* Bidding Prayer Rev. R. Bailey The Mary Had a Baby Boy arr. Hal H. Hopson Fifth Lesson: The Wise Men Are Led By the Star to Traditional West Indian Carol Lector: Tony Hubbard, Elder, First Presbyterian Church Light the Candle arr. Carl Schalk Lyric and Chapel Choirs Cherub Choir In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in of Judea, wise The Virgin Mary had a baby boy, men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has Light the candle of love (peace, joy, hope Christ) today, the Giver of love is here! and they said that his name was Jesus. been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have Welcome the love we long and wait for, but only Christ can give. He come from the glory, the glorious kingdom. come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, Flicker and flame and glow with hope, light up the world around you. The angels sang when the baby was born, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them: “Where is the Messiah to be born?” First Lesson: Christ’s Birth and Kingdom Are Foretold by and proclaimed him the Savior Jesus. The shepherds ran to where the baby was born, They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the Lector : Cynthia Almond, President, Tuscaloosa City Council prophet, “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least and they worshiped the Savior Jesus. Alleluia! The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived among the rulers of Judah; “for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd Third Lesson: St. Luke Tells of the Birth of Jesus my people Israel.” in a land of deep darkness--on them light has shined. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is Lector: Dr. Cynthia Warrick, President, Stillman College Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus: All the world should be time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace registered. All went to their own towns to be registered. also went from the and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me for the throne of and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:2; 6-7) with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they 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 Lector: The Word of the Lord. were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid People: Thanks be to God. firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a , because there was no place for them in the inn. (:1; 3-7) him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts: A Waiting Carol Helen Kemp “Here, we offer you , , and .” (:1-12) Lector: The Word of the Lord. Lyric and Chapel Choirs Lector: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. People: Thanks be to God. He’s coming! Oh, tell us, who is coming? Hymn 114 Away in a Manger arr. Jeff Reeves Lord Jesus is coming to light our lives again. Follow the Star arr. Helen Kemp v. 1 Lyric Choir, v. 2 Chapel Choir, v. 3 Congregation will stand and sing Each candle is saying, “Get ready for his birthday.” Lyric Choir Prepare us to greet him with love and joy we pray. Fourth Lesson: The Shepherds Go to the Manger , , King Balthazar, Follow the star. We wait with joy to greet you. We wait with love to meet you. Lector: Maria Potts, Youth Choir Head Chorister, RSCM Come quickly! Quickly come! We wait with joy. Come, holy Boy! See the Kings come riding from far, Oh, come, see the candles, they sparkle with light. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their On their camels riding, they follow the star, They help us to wait for the Day of Delight! flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Caspar and Melchior, and King Balthazar.

Come, lift up your voices, prepare for the Boy. 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: Sixth Lesson: St. John Unfolds the Great Mystery of the Incarnation The birth of the will fill us with joy! Oh, come! Lector: Rev. Michael R. Bailey, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Second Lesson: The Angel Salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word Lector: Kalissa Bormann, Volunteer, Youth and Children’s Ministry in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee peace among those whom he favors!" called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. (Luke 2:8-16) the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and everyone, was coming into the world. you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Lector: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world David. He will reign over the house of forever, and of his kingdom Come and See the Shepherds Joseph M. Martin did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a Chapel Choir accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born Come and see the shepherds dance for joy, of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. will be holy; he will be called Son of God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the Come and see the tiny baby boy. servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the Come and celebrate the King of kings. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-35; 38) the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14) Rejoice, praise, give thanks, and sing. Come and see the angels fill the sky. Lector: The Word of the Lord. Lector: The Word of the Lord. Come and hear the song they lift on high. People: Thanks be to God. People: Thanks be to God. Come and celebrate. Let praises ring. Sing alleluia; sing noel; greet Emanual. Offertory Peace Came to Earth K. Lee Scott The Lyric Choir Sanctuary Choir, with Lyric and Chapel Choirs, and Congregation Linda Bradley, Director See Insert for Lyrics First Presbyterian Church Incarnation Litany Katherine Bailey Paxton Farris Evelyn Murray Leader: (In joy and humility let us pray to the creator of the universe, Henry Bearden John Very Fitzhugh Maddie Segers Presents saying, “Lord, grant us peace.”) Carter Brown Amelia Hamiter Camden Smith Massey Davidson Nathan McCants Emilee Smith Reader: By the good news of our salvation brought to Mary by the Tate Espey Lucy Thompson angel, hear us, O Lord. People: Lord, grant us peace. The Chapel Choir Reader: By the mystery of the Word made flesh, hear us, O Lord. Marjorie Johnston, Director People: Lord, grant us peace. Reader: By the birth in time of your timeless Son, hear us, O Lord. Lila Agee Kathryn Kaylor Aiden Sumner People: Lord, grant us peace. Sophie Boxmeyer Grace Leiter Kat Taylor Reader: By the manifestation of your radiant glory to the shepherds Carson Dickey Danyle Maughan Chase Washburne and magi, hear us, O Lord, Ann Cade Eddings Audrey Morrison Caroline Way Ford Espey Robbie Morrison Thomas Woolf People: Lord, grant us peace. Ellis Hamiter Graham Patton Gabriel Yates Reader: By the submission of the maker of the world to Mary and Joanna Hutt Thomas Patton Penny Yates Joseph of Nazareth, hear us, O Lord. People: Lord, grant us peace. The Cherub Choir Reader: By the baptism of the Son of God in the river Jordan, hear Linda Bradley, Director us, O Lord. People: Lord, grant us peace. William Chambers Katherine Jernigan Mary Dunlap Meriwether Annual Children’s Pageant Reader: Grant that the kingdoms of this world may become the Anne-Robin Fitzhugh Harper Jones Bess Miller December 17, 2017 kingdom of our Saviour Jesus Christ; hear us, O Lord. Feeney Marie Fowler Eloise Kyles Anna Katherine Morrison Cade Gibson Kately Lane William Owens People: Lord, grant us peace. Prelude Music Sam Goodlet Joshua Martin Radford Pruett

