December 24, 2017 10 p.m.
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 Introit Gaudete arr. Robert J. Bastini The Westminster Singers verses by Joseph S. Cook 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! *Prayer of Confession together Jesus in the manger, we confess that we did not expect to find you here in this lowly stable. Distracted by the flashiness of the world, we thought you would appear on a throne. Or perhaps we thought that amidst the despair and suffering of this world, you would not appear at all. But the star has led us here, and once more we are filled with hope of your transforming power. Forgive us for allowing our waiting to turn to doubting, and surprise us anew, giving us your light to guide us forward. Amen. *Please rise as you are able
*Words of Forgiveness Leader: Friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel: People: We are saved by grace through faith. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen! First Lesson Isaiah 9:2-7 *Carol Veni, Veni, Emmanuel arr. John G. Morgan O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; Fill the whole world with heaven s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Second Lesson Luke 2:1-7 *Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem CAROL 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. 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! Third Lesson Luke 2:8-16 *Carol Away in a Manger MUELLER Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by my side until morning is nigh. Fourth Lesson John 1:1-14 *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. 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 Where Shepherds Lately Knelt Carl Schalk The Westminster Singers text by Timothy Dudley-Smith Where shepherds lately knelt and kept the angel s word, I come in half belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred, but there is room and welcome there for me. In that unlikely place I find him as they said: sweet newborn babe, how frail, and in a manger bed, a still, small voice to cry one day for me. How should I not have known Isaiah would be there, his prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart I stare: a child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me. Can I, will I forget how love was born, and burned its way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned, to die, to live, and not alone for me? The Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Invitation to the Lord s Table Great Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Hear us now, as with one voice we pray as Jesus taught: 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. Communion of the People We will celebrate communion by coming forward to the front of the sanctuary. You are invited to take a piece of gluten-free bread and dip it in the cup of grape juice as the words, The body of Christ, the blood of Christ, are offered. Music During Communion Prayer of Thanksgiving (together) God of Angel Choruses, there are not enough ways to say thank you. Nevertheless, tonight we say thank you for light. Thank you for Your son, and thank you for this meal. With hope, peace, joy and love in our hearts, we gratefully pray. Amen.
*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! 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 Jessie Light-Wells Steve Jobman, Director of Music Zach Light-Wells, Associate Director of Music Michael Groff, Associate Director of Music Bradley Hunter-Welch, Organist Advent Wreath Paul Jones and Steve Stewart Musicians: Adam Gordon, trumpet Leigh Anne Hunsaker, trumpet Chris Oliver, trombone Greg Waits, trombone Andy Downing, French horn Jill Levy, harp 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