December 21, 2014Six Thirty in the Evening

Candlelight Service of Lessons and CarolsFirst Baptist Church

Greenville, South Carolina

Prelude

Processional Hymn 84 “Once in Royal David’s City” IRBY Stanza 1: Priscilla Harris *Stanzas 2-5: Congregation

Welcome to Worshipers Jim Dant

We welcome those who are visiting with us today. Please complete a welcome card located in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate. We hope you will consider making First Baptist Greenville your church home.

Offertory Prayer

Musical Offering Christmas Offering for Lula Whilden World Missions

Noel Grand jeu et duo Louis-Claude d’Aquin

Bidding Prayer Kendra Plating

One: Beloved in Christ, as we gather to celebrate with joyous anticipation the coming of the redeemer of the world, let us prepare ourselves to hear in lessons from the Holy Scripture how the prophets of Israel foretold his coming. Let us rejoice inourcarolsthatGod’spromiseisevennowbeingfulfilled. And let us offer our prayers and praise to Almighty God through the words which Christ himself taught us:

Many: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

First Lesson Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Haley Histon

The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior.

Carol *Hymn 82 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” ADESTE FIDELIS

Second Lesson Isaiah 11:1-2, 4a, 6-9 Parker Tollison

The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

Carol “O Come, Divine Messiah” French Carol arr. Howard Helvey

– Abbé Simon-Joesph Pellegrin, 1663-1745 trans. by Mary Frances Lescher, 1825-1904

O come, divine Messiah! The world in silence waits the dayWhen hope shall sing its triumphAnd sadness flee away.Dear Saviour haste;Come, come to earth,Dispel the night and show your face,And bid us hail the dawn of grace.O come, divine Messiah! The world in silence waits the dayWhen hope shall sing its triumphAnd sadness flee away.

You come in peace and meeknessAnd lowly will your cradle be;All clothed in human weaknessShall we your Godhead see.Dear Saviour haste;Come, come to earth,

Dispel the night and show your face,And bid us hail the dawn of grace.O come, Divine Messiah!The world in silence waits the dayWhen hope shall sing its triumphAnd sadness flee away.

O Christ, whom nations sigh for,Whom priest and prophet long foretold,Come break the captive fetters;Redeem the long-lost fold.Dear Savior haste;Come, come to earth, Dispel the night and show your face,And bid us hail the dawn of grace.O come, divine Messiah!The world in silence waits the dayWhen hope shall sing its triumph,And sadness flee away.

Third Lesson Isaiah 35:1-6 Alvin Rampey

The prophet foretells the coming of the desire of all nations.

Carol

*Hymn 80 “Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come” ANTIOCH

Fourth Lesson Isaiah 40:1-8 Christa Brackin

The prophet proclaims good news to a people in exile.

Carol “All Is Well” arr. Ron Huff Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Fifth Lesson Luke 1:26-35, 38 Abby CroweTipton

The angel Gabriel visits Mary.

All is well, all is well.Angels and men rejoice!For tonight darkness fellInto 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.

Carol “Angels’ Carol” John Rutter

Have you heard the sound of the angel voicesRinging out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?Have you seen the star shining out so brightly

As a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here?Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven

To the humble shepherds who have waited long?Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Hear the angels sing their joyful song.

He is come in peace in the winter’s stillness,Like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night;He is come in joy like the sun at morning

Filling all the world with radiance and with light.He is come in love as the child of Mary;

In a simple stable we have seen his birth:Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Hear the angels singing “Peace on earth.”

He will bring new light to a world in darkness,Like a bright star shining in the skies above;

He will bring new hope to the waiting nationsWhen he comes to reign in purity and love.

Let the earth rejoice at the Saviour’s coming;Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn:

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo!Hear the angels singing “Christ is born.”

Sixth Lesson Luke 2:1, 3-7 Clark Gray Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

Carol *Hymn 86 “The First Nowell” THE FIRST NOWELL

Seventh Lesson Luke 2:8-20 Zach Girvin

The shepherds go to the manger.

Carol “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt” Carl Schalk

Where shepherds lately knelt and kept the angel’s word,I come in half-belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred;

But there is room and welcome there for me,But there is room and welcome there for me.

In that unlikely place I find him as they said:Sweet, newborn babe, how frail, and in a manger bed:

A still small voice to cry one day for me,A still small voice to cry one day for me.

How should I not have known Isaiah would be there,His prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart, I stare:

A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me,A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me.

Can I, will I forget how Love was born and burnedIts way into my heart: unasked, unforced, unearned,

To die, to live, and not alone for me,To die, to live, and not alone for me.

