bethlehem. Fill us with your Holy Spirit for this hour of worship and for this lifetime of following the Christ, whose birth we celebrate tonight! In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Time for Youth Lighting of the Christmas Candle The Whitfield Family Choral Anthem Ding Dong! Merrily on High 16 th Century French Tune harmonized by Charles Wood Offering Invitation Offertory I Wonder as I Wander John Jacob Niles Margot Stiassni-Sieracki, soprano *Presentation Hymn We Three Kings (verses 1-3) No. 162 *Prayer of Dedication Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, we present these offerings to you this night. Bless them and transform them into acts of hope, peace, joy, and love that share the gift of you with our neighbors and the world. We pray in the name of the Newborn King, Jesus Christ. Amen. Hymn Away in a Manger No.150 The Christmas Narrative The Prophesy Isaiah 9:6-7 Martha Speed The Birth Luke 2:1-7 Deb Olson *Hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem No.151 Angels & Shepherds Luke 2:8-20 Sarah Whitfield *Hymn Angels We Have Heard on High No. 135
Christmas Meditation Only a Child Rev. Josh Fitterling Lighting of the Candles & Hymn Silent Night No. 142 Laura Whitney-Brewer, soprano A Christmas Prayer (Please remain seated as the light is brought to you and for the singing of Silent Night) Benediction (following the benediction, please extinguish your candle) Postlude O Come All Ye Faithful Setting by David Maxwell Minister: Rev. Josh Fitterling Music Director: Ms. Leela Koilpillai Church School Teacher & Coordinator: Ms. Colleen Crowley Office Administrator: Ms. Janet Leonard Sexton: Ms. Mary McKinney Church Email: fccw@myfairpoint.net Church Office: 207-882-7544 www.uccwiscasset.org Find us on Facebook First Congregational Church United Church of Christ 28 High Street, P.O. Box 350 Wiscasset, ME 045
Those Serving You Today Ushers: Dan & Zoe Bigley, David & Becky Lenz The evening s offering will be used for the church s special needs fund. This fund provides help to those in need throughout the year, helping with fuel oil, rent, medical needs, etc. May we support our neighbors in need with our best gifts as we celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ! A special thanks to the Peaslee family and Green Acre Tree Farm for the donation of the Christmas tree in the sanctuary and to Ron Sanchez & Tom Cramer for the Christmas tree donation in Fellowship Hall. Coming Up. Lessons and Carols, Dec. 31, 10 am Coming up on Dec. 31 at 10 am worship is the traditional Lessons and Carols service. Through scripture readings and carols, we will pass through the Christmas season one last time. Please join us! White Gift Sunday, Jan. 7, 10 am On Sunday, January 7 th, we will hold our annual White Gift Service. White Gift Sunday began in a Methodist church in 1904 in Ohio. The pastor s wife knew the legend of the Chinese people who loved their king so much that they each brought him a gift on his birthday. The gifts were all wrapped in white paper in order to emphasize the love of the people and the intent of the gift, not the size or value of it. The minister s wife and children asked their congregation to bring a gift wrapped in white for their king, Jesus. These were often packages of food, the kind of thing that even the poorest in the congregation could bring. They were Christmas love gifts to be distributed to people in need in their community. Our gifts this year will be going to the Lincoln County Fuel Assistance program, the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, and St. Philips Food Pantry. Please wrap items for the food pantry and Animal Shelter in white paper. Financial contributions can be placed in white envelopes with checks payable to First Congregational Church with a memo indicating which organization your donation should go to.
******************************* Michelle Peele In memory of Morgan, our daughter **Rev. Josh Fitterling In honor of the birth of our Savior** ***Wally & Nancy Roby In memory of loved ones*** ****Libby & Bob Mooney In memory of our parents**** Emily & Brad Adler In honor of our daughters and their families Steve & Jan Whitfield In memory of Bill & Bernice Whitfield, *****************and John & Barbara Kammerer***************** ***Brian and Linda Adams In memory of Gene and June Duston, *********and William and Beatrice Adams********* Carol Blake In memory of my parents and In honor of my wonderful *******************children and grandchildren***************** *****Becky & David Lenz In memory of Robert and Marjorie Minor, **********and Grace and John Lenz, and In honor of ******** *******Jack, Lilah and Brandon*******