Welcome Dr. Liam Goligher, Senior Minister

Prelude: Gaudete arr. Brian Kay, David Overton, Colin Howland

Invocation Dr. Goligher

Welcome All Wonders! Dale Warland

Welcome all wonders in one sight.
Eternity shut in a span;
Summer in winter, day in night;
Heaven in earth and God in man.
Great little one, whose all embracing birth
Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth.

First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 Alma Zensen (Dec. 23), Sheryl Olson (Dec. 24)

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light Johann Sebastian Bach

Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light, and usher in the morning.
Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright, the day of grace is dawning.
This Child, though weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be,
The pow’r of Satan breaking, our peace with God now making.

O dearest Child, whom I adore, whose grace surpasses measure,
My Brother, whom I cherish more than earth with all its treasure:
Haste from Thy manger to depart, O come and dwell within my heart;
With joy will I receive Thee, a cradle there will give Thee.

All blessing, thanks, and praise to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, be given:
Thou hast my Brother deigned to be, Thou Lord of earth and heaven.
Help me throughout this day of grace to praise Thy love and seek Thy face;
And when I stand before Thee forever to adore Thee.

Carol 208: O Come, All Ye Faithful Adeste Fideles/arr. David Willcocks

Verse 1 — Unison
Verse 2 — Parts
Verse 3 — Unison
Verse 4 — Unison

Prayer of Adoration (Congregation)

Almighty God and Heavenly Father, what shall we render to You for the gift of gifts, Your own dear Son, begotten, not created, our redeemer, surety, substitute, His inifinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp. Herein is wonder of wonders: He came below to raise us above, was born like us that we might become like Him. Herein is love: when we cannot rise to Him, He draws near on wings of grace, to raise us to Himself. O God, take us in spirit to the watchful shepherds, and enlarge our minds; let us hear good tidings of great joy, and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise and adore. In Christ You have given us so much that heaven can give no more. All praise be to You: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

Second Lesson: Isaiah 60:1–3 Shanlin Cheng (Dec. 23), Rosalind McKelvey (Dec. 24)

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Personent Hodie arr. John Rutter

Personent hodie voces puerulae laudantes jucunde qui nobis est natus, summo Deo datus, et de virgineo ventre procreatus.

In mundo nascitur; pannis involvitur;
praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum rector supernorum; perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.

Magi tres venerunt; munera offerunt; parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo, ipsum adorando, aurum thus et myrrham ei offerendo.

Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri, cantent ut angeli: “Advenisti mundo: laudes tibi fundo Ideo, gloria in excelsis Deo.”

Resound today voices of boys, praising merrily He who is born to us, given by the Supreme God, and of a virgin’s womb born.

He was born into the world, wrapped in rags, placed in a manger in a stable for animals, the Ruler of Heaven; the Prince of Hell has lost his spoils.

Three Wise Men came; they offered gifts; they sought the Child, following the star in total adoration. Gold, incense, and myrrh they offered.

All clerics, together with the boys, sing like the angels: “You have come into the world; I pour out praises to You. Therefore: Glory in the highest to God.”

Third Lesson: Matthew 1:18–23 Rev. Greg Hobaugh (Dec. 23)/Rev. John (Dec. 24)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

A Great and Mighty Wonder arr. James Whitbourn

A great and mighty wonder, a full and holy cure!
The virgin bears the Infant with virgin-honor pure.
Repeat the hymn again! ‘To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men!’

The Word becomes incarnate and yet remains on high!
And Cherubim sing anthems to shepherds from the sky.
Repeat the hymn again! ‘To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men!’

While thus they sing your Monarch, those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains, ye oceans clap your hands.
Repeat the hymn again! ‘To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men!’

Since all He comes to ransom, by all be He adored,
The Infant born in Bethl’em, the Savior and the Lord.
Repeat the hymn again! ‘To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men!’

Carol 225: Once in Royal David’s City Irby/arr. Colin Howland

Verse 1 — Unison

Verse 2 — Parts

Verse 3 — Parts

Verse 4 — Unison

Verse 5 — Unison

Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:1–7 Kelci Rose (Dec. 23), Adam Humeniuk (Dec. 24)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

A Boy Was Born Dale Warland

A Boy was born in Bethlehem:
Rejoice for that, Jerusalem.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

He let himself a servant be,
That all mankind he might set free:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Then praise the Word of God who came
To dwell within a human frame:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Fifth Lesson: Luke 2:8–14 Dr. Goligher

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Let All the Angels of God, from Messiah George Frideric Handel

Let all the angels of God worship Him.

Carol 195: Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come Antioch/arr. Colin Howland

Verse 1 — Unison

Verse 2 — Parts

Verse 3 — Parts

Verse 4 — Unison

Sixth Lesson: Luke 2:25–33 Brigida Norris (Dec. 23)/Shubhalok Ghosh (Dec. 24)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

My Lord Has Come Will Todd

Shepherds, called by angels
Called by love and angels;
No place for them but a stable.
My Lord has come, my Lord has come, my Lord has come.

Sages, searching for stars,
Searching for love in heaven;
No place for them but a stable.
My Lord has come.

His love will hold me,
His love will cherish me,
Love will cradle me.

Lead me, lead me to see Him,
Sages and shepherds and angels;
No place for me but a stable,
My Lord has come.

Carol 216: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly W Zlobie Lezy/arr. Keith Chapman, Colin Howland

Verse 1 — Parts

Verse 2 — Unison

Homily Dr. Goligher

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen arr. J. Marty Cope

God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heav’nly Father a blessed angel came
and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same;
how that in Bethlehem was born the son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

“Fear not,” then said the angel, “Let nothing you affright;
this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright,
to free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s pow’r and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,
and with true love and brotherhood each other new embrace;
this holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

Seventh Lesson: Matthew 2:1–12 Alma Zensen (Dec. 23), Sheryl Olson (Dec. 24)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Brightest and Best Shawn Kirchner

Hail the bless’d morn, see the great Mediator
down from the regions of glory descend!
Shepherds go worship the babe in the manger,
lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.

Refrain
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star in the East, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining,
low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker, and Monarch, and Savior of all.

Shall we not yield him, in costly devotion,
odours of Edom and off’rings divine,
Gems of the mountains and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

Carol 226: As with Gladness Men of Old Dix/arr. Colin Howland

Verse 1 — Unison
Verse 2 — Parts
Verse 3 — Parts
Verse 4 — Parts
Verse 5 — Unison

Eighth Lesson: John 1:1–5, 9–14 Dr. Goligher

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Stay with Us Egil Hovland

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us.
Stay with us, it soon is evening.
Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us, it soon is evening,
And night is falling.

Jesus Christ, the world’s true light!
Shine so the darkness cannot overcome it!
Stay with us, Lord Jesus, it soon is evening.
Stay with us, Lord Jesus, for night is falling.
Let your light pierce the darkness and fill your church with its glory.

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us.
Stay with us, it soon is evening.
Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us, it soon is evening,
And night is falling.

Carol 210: Silent Night! Holy Night! Stille Nacht/arr. Colin Howland

Carol 203: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn/arr. David Willcocks

Verse 1 — Unison

Verse 2 — Parts

Verse 3 — Unison

Benediction

Postlude: Christmas Finale Gaston Dethier/arr. Colin Howland