First Baptist Church847 Cleveland Street Greenville, South Carolina 29601-4495 (864) 233-2527 www.firstbaptistgreenville.com

A Community of Believers. Each Member A Minister.

Mary Carol AndersonYouth and Recreation

Bootie CothranMedia and Technology

Jim DantSenior Minister

Vivian HamiltonMusic and Worship

Priscilla HarrisChildren’s Music

Amy JoyeYouth Music

Shelton Ridge LoveOrganist

Jenna ManningChurch Operations

Dewanda MartinFirst Baptist Day School

Kyle MatthewsWorship Arts

Juli MorrowPreschool

Rosemary NewFirst Baptist Day School

Kendra PlatingPastoral Care

Becky RamseyChildren

Matt RollinsSpiritual Formation and

Outreach

Frank A. SmithNeighborhood Partnership and Christian Fellowship

Kathy StewartFirst Baptist Day School

Laura StoutMissions

Looking Ahead

Sunday morning worship service broadcasts:

WLFJ-AM 660 and FM 92.9

www.firstbaptistgreenville.com/watchlisten-live/

Links to view or listen to previous services are also available.

© 2017 First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC (all rights reserved)

December 17-24Host IHN (formerly GAIHN) Guests

December 20, 7:00pmLongest Night Service

(Carpenter Chapel) – Kendra Plating, Proclaimer

December 22-26AYMC and Church Offices Closed

December 22, 6:00pmCollege Christmas Party

(Mary Carol Anderson’s Home)

December 24, 10:30amFourth Sunday of Advent

Jim Dant, ProclaimerBootie Cothran, SoloistNo Sunday School

December 244:30pm Prelude of Music5:00pm Christmas Eve Service of Communion

Jim Dant, ProclaimerPaul Sewell, TenorAnna, Tom and Diana Joiner,

Strings

December 30-January 1AYMC Closed

December 31, 9:15amChurchwide Breakfast

(Fellowship Hall)No Sunday School

December 31, 10:30amFirst Sunday after Christmas

Jim Dant, ProclaimerSara Kathryn Coates, Soloist

January 1, 2018Church Offices Closed

The acolytes are Ford McDonald and Wells Shelley.

Singing the first stanza of “Once in Royal David’s City” is Vocare.

Instrumentalists today include trumpets: Gary Malvern and Phil Elkins; horn: Mark Frederick; trombone: Steve Wilson; and tuba: Chris Sparace.

Music selections today include: Toccata on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Jason D. Payne, © 2017 by Lorenz Publishing Company; “O Come, Divine Messiah!” arr. by Howard Helvey, © 2010 Oxford University Press, Inc.; “On Christmas Night” arr. by Philip Ledger, © 1978 Oxford University Press; “All My Heart This Night Rejoices” by Z. Randall Stroope, ©2006 Colla Voce Music, Inc.; and “What Sweeter Music” by John Rutter, © 1988 Oxford University Press.

The luminaries are given in loving memory and in celebration of the life of Dr. Thomas Edward House by Gail House. “Your light will always shine in the hearts of those who love you and in the many lives that you touched.”

This Sanctuary is equipped with Hearing Loop. If you have a hearing aid equipped with a T-coil and switch to it, you will hear audio directly from our sound system.

December 17, 2017

Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols

Six Thirty in the Evening

Financial Needs as of 12/16$2,403,850

Receipts as of 12/13$2,244,798

Lula Whilden World Missions Offering Goal

$125,000Receipts as of 12/13

$74,948

Christmas Eve Service of Communion5:00pm in the Sanctuary

Jim Dant, Proclaimer

Paul Sewell, Vocal Soloist

Tom, Anna and Dianna Joiner, Strings

*Please stand as you are able. Please silence all electronic devices.Please contact an usher for a hearing aid receiver or magnifying glass.

Eighth Lesson John 1:1-5 Adrienne Burris This is the great mystery of the Incarnation.

Carol “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” DIVINUM MYSTERIUM

Ninth Lesson John 1:6-14 Christ is the Light of the World.

Passing of the Light

Carol (remain seated)

“Silent Night” STILLE NACHT

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, Darkness flies, all is light;Shepherds hear the angels sing, “Alleluia! Hail the King!

Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.”

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.

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.”

Benediction

Carol of Response (Hymn 80, stanza 1) ANTIOCH

Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King:Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing,

And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.

Peal of the Advent BellsPostlude

“Coventry Carol” Traditional English arr. Don Gillis

Place candles in a receptacle in the Narthex as you leave.

PreludeProcessional

Hymn 84 “Once in Royal David’s City” IRBY

Stanza 1: Vocare *Stanzas 2-5: Congregation

Welcome to Worshipers Jim Dant

We welcome those who are visiting with us this evening. Please complete a welcome card located in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate. We hope you will consider making First Baptist Greenville your church home.

Offertory PrayerMusical Offering Jason D. Payne

Toccata on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

Christmas Offering for Lula Whilden World Missions

Bidding Prayer Kendra Plating

Beloved in Christ, as we gather to celebrate with joyous anticipation the coming of the redeemer of the world, let us prepare ourselves to hear in lessons from the Holy Scripture how the prophets of Israel foretold his coming. Let us rejoice in our carols that God’s promise is even now being fulfilled. And let us offer our prayers and praise to Almighty God through the words which Christ himself taught us:

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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

First Lesson Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Jimmy Jeter The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior.

Carol*Hymn 82 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” ADESTE FIDELIS

Second Lesson Isaiah 11:1-2, 4a, 6-9 Sarah Mobley The peace the Christ will bring is foreshown.

Carol “O Come, Divine Messiah” arr. Howard Helvey

Third Lesson Isaiah 35:1-6 Su Tamsett The prophet foretells the coming of the desire of all nations.

Carol*Hymn 75 “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” MENDELSSOHN

Fourth Lesson Isaiah 40:1-8 Buck Pennington The prophet proclaims good news to a people in exile.

Carol “On Christmas Night” arr. Philip Ledger

Fifth Lesson Luke 1:26-35, 38 Amy Canosa The angel Gabriel visits Mary.

Carol “All My Heart This Night Rejoices” Z. Randall Stroope

Sixth Lesson Luke 2:1, 3-7 Michael Stogner Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

Carol*Hymn 86 “The First Nowell” THE FIRST NOWELL

Seventh Lesson Luke 2:8-20 Alli Wilson The shepherds go to the manger.

Carol “What Sweeter Music” John Rutter