GraceCovenantPresbyterianChurchChristmasEveCandlelightCommunionService

December24,20159:00PM

Prelude AppalachianConsort Introit Come,LetUsAllwithGladnessRaise MichaelWeisse Come,letusallwithgladnessraise ajoyoussongofthanksandpraise

ToHimwhorulestheheavenlyhost,God,Father,SonandHolyGhost.ForHeingraceandtenderness,regardedusinourdistress;Yea,toouraidHimselfHecame;LetalladoreHisholyname.

LightingoftheChristCandle CalltoWorship(fromIsaiah9)

Thepeoplewhohavewalkedindarknesshaveseenagreatlight.Thosewhodweltinthelandofdeepdarkness,onthemhaslightshined.Fortousachildisborn,tousasonisgiven,andthegovernmentwillbeonhisshoulder.HisnamewillbecalledWonderfulCounselor,MightyGod,EverlastingFather,PrinceofPeace.

*Hymn133 OCome,AllYeFaithful ADESTEFIDELIS

Ocome,allyefaithful,joyfulandtriumphant;Ocomeye;OcomeyetoBethlehem!Come,andbeholdhim,borntheKingofangels!REFRAIN:Ocome,letusadorehim;Ocome,letusadorehim;Ocome,letusadorehim,Christ,theLord!

Sing,choirsofangels;singinexultation;sing,allyecitizensofheavenabove!GlorytoGod,allgloryinthehighest![Refrain]Yea,Lord,wegreetthee,bornthishappymorning;Jesus,totheebeallglorygiven;WordoftheFather,nowinfleshappearing![Refrain]

BiddingPrayerandLord’sPrayer OurFather,whoartinheaven,

Hallowedbethyname,Thykingdomcome,thywillbedone,Onearthasitisinheaven.Giveusthisdayourdailybread;andforgiveusourdebts,asweforgiveourdebtors;andleadusnotintotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,Andtheglory,forever.Amen.

* Hymn143 Angels,fromtheRealmsofGlory REGENTSQUARE Angels,fromtherealmsofglory, wingyourflighto’eralltheearth; you,whosangcreation’sstory, nowproclaimMessiah’sbirth: comeandworship,comeandworship, worshipChrist,thenew-bornKing! Shepherds,inthefieldsabiding, watchingo’eryourflocksbynight, Godwithusisnowresiding; yondershinestheinfantlight: comeandworship,comeandworship, worshipChrist,thenew-bornKing! Sages,leaveyourcontemplations; brightervisionsbeama-far; seekthegreatdesireofnations; youhaveseenhisnatalstar: comeandworship,comeandworship, worshipChrist,thenew-bornKing! Allcreation,joininpraising GodtheFather,Spirit,Son, evermoreyourvoicesraising totheeternalThreeinOne: comeandworship,comeandworship, worshipChrist,thenew-bornKing! FirstReading ThepeacethatChristwillbringisforeshown. Isaiah11:1–9

Hymn121 OLittleTownofBethlehem STLOUIS [Pleaseremainseatedandsingonlytheboldstanzasofthehymn]

OlittletownofBethlehem,Howstillweseetheelie!AbovethydeepanddreamlesssleepThesilentstarsgoby.YetinthydarkstreetsshinethTheeverlastinglight;ThehopesandfearsofalltheyearsAremetintheetonight.Howsilently,howsilently,Thewondrousgiftisgiven!SoGodimpartstohumanheartsTheblessingsofHisheaven.NoearmayhearHiscoming,Butinthisworldofsin,WheremeeksoulswillreceiveHim,stillThedearChristentersin.

