Sunday Worship Bulletin - Fourth Church

Christmas Eve
8:00 p.m. Worship Service

PRELUDE

Cordes Natus ex Parentis
Sixteenth-century trope/arr. Berry and Flint

Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming
Michael Praetorius/arr. Erich Peterson

Sleepers, Awake!
Johann Sebastian Bach

In the Bleak Midwinter
Gustav Holst/arr. Charlie Schuchat

The Wild Wood Carol
John Rutter/arr. Eric Bell

Choral Prelude on “Quem Pastores”
Helmut Walcha

O Holy Night
Adolphe Adam/arr. Aaron David Miller

INTROIT
Today, a Savior Is Born for Us
Richard Proulx

Today, today a Savior is born for us, Christ the Lord. O come, let us adore him!

OPENING SENTENCES

CAROL 140
“Once in Royal David’s City”
(stanza one sung by soloist; congregation sings remaining stanzas)

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild; Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall; with the poor and meek and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

Jesus is our childhood’s pattern; day by day like us he grew; he was little, weak, and helpless; tears and smiles like us he knew; and he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.

PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

Loving God, you live beyond time and dwell beyond space. You sent your only Son to know the weakness of human flesh and yet to reign as Holy King. Who are we that you should come to us? Yet you have humbled yourself. You came down to breathe the same air we breathe, to know what it is to be weary, or afraid, or to suffer a broken body and a broken heart. You came to reveal a love the whole world has been waiting for. In the name of the love that breathes us to life, we pray. Amen.

FIRST LESSON
Isaiah 9:2–7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

ANTHEM
“Shepherd’s Pipe Carol”
John Rutter

Going through the hills on a night all starry on the way to Bethlehem, far away I heard a shepherd boy piping on the way to Bethlehem. Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: “Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King is come to bring us peace on earth, and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.” “Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily on the way to Bethlehem who will hear your tunes on these hill so lonely on the way to Bethlehem?” Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: “Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King is come to bring us peace on earth, and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.” “None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely on the way to Bethlehem; but a King will hear me play sweet lullabies when I get to Bethlehem.” Angels in the sky came down from on high; hovered o’er the manger where the babe was lying cradled in the arms of his mother Mary, sleeping now at Bethlehem. “Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily, is he there at Bethlehem?” “I will find him soon by the star shining brightly in the sky o’er Bethlehem.” Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: “Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King is come to bring us peace on earth and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.” “May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily, come with you to Bethlehem? Pay my homage too at the new King’s cradle, is it far to Bethlehem?” Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: “Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King is born this night in lowly stable yonder, born for you at Bethlehem.”

SECOND LESSON
Isaiah 11:1–4, 6–9

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

CAROL 113
“Angels We Have Heard on High”

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

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

THIRD LESSON
Luke 1:26–35, 38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

CAROL 144
“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.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there; cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

FOURTH LESSON
Luke 2:1–7

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

CAROL 133
“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

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! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!

True God from true God, Light from light eternal, born of a virgin, a mortal he comes; very God, begotten, not created! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!

FIFTH LESSON
Luke 2:8–20

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

HOMILY
Camille Cook Howe

CAROL 121
“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.

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, and praises sing to God the king, and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us; abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

SIXTH LESSON
Matthew 2:1–12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

PRAYER

OFFERING

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OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child”
Coventry Carol/arr. Kenneth Leighton

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child, by, by, lully, lullay. O sisters too, how may we do for to preserve this day this poor youngling, for whom we sing by, by, lully, lullay! Herod, the king, in his raging, charg’d he hath this day his men of might, in his own sight, all children young to slay. That woe is me, poor child, for thee! And ever morn and may, for thy parting, not say nor sing,

SEVENTH LESSON
John 1:1–5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

SPREADING THE LIGHT
“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, heav’nly 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 Alleluia to our King: Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior is born.

SENTENCES OF LIGHT

CAROL 119
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

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 the 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 Godhead 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!”

BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE
“Beside Thy Cradle, Here I Stand”
Johann Sebastian Bach

Beside thy cradle here I stand, O thou that ever livest, and bring thee with a willing hand the very gifts thou givest. Accept me; ’tis my mind and heart, my soul, my strength, my every part, that thou from me requirest.

POSTLUDE
Go, Tell It on the Mountain
African American spiritual/arr. A. D. Miller

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