Colonial Park United Church of Christ

5000 Devonshire Road, Harrisburg, PA 17109 717-545-3782 www.cpucc.org

Christmas Eve December 24, 2014 7:00p.m.

The Rev. Dr. Bonita Zobeck

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!* Please stand if are able

A CELEBRATION OF LESSONS AND CAROLS BEHOLD!

I bring you good tidings of great joy for all the people of the world.

SACRED MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS (Please Refer to the back of your Bulletin)

WELCOME Pastor BonitaENCOUNTERING EMMANUEL

God in the Light: Do Not Be Afraid!THE ENTRANCE “Labor of Love” Andrew Petersen

Olivia Mountain and Scott SicilianoLIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE The Fledderjohn Family

Reader: The poet, Ann Weems, wrote:“What I’d really like to give you for Christmas is a star… We celebrate the light coming into the darkness.

People: Glory to God in the highest! We give thanks for the brilliance of stars! We give thanks for the birth of Jesus Christ, God with us. 

* CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Good news of great joy!People: People who walked in darkness now live in great

light.

Leader: Good news of great joy! People: Oppression and war will not have the last word.Leader: Good news of great joy! People: A Savior is born who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.

* CAROL OF JOY “O Come, All Ye Faithful!” John Francis WadeO 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 HimO come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation! Sing all ye citizens of heaven above!Glory to God! Glory in the highest! RefrainYea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning.Jesus, to thee be all Glory given!Word of the Father now in flesh appearing; Refrain

LESSON Isaiah 9:2-3a, 6-7

ANTHEM “Here’s a Pretty Little Baby” Andre ThomasSanctuary Choir; Meghan Rhoads, Soloist

CAROL “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”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.”Hail, the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Son of Righteousness!Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die,Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.Hark, the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”

ANTHEM “He is Emmanuel” Garasi/VandewalkerThe King’s Kids

THE CHILDREN’S TIME

LESSON Luke 1:26-35,38

SONG OF JOY “Joy has Dawned” Getty/Townend

Verses 1, 2 & 4

LESSON Luke 2:1-12

True Meaning of Christmas Linus SpeechCharlie Brown Christmas

ANTHEM “In Bethlehem Lowly” Barbara KinyonJubilate Ringers

THE MESSAGE “What’s It All About?” Rev. Dr. Bonita Zobeck

CAROL “Angels We Have Heard on High”Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains.And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.Gloria, in excelsis Deo. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing.Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord the newborn King.Gloria, in excelsis Deo. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Practicing Our SpiritualityPRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OUR LORD’S PRAYER (using the words most familiar to you)CALL TO OFFERINGOFFERTORY “O Holy Night” Adolphe Adam

* THE DOXOLOGYPraise God whose dawn transfigures night,

Whose Daystar shines for us on high,Whose Spirit brings into our sight

The hope which to our world draws nigh!

* PRAYER OF DEDICATIONGreat God, accept these gifts we offer as we wait in hope for your coming again. Use all that we have and all that we are as you bring light in every darkness, ease heavy burdens, and turn our endless warring into your endless peace. In Christ’s name, we ask it. AMEN.

LESSON John 1:1-5 CAROL “Silent Night, Holy Night”

(For the sake of safety, please hold lighted candles upright, and dip each unlighted candle into the flame of a lighted candle.)

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is brightRound 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, loves pure light;Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

* BENEDICTION(Please extinguish your candles at the conclusion of the Benediction.

Ushers will collect candles at the door.)* DEPARTING CAROL “Joy to the World”

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 world, the Savior reigns; Let us our songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.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.

* ORGAN POSTLUDE“Ding Dong, Merrily on High!” Clay Christiansen

The Staff of Colonial Park United Church of Christ wish you a

We thank you for your love, support & generosity this year.If you purchased a Poinsettia, please feel free to take it as

you leave the service this evening. Thank you to all of tonight’s Music participants, and to all

who have joined us on this joyous occasion.

Jubilate Ringers Sanctuary Choir Worship InstrumentalistsScott Siciliano Lisa Miller Bill Black, TrumpetCindy Shannon Goldie Blickstein April Strong, HornSharon Clark Sherry Sanders Emily Mountain, FluteCindy Hogeman Meghan Rhoads Allison Hogeman Carr, ViolinJess Nupponen Patti Feit Tom Washic, GuitarBeth Washic Jane Richardson Olivia Mountain, GuitarMichael Shafer Pat GreenawaldGreg Clark Elaine Bogar The King’s Kids ChoirAndrew Clark Liz August Angelina CastellanoLinda Randby Larry Porter Jayla Holland

Jim Richardson ShayLyn HollandTom Washic Ashlyn Wilson

Erik Nupponen Solomon JonesOwen Criley

Kai NupponenJoseph, Mary & baby Jesus tonight are Ryan, Allison & Weston Carr

Join us this Sunday, December 28 when we will have a Carol Sing in Worship! We will have ONE Worship Service at

10:00am.

Christmas RecitalSomewhere in my Memory Cindy Shannon John Williams

Silent Night Alleluia Lisa Miller, Goldie Blickstein Kevin Pace

Wexford Carol Allison Hogeman Carr arr. Vicki Collingsworth

Mary, Did You Know? Rachel Washic Lowry/Greene

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Emily Mountain arr. Brant Adamswith He is Born

A Christmas Hallelujah Tom Washic Cohen/Cloverton

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Mark Karchnerarr. Craig Curry

The Virgin Mary Had a Baby BoyCarol of the Bells Jubilate Ringers