PRAYER OF DEDICATION
READING OF JOHN John 1:1-14 Bible NT Pgs. 91-92
THE SPREADING OF THE LIGHT
* CAROL 122 Silent Night
1. Silent night, holy night! 2. Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright, Shepherds quake at the sight;
‘Round yon virgin mother and child Glories stream from heaven afar,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Heavenly hosts sing: “Alleluia;
Sleep in heavenly peace, Christ the Savior is born,
Sleep in heavenly peace. 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.
* CAROL 134 Joy to the World ANTIOCH 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 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.
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.
* BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE O Little Town of Bethlehem Paul Manz
Worship Leaders:
Preacher: The Rev. Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp
Liturgist: The Rev. Diane J. Fitch
Christmas Choir: John Sall, Director
Organist: Ethel Geist
Bulletin Design: Eric Gildner
ABINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Founded 1714
1082 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001 Phone: (215) 887-4530 Fax: (215) 887-5988 E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.apcusa.org
The Reverend Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp, Interim Pastor The Reverend Diane J. Fitch, Associate Pastor
The Reverend Stanley T. Wherry, Minister of Visitation Ruth Ideen-Sall, B.M. Director of Children’s Choirs and Ministries
John Sall, M.M. Director of Music Ministries Ethel Geist, M.A. Organist
Janet Tebbel, M.M. Director of Handbells Gary Koch, Business Manager
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.
The church office is closed December 23rd through January 2nd.
For pastoral emergencies please call Pastor Leslie or Pastor Diane.
Grace and peace to you! Thank you for worshiping at Abington
Presbyterian Church during this holy season. You are most welcome here.
Abington Presbyterian has been serving this community in Christ’s name for
more than 300 years. Hallmarks of our life together include worship, music,
education, and mission outreach, with opportunities for all to participate and
deepen their faith. Our neighbors know us as a place of welcome: we host
scout troops, civic and non-profit groups, yoga classes, an orchestra, and of
course the Abington Presbyterian Nursery School. There is something for
everyone at every age and stage here at APC.
Please join us on this journey of faith.
-Interim Pastor Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp
Thank you for your end of year financial support for APC.
Your 2016 end of year contribution must be postmarked
no later than December 31st.
If you would like to make a gift of securities/stocks to
APC, please be in touch with Ra-Shawn Glenn, the church
financial secretary, or Ralph McDevitt.
Stock transfers must also take place by Dec 31st.
The church office will be open on December 27th, but
otherwise closed between Christmas and New Year’s.
Thank you for your support of the mission and ministry of
Abington Presbyterian Church.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
December 24, 2016
7:30 pm
PRELUDE From Heaven Above to Earth I Come Walter Pelz
Theme
Variation III The Blessing Which the Father Planned
Variation I (Canon) To You this Night is Born a Child
Variation VII
Were earth a thousand times as fair
and set with gold and jewels rare
Still such a cradle would not do
to rock a prince so great as You.
Carol of the Bells/ Savior of the Nations, Come Rebecca Owens
Go Tell It on the Mountain Paul Manz
Go Tell It on the Mountain David Cherwien
‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime David Cherwien
Still, Still, Still Paul Manz
Away in a Manger/What Child is This Rebecca Owens
INTROIT Once in Royal David’s City Hymn 140, v. 1,2,4
Solo
Choir
All (seated)
And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love;
for that child so dear and gentle
is our Lord in heaven above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.
WELCOME AND PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP & LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE The Bray Family
* CAROL 133 O Come All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES
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!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!
3. Sing, choirs of angels;
sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God,
all glory in the highest!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!
4. Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father,
now in the flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!
* UNISON PRAYER On this day, Gracious Lord, you come to us as word, as light, as
flesh. You bring forth a child whom we call blessed, upon whose
shoulders rests the destiny of nations. With shepherds and angels,
we lift our voices rejoicing: All glory to you in the highest, and on
earth peace among those with whom you dwell. Amen.
READING OF THE PSALM Psalm 96 Bible OT Pgs. 550-551
ANTHEM Sussex Carol Dale Wood
READING OF THE PROPHECY Isaiah 9:2-7 Bible OT Pg. 638
CAROL 110 Love Has Come BRING A TORCH 1. Love has come: a light in the darkness!
Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;
hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love! Glory to God on high.
3. Love has come and never will leave us!
Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us.
Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is a gift of Christmas.
Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!
READING OF THE EPISTLE Titus 2:11-14 Bible NT Pg. 215
* CAROL 121 O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS
READING OF THE GOSPEL Luke 2:1-20 Bible NT Pg. 58
SERMON This Day The Rev. Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp
* CAROL 119 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN 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!”
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 newborn king!”
CHRISTMAS PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine
is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY SENTENCE
OFFERTORY ANTHEM Sweet Was the Song Austin Lovelace
* DOXOLOGY Angels, From the Realms of Glory Hymn 143, v. 4 All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
evermore your voices raising
to the eternal Three in One:
come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king!