December 25, 2022 - Christmas
Introit: I Saw Three Ships
English Carol, arr. Page
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Psalm 98]
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song.
Let us worship the LORD!
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Carol 31)
Mendelssohn/Wesley
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 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 the 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!”
Confession
God of boundless love, on this Christmas morning we remember the remarkable way that you joined us in human flesh, as a tiny, vulnerable baby. Help us open our hearts to the good news. Forgive us when we put our trust in what the world has to offer and fail to hold space for the mystery of your incarnation. May we trust you and not be afraid. Amen.
Silence
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Carol 44)
Brooks/Redner
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!
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Four Christmases and the Pastor's Workshop
Mark 1:1
Joy to the World (Hymn 40)
Watts/Handel
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.
Luke 2:1-20
Go Tell It on the Mountain (Hymn 29)
African-American Spiritual
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
Matthew 1:18-2:15
We Three Kings (Hymn 66)
Hopkins
We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O- star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright;
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
John 1:1-5, 14
Of the Father's Love Begotten
Prudentius/Plainsong, Mode V
By his Word was all created; he commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean, universe of three in one,
All that sees the moon’s soft shining, all that breathes beneath the sun,
Evermore and evermore!
Meditation: Christmas Polyphony
Polyphony is a musical texture that features two or more equally prominent melodic lines played at the same time. Each of these lines can be thought of as a melody in its own right -- one that could be sung, played, or listened to independently of the others. But it is the combination of the different strands, all interacting together, that creates polyphony. Polyphony may be likened to a dialogue, a discussion, or even an argument between two or more speakers, all talking concurrently.
Christmas Response: Fugato on Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mendelssohn/Schaffner
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord's Prayer
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.
Christmas Gift Exchange
Offering Our Gifts: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Wade, arr. Adams
Doxology
Smart/Salisbury Hymn Book
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One:
One in might and One in glory while unending ages run.
Charge & Benediction
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Postlude: Joy to the World
Handel, arr. Schalk
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