Must he be vainly awaiting the morrow? Still, Still, Still arr. Norman Luboff Carols by Candlelight Shall we, no light and no comfort him borrow? Text by Marilyn Keith and Alan Bergman Giving no heed to His burden of sorrow: Prelude Music Oh, will not day come soon? Still, still, still, One can hear the falling snow.

For all is hushed, The world is sleeping, Holy Star its vigil keeping. Prepare the Way, O Zion Robert J. Powell He is coming soon. An Advent Prelude Charles Callahan Still, still, still, One can hear the falling snow. Sleep, sleep, sleep, 'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth. People, Look East Robert J. Powell Sanctuary Choir and Youth Choir The night is peaceful all around you, Close your eyes, Let sleep surround you. Dr. Diane Schultz, Flute and L. Jeffries Binford, Organ Ellen Potts, Soloist Sleep, sleep, sleep, 'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth. In the Bleak Mid-Winter Allen Orton Gibbs L. Jeffries Binford, Organ Zion Hears the Watchmen’s Voices (from Cantata 140) J. S. Bach Dream, dream, dream, Of the joyous day to come. English text by John Rutter While guardian angels without number, Watch you as you sweetly slumber. Dream, dream, dream, Of the joyous day to come. ADVENT Zion hears the watchmen’s voices, with gladness all her heart rejoices,

Advent Processional arr. Phyllis S. Kirk She eager wakes to greet the day. See, her Lord from heaven descending A Stable Lamp Is Lighted David Hurd With grace and truth and power unending, her daystar dawns with brightest ray. (“A Christmas Hymn” from Advice to a Prophet and Other Poems)

Handbell Choir O come, thou blessed One, Lord Jesu, God’s own Son, Hosianna! Text by Richard Wilbur

* Hymn 82 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL We follow there Thy feast to share, And taste the joys beyond compare. A stable lamp is lighted whose glow shall wake the sky; Glory now to God we render, Who reigns on high in heavenly splendor; the stars shall bend their voices, and every stone shall cry. The Invocation and Welcome Rev. Michael R. Bailey Let every tongue in praise unite. Lo, we enter heaven’s bright portal And every stone shall cry, and straw like gold shall shine; To join the song of saints immortal With angels round thy throne of light. a barn shall harbour heaven, a stall become a shrine. First Coming Madeleine L’Engle No mortal joy can e’er with heaven’s true bliss compare; Alleluia! Rejoice below, io, io! Sing out in dulci jubilo. This child through David's city shall ride in triumph by; He did not wait till the world was ready, till men and nations were at peace. the palm shall strew its branches, and every stone shall cry. He came when the Heavens were unsteady, and prisoners cried out for release. Adam Lay Ybounden Frank Boles And every stone shall cry, though heavy, dull and dumb, th and lie within the roadway to pave his kingdom come. He did not wait for the perfect time. He came when the need was deep and great. Text anonymous, 15 century

He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond: Four thousand winter Yet he shall be forsaken, and yielded up to die; the sky shall groan and darken, and every stone shall cry. He did not wait till hearts were pure. Thought he not too long. Deo gracias! [Thanks be to God!] And every stone shall cry for gifts of love abused; In joy He came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. And all was for an apple, An apple that he took, As clerkes finden written in their book. God's blood upon the spearhead, God's blood again refused. To a world like ours, of anguished shame He came, and his Light would not go out. Ne had the apple taken been, The apple taken been – But now, as at the ending, the low is lifted high; He came to a world which did not mesh, to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. Ne had never our lady A-been heavnè queen. the stars shall bend their voices, and every stone shall cry. In the mystery of the Word made Flesh, the Maker of the stars was born. Blessed be the time That apple taken was. And every stone shall cry in praises of the child We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, Therefore we moun singen Deo gracias! by whose descent among us the worlds are reconciled. For to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice! CHRISTMAS Dr. Diane Schultz, Flute Shelley Jones, Reader

Ave Maria (Traditional Christmas Prayer) Sergei Rachmaninoff Sing We Now of Christmas arr. Daniel E. Hermany * Hymn 143 Angels, from the Realms of Glory REGENT SQUARE Handbell Choir Hail, O Virgin Mother, Bearer of God, Mary Had a Baby Spiritual, arr. William Dawson holy Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: A Light Danny Potts

blessed are thou among women, A light, the manger lit. Shepherds’ night eyes, known only to the hills, Mary had a Baby, My Lord! Where was he born? and blessed is the fruit of thy womb; glowed warmly to beasts and to the Heavenly Host. Born in a manger, My Lord! for thou hast brought forth the Saviour, What did they call him? “King Jesus,” oh, yes! who redeemed our souls. Furrowed faces, ‘trenched in toil, met rows of angels toe to toe. Each saber was a song, And “Gloria” echoed in the heart. He is called “King Jesus, Mighty Counselor, Lost in the Night – Finnish Folk Melody arr. Melius Christiansen King Emanuel, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Text translated by Olav Lee Their eyes, as distant moons, drew near to orb’ the Star, the Son, hidden in the bushel of a barn. Mary had a Baby, My Lord. Lost in the night doth the heathen yet languish, Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish, Emmanuel, the Brother Lamb, cried out among them. Lydia Beasley Kneer, Soloist Plaintively heaving a sigh full of anguish: His face, like theirs, with life lines-laid beneath an infant’s skin.