OHolychildofBethlehem, Descendtous,wepray; Castoutoursinandenterin, Beborninustoday. WeheartheChristmasangels Thegreatgladtidingstell; Ocometous;abidewithus, OurLordEmmanuel! SecondReading TheangelGabrielgreetsMary. Luke1:25–35,38 Anthem HailInfantNewborn DavidMoritzMichael HailInfantnewbornwhomtheangelsadore, whocametoredeemusandlifetorestore; WhatAdamhadlosthehasbroughtusagain, YepeoplebejoyfulforGodlovethmen. Praisehonorandgloryforeverpertain untothisdearinfantwhoforuswasslain. WhatAdamhadlosthehasbroughtusagain, YepeoplebejoyfulforGodlovethmen. ThirdReading LuketellsofthebirthofJesus. Luke2:1–7 Hymn115 AwayInaManger MUELLER/CradleSong [Pleaseremainseatedforthesingingofthehymn]

Awayinamanger,nocribforhisbed,thelittleLordJesuslaiddownhissweethead.Thestarsinthebrightskylookeddownwherehelay,thelittleLordJesusasleeponthehay.Thecattlearelowing;thepoorbabywakes,butlittleLordJesus,nocryinghemakes.Ilovethee,LordJesus;lookdownfromthesky,andstaybymysideuntilmorningisnigh.Benearme,LordJesus;Iasktheetostayclosebymeforeverandloveme,Ipray.Blessallthedearchildreninthytendercare,andfitusforheaventolivewiththeethere.

FourthReading Theshepherdsgotothemanger. Luke2:8–20 Anthem MaryHadABaby MalcolmArcher*Hymn119 Hark!TheHeraldAngelsSing MENDELSSOHN

Hark!Theheraldangelssing,“GlorytothenewbornKing.Peaceonearth,andmercymild,Godandsinnersreconciled!”Joyful,allyenations,rise,Jointhetriumphoftheskies;Withtheangelichostproclaim,“ChristisborninBethlehem!”Hark!Theheraldangelssing,“GlorytothenewbornKing!”Christ,byhighestheavenadored,Christ,theeverlastingLord!LateintimebeholdHimcome,Offspringofthevirgin’swomb.VeiledinfleshtheGod-headsee;HailtheincarnateDeity,Pleasedinfleshwithustodwell,Jesus,ourEmmanuel.Hark!Theheraldangelssing,“GlorytothenewbornKing!”

Hailtheheaven-bornPrinceofPeace!Hailthesunofrighteousness!LightandlifetoallHebrings,RisenwithhealinginHiswings.MildHelaysHisgloryby,Bornthatwenomoremaydie,Borntoraiseusfromtheearth,Borntogiveussecondbirth.Hark!Theheraldangelssing,GlorytothenewbornKing!”

OfferingPrayer TosupportWheels4HopeinAsheville MusicattheOffering ChoirAnthem Still,Still,Still NormanLuboff Still,still,stillonecanhearthefallingsnow. Forallishushed,theworldissleeping, HolyStaritsvigilkeeping. Still,still,stillonecanhearthefallingsnow. Sleep,sleep,sleep,'tistheeveofourSaviour'sbirth. Thenightispeacefulallaroundyou, closeyoureyes,letsleepsurroundyou. Sleep,sleep,sleep,'tistheeveofourSaviour'sbirth. Dream,dream,dreamofthejoyousdaytocome. Whileguardianangelswithoutnumber watchyouasyousweetlyslumber. Dream,dream,dreamofthejoyousdaytocome.

*Doxology

InvitationtotheTable PrayerofThanksgiving

TheLordbewithyou. Andalsowithyou. Liftupyourhearts. WeliftthemtotheLord. LetusgivethankstotheLordourGod. ItisrighttogiveGodourthanksandpraise.

TheBreadandtheCup

[Pleasecomeforwardbythemiddleaisle,beginningwiththefrontpews.Takeapieceofbread,dipitinthecup,andthenreturntoyourpewbytheoutsideaisles.Pleasealertanusherifyouwishtobeservedinyourpewratherthancomingforward.Pleasenote,ALLbreadisgluten-free.]

