Donate Online/PledgeOrder of Service 12-24-2023 6:00 PM
“Nativity: A Christmas Eve Pageant” (MultiGen)
Led by Rev. Eric Cherry and Jeannette Bessinger
Worship Partner: Renee Bucklin
Ushers: Debra Weaver
Coffee Angels: Jan and John Searles
Pianist: Nonetta Shatakhtsian
Tech Host: Liz Cox (Roper)
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude: O Come Little Children by J.A.Schulz arr. By M. Kogut
Call to Worship and Chalice Lighting: Reading by Jo Von Rue (adapted)
Blessing Our Youngest Ones
Singing Together: #1061, For So The Children Come
Call for the Offering: The offering tonight will be given to the International Rescue Committee – irc.org – in support of its humanitarian relief work in Gaza. To donate click HERE
Offertory: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by H. Martin and R. Blane
Nativity, An Intergenerational Participatory Re-Living, Original script by Rev. Jory Agate (adapted many times over many years)
Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently, the wonder is made known,
when God imparts to human hearts the gift that is our own.
No ear may hear that coming, but in the worldly din
When souls are truly humble, then the dear babe rests within
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: A partridge in a pear tree
Nativity Continues
Carol: Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
Nativity Continues
*Carol: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Nativity Continues
Carol: In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter long ago.
Christ a homeless stranger, so the gospels say,
cradled in a manger and a bed of hay;
in the bleak midwinter stable place sufficed
Mary and her baby, Jesus Christ.
Once more child and mother weave their magic spell,
touching hearts with wonder words can never tell;
in the bleak midwinter, in this world of pain,
where are hearts are open love is born again.
Prayer and Candle Lighting:
Carol: Silent Night
- 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.
Benediction by Howard Thurman
Carol: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
It’s a season for music
It’s a season for music
It’s a season for music
And a time of good Cheer
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Postlude
Order of Service 12-24-2023 8:00 PM
“Christmas Eve: Candlelight, Carols, and Lessons”
Led by Rev. Eric Cherry and Jeannette Bessinger
Worship Partner: Christine Ariel
Readers: Kristin Lehoullier, Bob Walker and Deb Weaver
Coffee Angels: Jan and John Searles
Ushers: Sandra Norris and Mort White
Pianist: Nonetta Shatakhtsian
Choir Members:
Tech Host: Liz Cox (Roper)
Gathering Music
Prelude: O Come All Ye Faithful by John Francis Wade
- O Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
O, come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of Angels
Chorus:
Venite Adoremus (3x)
Dominum
2. Lo, humble shepherds, hasting to his cradle,
Lea-ving their flo-cks in fie-lds, draw near.
We, too, with gladness, thither bend our footsteps
Chorus
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest.
Chorus
Call to Worship
Lighting of the Chalice: “Come into Christmas” by Ellen Fay; Christine Ariel, Worship Partner
Reading “Gabriel’s Annunciation” by Jan Richardson; read by Kristin Lehoullier
Choir: This Christmas by Pinkzebra
Reading from the Gospel according to Luke; read by Jeannette Bessinger
Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem by Phillips Brooks
- O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight. - For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth.
Let praises ring: from God they bring
goodwill to all on earth. - How silently, how silently, the wonder is made known,
when God imparts to human hearts the gift that is our own.
No ear may hear that coming, but in the worldly din
When souls are truly humble, then the dear babe rests within
Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew; read by Rev. Eric Cherry
Carol: The First Noel (2 Verses)
- The first Noel, 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 winters night that was so deep.
Noel (x4) born is the king of Israel. - They looked up and saw a star,
shining in the east beyond them far,
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel (x4) born is the king of Israel.
Reading On Angels by Czeslaw Milosz; read by Bob Walker
Carol: Angels We Have Heard on High by Earl Marlatt
- Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Chorus: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Chorus
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Chorus
4. See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Chorus
The Call for the Offering Jeannette Bessinger
The offering tonight will be given to the International Rescue Committee – irc.org – in support of its humanitarian relief work in Gaza. To donate, click HERE.
Offertory Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by H. Martin and R. Blane
Homily Must we go to Bethlehem? Rev. Eric Cherry
Carol: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
- It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to all,
From heaven the news we bring.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing. - Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessèd 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.
Reading: The Camels Speak by Lynn Ungar; read by Deb Weaver
Introduction to Silent Night
Carol: Silent Night by Joseph Mohr
- 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.
Benediction by Howard Thurman
Closing Carol: #239 Go Tell It On The Mountain
Chorus: Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and every where;
go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
1. While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.
Chorus
2. The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed the baby’s birth.
Chorus
3. Down in a lowly manger
the humble babe was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Postlude