Bulletin for Online Christmas Day Service
December 25, 2022 – Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

PRELUDE
Now Rejoice, Good Christians by J.S. Bach

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

VOCAL CALL TO WORSHIP
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming arr. Richard Walters

A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE — JESUS CHRIST
What are they that are but one?
We have one God alone; in heaven above sits on His throne:
(Hebrews 1: 1-4) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

*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.

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, and wonders of his love.

TWO TURTLE DOVES — THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
What are they which are by two?
Two testaments, the old and new, we do acknowledge to be true.

THREE FRENCH HENS — THE TRINITY
What are they which are but three?
Three persons in the Trinity, which make one God in unity.

*DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow – Lasst uns erfreuen

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

PASSING THE PEACE

THREE FRENCH HENS — THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES: FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY
CALL TO RECONCILIATION AND RESPONSIVE PRAYER OF BROKENNESS
Loving God—Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, As we come to you in the light of this Christmas morning, we admit that there are times when our faith, hope, and charity are not so readily on display.

It can be difficult to hold on to our belief and trust in you amidst the trials, and busyness, and
boredom of our lives. Sometimes our faith wanes, and we fail to take the time to call a friend, or
return to scripture, or sink into deep prayer that we might find you anew. Forgive us when our faith fails us.

Sometimes, as our earth warms and violence rages, the bad news of the world can be overwhelming. And we lose sight of your promises that light and love will always get the last word. Forgive us when our hope falters.

Sometimes, in our fear of not having enough or another having what they do not deserve, we hold on too tightly to the gifts you give us. Other times we dole out compassion to make ourselves feel good without seeking a genuine connection with those in need of care. Forgive us when we resort to puffed-up charity or forget how to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Bring us back to the tenderness of the manger
to restore our faith in our God who risks to be among us,
our hope in the one who set the angels to singing,
and our generosity to share like the Magi who came with gifts before a poor, refugee baby.

SILENT REFLECTION

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE
Angels We Have Heard on High – Gloria

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains. Glo—ria in excelsis Deo! Glo—ria in excelsis Deo!

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Lennox Arthur Mendick, child of Joe and Haley Allen Mendick, born on October 23, 2022

Congregational Affirmation:
With joy and thanksgiving, we welcome Lennox Arthur Mendick into Christ’s church
to share with us in the one ministry of Christ, for we are all one in Him.

*CAROL #132
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice – IN DULCI JUBILO

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

FOUR CALLING BIRDS – THE FOUR GOSPEL WRITERS: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE & JOHN
What are they which are but four?
Four sweet Evangelists there are, Christ’s birth, life, death which do declare.

GOSPEL LESSON
John 1:1-5, 14

FIVE GOLDEN RINGS — FIVE BOOKS OF THE PENTATEUCH
What are they which are but five?
The five books of the Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

CAROL #135
There‘s a Star in the East – FOLLOW

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.

SIX GEESE A LAYING — SIX DAYS OF CREATION
Poem, The Creation by James Weldon Johnson

SEVEN SWANS A SWIMMING — GOD’S GIFTS OF THE LIBERAL ARTS
GRAMMAR, DIALECT, RHETORIC, ARITHMETIC, GEOMETRY, ASTRONOMY, MUSIC
What are they which are but seven?
Seven liberal arts hath God sent down, with divine skill man’s soul to crown.

CAROL #151
We Three Kings of Orient Are  – Kings of Orient

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!

EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING — THE BEATITUDES
Matthew 3:1-10
What are they which are but eight?
Eight Beatitudes are there given. Use them right and go to heaven.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

CAROL #147
The First Nowell – The First Nowell

The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.

NINE LADIES DANCING — THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
What are they which are but nine?
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

INVITATION TO SHARE OUR OFFERING

OFFERTORY
Coventry Carol arr. Lloyd Larson

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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.

TEN LORDS A LEAPING — THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
(from The Study Catechism Confirmation Version Questions 68-69)

What are they which are but ten?
Ten statutes God to Moses gave, which, kept or broke, do spill or save.

What are the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments give a summary of God’s law for our lives.
They teach us how to live rightly with God and one another.

Why should you obey this law?
Not to win God’s love, for God already loves me. Not to earn my salvation, for Christ has earned it for me. Not to avoid being punished, for then I would obey out of fear. With gladness in my heart I should obey God’s law out of gratitude, for God has blessed me by it and given it for my well-being.

BEARING GOD’S WORD INTO THE WORLD

ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING — THE FAITHFUL APOSTLES
What are they which are but eleven?
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James bar Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas bar James.

TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING — POINTS OF THE APOSTLES’ CREED

*THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Apostles’ Creed
1 I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
2 And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;
3 who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
4 suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
5 he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
6 he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
7 from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
8 I believe in the Holy Ghost;
9 the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints;
10 the forgiveness of sins;
11 the resurrection of the body;
12 and the life everlasting. Amen.

*CAROL #136
Go, Tell It on the Mountain – GO TELL IT

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

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE
In Thee Is Gladness J.S. Bach

Read Announcements for the week of December 25, 2022