Service for Christmas Eve 2005, 10 p.m.

 

PRELUDE                                               Musette                                                        G. Young

          Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming                          arr. J. Mansfield

             Glory to God in the Highest                 G. Pergolesi/W. Nevins

                Three Christmas Carols:                       R. Rowland-Raybold

                                                            ~The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

                                                           ~ In the Bleak Midwinter

                                                           ~ Still, Still, Still

                                                  There’s a Song in the Air                                     arr. S. Pethel

                                                       Away in a Manger                                            A. Lovelace                                         

SILENT PROCESSION

            LIGHTING THE CANDLES ON THE WREATH

 

OPENING SENTENCES                                                 based on Isaiah 9: 2 & 6, John 1: 4-5 & 14

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light.

The light shines in the darkness,

And the darkness has not overcome it.

Those who dwell in the land of deep darkness,

On them has the light shined.

We have beheld Christ’s glory,

Glory as of the only Son of the Father.

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.

In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

               

*HYMN # 41                                                                                       O Come, All Ye Faithful                                                       

 

*PRAYER ASKING GOD’S PRESENCE                                                          

    

*THE PEACE

The peace of the Christ child be with you all.

Peace be with you.

(Worshipers greet one another with words and gestures of God’s peace)

 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON                                                                          Isaiah 42: 1-10

 

ANTHEM                                           O Holy Night                                 A. Adam/J. Schrader                                      

 

RESPONSIVE PSALM                                                                                              Psalm 96

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice,

for the Lord has come.

 

HYMN # 40                                                                                                      Joy to the World

             

NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS                                                                    Matthew 2: 1-12

            Poetry & Music       …the lesser light to rule the night

                           While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks                                   arr. L. Larson

 

ANTHEM                    The Cold Night Is Quiet                                                       J. Horman 

  Luke 2: 1-20              

SERMON                                                                                                          “’Pink Ribbon’”        

 

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD

            Minute for Mission:  Westminster-Thurber Life Care Fund

Offerings in designated envelopes or loose in the plate are for

Westminster-Thurber’s Life Care Fund

            Offertory              Arise and Shine! Your Light Has Come!                          J. Martin

 

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION, THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH & THE CHARGE                          on Titus 2: 11-13, The Message

 

                God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public.

Salvation’s available for everyone!

We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life,

And how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life.

This new life is starting right now,

And is whetting our appetites for the glorious day

when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.

He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life

into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of,

energetic in goodness.

 

*RECESSIONAL HYMN # 60                                                         Silent Night, Holy Night

           

*Congregation stands as able

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

 

Liturgists 

 Lorie Ellett, Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Musical Leadership

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Director & Flute

Nancy Deeth, Organist

 

Service for the Lord’s Day & Christmas Day tomorrow morning 10:30.