Christmas 2019

First Presbyterian Church Marietta, Ohio Christmas Eve First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, Ohio Family Service

December 24, 2019 6:00 pm

GREETING

PRELUDE “Christmas Offering” P. Baloche Glorify!

HOLY QUESTIONS Who is coming to our ? Jesus is coming to our house! What should we do to get ready? Let’s light candles, sing carols, and open our hearts!

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Alan, Kelly, Kell, James & Audrey Campbell We have watched; we have waited ...... in hope, . . . for peace, . . . in , . . . with love. Now our redemption draws near! Glory to God in the highest! Alleluia! Amen!

PRAYER Living God, tonight we gather to stand with shepherds, amazed at your glory; to sing with angels, rejoicing in your work; to wait with Joseph, trusting in your promise; to sit with Mary, cradling your love. May the good news of this night inspire us share this great joy: To us is born a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord. Glory to God forever! Amen.

* HYMN 20 (Blue Hymnal) “Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night” ABERYSTWYTH

THE PROMISE OF GOD’S LIGHT Isaiah 9:2-7 Elliot Akeman

HOLY QUESTIONS Who is coming to our house? Jesus is coming to our house! What should we do to get ready? Let’s light candles, sing carols, and open our hearts!

HYMN 27 (Blue Hymnal) “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM

THE PROMISE OF JESUS’ BIRTH Luke 1:26-35 Abby Miller

HOLY QUESTIONS Who is coming to our house? Jesus is coming to our house! What should we do to get ready? Let’s light candles, sing carols, and open our hearts!

CHILDREN’S ANTHEM “Joy to the World” G. F. Handel PresbyPraise

A CHRISTMAS STORY “Who Is Coming to Our House?” By Joseph Slate, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff

HOLY QUESTIONS Who is coming to our house? Jesus is coming to our house! What should we do to get ready? Let’s light candles, sing carols, and open our hearts!

ANTHEM “Were You There on That Christmas Night?” N. Sleeth Chancel Choir and Friends

Were you there, were you there on that Christmas night, where the world was filled with a holy light? Were you there to behold, when the wonder foretold came to earth?

Did you see, did you see how they hailed Him King, with the gifts so rare that they chose to bring? Did you see how they bowed as they praised Him aloud at His birth.

Did you hear how the choirs of angels sang, at the glory of the sight? Did you hear how the bells of heaven rang, all through the night?

Did you know, did you know it was God's own Son, the salvation of the world begun? Did you know it was love, that was sent from above to the earth? Did you know it was love that was sent from above to the earth? Were you there?

THE BIRTH IN THE MANGER Luke 2:1-7 Analynn Warner

HOLY QUESTIONS Who is coming to our house? Jesus is coming to our house! What should we do to get ready? Let’s light candles, sing carols, and open our hearts!

CAROL 25 (Blue Hymnal) “Away in a Manger” MUELLER

THE SHEPHERDS’ RESPONSE Luke 2:8-20 Gwen Sour

HOLY QUESTIONS Who is coming to our house? Jesus is coming to our house! What should we do to get ready? Let’s light candles, sing carols, and open our hearts!

*CAROL 31 (Blue Hymnal) “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” GLORIA

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE “Who Is Coming to Our House?” The Rev. David Smith

OFFERTORY “What Child Is This?” arr. C. Mizell Westminster Bells with piano

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. With the coming of this light there is peace, an inner peace that the world can neither give nor take away. May peace be in our hearts and in our homes, for Christ the Savior is born! O Christ, Light of the World, we watch and wait for the warmth and light of your presence. As candlelight is not overcome by darkness, we rejoice that your light is radiant within us, despite the wintry seasons of our lives. We live with hope that your birth will occur in every heart and every life, and that the world will fall to its knees in joy. "O Come, to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel."

HOLY QUESTIONS Who is coming to our house? Jesus is coming to our house! What should we do to get ready? Let’s light candles, sing carols, and open our hearts!

*PASSING OF THE LIGHT Light from the Christ Candle will be shared. The lighters will share the light with persons on the aisle of each row. They, in turn, will light the candle of the person next to them. While the light is being shared, we will sing “Silent Night.” Please tip the unlighted candle to the flame. We will hold our lighted candles as we sing “Joy to the World.”

*CAROL (Insert) “Silent Night, Holy Night” STILL NACHT

*CAROL (Insert) “Joy to the World!” ANTIOCH

*DISMISSAL AND BLESSING

POSTLUDE “All My Heart This Night Rejoices” P. Post

Icons are drawn from the following sources: Advent candle (Swen-Peter Ekkebus, the Noun Project), Christ Candle (Margaret Williams the Noun Project), Bible (clker.com), music note (Jamison Wieser, the Noun Project), passing of the peace (UIhere/free-icons), praying hands & offering plate (clipart-library.com).

*Indicates those who are able, please stand.

When the service is ended, please extinguish your candle and place it in a box in the narthex.

************ WE WELCOME CHILDREN IN THE SERVICE. We love having all the energy they bring! Pastor David will be reading a story for all the children during the service.

THANK YOU FOR DONATING THE POINSETTIAS FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICES. There are copies of the poinsettia celebration and memorial insert located at the top of the stairs. Please feel free to take your poinsettia home after the service. Check in with a deacon at the front as you do so.

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HELP PASS THE LIGHT OF THE CHRIST CANDLE.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE READERS AND THOSE WHO SHARED THEIR MUSIC GIFTS.

CANDLES FOR THE FINAL PORTION OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE NEAR THE ENTRANCES. We have the flameless (LED) candles for young children and adults who aren’t comfortable using regular candles. These are turned on by tightening the top. help your children with this. Please keep the flameless candles off until the lighting of all candles. Please insure your return your candles, especially the flameless candles at the conclusion of the service. Thank you!

THANK YOU TO MIKE, STACY, PATRICK AND ANDREW ELLIOTT FOR USHERING.

THANK YOU TO JOHN LEE FOR RUNNING THE SOUND.

THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL THURSDAY, JANUARY 2. For pastoral emergencies, please leave a message on Pastor David’s cell phone (765-499-0157).

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29 AT 10:15 A.M.

SIP N CHAT ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29 WILL BE A CHRISTMAS LEFTOVER POTLUCK. Bring your extra Christmas goodies to share with others!

THE SIP N CHAT SIGN UP FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 2020 IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD NEAR THE WOOSTER STREET ENTRANCE.

GIVING ENVELOPES FOR 2020 ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX.

THE 2020 FLOWER CALENDAR IS POSTED BY THE BULLETIN BOARD NEAR THE WOOSTER STREET ENTRANCE. Payments for flowers can be dropped off at the church office or placed in the offering plate. The cost of flowers is $15.