– Jaroslav J. Vajda

Eighth Lesson John 1:1-5 Sherry Criminger

This is the great mystery of the Incarnation.

Carol “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” 13th-century Plainsong arr. John Erickson

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, Christ is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he! Of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, Evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heav’n sing praises; angels and archangels sing! And on earth let all the faithful now your joyous anthems ring, Ev’ry tongue Christ’s name confessing, countless voices answering, Evermore and evermore! Christ, to thee with God Creator, and O Holy Ghost, to thee, Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unwearied praises be: Honor, glory, and dominion, and eternal victory, Evermore and evermore!

– Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 4th century trans. John Mason Neale, 1854; Henry W. Baker, 1859; R.F. Davis, 1906; alt.

Ninth Lesson John 1:6-14

Christ is the Light of the World.

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Passing of the Light

Carol “Silent Night” STILLE NACHT (Congregation seated.)

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, Darkness flies, all is light;Shepherds hear the angels sing,“Alleluia! Hail the King!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.”

Benediction Please extinguish your candle before standing.

*Carol of Response (Hymn 75, stanza 3) MENDELSSOHN

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 we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Peal of the Bells

Organ Postlude “Il est né, le Divin Enfant” setting by Dénis Bedard*Please stand if able.Hearing aid receivers are available. Please contact an usher.

Place candles in a receptacle in the Narthex as you leave.

The soloist is Priscilla Harris, soprano.The service choirs are the Sanctuary and Youth Choirs.

Serving as acolytes are Ann-Grayson Good and Robert Greene.The crucifer is Zach Girvin.

The luminaries are given in loving memory and in celebration of the life of Dr. Thomas Edward House by Gail House. “Your light will always shine in the hearts of those who love you and in the many lives that you touched.”

The Nativity set in the Narthex is given by Janice and John Johnson in honor of the First Baptist staff and members.

The garlands are given in loving memory of Edna and Tom Hartness by Becky and Bobby Hartness.

The Advent banners were designed by Charlie Pate and crafted by a committee of First Baptist members.

The illustration on the cover of the order of worship is of the Christmas Window at the back of the baptistry side of the Sanctuary. The Christmas Window was given by Buck and Margaret Welling in honor of their children.

Music selections offered this evening include: “O Come, Divine Messiah!” arranged by Howard Helvey, Oxford University Press, 2010; “All Is Well” arranged by Ronn Huff, Sony/ATV Tunes LLC, 1989; “Angels’ Carol” by John Rutter, Oxford University Press, 1988; “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt” by Carl Schalk, Augsburg Publishing House, 1987; and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” arranged by John Erickson, from Hymns Plus for Junior Choristers selected and arranged by Helen Kemp, Hinshaw Music, Inc., 1980.

Poinsettia GiftsJulie Cline donates three poinsettias in honor of the Sanctuary Choir and in memory of David M. Cline and Ted Ellett.

Willis and Cynthia Tisdale give two poinsettias in honor of John and Anne Crabtree.

Floyd and Sidney Surles donate a poinsettia in memory of Carol League Surles.

Keeter Horton gives a poinsettia in memory of “Sonny” Horton.

Joanne Montague donates a poinsettia in memory of Jo Bell.

Boyd and Polly Gaskin give two poinsettias in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Anthony and Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Gaskin.

Gail House donates two poinsettias in memory of Dr. Thomas Edward House and her parents, Grady and Louise Toney.

Rosalind and Ted Tedards give two poinsettias in memory of Mell and J.D. Todd and Helen and Jack Tedards.

Tom & Sherry Atkinson donate two poinsettias in memory of their parents, Floyd and Genie Jones and Ben and Louise Atkinson.

Becky and Bobby Hartness place two poinsettias in memory of Edna and Tom Hartness.

Linda Alpert donates two poinsettias in memory of James William Sparks and F.M. Rogers.

Richard Stewart Hardaway places a poinsettia in memory of Susan Jane Collins Hardaway.

Richard Stewart Hardaway gives a poinsettia in memory of Paxson Collins MacDonald.

Karen and Randy Childers place two poinsettias in honor of Catherine Sumerel and in memory of Doris Wilson.

Jim and Peggy Morgan donate four poinsettias in memory of Nancy and Heyward Morgan and Vee and Sleepy Oxford.

Ralph and Becky Bouton give two poinsettias in honor of Bill and Anne Carpenter and in memory of Blanche O. Carpenter.