Oh! Will not day come soon? (He is coming soon.) In that star’s light all eyes glowed like His. Hallelu! Stephen Paulus

Sorrowing brother in darkness yet dwelling, And Light of light revealed a Mother’s love. Down in a valley, sing hallelu, Mary had a baby!

Dawned has the day of a radiance excelling, Though night was cold, within this flock What did she name Him? Named Him Jesus, Hallelu! Death’s dreaded darkness forever dispelling, was warmth enough for all. Lo, Christ is coming soon. Maria Potts and Meredith Vaughn, Soloists Light e’er the land of the heathen is beaming, Shelley Jones, Reader

Rivers of life thru its deserts are streaming. Millions yet sigh for the Savior redeeming. A Welsh Lullaby text & arr. K. Lee Scott Sing We Now of Christmas arr. Fred Prentice

Hush, my dear one, sleep serenely; Now, my lovely, slumber deep. Sing we now of Christmas, sing we all noel, Mother rocks you, humming lowly; Close your eyes, now go to sleep. Of our Lord and Savior we the tidings tell. [Refrain]

Angels hover ever nearer, Looking on your smiling face. Refrain: Sing we noel for Christ the King is born. I will hold you, close enfold you; Close your eyes, now go to sleep. Sing we noel for Christ the Lord is born. Sing we now of Christmas, sing we all noel. Lovely darling, I will guard you, keep you from all woe and harm. Softly, gently I will rock you, resting sweetly on my arm. Angels from on high say, “Shepherds, come and see. He is born in Bethlehem, a blessed Lamb for thee.” [Refrain] May you slumber e’er so softly; Dream of visions wondrous fair. I will hold you, close enfold you; Close your eyes, now go to sleep. Shepherds found the child lying in a manger stall.

Joseph standing by, and mother Mary mild. [Refrain]

Sanctuary Choir and Youth Choir Magi oriental journeyed from afar. They did come to greet Him ‘neath the shining star. [Refrain] The First Noel arr. Jason W. Krug Handbell Choir The Sanctuary Choir Gesù Bambino Pietro A. Yon

Text by Frederick H. Martens Sopranos

When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows Upon a winter night, Vicki Holt Claire Nichols Ellen Potts Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light. Lydia Beasley Kneer Barbara Nicol Amy Prendergast The angels sang, the shepherds sang, The grateful earth rejoiced; Anne Franklin Lamar Marilyn Norris Karen White And at His blessed birth the stars Their exultation voiced. Jessica Owens O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Again the heart with rapture glows to greet the holy night, Altos That gave the world its Christmas Rose, Its King of Love and Light. Let ev'ry voice acclaim His name, The grateful chorus swell. Susie Engelke Ariel McKinney Marcella Redden From paradise to earth He came That we with Him might dwell. Sylvia Lake Janis O’Donnell Kristi Thomson O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Robin Maughan Wendy Tucker

Dee Hamner and Karen White, Soloists Tenors

Carols by In the Bleak Midwinter Harold Darke Gaines Brake Thomas Herwig Chris Redden Text by Christina Rossetti Dee Hamner Paul Wolf

In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan; Basses Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, Candlelight Bill Engelke Robert Nicol George Thagard In the bleak mid-winter long ago. Gary Jackson Daniel Potts Edward White

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him nor earth sustain,

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign: The Youth Choir In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty — Jesus Christ. 10 December 2017 Kathryn Boxmeyer Xander Nowell Meredith Vaughn Enough for Him, whom Cherubim worship night and day, Lauren Gambrell Maria Potts Kate Wilson A breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay; Madelyn Herwig Reggie Robinson Xan Wright 6:00 PM Enough for Him, whom Angels fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. The Carillon Ringers Gail Hasson, Director First Presbyterian Church 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, — Gaines Brake Ariel McKinney Marcella Redden Tuscaloosa, Alabama Yet what I can I give Him, — Give my heart. Dee Hamner Claire Nichols Jim Rosenfeld Madeline Hill Barbara Nicol Jan Roy Ariel McKinney and Dee Hamner, Soloists Vicki Holt Robert Nicol Matt Smith

* Hymn 133 O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES L. Jeffries Binford – Organist Marjorie Johnston – Director of Music The Benediction Rev. Michael R. Bailey