MusicduringCommunion Lo,HowARose MichaelPraetorius Lo,howarosee'erbloomingfromtenderstemhathsprung,

ofJesse'slineagecoming,byfaithfulprophetssung.Itcame,afloweretbright,amidthecoldofwinter,whenhalf-spentwasthenight.Isaiah'twasforetoldit,theroseIhaveinmind;withMarywebeholdit,thevirginmotherkind.ToshowGod'slovearightsheboreforusaSavior,whenhalf-spentwasthenight.

LightingoftheCandles

Hymn122 SilentNight,HolyNight STILLENACHT [Pleaseremainseatedforthesingingofthehymn&thesharingoftheLightofChrist]

Silentnight,holynight!Alliscalm,allisbright,Roundyonvirginmotherandchild!HolyInfant,sotenderandmild,Sleepinheavenlypeace,Sleepinheavenlypeace.Silentnight,holynight!Shepherdsquakeatthesight,Gloriesstreamfromheavenafar,Heavenlyhostssing:"Alleluia;ChristtheSaviorisborn,ChristtheSaviorisborn."Silentnight,holynight!SonofGod,love'spurelightRadiantbeamsfromThyholyface,Withthedawnofredeeminggrace,Jesus,Lord,atThybirth,Jesus,Lord,atThybirth.Silentnight,holynight!Wondrousstar,lendthylight;Withtheangelsletussing,AlleluiatoourKing;ChristtheSaviorisborn,ChristtheSaviorisborn.

*FifthReading JohnunfoldsthegreatmysteryoftheIncarnation. John1:1–14*Hymn134 JoytotheWorld! ANTIOCH

Joytotheworld!theLordiscome:LetearthreceiveherKing;LeteveryheartprepareHimroom,Andheavenandnaturesing,Andheavenandnaturesing,Andheavenandheavenandnaturesing.Joytotheworld!theSaviorreigns:Letusoursongsemploy;Whilefieldsandfloods,rocks,hills,andplainsRepeatthesoundingjoy,Repeatthesoundingjoy,Repeat,repeatthesoundingjoy.Nomoreletsinsandsorrowsgrow,Northornsinfesttheground;HecomestomakeHisblessingsflowFarasthecurseisfound,Farasthecurseisfound,Faras,farasthecurseisfound.Herulestheworldwithtruthandgrace,AndmakesthenationsproveThegloriesofHisrighteousness,AndwondersofHislove,AndwondersofHislove,Andwonders,wondersofHislove.

*ChargeandBenediction

Postlude AdesteFidelis RichardPurvis ------------------------------------------WaitfortheLordbyJacquesBerthier(c)1991LesPressesde.Admin.byGIAPublicationsInc.AllRightsReserved.UsedbyPermissionofOnelicense.net.,CopyrightlicenseA-724-337.

NextSunday,December27,2015FirstSundayAfterChristmas

NOEducationHourWorshipat10:30AM

Sermon:“ThePerfectionofChristmas”byCamMurchisonScriptures:Isaiah9:2-7;Luke2:8-20

ThisYear’sChristmasEveOfferingTheofferingtonightwillbegiventoWheels4Hopeafaithbased,volunteer-driven,nonprofitorganizationdedicatedtohelpinglow-incomefamiliesandindividualsbyprovidingthemwithreliablevehicles. Tolearnmoreaboutourchurch,checkoutourwebsiteatwww.gcpcusa.org;findusonFacebook;orfollowusonTwitter.TheChurchOfficewillbeclosedFriday,December25andMonday,December28fortheChristmasHoliday. SpecialThanksto:

TheAppalachianConsort:LeonardHollifield(guitar);MarkClevenger(hammerdulcimer);LeeMetcalfe(bass);AndreaRosalandKatieSmith(vocalists).BrassQuintet:J.P.Carney(tromboneandtuba);WaltJustice(Euphonium);AlexBradleyandNancyCoppenbarger(trumpets).Additionalinstrumentalists:EmilyHamel(piano);ElizabethandPhoebePropst(violins)