WestminsterPresbyterian ChurchA Telling Presence in the CityChristmas Eve 2019, 8 & 10 pm

The Nativity (detail), by John August Swanson, serigraph, 1988The Westminster Collection, on view in Westminster Commons

We enter this church not as strangers, but as children of God.

Welcome to WestminsterWe are grateful for your presence and invite you to participate in our worship, mission, and programs. Large-print hymnals, hearing assistance devices, and Hearing Loop information available from ushers.

If you are new to WestminsterParking On Sundays, for those without walking difficulties, please park at Orchestra Hall, 11th St. & Marquette. At Orchestra Hall, take a ticket as you enter the ramp; pick up a parking voucher at Westminster; use both your ticket and voucher to exit the ramp. Westminster Ramp may be ac-cessed from Alice Rainville Place between Marquette and Nicollet Mall. There is also a drop-off area at church on Marquette Avenue.Nursery Care is available for infants through age 3 from 8:15-11:30 am on Sundays.Coffee Hour Join us for fair trade coffee and refreshments after worship in the Commons.Education for all ages, Sundays, 9:15 am Church School (ages 3-high school), Adult Education, Social Justice Forum, Virtues & Values.Membership The next new member class is January 26. To learn more, visit westminstermpls.org/membership or contact Rev. Dr. Meghan Gage-Finn, mgage-finn@wpc-mpls.org or Janice Teliczan, jteliczan@wpc-mpls.org.

If you seek to deepen your involvement Faith in Action Get involved in serving and seeking justice. Contact Rev. Alanna Simone Tyler, atyler@wpc-mpls.org.Families, Youth, and Children Connect with children’s/youth choirs, youth group, confirmation, parent offerings, and special events. Contact Rev. Dr. Meghan Gage-Finn, mgage-finn@wpc-mpls.org. Fellowship Enjoy fellowship with other members of the church. Contact Rev. Sarah Brouwer, sbrouwer@wpc-mpls.org.

Other worship and prayer opportunitiesPrayer Companions Sundays, after 10:30 am worship, ChapelGathered at Five, Sundays, 5 pm, Westminster Hall Centering Prayer, Wednesdays, noon, Bates Rm.Wednesday Evening Worship: Silence & Song, Wednesdays, 6 pm, Westminster HallQuiet Worship, 3rd Saturday of the month, Bushnell Rm.

Westminster Cares Births, Adoptions, Baptisms Contact Janice Teliczan, jteliczan@wpc-mpls.org.For Pastoral Care Notify Deb Wagner of hospitalization, illness, death, or prayer requests, dwagner@wpc-mpls.org. Blood Pressure Screenings 3rd Sunday, 9-10:30 am, Bushnell; 10:30 am–12 pm, BatesThe Westminster Counseling Center offers pastoral counseling for individuals, couples, families, and children. Visit westminstercounseling.org or call 612.332.7743.

Prelude String Quartet no. 2 in D, I. Allegro Moderato Alexander Borodin Coventry Carol Marshall Ocker Hark! The Herald Angels Sing arr. Kenneth Vigne Violin Concerto op. 26, II. Adagio Max Bruch Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella Marshall Ocker Away in a Manger Bruce Healy Stille Nacht Kenneth Vigne Kenneth Vigne, organ Natalia Moiseeva, Colin McGuire, violin; Sifei Cheng, viola; Laura Sewell, cello

Christmas Greeting Meghan K. Gage-Finn

First Lesson Isaiah 9:2-7 Timothy Hart-Andersen

Processional Hymn Once in Royal David’s CityCongregation stands and sings when directed.

Youth: Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.Choir: He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. With the poor, oppressed, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy. Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, day by day like us he grew; He was little, weak and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew; And he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.*All: 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. Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, We shall see him; but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high; Where, like stars his children crowned, all in white shall wait around.

December 24, 2019 8 and 10 pm

* Please stand as you are able.

Lighting the Christ Candle and Prayer 8 pm Janice Teliczan, Evan, Jack, and Kaitlyn Ditzler 10 pm Starla and Robin Krause

Anthem All My Heart this Night Rejoices Z. Randall Stroope Westminster Choir, Amanda Weber, conductor

All my heart, all this night rejoices, as I hear far and near sweetest angel voices, “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”All the air, and everywhere, “Gloria!”Come let us all both great and small sing, “Gloria!” Hail the star where hope is burning, “Gloria!”Love, who with love is yearning, ever yearning, “Gloria!” All my heart…Come and dwell in glory forever and ever.Far on high in joy that can alter never.Dwell in the house of Love forever, ever and ever, Gloria! All my heart…

Prayer (Unison) Sarah Brouwer

God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ you came among us as light shining in dark-ness. We confess that we have not welcomed the light, or trusted good news to be good. We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope, so we may receive the fullness of your grace, and live in the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen.

