ST PAUL'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Newport, RI
Welcome
Prelude
“O Come Divine Messiah” (Carpentier)
Performed by Krista E.
Carol
“Merry Christmas with Love” (Smiley/Davis)
Performed by Krista E.
Call & response
Leader: Come away, come away, come today to Bethlehem.
People: Come adore on bended knee, one whose birth the angels sing.
Leader: Come away, come away, from your noisy celebrations to a place of quietness and peace.
People: Come with wonder, come with awe, take your place among cattle and sheep.
All: Sing the good news of Emmanuel: God-with-us! The Christ has come!
Opening carol
"O Come, All Ye Faithful" #234
Verses 1 - 3
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:
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
2. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
(Refrain)
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
(Refrain)
Reading
The Prophecy (Isaiah 9:2-3 & 6-7)
Carol
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" #230
1. 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.
2. 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 all on earth!
3. 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.
4. 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!1
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Call & response
Leader: Joy to the world!
People: This is the culmination of our waiting.
Leader: We have lit the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. In the glow of their light, we feel the warmth of deep and quiet joy.
People: Let us sing to the glory of God.
Leader: As we light the Christ Candle, we celebrate the birth of one who offers us hope when we are in despair.
People: Peace in the chaos of life!
Leader: God’s love – graciously, silently, vulnerably offered.
People: Let heaven and nature sing!
Reading
The Vision (Matthew 1:18-25)
Carol
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" #211
Verses 1, 2, & 7
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go.
[Refrain]
3. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
[Refrain]
4. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call.
[Refrain]
5. O come, thou Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home
make safe the way that leads on high
and close the path to misery
[Refrain]
6. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thy advent here
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadows put to flight.
[Refrain]
7. O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind.
From dust though brought us forth to life;
deliver us from earthly strife.
[Refrain]
Reading
The Birth (Luke 2:1-7)
Carol
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" #240
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 th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"
2. 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 th' incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"
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.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"
Reading
The Shepherds and the Angels (Luke 2:8-20)
Carol
"Angels We Have Heard on High" #238
1. Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
(Refrain)
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
(Refrain)
4. See him in a manger laid,
whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while our hearts in love we raise.
(Refrain).
Christmas Offering & Dedication
Offertory
"Some Children See Him" (Alfred Burt)
Performed by Krista E.
Unison Prayer of Dedication
Thank you, God of Love, for the promise of this season, these gifts represent a spirit of joyous giving here below as above. Amen.
Carol
"Emmanuel, Emmanuel" #204
Sung twice
Emmanuel, Emmanuel,
his name is called Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed in us,
his name is called Emmanuel.
Christmas Meditation
Passing the Light of the Christ Candle
Carol
"Silent Night, Holy Night" #239
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.
2. 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."
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.
4. Silent night, holy night,
Wondrous star, lend the light;
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.
Prayer of Celebration
Lord's Prayer
Our Father-Mother, 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Parting Carol
"Joy to the World" #246
1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. 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.
4. 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.
Postlude
"Silent Night" (arr. Hayes)