Christmas Eve DOXOLOGY Candlelight Service - Amazon S3s3.amazonaws.com/.../christmascandlelightservice.pdf · Christmas Eve Candlelight Service praise him above, ye heavenly host:

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

(Isaiah 7:14, ESV)

VOLUNTARY Joy to the World arr. Robert A. Hobby O Holy Night arr. Arthur Frackenpohl What Is This Lovely Fragrance? arr. Todd Marchand

Jason Ortiz and Bruce Easterling, trumpets; Jill Rogerson, French horn; Tom Stonecypher, trombone;

Roger Keane, tuba; Davis Nickles, timpani; Thomas Russell, organ TOLLING OF THE HOUR CALL TO WORSHIP Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas PROCESSIONAL HYMN: Once in Royal David’s City IRBY

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall: With the poor, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

Congregation please stand and join with the Choir: And through all his wondrous childhood he would honor and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden in whose gentle arms he lay: Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as he.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav’n above, And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, We shall see him, but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high; When like stars his children crowned all in white shall wait around.

harm. A.H. Mann; arr. Sir David Willcocks. The Chancel Choir

+ INVOCATION: Mr. Squires (4:00) Mr. Wilkes (6:00)

+ CONFESSION OF FAITH

We confess the mystery and wonder of God made flesh and rejoice in our great salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. With the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Son created all things,

sustains all things, and makes all things new. Truly God, He became truly man, two natures in one person.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and lived among us. Crucified, dead, and buried, He rose on the third day,

ascended to heaven, and will come again in glory and judgment. For us, He kept the Law, atoned for sin, and satisfied God’s wrath.

He took our filthy rags and gave us His righteous robe. He is our Prophet, Priest, and King,

building His church, interceding for us, and reigning over all things. Jesus Christ is Lord; we praise His holy Name forever. Amen.

The Word Made Flesh, The Ligonier Statement on Christology. ©2016 Ligonier Ministries

+ DOXOLOGY PUER NOBIS NASCITUR Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host:

praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

THE BIRTH OF A SON

SCRIPTURE LESSON I*: Luke 2:1-7 Mr. P. Ransey Bowers (4:00) Mr. Bruce T. Williams (6:00)

ANTHEM: In the Bleak Midwinter Harold Darke

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter long ago. Our God, heav’n cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; Heav’n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: In the bleak midwinter, a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for him, whom cherubim, worship night and day, A breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay; Enough for him, whom angels fall down before, The ox and ass and camel which adore. 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; Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

text: Christina Rossetti

GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY

SCRIPTURE LESSON II: Luke 2:8-20 Mr. C. Clarke McNair (4:00) Mr. Norman A. Kent (6:00)

+ CAROL: The First Nowell English traditional carol

The First Nowell 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: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell born is the King of Israel!

They lookèd 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: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell born is the King of Israel!

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 that star wherever it went: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those wise men three, Full rev’rently upon their knee, And offer’d there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell born is the King of Israel!

Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavn’ly Lord, That hath made heav’n and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell born is the King of Israel!

arr. Sir David Willcocks

PRAYER: Dr. McDowell (4:00) Mr. Mathias (6:00)

WISE MEN

SCRIPTURE LESSON III: Matthew 2:1-12

Mr. J. Paul Riddle (4:00) Dr. Robert H. Belding (6:00) ANTHEM: All My Heart This Night Rejoices Johann Georg Ebeling

All my heart this night rejoices As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices: ‘Christ is born!’ their choirs are singing, Till the air ev’rywhere now with joy is ringing.

Hark! a voice from yonder manger, Soft and sweet, doth entreat, ‘Flee from woe and danger! Brethren, come! from all doth grieve you, You are freed; all you need I will surely give you.’

Come, then, let us hasten yonder! Here let all, great and small, kneel in awe and wonder! Love him who with love is yearning! Hail the star that from far bright with hope is burning!

Thee, dear Lord, with heed I’ll cherish, Live to thee, and with thee, dying, shall not perish; But shall dwell with thee forever, Far on high, in the joy that can alter never.

Words by Paul Gerhardt. Tr. Catherine Winkworth

SERMON: “The First Nowell” Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas Luke 2:8-14

PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY: Coventry Carol arr. Martin Shaw

Lully, lulla, Thou little tiny Child, By, by, lully, lullay. O sisters too, how may we do For to preserve this day This poor youngling, for whom we do sing By by, lully, lullay? Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day His men of might, in his own sight, All young children to slay. That woe is me, poor child for thee! And ever morn and day For thy parting neither say nor sing, By by, lully, lullay!

15th Century From the Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors

* The Scripture Lessons will be read by elders of First Presbyterian Church.

To Be Noted

Please deposit your candles in the receptacles provided in the Narthex or outside the church doors.

New Year’s Eve Communion Service: At 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 31, we will gather together to celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Note: Gluten-free bread for communion will be available in the Narthex prior to the service. Also, white envelopes for the Deacon’s Fund – taken in association with communion – are available in the pews. Christmas Holiday: The church offices are closed Monday, December 26. If you need pastoral care assistance, please call 513-7931 for the pastor on call. Poinsettias in Jackson Hall may be picked up following this service. Nurseries for children to the age of four are provided in the Thornwell Education Building. Parents of children who have been in the Nursery are asked to come for them promptly after the conclusion of the service.

