Pastor Ernie Thompson Pastor Mark Brainerd Pastor Butch Sherrill Pastor Sam Perkins
Director of Music Ministries Betsy Hyslop Director of Traditional Music Jonathan Emmons
Associate Director of Music Ministries Clint Whitlow Director of Children & Family Ministries Lynn Turnage
Director of Youth Ministries Lucy Jefferies Interim Asst. Director of Children’s Ministries Leslie Hennigan
Director of Local Outreach Ann Comfort Director of National & International Outreach Ann Morris Director of Congregational Connections Suzanne Andia Executive Director of Church Operations Marilyn Fish
December 24, 2016
7:00 pm Friendly Avenue Sanctuary
Westminster Presbyterian Church Greensboro, North Carolina
GATHERING MUSIC WELCOME Ernie Thompson OPENING SONG O Holy Night Adolphe Adam
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Blessed be the Lord our God. Through prophets you spoke words of HOPE.
Blessed be the Lord our God. Through prophets you shared a vision of PEACE.
Blessed be the Lord our God. Through prophets you promised a future of everlasting JOY.
Blessed be the Lord our God. God is one of us, a new-born baby, blessing us with LOVE.
Blessed be the Lord our God, Let us worship God together.
Coming in 2017
Upcoming Sermon Series:
January 1-15: Jesus Calling Engaging More Deeply With Christ, Each Other, and our
Community and World
Jan. 22 - Feb 19: Generous Justice How God's Grace Makes Us Just
January W.E.L.L. (Westminster, Eat, Learn, Live) Jan. 11, 18, 25 “Hospitality – In Biblical and Ethical Perspective with professors from
the Department of Religion, Ethics and Philosophy from Greensboro College
Sunday, January 15, 4 p.m. HANDS AND FEET - MISSION TRIP INFORMATION SESSSION
Learn all about our 2017 intergenerational trips to Mexico, Nicaragua and Appalachia.
January 24th , 7:00pm Westminster in partnership with the Guilford Anti-Racism Alliance will host David Billings – One Person’s Anti-Racism Journey talk and book-signing.
February 19, 4:00 Winston Salem State University Choir
May 6 Annual Westminster Missions Auction Dinner
June 19 – 23 Vacation Bible School
June 26 – 30 Music Camp for children (ages 1
st grade thru 5
th grade)
Worship Leaders Ernie Thompson Mark Brainerd Sam Perkins
Music Leaders Jack Atchison, drums Flay Blalock, congas Betsy Hyslop, piano Greg Hyslop, guitar Garth Miller, bass Kris Schoolfield, vocals Pamela Wilkie, vocals
Joyously Celebrating the Love and Presence of Jesus Christ
Mary, May I Walk with You a While Sue Matz LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night Joesph Mohr
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! 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.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SCRIPTURE Luke 2:8-12 THIRD READING
The Holy, Human Birth John Mortenson CHRISTMAS POEM SONG One of Us Kyle Matthews
*OPENING CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful Wade/Oakeley
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.
Chorus: 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! Sing, all ye bright hosts of heaven above! Glory to God, all Glory in the highest! (chorus)
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing! (chorus)
PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE Mark Brainerd
SONG RESPONSE
O Little Town of Bethlehem Phillips Brooks/Lewis H. Redner
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!
CHRISTMAS LITANY
Emmanuel, God, you are with us, We have heard the promise of the prophets.
We have strained on tiptoes to hear the angels’ song We have seen a star in the heavens.
Tonight we come to be with you, Jesus, because you came to be with us. We seek an innocent, newborn baby.
We seek the one who will teach us the way of peace. We seek the one who will show us the way of love.
We seek the one who will guide us in the way of mercy and justice. We seek Jesus, the light of the world in whom there is no darkness at all.
OFFERING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ANGELS
During the service each family will be invited to select an ornament and take it home with them (one per family, please). This angel represents the spirit of Christ-mas from our Westminster family, lighting up your home as you place it on your tree. Thanks to all the Angelmakers for making this tradition possible!
Some Children See Him Alfred Burt
In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Theodore Holst
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Charles Wesley
*SCRIPTURE Luke 2:13-14 *FOURTH READING
Our Door to the Nativity Sam Perkins
*SPREADING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST *CAROL Angels We Have Heard on High French Carol
Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o'er the plains; And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains.
Chorus: Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav'nly song?
(Chorus)
Come to Bethlehem and see, Him whose birth the angels sing; Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. (Chorus)
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION *CAROL Joy to the World Watts/Handel/Mason
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.
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.
* All who are able, please stand
The readings today are taken from Preparing for Jesus, by Walter Wangerin
Thank you to the Candle Lighters for their participation this evening.