* Blessing Rev. Michael R. Bailey Spencer Holt Aliyah Gills Elizabeth Whitfield Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming Max Drischner

Mary Ellis Jamison Josie McCants Eleanor Wingard Of the Father’s Love Begotten John R. Watkinson Postlude L. Jeffries Binford, Organist From Heaven Above to Earth I Come J. S. Bach L. Jeffries Binford – Organist O Little Town of Bethlehem Robert Hobby Marjorie Johnston – Director of Music David Bradley, French Horn

Lessons & Carols Cast Welcome and Announcements

Service Notes Soloist Kathryn Kaylor Incarnation Katherine Bailey * Candle Liturgy Mary Madelyn Herwig Litany Readers Amelia Hamiter Since its inception at King’s College, Cambridge, in 1918, the Service of Lessons Leader: We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Joseph Reggie Robinson Lucy Thompson and Carols has been offered by liturgical churches all over the world, and has Advent means coming. We are preparing ourselves for the Gabriel Andrew Maughan Nathan McCants been made famous through an annual Christmas broadcast on BBC. coming day of joy… Emperor Augustus Ford Espey Emilee Smith Angel of the Lord Ann Cade Eddings Carter Brown People: When the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the The traditional service has an adaptable order of worship that can focus on desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall Advent or Christmas, or a combination of both – which is what we have chosen King Herod Thomas Patton Massey Davidson blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. for our service. We have also chosen “family friendly” lessons and King Balthazar Gabriel Yates Herod’s Guard Ellis Hamiter Leader: God, hear the prayer of Your Advent people: accompanying anthems. There are two elements that always remain consistent. King Melchior Chase Washburne Mouse Maddie Segers King Caspar Camden Smith Donkey Henry Bearden People: Let us walk in the light of your joy! (Isaiah 35:1) First, the service opens with the hymn, “Once in Royal David’s City” with a soloist singing the first verse. Second, the lessons are to be read by leaders of Lead Shepherd Danyle Maughan Cows Paxton Farris Choral Introit Lay Ybounden Frank Boles the church as well as leaders in the community. Our guest lectors are Shepherds Graham Patton John Very Fitzhugh Tuscaloosa City Council President, Cynthia Almond, and Stillman College Thomas Woolf Doves Evelyn Murray Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond: Four thousand winter President, Dr. Cynthia Warrick. Both the scripture and the music will recount Chief Priests Penny Yates Emilee Smith Thought he not too long. Deo gracias! [Thanks be to God!] the promise of the Messiah as well as Christ’s birth. Lila Agee Littlest Angel Elizabeth Whitfield And all was for an apple, An apple that he took, Caroline Way Guardian Angels Lilly Gattozzi As clerkes finden written in their book. Our Chapel Choir, Lyric Choir, and Cherub Choir, will be joined by youth Heavenly Host Angel Sophie Boxmeyer Joanna Hutt Ne had the apple taken been, The apple taken been – leaders from the church. Each child in our cast will play a specific role in the Shepherds’ Angels Kathyn Kaylor Camel Lauren Gambrell Ne had never our lady A-been heavnè queen. story, and my talented colleagues - Director of Christian Education, Jenny Grace Leiter Anna Grace Smith Blessed be the time That apple taken was. Thagard, Costumer, Paige Mize, and Director, Lois Palacek, will ensure that the Kat Taylor Sound Xander Nowell Therefore we moun singen Deo gracias! lessons are brought to life! Holman Bearden Choir Processional Instrumentalists Diane Schultz, Flute Costumes Paige Mize The children are very excited, and look forward to sharing this special offering Hymn 140 Once in Royal David’s City IRBY David Bradley, Allison McCants with you. v. 1 Kathryn Kaylor, Soloist; v. 2 Congregation will stand and sing French Horn Marjorie Johnston, Director of Music