7 PM Carols & Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
First Presbyterian Church – St. Petersburg, Florida
December 24, 2023 – 7 p.m.
Rev. Ginny Ellis
Prelude: “Christmas Fantasy," Diane Bish (b. 1941) - Jack Rain, organ
Welcome - Rev. Ginny Ellis
Call to Worship - Ginny Ellis
Tonight, old dreams fall away; new dreams come alive. The Promise is fulfilled!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.
Hope gives way to joy and prayer to proclamation.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.
Our candles illuminate our story. The dawn invades the darkness. The Light of the World has come.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.
*Processional Hymn #133: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” vv. 1,3,4 ADESTE FIDELES
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; O come let us adore him (3 times), Christ the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above,
Glory to God, all glory in the highest, O come let us adore him (3 times), Christ the Lord!
*Christmas Prayer - Ginny Ellis
Lighting the Christ Candle - Mary-Linda Armacost
...Let us pray together:
Merciful and loving God, we thank you for your gift, brought home to us in the birth of Jesus. We marvel as we come before you humbly and with awe. Help us to reach out to others as you have reached out to us. May those of us who are poor and homeless experience your loving presence as surely as Mary and Joseph did. May all of us come to know that we have no home except in you. Amen.
Response #581: “Glory Be to the Father” GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to God the Father, glory be to God the Son, glory be to God the Spirit:
Great Jehovah, Three in One! Glory, glory while eternal ages run!
Anthem: “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” arr., Dan Forrest - Chancel Choir
THE STORY OF THE BIRTH
The Journey: Luke 1:1-5 - Ivy Lopedito
Hymn #121: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v. 1 ST. LOUIS
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight
Joseph's Story: Matthew 1:18-25 - Mary-Linda Armacost
Hymn #119: “Hark! The Hearld Angels Sing” v. 1 MENDELSSOHN
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the new-born king"
Mary’s Story: Luke 2:6-7 - Ivy Lopedito
Hymn #114: “Away in a Manger” v. 1 CRADLE SONG
Away in a manger, no crib for the bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The Angels: Luke 2:8-14 - Mary-Linda Armacost
Music: "Festival First Nowell,” arr. Dan Forrest - Chancel Choir
Congregation joins on stanza 3:
Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood our life hath bought.
The Shepherds: Luke 2:15-20 - Ivy Lopedito
Hymn #113: “Angels We Have Heard on High” v. 1 GLORIA
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.
Following a Star: Matthew 2:1-12 - Mary-Linda Armacost
Hymn #142: “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” v. 1 UNE JEUNE PUCELLE
'Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,
that mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
before their light the stars grew dim, and wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
A Christmas Meditation - Ginny Ellis
Offering - Mary-Linda Armacost
...Let us pray:
God of all, your gift continues to astound us all with the joy of Jesus here for us and with us. Thank you for that amazing gift. Accept the gifts we bring tonight, that as we bring them in love, so we may celebrate and reflect in our lives the gift of Jesus, the one who has come, to save and redeem us, Amen.
Offertory Anthem: “Still, Still, Still,” arr., Mack Wilberg - Chancel Choir
SHARING THE LIGHT AND MOMENT OF QUIET MEDITATION
John 1:1-4 - Ginny Ellis
The pastor will light their candles from the Christ candle, then come down the steps to light the candles of ushers, who will light the candles of the congregation in this quiet moment.
Hymn #122: “Silent Night, Holy Night!” STILLE NACHT
Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright ‘round 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, 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
The Lord’s Prayer (sung by congregation) by Albert Hay Malotte
Recessional Hymn #134: “Joy to the World” ANTIOCH
Charge and Benediction - Ginny Ellis
Postlude: “Toccata on Adeste Fideles,” Sondra K. Tucker (b. 1957)- Jack Rain, organ