Neil and Susan Rabon with their sons place two poinsettias in honor of Paul and Nancy Goldsmith and Roland Rabon and in memory of Gena Rabon.

Nancy Strange, Laura Gabrels and Anne Peterson place a poinsettia in memory of their mother, Mary Chester “Chet” Gabrels.

Mary Barr Behlke gives two poinsettias in memory of Marvin Behlke.

Richard and Betty Alice Harper donate a poinsettia in appreciation of Baxter Wynn.

Charlie and Dottie Bryan place a poinsettia in memory of Jim Neal.

Charlie and Dottie Bryan donate a poinsettia in memory of Don Bolt.

The Bolt family places two poinsettias in memory of Don Bolt.

John Cothran gives a poinsettia in honor of Jeanette Cothran.

John and Jeanette Cothran place three poinsettias in memory of Jim Neal, Don Bolt and Pat McCoy.

John and Jeanette Cothran donate one poinsettia in honor of Bootie Cothran.

Jim and Martha Fayssoux with their children and grandchildren and John and Carole Austin with their children and grandchildren place four poinsettias in memory of Helen and Ervin Austin.

Jim and Martha Fayssoux with their children and grandchildren give two poinsettias in memory of Jim and Carolyn Fayssoux.

Paul and Nancy Goldsmith place a poinsettia in memory of Don Bolt.

Chris, Heather, Ben and Addison Stone place a poinsettia in honor of Jo and Don Carson and a poinsettia in memory of Jim Neal.

Leonette Neal gives a poinsettia in memory of Jim Neal.

Barbara Alexander donates a poinsettia in memory of Bobby Alexander.

Patsy and Arnold Burrell place two poinsettias in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Angus Burrell and Mr. and Mrs. E.V. Waddell Jr.

Lib Hunter gives a poinsettia in memory of Bill Hunter.

Nancy Davis and family donate a poinsettia in memory of Miriam and Gene Lollis.

Bert and Nancy Strange place a poinsettia in honor of their children and grandchildren and another in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Strange.

Tom Bruce gives a poinsettia in memory of Larkin and Jean Bruce.

Dawn Strickland and Bo Campbell donate a poinsettia in honor of Ruth Reid and one in memory of Rachel Martin.

Sandra and Oscar Funderburk place two poinsettias in memory of Ruth and Oscar Funderburk and Grace and Bernard Simmons.

Lois Stroud and Ginny, Stephen and David with their families give two poinsettias in memory of Gerald Stroud.

Martha Hall donates a poinsettia in memory of J. Floyd Hall.

Glenn Brackin Sr. and daughters Carol Ard, Peggy Hope and Brenda Edens place a poinsettia in memory of Glenn Brackin Jr.

Maye-Webb Tatum gives a poinsettia in honor of Majane, Carol and Charles and in memory of Odes “Buz” Tatum, III.

Alvin Rampey donates two poinsettias in honor of Vin and Jada Rampey and another in memory of Edna Rampey.

Two poinsettias are given in loving memory of Elsie Pittman Taylor by her family.

Jeanie and Bill Stoddard place two poinsettias in memory of Pauline and Thomas Pillow and Ruby and Bill Stoddard.

Joe and JoAnn Leaphart donate two poinsettias in honor of our church staff.

Kay Foster gives two poinsettias in memory of Darrell Floyd and Dan Foster.

Anna, Bradley and Brad Steele Sr. place three poinsettias in memory of Frances Pearce Steele.

Tina and Joe Ballew donate a poinsettia in memory of her parents, Jim and Evelyn Hayes, and another in memory of Jack and Carolyn Dennis.

Carol and Larry Cobb give two poinsettias in honor of FBC ministries, staff and families.

Ted Howie places a poinsettia in memory of Jane S. Howie.

Tom and Janet Huskey place two poinsettias in memory of their parents, Albert and Ethel Southern and Bryan and Helen Huskey.

Anne and Wayne Weaver donate a poinsettia in memory of Mary Frances Willingham.

A poinsettia is given in honor of Ruth Little and another given in memory of Henry Little by their families.

Ann and Bill Jones place a poinsettia in memory of Elizabeth Ryan.

Harry and Pam Shucker give two poinsettias in memory of Helen and Harry Shucker and Nelle and Jim Burgess.

Nancy McKittick donates a poinsettia in memory of Jim and Becky McKittrick.

Two poinsettias are placed in memory of John Roberts by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Janice Johnson gives a poinsettia in honor of the dedicated members of FBC Garden Friends.

The Bell family donates a poinsettia in memory of Johannah Bell.

