Prelude: “O Savior Sweet, O Savior Kind” by J. S. Bach, Arranged by George Blake
Call to Worship / Invocation / Lord’s Prayer
Hymn: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” Words: Latin hymn attr. to John F. Wade, 1751; tr. to English by Frederick Oakeley, and others, 1841. Music: ADESTE FIDELES attr. to John F. Wade, 1751
O 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 Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye bright hosts of heaven above.
Glory to God, all glory in the highest; Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Refrain
Prayer: “O God, We Long for Better Days” Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. (Permission is granted by author for free use by churches during the pandemic). Phil Hart sings “O God, We Long for Better Days” Tune: Traditional English melody (“What Child Is This?”) GREENSLEEVES 8.7.8.7 with Refrain Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Permission given to churches for free use of this hymn. The same permission is also granted by the performer, Phil Hart.
O God, we long for better days when we can be together,
to celebrate your love and grace in Jesus Christ our Savior.
We long for Silent Night in crowded pews, by candlelight.
May we who stay at home now find your Christmas blessing.
We long to come and Deck the Halls this year— like many others.
Yet all around we hear the calls of countless, hurting neighbors.
This year, in quiet ways, we’ll pray and serve and fill our days.
May we who stay at home now find your Christmas blessing.
We’ll still, with Christian Friends, Rejoice, by phone, or by our zooming.
We’ll ponder here: What Child is This?— and seek A Rose, E’er Blooming.
We’ll love and serve and give; we’ll live as Christ taught us to live.
May we who stay at home now find your Christmas blessing.
We long to feast and celebrate with family, friends, and neighbors
Yet this can be our gift— to wait, until the times are better.
Still, Still, you give us joy— a love that death cannot destroy.
May we who stay at home now find your Christmas blessing.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7; John 3:16-17; 12:20-36
Sermon: TURNING CHRISTMAS AROUND by Rev. Martha Dominy
Prayer
Hymn: “The First Noel” Words & Music: Traditional English carol
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They lookèd up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night. Refrain
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star where’er it went. Refrain
This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon the knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. Refrain
Benediction
Postlude: “The Sounds of Christmas” by Robert J. Hughes, based on familiar Christmas Carols.
Organist/Pianist: Ms. Marilyn Glover