Sunday December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve Worship Service
Livestream at 7:00 p.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

PRELUDE — “Still, Still, Still” — Jeffrey Blersch

SILENT MEDITATION
IT WAS NOT suddenly and unannounced that Jesus came into the world.  He came into a world that had been prepared for him. The whole Old Testament is the story of a special preparation… Only when all was ready, only in the fullness of his time, did Jesus come.
– Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), The Consolations of God: Great Sermons of Phillips Brooks

WELCOME — John 3:16

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES AND THE CHRIST CANDLE
The Stalnaker Family (Scott, Amanda, Brynn, Korbin, and Ada)

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE  (#83) — “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” — STUTTGART

CHRISTMAS EVE CALL TO WORSHIP
All God’s people – boys and girls, women, men:
       Come and worship!
Shepherds, Magi, saints, and angels:
       Come and worship! Come and worship!
All who need the Savior, all who long for comfort:
       Come and worship, come and worship Christ, the newborn King!

*CAROL 133 — “O Come, All Ye Faithful” — ADESTE FIDELIS
(*Please stand, if you are able.)

*PRAYER OF ADORATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

ANTHEM  — “The Birthday of a King” — W.H. Niedlinger
Jacob Denton, baritone

A Service of Lessons and Carols

THE FIRST LESSON — Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
The Messiah will come from the root of Jesse to restore the peace of creation

CAROL #129 — Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” — ES IST EIN’ ROS’

THE SECOND LESSON — Luke 1:26-35, 38
An angel appears to Mary and announces that she will bear a holy child

CAROL #100 — “My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout” — STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN

THE THIRD LESSON — Luke 2:1, 3-7
Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, where Mary gives birth to her child

ANTHEM — “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” — arr. Mack Wilberg
Alleluia Singers

THE FOURTH LESSON — Luke 2:8-20
Angels appear to shepherds in the fields and announce the birth of the Messiah

ANTHEM — “On Christmas Night” — arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams

THE FIFTH LESSON — Matthew 2:1-11
Magi from the East come seeking the Messiah and offer gifts to the baby Jesus

*CAROL — “The First Nowell” — THE FIRST NOWELL
The first Nowell the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel.

This star drew nigh to the northwest; O’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay, Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in those wise men three, Fell reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in His presence, Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel.

THE SIXTH LESSON — John 1:1-14
The Word of God becomes flesh and lives among us, full of grace and truth

*CAROL #121 — “O Little Town of Bethlehem” — ST. LOUIS

OFFERTORY — Gesu“Gesù Bambino” — Pietro A. Yon
Olivia Hacker, soprano

THE SPREADING OF THE LIGHT — “Candlelight Carol” — John Rutter
Alleluia Singers

CAROL — “Silent Night” — STILLE NACHT

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, Alleluias to our King;
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

BENEDICTION

*CAROL — “Joy to the World” —  ANTIOCH

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 all their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and 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 — Toccata on “Hark! The Angels Sing” — Paul Frey