Prelude “The First Noel” Gardner FBC Overtones Handbell Choir
Welcome and Greeting Rev. Dan Schumacher
Lighting of the Advent Candle of Peace Heath Family “Creator of the Stars of Night” Latin hymn, 9th cent.
Gathering Praise “Joy to the World/Our God Saves” Paul Baloche
Invocation and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Katie Suddeth 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Musical Call to Worship “O Come, All Ye Faithful” Wade Please join us in singing after the instrumental portion:
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, 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 citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
First Lesson John 1:1-5 Rev. Dan Schumacher In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Carol “Silent Night” Gruber
Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from Heaven afar, Heavenly Hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Saviour, 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!
Second Lesson Isaiah 11:1-9 Reyes Olmo
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Carol “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”FBC Praise Team The congregation is invited to sing on the Chorus:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Third Lesson Isaiah 40:1-5 Caroline Eklund Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Carol “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” Plainsong Melody
The congregation is invited to join in on verse 2: O ye heights of heaven adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King; Let no tongue on earth be silent Every voice in concert ring, ever more and ever more! Carol “We Three Kings” arr. Mauldin
The congregation is invited to sing on verse 2 and 5: Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light
Glorious now behold Him arise; Kind and god and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light
Ninth Lesson John 1:6‐14 Rev. Dan Schumacher There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Carol “All Christians, Now Rejoice” IN DULCI JUBILO
All Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today! Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now; Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
Sixth Lesson Luke 2:1‐7 Kurt Lundstrom In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Carol “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” FBC Praise Team
Seventh Lesson Luke 2:8‐16 Madelyn Heldreth In that region, there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them, and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So, they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
Carol “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” Wesley
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn 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!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord Late in time behold Him come, off-spring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”
Musical Offering “Angels We Have Heard on High” FBC Overtones Handbell Choir
Eighth Lesson Matthew 2:1‐11 Myra Cobb In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. they told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests,they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Carol “We Three Kings” arr. Mauldin The congregation is invited to sing on verse 2 and 5: Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light
Glorious now behold Him arise; Kind and god and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light
Ninth Lesson John 1:6‐14 Rev. Dan Schumacher There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Carol “All Christians, Now Rejoice” IN DULCI JUBILO
All Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today! Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now; Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
All Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this. He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore. Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
AllChristian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Now you need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all, to gain his everlasting hall: Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Closing Word & Benediction Rev. Dan Schumacher
Postlude “Joyful, Joyful” Maverick City
A very special thanks to our guest musicians and singers this morning:
Alex Khoury, guitar
Daniel Kazinski, bass guitar
Chris Koroshetz, percussion
Jenna Hunt, harp
Vincent Chavez, saxophone
Asterion Allen, bass (choir)
Amren Kells, bass (choir)
Celia Royal, alto (choir)
Chayanne Rodriguez, tenor (choir)
A very special thanks to our Sound and Livestream staff and volunteers:
Devin Harrison
John Rowe
Awin Schumacher
Courtney Graff
Jonas Fama
Our tithes and offering this morning will be collected by our ushers at the doors at the conclusion of the service.
All scripture in today’s service is from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).