Christmas Eve
SALISBURY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
SERVICE
SUNDAY DECEMBER 24, 2017
5:30 pm
Bell Choir Prelude
6:00 pm
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
The Reverend Dr. Diane Monti-Catania, Pastor Dr. Jack Bowman, DMA, Minister of Music Mary Davidson, Director of Bell Choir
Salisbury Congregational Church
30 Main Street, Salisbury, CT www.SalisburyCongregationalChurch.org
DECEMBER 24, 2017
Christmas Eve
Bell Choir Prelude
Noel ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Louis Claude D’Aquin Chiming of the Hour
CAROL
O Come, All Ye Faithful
#133
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!
True God from true God, Light from light eternal, born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;
very God, begotten not created!
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; Sing all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory to the highest!
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
Refrain
2 Salisbury Congregational Church — Christmas Eve, December 24, 2017
Welcome & Call to Worship
Choral Introit: Raise a Song of Gladness Lighting of the Advent and Christ Candle
Pastor Diane with the children
CAROL
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
VERSE 1
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn 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!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
Rosie Oberto: We light the candle of Hope. In this world where discontent is revealed through actions and words, there is assurance in an expectant God. We come to this nativity with hope in the same holy radiance that encompassed shepherds in their darkness. Angelic voices declared to them and to us: the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord has been born in Bethlehem.
All: Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!’
Myles Crain: We light the candle of Peace. The lowly shepherds, in awe of the heavenly angel’s announcement that the Holy Prince of Peace is here, traveled, finding the beloved child just as was told to them, wrapped in pieces of fabric and lying in a manger. We share in the peaceful presence of Christ our Savior!
All: Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!’
Rosie Oberto: We light the candle of Joy. Joy is shared as the shepherds’ lives are changed. Following the brilliant angelic call to seek the holy, the shepherds were witnesses to the Lord, and they glorified and praised God. We, too, rejoice in the joy of God’s love manifested in the Christ child!
All: Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!’
Myles Crain: We light the candle of love. The humble Christ child was revealed to the least likely of the world, resting his head in the lowliest of places; a feeding trough. Christ’s birth was a sign of extravagant love from the God who is greater than all Creation. It is a declaration of divine grace to be shared with all people, even us, still today. Glory and honor be to the newborn Christ!
All: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to all people on earth.
Pastor Diane: We light the Christ candle. Christ is born! The Messiah has come into the world! May we proclaim to the world our joy and share the light that we have received in Christ. Today, we glorify the gift of true light and abundant life that Christ brings to the world!
All: Thanks be to God!
CAROL
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
VERSES 2 & 3
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 God-head see;
Hail the incarnate deity,
Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.
Refrain: Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
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: Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9: 6-7………………………………………………………………………………… Reader: Landon Good
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11: 1-9 ……………………………………………………………………………. Reader: Michael Fitting
4 Salisbury Congregational Church — Christmas Eve, December 24, 2017
CAROL
The First Nowell
#147 • VERSES 1 & 2
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.
Refrain: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel.
They looked 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.
Refrain
Offering: United Church of Christ Christmas Fund — for the benefit of retired clergy
Choral Anthem: Candlelight Carol …………………………………………………………………………………………………… John Rutter Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1: 18-23…………………………………………………………………….Reader: Hannah LaPier Scripture Reading: Luke 2: 1-16………………………………………………………………………………………..Reader: Reverend Dick Taber
CAROL
The First Nowell
#147 • VERSES 3 & 4
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 the star wherever it went.
Refrain: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel.
The star drew nigh to the northwest; O’er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay, Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Refrain
Christmas Reflection
“A Baby Changes Everything!” ………………………………………………………. Reverend Dr. Diane Monti-Catania Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
CAROL
Silent Night, Holy Night
#122
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; Heavenly 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 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
CONGREGATION RESPONSE
Joy to the World
#134
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.
Joy to the earth, 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.
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.
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, and wonders of his love.
Postlude: Suisse Noel…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Louis Claude D’Aquin
Thank You
Special thanks to our ushers this evening: Joe Catania, Becky Feen, Kathy Mera, Sharon Tingley, Michael Voldstad, and Kyle Good
SALISBURY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU!
We, the Salisbury Congregational Church, seek to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves. This Church declares itself to be Open and Affirming to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment regardless of race, ancestry, class, gender identity, physical/mental ability or sexual orientation. We further declare ourselves to be Affirming of each individual as a child of God, celebrating the total identity of each person. As a declared Open and Affirming Congregation, we commit ourselves to work toward ending ignorance, fear, hatred, prejudice and discrimination against any person.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!