The Bells of Christmas

The Bells of Christmas

The Bells of Christmas December 24, 2010 5:00 p.m. Welcome to this Christmas Eve Service! We are delighted that you have joined us on this joyous night. A couple of things to help you fully participate: All of the words to all of the carols are printed in the bulletin. Childcare for those 4 years old and under is available in the education wing. Ask an usher for directions. As part of our worship, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord s Supper. Also known as the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, all who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ are welcome to join in the celebration. You will be served the elements in your seats by church leaders. The wine is unfermented grape juice. At the end of the service, we will light candles. The best way to do this is to dip the unlit candle into the flame of the lighted candle. Please exercise extreme caution in passing the light. *Let those who are able, stand at this sign. THE PRELUDE THE INTROIT Alleluia! A New Work WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD Alleluia! A new work is come on hand through might and grace of God s Son to save the lost of every land. For now is free that erst was bound we may well sing alleluia. Now is fulfilled the prophecy of David and of Jeremy and also of Isaiah. Sing we therefore both loud and high alleluia. Alleluia! this sweeté song out of a green branch it sprung God send us the life that lasteth long. Now joy and bliss be him among that thus can sing alleluia. THE CALL TO WORSHIP P. Whishart 2

*THE HYMN... no. 41 O Come, All Ye Faithful 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! Refrain: 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! (Refrain) Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! (Refrain) *THE OPENING PRAYER Adeste Fideles THE ANTHEM Up! Good Christian Folk, and Listen Ding-dong-ding! Ding-a-dong-a-ding! Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-a-dong ding! Up! Good Christen folk and listen how the merry church bells ring, And from steeple bid good people come adore the newborn King: Tell the story how from glory God came down at Christmastide, Bringing gladness, chasing sadness, showering blessings far and wide. Born of mother, blest o er other, ex Maria Virgine, (from the Virgin Mary) In a stable, ( tis no fable), Christus natus hodie. (Christ is born today) Ding-dong-ding! Ding-a-dong-a-ding! Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-a-dong ding! arr. D. Willcocks THE WORDS OF WELCOME THE PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING WE HEAR THE GOOD NEWS THE FIRST LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 THE ANTHEM Ding Dong! Merrily on High Ding dong! Merrily on high in heaven the bells are ringing! Ding dong! Merrily the sky is riven with angels singing! Gloria! Hosanna in excelsis! Even so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen! And io, io, io, by priest and people sungen! Gloria! Hosanna in excelsis! Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers! May you beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers! Gloria! Hosanna in excelsis! 3 arr. C. Wood

THE SECOND LESSON Luke 2:1-7 THE CAROL... no. 46 On This Day Earth Shall Ring On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing To the Lord, Christ our King, born on earth to save us; Him the Father gave us. Refrain: Ideo-o-o, Ideo-o-o, Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo! His the doom, ours the mirth; When He came down to earth Bethlehem saw His birth; Ox and ass beside Him from the cold would hide Him. (Refrain) On this day angels sing; With their song earth shall ring, praising Christ, heaven s King, Born on earth to save us; Peace and love He gave us. (Refrain) Personent Hodie THE THIRD LESSON Luke 2:8-20 *THE CAROL... no. 31 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 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 th angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail th incarnate Deity, Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. 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 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 newborn King! Mendelssohn THE FOURTH LESSON Titus 2:11-14 4

THE ANTHEM Carol of the Bells Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away. Christmas is here bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold. Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song, with joyful ring, all caroling. One seems to hear words of good cheer from everywhere filling the air. Oh, how they pound, raising the sound, o er hill and dale, telling their tale. Gaily they ring, while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here! Merry Christmas! On they send, on without end, their joyful tone to every home. THE SERMON arr. P.J. Wilhousky The Bells of Christmas THE ANTHEM Bell Carol WE GIVE THANKS FOR GOD S GOODNESS W. Mathias Born is Jesus Christ the King, alleluia. Joy and peace to us he ll bring, alleluia. Upon this day all people sing to hear the news the angels bring To free mankind from fear and sin, and all the bells on earth do ring. Shepherds saw the angels bright, alleluia. Shining through the dark of night, alleluia. Kings there came, and gifts they bare, alleluia. To worship Christ that child so rare, alleluia. To hear the news the angels bring to free mankind from fear and sin, upon this day all people sing noel! Blessed be that holy child, alleluia. And his mother, Mary mild, alleluia. Blessed be the Trinity, alleluia. Mankind is forever free, alleluia. THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER The Words of Invitation The Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord s Prayer (in unison) 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. The Words of Institution The Communion of the People of God You will be served in your seats by leaders of the congregation. Peaceful Blessing S. Eithun O Come, All Ye Faithful K. McChesney The Prayer After Communion THE SERVICE OF CANDLELIGHTING The Lighting of the Christ Candle The Distribution of the Light please exercise extreme caution in passing the light. The Prayer 5

The Carol... no. 60 Silent Night 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, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Stille Nacht *THE CHARGE AND BLESSING WE LEAVE TO SHARE GOD S GOODNESS *THE CAROL... no. 40 Joy to the World 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 us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. 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. *THE POSTLUDE Prelude and Fugue in B Major, Op. 7 Antioch M. Dupré Please feel free to stay and enjoy the Postlude or leave the Sanctuary. 6

Leading worship this morning: Pastor Kevin Scott Fleming Liturgist Jingle Hagey Director of Music Robert Nicholls Assistant Organist Helen Skuggedal Reed The Choir of First Presbyterian Church The First Kids Handbells, Mark Fox, Director The Flute Choir of First Presbyterian Church Sound Technician Jeff Haywood Communion Servers Beverly Attinger, Ron Attinger, Joan Fedor-Bassemier, Dan Korb, Douglass Korb, Julie Lovins, Bill Morrison, Bill Sonntag, Marylu Sonntag, David Sponseller, Bonnie Swetman, Ray Swetman Please join us for one worship service on Sunday, December 26 at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. 7