Bulletin for December 24, 2012: 8:00 p.m. Service. Click below to read more.

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WORSHIP DECEMBER 24, 2012: 8:00 P.M.
CANDLELIGHT SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

PRELUDE Ave Maria Franz Biebl
Men’s Ensemble

INTROIT Come Rejoice/The First Noel/Mary, Mary Collins/McLachlan, arr. Huff

* CALL TO WORSHIP Baron Mullis
Leader: Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given.
People: His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ev-
erlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Leader: Let us worship God!

* PROCESSIONAL CAROL 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!
Chorus: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten, not created. Chorus
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation!
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all Glory in the highest! Chorus
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! Chorus

BIDDING PRAYER

WELCOME

FIRST LESSON The Messiah is foretold by Isaiah Isaiah 9:2-7

ANTHEM Psallite (Sing Psalms to the Christ Child) Michael Praetorius
Sung in Latin and English

SECOND LESSON The peace that the Messiah will bring is foretold Isaiah 11:1-9

ANTHEM Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose (15th-century English text) John Rutter
Of a rose, a lovely rose, of a rose is all my song. Hearken to me, both old and young, how this
rose began to spring; a fairer rose to mine liking, in all this world ne know I none. Five branches of
that rose there been, the which be both fair and sheen; the rose is called Mary, heaven’s queen, out
of her bosom a blossom sprang. The first branch was of great honour: that blest Marie should bear
the flower; there came an angel from heaven’s tower, to break the devil’s bond. The second branch
was great of might, that sprang upon Christmas night; the star shone over Bethlehem bright, that
man should see it both day and night. The third branch did spring and spread; three kings then the
branch gan led unto our Lady in her child-bed; into Bethlehem that branch sprang right. The fourth
branch it sprang to hell, the devil’s power for to fell: that no soul therein should dwell, the branch
so blessedfully sprang.The fifth branch it was so sweet, it sprang to heaven, both crop and root,
therein to dwell and be our bote: so blessedly it sprang. Pray we to her with great honour, she that
bare the blessed flower, to be our help and our succour, and to shield us from the fiendes bond.

* CAROL Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.

THIRD LESSON The prophet foresees the glory of the coming of the Lord Isaiah 60:1-6

ANTHEM Quintet and Final Chorus (from Christmas Oratorio) Camille Saint-Saëns
Arise now, Daughter of Zion! Alleluia. Praise God in the night! Praise him in the first watches of
the nighttime. That Zion’s true glory might be manifested, that her Savior might rise and shine
before the nations. Praise ye the Lord of hosts. Sing his salvation, bless his name, show forth his
praise in his holy house! Rejoice, ye heavens, and be joyful, on earth; rejoice in the face of the
Lord, for he cometh. Alleluia.

FOURTH LESSON The angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary Luke 1:26-33

CAROL Gabriel’s Message Basque carol

SOLO Mary Had a Baby Spiritual

FIFTH LESSON The birth of Jesus is told Luke 2:1-7

ANTHEM In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst

TRIO What Child Is This? Traditional, arr. Foster/Huff

SIXTH LESSON The angels proclaim the Messiah’s birth Luke 2:8-14

ANTHEM The Gift Traditional Shaker, arr. Chilcott
The gift we deliver, the gift we receive is the living spirit Mary did conceive, the royal gift of
love, incandescent flame is given to all mankind in His name. Joy, joy, it is our true delight to receive
on this wondrous night. A boy-child to Mary is born and His light will shine on beyond the
dawn.

SEVENTH LESSON The shepherds go to the manger Luke 2:15-20

ANTHEM What Strangers Are These? Old Scottish Carol, arr. Purvis
What strangers are these that wander through the town? Hush, ‘tis Joseph and weary Mary. And
what does he seek so hopeless and in vain? He is seeking shelter for Mary, for she is the blest and
chosen of the Lord, who will bear to all a goodly King. And who is this king of whom ye proudly
sing? Know ye not the Christ, Jesus the Saviour? What wee bairn is this, that in a manger lies?
Hush, ‘tis Jesus Christ, son of Mary. Say, what fair maid is this whose joy is mixed with awe? Oh,
‘tis Mary, holy mother of Jesus. O, these are the shepherds, and these the Magi Kings who have
brought him their gifts of gold and myrrh. But why kneel they in homage here before a babe? They
adore their King, Jesus the Saviour. Who are these that march from death to life? These are they
who love Jesus, the Christ Child. And how do they triumph o’er the gates of hell? Through the
grace of him, Jesus, the Christ Child. He is born to redeem the sons of God and man, to bring
peace, joy, love and brotherhood. Oh, where shall I find him, where shall I seek? He is here and
now, Jesus, your Saviour.

OFFERTORY PRAYER

OFFERTORY This Christmastide Donald Fraser

EIGHTH LESSON The light in the darkness John 1:1-14

SERVICE OF LIGHT
(The light is passed throughout the congregation during the singing of the hymn.)

CAROL 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.

SOLO O Holy Night Adolphe Adam

PRAYER (in unison)
(The congregation is asked to extinguish the candles following the prayer.)
Eternal God: in Jesus Christ your light shines in our darkness, bringing joy in
our sorrow and presence in our loneliness. On this holy night, draw us in to
the mystery of your love. May the blessings of Christmas fill every heart, and
may we fall to our knees in recognition and joy. In the name of the Christ
child we pray. Amen.

* CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem
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!

* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* EPILOGUE
Come rejoice, queen and beggar, the homeless man and the prince of pride; saints and
vagabonds, rich and poor, rejoice in gladness on Christmas night...
Come Rejoice! Collins
Gabriel’s Oboe Morricone