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Order of Worship
Preludes
A Christmas Prelude - Charles Callahan
Away in a Manger - Wilbur Held
Go Tell It on the Mountain - Wilbur Held
Prelude on Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing
(French Traditional Carol) Arr. Harrison Oxley
Good Night My Jesus Paul Cappers
(Composed for the family to perform at Christmas in the 1980s)
Bring A Torch Jeanette Isabella
(17th Century French Carol) Kate Kallis, piano
Greeting
Lighting the Advent & Christ Candles Kathi and Bryce Blair
Opening 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;
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!
Child, for us sinners, poor and in the manger,
We would embrace thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him.
O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we great 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
Opening Prayer (in unison)
God of Love and Light, the season of longing and preparation has now ended. We gather tonight to celebrate the birth of your son, who transforms the world with wisdom and grace. We are filled with awe and gratitude! As we listen, sing, and pray tonight, please help us to feel your presence deep within and amongst us. In the coming year, inspire and strengthen us to share your compassion with neighbors near and far...
A Moment for Silent Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father*, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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 for ever. Amen.
*We acknowledge God to be among people of all gender identities and expressions;
we also acknowledge the importance of tradition.
Message for Children Daryl Denelle, Ministry Intern
Jen DiMarzio and Pricilla Anderson
Prayer for Christmas
Carol Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming Todd Swavey
Lo, how a Rose E’re blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming
As prophets long have sung.
It came a floweret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it,
This rose I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it,
The Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright,
She bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
Reading from Scripture: Isaiah 9:2,6-7 Daryl Denelle
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Anthem Gesu Bambino Pietro Yon
Nick Capodilupo, guest soloist
Reading from Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 John Pint
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Anthem Coventry Carol 16th century English Carol
Arr. Martin Shaw, Senior Choir
Sermon “A Light Just Ahead” Rev. Dr. Peter Allen
Carol Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plain
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their Joyous Strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Shepherds why this jubilee
Why your joyous strains prolong
Say, what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song
Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn king
Refrain
Christmas in Candlelight
Anthem O Holy Night Adolphe Adam
Nick Capodilupo, Solo
Carol Silent Night (please remain seated)
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 streams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
(Please hum one final verse)
Benediction
Carol Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come
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 earth! 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.
He rules the world with truth & 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.
Postlude Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Arr. Alfred V. Fadak
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