Service for the Lord's Day

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Gathering and Centering Ourselves for Worship



Prelude

In dulci jubilo - arr. Paul Manz



Welcome

Kneeling in Bethlehem - Ann Weems

It is not over,

this birthing.

There are always newer skies

into which

God can throw stars.

Call to Worship

One:

There is good news of great joy for all.

Many:

Our Savior is born: The Messiah, the Lord.

One:

Light shines on those who live in darkness,

Many:

for a child is born to us.

Hymn

Go, Tell It on the Mountain

GO TELL IT

Invocation

Star-Giving - Ann Weems

Christmas Response

We Three Kings of Orient Are

KINGS OF ORIENT

Passing of the Peace & Announcements

reading from The Church Year - Ann Weems

Proclaiming the Word

A Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

The Word of the Lord - Thanks be to God.

Musical Offering

Christmas Medley - arr. Michael Hassell

Joshua Hearn, piano

A Time for All God's Children



A Reading from the Gospels

Luke 2:22-40

The Word of the Lord - Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Lanterns in the Snow - Roger Robbennolt

Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton

Our Response to the Word

Affirmation of Faith

The Christmas Spirit - Ann Weems

Hymn

Once in Royal David's City

IRBY

The Church at Prayer

The Lord be with you - And also with you.

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 and it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil For Thine is the kingdom and power and the glory forever. Amen.



The Presentation & Dedication of Our Gifts

Offertory

What Child Is This – arr. Paul Manz

Offertory Response

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

CAROL

The Prayer of Dedication

(in unison)

O Majesty on High, in thanksgiving for your Son, bless these gifts we offer that they may give light to the darkened corners of our world: in Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Going Forth into the World to Live the Gospel

The Sending

Christmas Comes - Ann Weems

Hymn

The First Nowell

THE FIRST NOWELL

Benediction & Response

On Christmas Night

SUSSEX CAROL

Postlude

The First Nowell – arr. Ashley Grote

Brad Amstein & Alisa Kozlowski, liturgists

Bryan Johnson & Rick Newkirk, audio/visual

SOUTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF



Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton, Pastor (Transitional)

Joshua G. Hearn, Director of Music Ministry

Hannah Ratliff, Director of Children & Youth Ministry

Denise Dillon-Gruber, Office Manager

Ann Weems has been called the “Presbyterian poet laureate.” The daughter and spouse of Presbyterian ministers, she was an elder, worship leader, lecturer, and popular poet. Among her published words were Reaching for Rainbows, Searching for Shalom, Kneeling in Jerusalem, and Psalms of Lament. She co-edited the anthology Faith in Words: A Celebration of Presbyterian Writers. She received the David Steele Distinguished Writer Award from the Presbyterian Writers Guild. The poems for this morning’s service were drawn from Kneeling in Bethlehem, published by Westminster/John Knox Press, 1987. Ann Weems died in 2016.

Roger Robbennolt, is a United Church of Christ minister and master storyteller. He is the author of many books of stories. Our story this morning comes from his book, The Unicorn at the Manger: Yearlong Stories of the Holy Night.