A Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols

Idlewild Presbyterian Church

December 24, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. ASEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME

INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE PRELUDE

ORGAN PRELUDE THREE ORGAN CAROLS HELMUT WALCHA (1907 – 1991)

“HIM THE SHEPHERDS PRAISE SO GREATLY” “ALL MY HEART WITH JOY IS SPRINGING” “IN BETHLEHEM IS BORN” CONGREGATIONAL CAROL SUNG IN PROCESSION

“ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY” IRBY

One Voice: 1. 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.

*Women and Children: 2. 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.

*All: 3. And, through all his wondrous childhood, 5. For he is our childhood’s pattern; He would honor and obey, Day by day, like us he grew; Love and watch the lowly maiden, He was little, weak and helpless, In whose gentle arms he lay: Tears and smiles like us he knew; Christian children all must be And he feeleth for our sadness, Mild, obedient, good as he. And he shareth in our gladness. 4. And our eyes at last shall see him, 6. Not in that poor lowly stable, Through his own redeeming love, With the oxen standing by, For that Child so dear and gentle We shall see him; but in heaven, Is our Lord in heav’n above, Set at God’s right hand on high; And he leads his children on Where like stars his children crowned To the place where he is gone. All in white shall wait around. –C. F. Alexander

*CALL TO WORSHIP IN CHRIST’S LIGHT THE REVEREND DR. STEPHEN R. MONTGOMERY One: Listen! That God might teach us God’s ways. All: We light these candles for love, hope, peace and joy. One: We light this candle for Christ’s Advent among us. All: Let us worship in Christ’s light. THE BIDDING PRAYER

CHOIR CAROL “DING! DONG! MERRILY ON HIGH” 16TH C. FRENCH TUNE, HARMONIZED BY CHARLES WOOD Ding! dong! merrily on high Pray you, dutifully prime In heaven the bells are ringing! Your matin chime, ye ringers; Ding! dong! verily the sky May you beautifully rime Is riven with angel-singing! Your evetime song, ye singers: Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis. –George Ratcliffe Woodward E’en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And “I-o, i-o, i-o!” By priest and people sungen: Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis.

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

GOD TELLS SINFUL ADAM THAT HE HAS LOST THE LIFE OF PARADISE AND THAT HIS SEED WILL BRUISE THE SERPENT’S HEAD

GENESIS 3:8–15, 17–19 THE REVEREND MARGARET BURNETT

CHOIR CAROL “THE APPLE TREE” K. LEE SCOTT (B. 1950)

The tree of life my soul hath seen, I’m weary with my former toil, Laden with fruit and always green: Here I will sit and rest awhile: The tree of life my soul hath seen, I’m weary with my former toil, Laden with fruit and always green: Here I will sit and rest awhile: The trees of nature fruitless be, Under the shadow I will be, Compared with Christ the apple tree. Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

His beauty doth all things excel: This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, By faith I know, but ne’er can tell, It keeps my dying faith alive; His beauty doth all things excel: This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, By faith I know, but ne’er can tell, It keeps my dying faith alive; The glory which I now can see Which makes my soul in haste to be In Jesus Christ the apple tree. With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought: For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought: I missed of all; but now I see ‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree. –Divine Hymns or Spiritual Songs, compiled by Joshua Smith, 1784

GOD PROMISES TO FAITHFUL ABRAHAM THAT IN HIS SEED SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED

GENESIS 22:15–18 THE REVEREND REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR

*CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 129

“LO, HOW A ROSE E’ER BLOOMING” ES IST EIN’ ROS’

THE PROPHET FORETELLS THE COMING OF THE SAVIOR

ISAIAH 9:2, 6–7 THE REVEREND ANNE H.K. APPLE

CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 121

“O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM” ST. LOUIS

THE PEACE THAT CHRIST WILL BRING IS FORESHOWN

ISAIAH 11: 1–4 DR. MONTGOMERY

*CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 144

“IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER” CRANHAM

THE ANGEL GABRIEL SALUTES THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

LUKE 1: 26–35, 38 MS. BURNETT

CHOIR CAROL “I SING OF A MAIDEN” PATRICK HADLEY (1899 – 1973) I sing of a maiden He came all so still That is makeless; Where his mother lay, King of all kings As dew in April To her son she ches. That falleth on the spray. He came all so still Mother and maiden Where his mother was, Was never none but she; As dew in April Well may such a lady That falleth on the grass. God’s mother be. He came all so still –15th century, Anonymous To his mother’s bower, As dew in April That falleth on the flower. LUKE TELLS OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS

LUKE 2:1, 3–7 MS. ABEL LAMAR

CHOIR CAROL “ROUND THE GLORY MANGER” AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL, ARR. K. LEE SCOTT (B. 1950) They turn ‘way Mary an’a Joseph, way from the inn. They laid my pretty little Jesus down in the straw, An’ that’s what made the Glory Manger. An’ that’s what made the Glory Manger. Hallelujah, Lord! Hallelujah, Lord! Wasn’t that a right mornin’, all ‘round the Glory Manger. Wasn’t that a right mornin’, all ‘round the Glory Manger.

THE ANGELS ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH

LUKE 2: 8–14 MS. APPLE

CONGREGATIONAL CAROL, NO. 119

“HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING” MENDELSSOHN

THE SHEPHERDS GO TO THE MANGER

LUKE 2:15–20 DR. MONTGOMERY

CHOIR CAROL “ALL BELLS IN PARADISE” JOHN RUTTER (B. 1949) Deep in the cold of winter, Lost in awe and wonder, Darkness and silence were everywhere; Doubting I asked what this sign might be: Softly and clearly, there came through the stillness Christ our Messiah revealed in a stable, a wonderful sound to hear: A marvelous sight to see.

