December 31, 2023
Welcome
Call to Worship: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Hymn 5)
French carol
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Hymn 31)
Wesley/Mendelssohn
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!”
Duet: The First Nowell
Bonnie and Jeannie Lee
Mary’s Little Boy-Child
Steve Blewett
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Hymn 38)
Sears/Willis
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, From heaven’s all-gracious King”:
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow,
Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.
Confession
Merciful God, in great love you have come to us and claimed us as your children. Help us to praise you by living in harmony and peace. Forgive us when we do not pay attention to your purposes and plans. Forgive us for the times we do not trust your good news. Renew our hope, so that we may receive the fullness of your grace, and live in the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen.
Silence
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Gentle Mary Laid Her Child (Hymn 27)
Cook/Piae Cantiones
Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger
There He lay, the undefiled, to the world a stranger.
Such a babe in such a place, can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race who have found His favor.
Angels sang about His birth, wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven’s star shone brightly forth, glory all around Him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.
Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger;
He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger.
Son of God, of humble birth, beautiful the story;
Praise His name in all the earth, hail the King of glory!
Still, Still, Still (Hymn 47)
Austrian carol
Still, still, still, He sleeps this night so chill!
The virgin’s tender arms enfolding,
Warm and safe the Child are holding.
Still, still, still, He sleeps this night so chill.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, He lies in slumber deep
While angel hosts from heaven come winging,
Sweetest songs of joy are singing.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, He lies in slumber deep.
There’s a Song in the Air
Scribner/Harrington
There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth
For the Virgin’s sweet boy is the Lord of the earth.
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
Scripture Readings
Alida Gowan
Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10- 11
New Testament: Luke 2:22-40
Mary and Joseph Came to the Temple
Pratt/Haas
Mary and Joseph came to the temple
Brought the boy Jesus, offered him there.
People were waiting wanting to greet him;
Long had they sought him, solace for care.
Anna had prayed there, widowed, long waiting,
Worshiping God by day and by night.
Now she is praising, filled with elation:
Here is God’s promise, Christ is her light.
Simeon sings now: God proffers blessing,
Brilliantly gilding dawn of his day.
Light in the darkness, never extinguished,
Light of all nations, light up our way.
Christmas Traditions
Jill Cathey and Helen Byrne
Prayers of the People
Mila Russell
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.
Chorus:
O star of wonder star of night, star with royal beauty bright;
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign. (chorus)
Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, alleluia Sounds through the earth and skies. (chorus)
Call to Stewardship
Shelly Owen
Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow (Hymn 50)
African-American Spiritual
There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn, Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
It will lead to the place where the Christ was born, Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Follow the Star of Bethlehem, Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
If you take good heed to the angel’s words, Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds, Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Follow the Star of Bethlehem, Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Go Tell It on the Mountain (Hymn 29)
African-American Spiritual
Refrain:
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. (refrain)
The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! Above the earth,
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. (refrain)
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. (refrain)
Benediction
Postlude
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