Second Lesson Isaiah 59:15b-21

*Carol No. 141 On This Day Earth Shall Ring

Third Lesson Luke 2:1-7

Carol No. 145 What Child Is This (vs. 1)

Fourth Lesson Luke 2:8-14 David Shinn

*Carol No. 113 Angels We Have Heard on High (vss. 1, 3)

Fifth Lesson Luke 2:15-20

Anthem Ding Dong! Merrily on High 16th c. French tune, arr. David Willcocks Karen Wasiluk, piccolo

Meditation What Difference Does Christmas Make? Timothy Hart-Andersen

*Carol No. 112 On Christmas Night All Christians Sing

Offertory Sentences

Having heard the Word, we now respond in gratitude by giving. Please place your offering in the plate, or use the “I give to Westminster” card in recognition of your contributions made online or in another way.

Offertory Anthem What Sweeter Music John Rutter

What sweeter music can we bring than a carol, for to sing the birth of this our heavenly King? Awake the voice! Awake the string! Dark and dull night, fly hence away, and give the honour to this day that sees December turned to May. Why does the chilling winter’s morn smile, like a field beset with corn? Or smell like a meadow newly shorn thus on the sudden? Come and see the cause, why things thus fra-grant be: ‘Tis he is born, whose quickening birth gives life and lustre, public mirth, to heaven and the underearth. We see him come, and know him ours, who, with his sunshine and his showers, turns all the patient ground to flowers. The darling of the world is come, and fit it is, we find a room to welcome him. The nobler part of all the house here, is the heart, which we will give him; and bequeath this holly, and this ivy wreath, to do him honour; who’s our King, and Lord of all this reveling. What sweeter music can we bring than a carol, for to sing the birth of this our heavenly King.

Christmas Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Alanna Simone Tyler

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.

Closing Hymn No. 122 Silent Night, Holy Night

Please remain seated.

Tolling of the Bells

Benediction

Postlude Sospiri Edward Elgar

Westminster Gallery Waiting for Jesus. Contact Dr. Rodney Allen Schwartz, rschwartz@wpc-mpls.org

Coming UpAll-ChurchMeisel Sunday, Jan 5, All are invited to hear from our 2019 Meisel Scholars at a lunch fol-lowing worship. This is a good opportunity for those considering applying for a 2020 Meisel Scholar Award to learn about the program.The January All-Church Book Read is Leif Enger’s poignant Virgil Wander. Books avail-able for purchase in Westminster Commons. Discussion groups are Jan 12 & 26, with Leif Enger visiting on Feb 2.

College-Age MinistriesCollege-Age Lock-In! Jan 3-4, 6 pm-8 am Catch up over dinner, games, and running around the new building. RSVP to mgage-finn@wpc-mpls.org.

Congregational CareContact Deb Wagner, 612.332.3421 or dwagner@wpc-mpls.org unless noted. Grief Support Group, Saturdays, 9:30 am, St. Mark’s Episcopal, 519 Oak Grove St., 612.317.3454 or mplsgriefsupport.org. Dec 28: Open session.Magnet Senior Center, Mon & Wed, 9-noon. Contact akingsbury@wpc-mpls.org. The Magnet Center is on winter break until Jan 6.

Educational MinistriesContact Mahin Hamilton mhamilton@wpc-mpls.org unless noted. Wednesdays: Noon, Centering PrayerLiving the Faith in the 21st Century resumes Wed, Jan 8, 5:30-6:25 pm. Questions? Contact Chad Quaintance, chadquaintance@gmail.com or 612-374-9410.Sunday Adult Ed, Sunday and Wednesday classes resume in January.

Faith in ActionContact Alanna Simone Tyler, atyler@wpc-mpls.org unless noted.Groveland Food Shelf in Dec, The Hunger Ministry Team requests donations of canned meats, rice, and bar soap.Social Justice Forum is on break until Jan.