All bells in paradise I heard them ring, He comes down in peace, a child in humility, Sounding in majesty the news that they bring; The keys to his kingdom belong to the poor; All bells in paradise I heard them ring, Before him shall kneel the kings with their treasures, Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth a heavenly King. gold incense and myrrh. All bells in paradise I heard them ring: ‘Glory to God on high’ the angel voices sing.

THE WISE MEN ARE LED BY THE STAR TO JESUS

MATTHEW 2:1–11 MS. BURNETT

CHOIR CAROL “HERE IS THE LITTLE DOOR” HERBERT HOWELLS (1892 – 1983) Here is the little door, Bend low about His bed, lift up the latch, oh lift! For each He has a gift; We need not wander more, See how His eyes awake, but enter with our gift; Lift up your hands, O lift! Our gift of finest gold. For gold, He gives a keen-edged sword. Gold that was never bought or sold; (Defend with it thy little Lord!) Myrrh to be strewn about his bed; For incense, smoke of battle red, Incense in clouds about His head; Myrrh for the honored happy dead; All for the child that stirs not in His sleep, Gifts for His children, terrible and sweet; But holy slumber hold with ass and sheep. Touched by such tiny hands, and Oh such tiny feet. –Frances Chesterton (1869 – 1938) JOHN UNFOLDS THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION

JOHN 1:1, 4–5, 14 MS. ABEL LAMAR

*CONGREGATIONAL CAROL NO. 133

“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL” ADESTE FIDELES

DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND OFFERING MS. APPLE

OFFERTORY ANTHEM

“O HOLY NIGHT” ADOLPHE CHARLES ADAMS Alyce Tarver and Mary Jane Claassen, soloists

OFFERTORY RESPONSE GREENSLEEVES So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, one and all, to own him. The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise the song on high. The virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary!

CANDLE-LIGHTING DR. MONTGOMERY Ushers will light the first candles on each row, then the light will be passed down. Please watch children carefully when the candles are lit.

CONGREGATIONAL CAROL

“SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT!” STILLE NACHT

1. Silent night, holy night! 3. Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright Son of God, love’s pure light ‘round yon virgin mother and child! radiant beams from thy holy face, Holy Infant, so tender and mild, with the dawn of redeeming grace, sleep in heavenly peace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, sleep in heavenly peace. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

2. Silent night, holy night! 4. Silent night, holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight; Wondrous star, lend thy light;

glories stream from heaven afar, with the angels let us sing

heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia: Alleluia to our King:

Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior is born;

Christ the Savior is born!” Christ the Savior is born. *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL

“JOY TO THE WORLD” ANTIOCH

1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! 3. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Let earth receive her king; nor thorns infest the ground; let every heart prepare him room, he comes to make his blessings flow and heaven and nature sing, far as the curse is found,

and heaven and nature sing, far as the curse is found, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. far as, far as the curse is found.

2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! 4. He rules the world with truth and grace, Let all their songs employ, and makes the nations prove while fields and floods, the glories of his righteousness rocks, hills, and plains and wonders of his love,

repeat the sounding joy, and wonders of his love, repeat the sounding joy, and wonders, wonders of his love. repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

BENEDICTION DR. MONTGOMERY

ORGAN POSTLUDES “A BOY IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM,” BWV 603 JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685 – 1750) IN DULCI JUBILO, BWV 729 J. S. BACH

*Those who are able please stand.

WORSHIP NOTE: Please note that Alex Colley is the solo voice for Once in Royal David’s City.

THIS EVENING’S OFFERING is for the Compassion Collection. This fund enables us to provide care for people who come to the church with many different needs including food, shelter, school supplies and clothing. Please give generously so that we can continue to care for God’s people in need.

NO PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO during the worship service. Remember to turn off your cell phone.

PLEASE LEAVE CANDLES in the baskets and boxes by the doors.

THIS EVENING’S 11:00 SERVICE is a festive celebration led by senior high youth and clergy. Music, readings, and the Lord’s Supper lead to the joyous lighting of candles at midnight. (Childcare is not available.) All are welcome!

DECEMBER 25—11:00 WORSHIP ONLY No 8:30 worship service or Sunday School on Christmas Day. During the 11:00 service, Children’s Church Continued (C3) will not be held, but nursery care will be available. The service will feature “A Festival of Carols.” Communion will be served. JANUARY 1—11: 00 WORSHIP & FIRST SUNDAY LUNCH No 8:30 worship service or Sunday School on New Year’s Day. During the 11:00 service, Children’s Church Continued (C3) will not be held, but nursery care will be available. We will have First Sunday Lunch. TREZEVANT RIDERS On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, there will only be one bus trip departing Trezevant Terrace at 10:30 a.m. since there is no Sunday School. The bus will return at 12:15 p.m., as usual.

IDLEWILD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) 1750 Union Avenue / Memphis TN 38104 / www.idlewildchurch.org 901-726-4681 / Recreation 725-4165 / Children’s Center 725‑7941 The mission of Idlewild Presbyterian Church is to pursue, personify, and practice as Presbyterians the good news of reconciliation and salvation in Christ through worship, education, fellowship, and outreach.