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: leslieda@apcusa.org

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!