FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Eleven O'Clock p.m. ~ Christmas Eve Service ~ Two Thousand and Thirteen

†THE PREPARATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE†

PRELUDE Begins at 10:45 p.m. Gesu Bambino– Rebekah Geitner, Flute and Organist, Ashley Burell Pietro Yon Fum, Fum, Fum – Handbells (Directed by Tim Lett) arr. Patricia Sanders

Variations on In Dulci Jubilo – Organ Denis Bédard

THE CARILLON

THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES The Rev. Dr. William C. Pender Leader: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined. People: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; Leader: authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. People: His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace, from this time forth and forevermore.

† PROCESSIONAL HYMN #41 O Come All Ye Faithful Adeste Fideles stanza 1: O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye , O come ye to Bethlehem! Come, and behold Him born the King of angels! (Refrain)

Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

stanza 2: Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation! Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! (Refrain)

stanza 3 Chancel Choir Members: Scott Beasley, Jerry Hurst, and Russell Sparks

stanza 4 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! (Refrain)

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH The Rev. Dr. Paul P. Rader

ANTHEM Ding! Dong! Merrily on High arr. David Willcocks

†THE PROCLAMATION OF GOD'S WORD†

FIRST LESSON Luke 1:26-35, 38 Meg Goddard ANTHEM Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day John Gardner

SECOND LESSON Luke 2:1-7 John Wilson ANTHEM In the Bleak Midwinter Harold Darke

THIRD LESSON Luke 2:8-14 Susan Seagraves †CAROL #31 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn stanza 1: 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 the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

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

stanza 2: Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity.

Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emanuel. (Refrain)

stanza 3: Hail the heaven-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. (Refrain)

FOURTH LESSON Luke 2:15-20 William Wilson ANTHEM Sussex Carol arr. David Willcocks

CHRISTMAS EVE PRAYERS Rev. Paul P. Rader

† CAROL #49 Once in Royal David's City Irby stanza 1: Women’s Youth Ensemble Alumnae; stanzas 2-4: Congregation joining

†THE RESPONSE OF GOD'S PEOPLE†

CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING: Family Promise, a helping ministry for homeless families. OFFERTORY ANTHEM What Sweeter Music John Rutter

What sweeter music can we bring, than a carol, for to sing the birth of this our heavenly King?

Awake the voice! Awake the string! Dark and dull night, fly hence away,

and give the honour to this day that sees December turned to May.

Why does the chilling winter’s morn smile, like a field beset with corn?

Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn thus, on the sudden? Come and see the cause, why things thus fragrant be:

‘Tis he is born, whose quickening birth gives life and lustre, public mirth, to heaven, and the under-earth.

We see him come, and know him ours, who, with his sunshine and his showers, turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come, and fit it is, we find a room to welcome him, to welcome him.

The nobler part, of all the house here, is the heart, which we will give him;

and bequeath this holly, and this ivy wreath, to do him honour; who’s our King, and Lord of all this reveling.

What sweeter music can we bring, than a carol, for to sing the birth of this our heavenly King?

Robert Herrick (1591-1675)

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

INVITATION TO THE LORD'S TABLE & PRAYER OF DEDICATION

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE Come forward down the center-aisle. The center bread station will be gluten-free. The two outside bread stations will be regular

bread. Once you have received the bread, move to one of the cup stations, dip the bread, partake, and then return to your pew by the outside aisle. If coming forward is not physically appropriate for you, please signal to the pastors who will walk down the center aisle following the communion service to the choir. You will be served in your pew.

Receiving the Elements: Many find that placing one palm in the other, forming a cross, is a meaningful way to receive the bread. Also, many find the oral response of “Amen” is a meaningful way to respond to the pastor’s offer of the bread, “This is the body of Christ,” and to elder’s offer of the cup, “This is the blood of Christ.”

MUSIC FOR COMMUNION Gloria ad modum tubae (Glory to God in the Highest) Guillame Dufay

Sung by the Women’s Youth Ensemble Alumnae Gloria in excelsis Deo Glory to God in the highest, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. and on earth peace to people of good will. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, We praise you, we bless you, adoramus te, glorificamus te, we adore you, we glorify you, gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, we give you thanks for your great glory, Domine Deus, Rex cælestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Domine Fili Unigenite, Jesu Christe, Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, you are seated at the right hand of the Father, miserere nobis. have mercy on us. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, For you alone are the Holy One, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu: Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

O Magnum Mysterium (O Great Mystery) Tomas de Luis Victoria Sung by Musica Sacra

O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, that animals should see the new-born Lord, jacentem in praesepio! lying in a manger! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Dominum Christum. Alleluia. Christ the Lord. Alleluia!

THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

†THE CANDLE LIGHTING† THE LESSON John 1:1-5, 14 The Rev. Dr. William C. Pender

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

LIGHTING THE CANDLES OF THE CONGREGATION (Candles that are burning should be held upright while those to be lighted are tipped to the burning candle.)

CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night Stille Nacht Stanza 1: 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.

Stanza 2: Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight, glory streams from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

Stanza 3: 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.

Stanza 4: 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.

† BLESSING The Rev. Dr. William C. Pender Members of the congregation should extinguish their candles before leaving the pew and may place them in containers at the doors of the church. Parents with young children are reminded to assist them with the candles and flames.

† POSTLUDE In Dulci Jubilo (In Quiet Joy) Marcel Dupré