Welcome Merry ! Tonight, we join with choirs of angels in singing our Savior's birth. Christ, the Lord, who was foretold by the prophets, entered his world as a frail infant. Through song and scripture, we remember the story of his long-awaited , as we look ahead in faith to his return. Children are welcome in this service; there is no nursery this evening, but a room is open down the hall to anyone who needs it.

A Wreath

A WREATHED garland of deservèd praise, Of praise deservèd, unto Thee I give, I give to Thee, who knowest all my ways, My crooked winding ways, wherein I live,— Wherein I die, not live; for life is straight, Straight as a line, and ever tends to Thee, To Thee, who art more far above deceit, Than deceit seems above simplicity. Give me simplicity, that I may live, So live and like, that I may know Thy ways, Know them and practice them: then shall I give For this poor wreath, give Thee a crown of praise.

Herbert, George. The Works of George Herbert in Prose and Verse. New York: John Wurtele Lovell, 1881. 289. , 2020

Prelude (All music by permission CCLI #2054302) *Please silence your cell phones at this time.

Lighting of the Advent Candles The lighting of Advent candles depicts the growing expectation we have for the coming of Christ, the light of the world.

Leader: Prepare the way of the Lord. We light this candle in hope; We light this candle in love; We light this candle in joy; We light this candle in peace; UNISON: Prepare, then, the way of the Lord. Leader: Joy to the world, the Lord is come! We light this candle because Jesus, the light of the world, was born on Christmas day, and he brightens all things. UNISON: Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

O Holy Night Words: Placide Cappeau, 1847. Translated by John S. Dwight. Music: , 1874.

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, 'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices. O night divine! O night when Christ was born; O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love, and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name, all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we; Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise his name forever. His pow’r, And glory evermore proclaim! Noel, Noel, O night, O night divine! Noel, Noel, O night, O night divine!

Welcome Chris Hiatt, Worship Director

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The First Lesson - Genesis 3:8-15 God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed the of woman will bruise the serpent’s head.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Words: Charles Wesley, 1744. Music: Roland H. Prichard, 1830.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

The Second Lesson - Genesis 22:15-18 God promises to faithful Abraham that in him, all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Words: Latin Hymn, translated by John M. Neale, 1851. Music: Plainsong, adapted by Thomas Helmore, 1854.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to Thee, O Israel!

O come, O come, thou Lord of might, Who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times didst give the law, In cloud, and majesty, and awe. Refrain

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. Refrain

O come, thou Day-Spring from on high And cheer us by thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Refrain

The Third Lesson - Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah.

Lo How a Rose E’re Blooming Words: German hymn, 1500. Translator: Theodor Baker, 1894. Music: Michael Preatorius, 1609.

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse's lineage coming As men of old have sung. It came, a floweret bright, Amid the cold of winter When half-spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind: With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind. To show God's love aright She bore to men a Savior When half-spent was the night.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air, Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness everywhere. True man, yet very God, From sin and death he saves us And lightens every load

O Savior, child of Mary, Who felt our human woe; O Savior, King of glory, Who dost our weakness know, Bring us at length, we pray, To the bright courts of Heaven And to the endless day. The Fourth Lesson - Micah 5:2-4 The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little .

O Little Town of Bethlehem Words: Phillips Brooks, 1867. Music: Lewis Redner, 1868.

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary And, gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us; abide with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel!

The Fifth Lesson - Luke 1:26-38 The angel salutes the virgin Mary.

Labor of Love Words and Music: Andrew Peterson, 2005.

It was not a silent night There was blood on the ground You could hear a woman cry In the alleyway that night On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean And the cobblestones were cold And little Mary full of grace With the tears upon her face Had no mother's hand to hold

Refrain It was a labor of pain It was a cold sky above But for the girl On the ground in the dark With every beat of her beautiful heart It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph by her side Callused hands and weary eyes There were no midwives to be found On the streets of David's town In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed Shafts of moonlight on his face But the baby in her womb He was the Maker of the moon He was the Author of the faith That could make the mountains move

Refrain For little Mary full of grace With the tears upon her face It was a labor of love

The Sixth Lesson - Matthew 1:18-23 Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Words & Music: English carol, 18th century, Arr. CCC, 2016.

God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Savior was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.

Refrain O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father a blessed angel came, And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same, How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name. Refrain “Fear not” then said the angel, “Let nothing you affright; This day is born a Saviour of a pure virgin bright To free all those who trust in him from Satan’s pow’r and might Refrain O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm, and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightway, the blessed babe to find. Refrain

The Seventh Lesson - Luke 2:8-16 The shepherds go to the manger.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing Words: Charles Wesley, 1739. Music: Felix Mendelssohn, 1840; Arr. William H. Cummings, 1855.

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise; Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel. Refrain

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings. Mild, he lays his glory by, Born that men no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Refrain

The Eighth Lesson - Matthew 2:1-11 The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

The First Noel Words & Music: Traditional English carol, 13th Century.

The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star shining in the east, beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Refrain

And by the light of that same star three Wise Men came from country far; to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain

This star drew nigh to the northwest, o'er Bethlehem it took its rest; and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain

Then entered in those Wise Men three, full reverently upon the knee, and offered there, in his presence, their gold and myrrh and frankincense. Refrain

The Ninth Lesson - John 1:1-14 Tim Hayse, Senior Pastor John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation.

All Is Well Laurie Mills & Linda Searby Words & Music: Michael W. Smith & Wayne Kirkpatrick, 1989.

All is well all is well Angels and men rejoice For tonight darkness fell Into the dawn of love's light Sing alle; sing alleluia

All is well all is well Let there be peace on earth Christ is come go and tell That He is in the manger Sing alle; sing alleluia

All is well all is well Lift up your voice and sing Born is now Emmanuel Born is our Lord and Savior Sing alleluia! Sing alleluia! All is well

Silent Night Words: Joseph Mohr, 1818; translated by John F. Young, 1863. Music: Franz Gruber 1818.

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!

Go In Peace Please join us outside as we send paper lanterns into the sky, symbolizing Christ’s light in the darkness.

Poinsettias Given in Honor of:

Peggy Patterson Skatebo by Dale Anderson Karl Kaswinkel by Shirley Kaswinkel Kelly Amanda Kaswinkel by Shirley Kaswinkel Jessica Ann Fisher by Robin Hayse Elisa Vadney by Robin Hayse Kathleen Eubanks by Larry Eubanks

Come Worship With Us

Join us on Sunday, December 27th and January 3rd at 10:45 am.

We will go back to two worship services beginning January 10th, at 9 am and 10:45 am.

HAVE YOU MOVED? If your mailing address and/or other contact information has recently changed, please contact [email protected]. We will be sending out 2020 Annual Giving Statements in January and want to be sure our records are up to date. As a reminder, IRS regulations require year end gifts to be received or postmarked by December 31st.