Bulletin, 12/24/2011 - Evening Service

• Details
• Parent Category: Sunday Bulletins
• Published on Saturday, 24 December 2011 10:42

Welcome to First Congregational Church!
Christmas Eve 2011 -- 10:00 p.m.

THE GATHERING

PRELUDE:   Traditional Carol Arrangements
Brass: Ted Adams, Mark Gahm, Nick Catino, Emily Boyer, Greg Laird
Bells: Liza Catino, Pamela Dear, Paul Kuehn, Stuart Wilkie
INTROIT:    In Silent Night    Mitchell Southall

CALL TO CELEBRATION

Leader:    Tonight old dreams die and new dreams come to life.   The promise is fulfilled!
People:    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.
Leader:    Hope gives way to joy, and prayer to proclamation.
People:    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.
Leader:    Our candles illuminate our story. Dawn invades midnight. The Light of the World has come.
People:    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.
Leader:    And this light is a light for all: igniting a flame in the soul, warming us from within, radiating love, lighting our lives with the presence of God-come-alive in human flesh within us, and among us now and always.
People:    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to all.

*HYMNS & PSALMS #41   O Come All Ye Faithful

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES

Tonight we re-light the four Advent candles and recall their messages of Peace, Hope, Joy and Love. We light the Christmas candle and recognize that through the light of Christ, God gives us all these gifts. Together we celebrate the coming of Christ, the Light of the World.
SCRIPTURE:                  Isaiah 9:1, 6
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority and his peace will never end.
UNISON PRAYER:
With quietness, O God, our hearts draw near to the rude stall where Christ was born. The noise of the world is stilled for a moment. The joy of heaven is heard. Help us to think deeply on this event which we celebrate once again. Let your Word be revealed to us and find a home in us, for we are as lonely as the shepherds, as wayfaring as the wise men, as busy as the innkeeper. Anchor our lives in your peace and bind us in common service with all people of good will. And may the grace and truth of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus, live in our times!  Amen.
ANTHEM:                            O Holy Night                    Adolphe Adam
Molly Durso-Smith, soprano

SERVICE OF THE WORD

SCRIPTURE:                       Luke 2: 1 -17                  Deacon Fonicello
SERMON:                                 “Hope”                                  Dr. Norris
ANTHEM:                       Child in a Manger                         John Rutter
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 31   Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing

SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Leader:    Emmanuel: God is with us.  We have heard the promise of the prophets;
People:    We have stood in the fields with the shepherds and heard the angel's song;
Leader:    The star has appeared, and we have followed to see Mary and Joseph in the stable.
People:    Tonight we have found the baby in the manger, the One who will reign with peace and justice.
Leader:    This is the One who brings us together as sisters and brothers of God to feast on the joyful bread of forgiveness and to drink deeply from the cup of salvation.
All:    Tonight we come from North and South, from East and West, to join with Christians everywhere in celebrating the birth of Christ. Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace! Alleluia and Amen!
CALL TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY:                          Torches                             John Joubert
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP  It is our custom to wait until all have received the bread and then eat together; likewise with the cup.  Gluten-free bread is served in the pews on the Church St (left) side.
COMMUNION MUSIC:    Two Carols for Bell Duet      arr. D. Wagner
Liza Catino, Stuart Wilkie, handbells
ANTHEM:                         Still, Still, Still                          arr. Wilberg
UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
Eternal God, whose secret name is Love; this night we remember your gentleness, hidden in a mother’s hope and in the joy of birth, and again we dare to believe that love is stronger than fear, that peace is more enduring than enmity, and that darkness will never extinguish your light.  And so we lay before you our gift of gratitude that your eternal love has come to us this night in the
form of a child, and has been renewed in us through this bread and this cup.  May we leave your table prepared to share the joy, the hopes and the dreams of this night with all your children.  Amen.
HYMN:                     Silent Night (on insert, congregation seated)

BENEDICTION

*HYMNS & PSALMS #40    Joy to the World
POSTLUDE:       Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)   arr. from G. F. Handel
+    +    +
The Staff of First Church wishes you a blessed Christmas!
Heartfelt thanks to the Senior Choir, guest musicians and Bill Speed
for the special music this evening.

Ushers: Preston Maynard, Bob and Susan Leete, Miriam Olsen, Kyle Ondricek
Deacons:  Doris Fonicello, Barbara Bishop, Rebecca Bunting,
Pamela Dear, Betsy Grant, Bo Huhn, Kurt Linske, Walter Ostroski,
Bill Shank, Michael Smith, and Anita Soucy
Sound System:  Mary Norris

Please join us for Sunday worship:
Christmas Day 10am, Clare preaching, No Nursery or Church School
Jan. 1 - 10am, Carolyn Johns preaching, No Nursery or Church School.