Cindy Carson and David Carson place a poinsettia in honor of Barbara and Coy Carson and another in memory of Elizabeth Brian Carson.

June C. Holder gives a poinsettia in memory of her husband, William R. Holder Jr.

Nancy Foster donates a poinsettia in memory of Jack Foster Sr.

Jimmy and Peggy Paul place a poinsettia in honor of the Blue Heaven Sunday School Class.

Nancy and Mike Horne give a poinsettia in memory of Nancy’s sister, Iris Buchanan.

Bob and Carolyn Cloaninger donate a poinsettia in memory of Mrs. Oz (F.M.) Rogers.

Judy Allen places three poinsettias in memory of Ouida Shotts, Robert Lee and Dorothy Shotts.

Harrison Marshall and family and Mary Stark Kendrick and family give two poinsettias in memory of Mary Stark and Hap Marshall.

Dick Locke donates a poinsettia in memory of Bob Locke.

Mary Bolt places a poinsettia in honor of Jenny Bright and in memory of Tim Bright.

Ken and Mary Bolt give a poinsettia in honor of Leonette Neal and in memory of Jim Neal.

Ken and Mary Bolt donate a poinsettia in honor of Keeter Horton and in memory of Sonny Horton, another in honor of Marietta Bolt and in memory of Don Bolt, and an additional one in honor of Brenda League and in memory of Kelly Blanton.

Mary Bolt places a poinsettia in honor of Jenice House.

Ken and Mary Bolt give a poinsettia in honor of Teresa, David and Clark Gray.

Ken and Mary Bolt donate three poinsettias in honor of Martha Power, Champ Scott and Mary Pace.

Hazel Jay Christian donates two poinsettias in memory of Jerome K. Jay Sr. and Dr. Roy L. Christian.

The Adkins/Bouton Sunday School Class places a poinsettia in honor of Bill and Elaine Sarratt and another one in honor of Ralph and Becky Bouton.

Virginia Wagoner gives a poinsettia in honor of Don and Jane Watson.

Jo and Don Carson donate a poinsettia in honor of Becky Hartness for her leadership and faithfulness in decorating our Sanctuary so beautifully and an additional one in honor of Patsy Gray for her faithful service to our GAIHN program.

Ginny Leaman places a poinsettia in honor of Delores Bingham.Ben Turner gives two poinsettias in honor of Baxter Wynn and Dot Dill.

Jean and B.B. Ashley Jr. donate two poinsettias in memory of their parents, Ann and B.B. Ashley and Margie and C.V. Click.

Beth Chalmers Spurr places a poinsettia in honor of Sara Chalmers.

Ann Quattlebaum gives two poinsettias in memory of Carolyn Dennis and Jim Neal.

Joan Garrett donates two poinsettias in memory of Ernest Garrett.

The Hope Sunday School Class places a poinsettia in honor of Dr. Claude Stulting.

Alvin and Barbara Hawkins place two poinsettias in honor of their children; Diane and Scott Jeter, Rick and Terri Hawkins, and Karen and Bo Greene; and their grandchildren; Elizabeth, Caroline, Brooklee, Delaney and Robert.

Darrell Corder gives a poinsettia in honor of Sandra Corder.

Darrell and Sandra Corder place a poinsettia in memory of Stephanie Corder and Carey Corder and another in honor of Cameron Corder and Christopher Corder.

First Baptist Church847 Cleveland Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601-4495

(864) 233-2527 www.firstbaptistgreenville.com©2014 First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC (all rights reserved)

A Community of BelieversEach Member A Minister

Bootie Cothran, Media and TechnologyJim Dant, Senior Minister

Vivian Hamilton, Music and WorshipPriscilla Harris, Children’s Music

Jenna Manning, Church OperationsKyle Matthews, Worship Arts

Juli Morrow, PreschoolRosemary New, Infant-Toddler Program

Kendra Plating, Interim to YouthBecky Ramsey, ChildrenJeanie Reed, Youth Music

Matt Rollins, Spiritual Formation and OutreachFrank A. Smith, Neighborhood Partnership and Christian Fellowship

Kathy Stewart, KindergartenLaura Stout, Missions

Charles Tompkins, OrganistBaxter M. Wynn, Pastoral Care and Community Relations

The Sunday morning worship service is broadcast on WLFJ-AM 660 and FM 92.9.The radio broadcast can also be heard via the World Wide Web.

On the media page of www.firstbaptistgreenville.com are links to the radio and Livestream broadcasts. Links to view or listen to previous services are also available.