Families, Youth & ChildrenContact Meghan Gage-Finn, mgage-finn@wpc-mpls.org unless noted. Wednesdays, 5:15 pm Dinner; Youth Rm. open; 6 pm Parent-Child Time Together; Choirs/activities; 6:15 pm Confirmation Wednesday groups & activites resume Jan 8.

Christmas Eve8 & 10 pm Candlelight Worship Tim Hart-Andersen preachingThe church and offices will be closed on Dec 25. Pastor on call may be reached at 612.332.3421, ext. 700.

Sunday, Dec 29Theological Education Sunday 10:30 am Worship in the Sanctuary, Rev. Kelley Jepsen preaching.The church and offices will be closed on Jan 1. Pastor on call may be reached at 612.332.3421, ext. 700.

Free Parking while Worshipping at Westminster

at the Orchestra Hall Ramp 11th St. & Marquette

Pick up a parking voucher at Westminster; use both your ramp ticket

and the Westminster voucher to exit.

Greetings and Welcome to Westminster!

If you are visiting, we welcome you into the worship and life of this congregation! Westminster offers education, fellowship,

and service opportunities for children, young people, and adults.

Everyone is invited to participate in church activities. If you are interested in learning more about Westminster’s programs and

ministries, please speak with a pastor, visit westminstermpls.org,

or call the church, 612.332.3421.

Please join us again, and Merry Christmas!

Tim Hart-Andersen, Senior Pastor

Regular Sunday programming resumes on Sunday, January 5

8:30 & 10:30 am Worship with Communion 5 pm Gathered at Five

9:15 am Education Hour for all agesWednesday programming resumes on

January 8.

There is no Church School, Family Matters, or Children’s Church on Dec 29.

WorshipWednesday Worship: Silence & Song, 6-6:30 pm, Westminster Hall, Hit pause in your hectic week and gather in Westminster Hall for a time of much-needed quiet and beautiful music. Light snacks afterwards. No gathering on Dec 25 or Jan 1; resumes Jan 8.Gathered at Five, Dec. 29, 5 pm, Join us for Dinner Worship and Movie Night—on the screen in Westminster Hall. Pizza, popcorn, and fun for all ages.

Music and the ArtsArts Visioning, Join us in January to share your vision for the future of Arts at Westminster, Sun, Jan 5, 9:15-10:15 am or 11:45 am-12:45 pm (Bushnell Rm.); Wed, Jan 8, 5-6 pm or 6:30-7:30 pm (Rm. 209/210). Questions? Contact Amanda Weber, aweber@wpc-mpls.org.

Help Build the Beloved CommunityYour financial support is a sign of your faithful-ness to the promise of Christ’s birth. If you haven’t done so already, please pledge your 2020 support online, and/or consider a generous year-end gift online, by check, credit card or stock, or via the tithe.ly app. All gifts make a difference! Thank you.

Westminster Presbyterian Church 1200 Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis 55403

westminstermpls.org | 612.332.3421 facebook.com/westminstermpls twitter.com/westminstermpls

instagram.com/westminstermpls

Tonight’s Worship LeadershipRev. Dr. Timothy Hart-Andersen, Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Meghan K. Gage-Finn, Executive Associate PastorRev. Sarah Brouwer, Associate Pastor, Congregational LifeRev. David Shinn, Associate Pastor, Congregational CareRev. Alanna Simone Tyler, Associate Pastor, Justice and MissionDr. Amanda Weber, Minister of Music and the ArtsKenneth Vigne, Interim OrganistThe Westminster ChoirKaren Wasiluk, piccoloSoloists: Westminster youthInstrumentalists: Colin McGuire, Natalia Moiseeva, violin; Sifei Cheng, viola Laura Sewell, celloCandle Lighters:Janice Teliczan, Evan, Jack, and Kaitlyn DitzlerStarla and Robin Krause

For full Westminster staff listing and contact information, please visit westminstermpls.org.

Westminster Affiliated BoardsWestminster Camp Ajawah, ajawah.orgWestminster Counseling Center, westminstercounseling.orgWestminster Town Hall Forum, westminsterforum.org

Daily Phone Devotions612.332.7087

Dec 24 .......................................................Isaiah 9:2-725 ..................................................... Luke 2:1-7 (8-20)26 ............................................................ Isaiah 63:7-927 ................................................................Psalm 14828 .....................................................Hebrews 2:10-1829 .....................................................Matthew 2:13-23