Worship at First Things to consider

Thank you for turning off cell phones during the worship service. Please leave any food or drink outside of the Sanctuary. If able, please make room in your pews for others. This helps the ushers as they seat

people. The Sanctuary is equipped with a hearing assistance system. Please ask

deacons for a receiver. First Presbyterian Church uses two hymnbooks. Trinity Hymnal is the blue hymnbook,

and The Hymnbook is the red hymnbook. Nurseries for children to the age of four are provided in the Thornwell Education

Building. A quiet room with a live video feed of the service is available in Thornwell, Room 113.

There, mothers may attend to the needs of their children.

THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES We pass the light from one to another, to symbolize the light that Jesus Christ has brought into our lives by his coming. Please take care to tilt the unlit candle toward the one already lit to protect your clothes and the pew cushions. If children use candles, parents should be especially watchful. When all of the candles have been lighted, the congregation will join together in the singing of the hymn.

+ HYMN: Silent Night! Holy Night! STILLE NACHT

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, Heav’nly 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!

Immediately following the hymn, candles should be carefully extinguished.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING + RECESSIONAL HYMN: Joy to the World ANTIOCH

Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let ev’ry heart prepare him room And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, Rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found.

arr. John Rutter

+ BENEDICTION + CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: Joy to the World! ANTIOCH

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, And wonders, wonders of his love.

arr. Daniel Cole

VOLUNTARY: Postlude on MENDELSSOHN Sir David Willcocks

+ Congregation Standing.

The First Presbyterian Church

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Saturday, December 24, 2016 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Dr. Mark I. McDowell, Young Adults & Adult Education Thomas Russell, Music Ministry Beth Ann Sample, Youth Ministry Rev. Josh A. Squires, Counseling & Congregational Care Hannah R. Stevenson, College Ministry Dr. Calvin W. Todd, Visitation Rev. L. Craig Wilkes, Pastoral Care & Visitation Richard Wolford, Executive Chef Emily R. Woodard, Women’s Ministry

If, at any time, you have an emergency, please call 513-7931 to contact a pastor. First Presbyterian Church

1324 Marion Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Office (803) 799-9062 Fax (803) 799-9172 www.firstprescolumbia.org [email protected]

Brad A. Anderson, Youth Ministry Chad C. Barrett, Finance and Operations Dr. Daniel B. Cole, Music Ministry LeGrand Cooper, Administration Dr. D. Ralph Davis, Minister in Residence David C. Henderson, College Ministry Andrew Di Iulio, Youth Ministry Hannah J. Lampman, Children’s Ministry Rev. David H. Lauten, Senior Associate Minister Rev. Neal R. Mathias, Executive Minister

Ministry Staff Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas, Senior Minister

Once in Royal David’s City

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,

Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven

who is God and Lord of all,

And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall:

With the poor, and mean, and lowly,

lived on earth our Savior holy.

Congregation please stand and join with the Choir:

And through all his wondrous childhood

he would honor and obey,

Love and watch the lowly maiden

in whose gentle arms he lay:

Christian children all must be

mild, obedient, good as he.

And our eyes at last shall see him,

through his own redeeming love;

For that child so dear and gentle

is our Lord in heav’n above,

And he leads his children on

to the place where he is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,

with the oxen standing by,

We shall see him, but in heaven,

set at God’s right hand on high;

When like stars his children crowned

all in white shall wait around.

CONFESSION OF FAITH We confess the mystery and wonder of God made

flesh and rejoice in our great salvation through

Jesus Christ our Lord. With the Father and the

Holy Spirit, the Son created all things, sustains all

things, and makes all things new. Truly God, He

became truly man, two natures in one person. By

the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the

Virgin Mary and lived among us. Crucified, dead,

and buried, He rose on the third day, ascended to

heaven, and will come again in glory and judgment.

For us, He kept the Law, atoned for sin, and

satisfied God’s wrath. He took our filthy rags and

gave us His righteous robe. He is our Prophet,

Priest, and King, building His church, interceding

for us, and reigning over all things. Jesus Christ is

Lord; we praise His holy Name forever. Amen.

Luke 2:1-7

In those days a decree went out from Caesar

Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration when Quirinius was

governor of Syria. And all went to be registered,

each to his own town. And Joseph also went up

from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea,

to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,

because he was of the house and lineage of David, to

be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was

with child. And while they were there, the time

came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her

firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths

and laid him in a manger, because there was no

place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:8-20

And in the same region there were shepherds out in

the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the

glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were

filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear

not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people. For unto you is born

this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ

the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will

find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying

in a manger." And suddenly there was with the an-

gel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God

and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on

earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels went away from them into heaven,

the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over

to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,

which the Lord has made known to us." And they

went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and

the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it,

they made known the saying that had been told

them concerning this child. And all who heard it

wondered at what the shepherds told them. But

Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them

in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying

and praising God for all they had heard and seen,

as it had been told them.

The First Nowell The First Nowell 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:

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell

born is the King of Israel!

They lookèd 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:



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 that star wherever it went:



Then entered in those wise men three,

Full rev’rently upon their knee,

And offer’d there in his presence

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense:



Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heavn’ly Lord,

That hath made heav’n and earth of naught,

And with his blood mankind hath bought:



Matthew 2:1-12 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in

the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from

the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he

who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his

star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled,

and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the

chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired

of them where the Christ was to be born. They told

him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by

the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are

by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for

from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my

people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and

ascertained from them what time the star had

appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,

“Go and search diligently for the child, and when

you have found him, bring me word, that I too may

come and worship him.” After listening to the king,

they went on their way. And behold, the star that

they had seen when it rose went before them until it

came to rest over the place where the child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly

with great joy. And going into the house they saw

the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down

and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures,

they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and

myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return

to Herod, they departed to their own country by

another way.

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