stars, together proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the EVE CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION SERVICE King, and peace to men on earth. How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God The Prelude Carol imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n. No ear may

As the prelude music begins, please quiet your heart hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will and prepare for worship. receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

The Call to Worship Rev. Caleb Cangelosi O holy child of , descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the The O Come, O Come, Emmanuel great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. The Offertory O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Liz Taylor, Viola Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny; The Christmas Homily Dr. John Kwasny from depths of hell thy people save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. The Hymn of Preparation A Communion Hymn for Christmas

O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing Gathered round Your table on this holy eve, viewing Bethlehem’s nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows stable we rejoice and grieve; joy to see You lying in Your manger put to flight. bed, weep to see You dying in our sinful stead.

O come, thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav’nly Bethl’em’s Incarnation, Calv’ry’s bitter cross, wrought for us home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to salvation by Your pain and loss; now we fall before You in this holy misery. place, prostrate we adore You, for Your gift of grace.

With profoundest wonder we Your body take, laid in manger The Invocation Rev. Cangelosi yonder, broken for our sake, hushed in adoration we approach the cup, Bethl’em’s pure oblation freely offered up. The Christmas Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem Christmas Babe so tender, Lamb who bore our blame, how shall O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep sinners render praises due Your name? Do Your own good pleasure and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets in the lives we bring; in Your ransomed treasure reign forever King! shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. Words by Margaret Clarkson, music by Tom Fettke ©1986 Word Music CCLI No. 600485 For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper Rev. Carl Kalberkamp

The Congregational Response 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.

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!

The Benediction Rev. Kalberkamp

The Postlude

CHRISTMAS EVE

COMMUNION SERVICE

December 24, 2018