Family Nativity Service | December 24, 2023

Independent Presbyterian Church Birmingham, Alabama

CHRISTMAS EVE NATIVITY SERVICE

December 24, 2023 11:00 am

December 24, 2023

11:00 am

A Celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord CHRISTMAS EVE The Gathering PRELUDE - "God Rest You Merry"......................................arr. Lani Smith

The service of worship begins with the music of the organ.. Through its power and brilliance may you feel the majesty and glory of God; in its quietness, His peace.

LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE......... Lochrane Chase *HYMN - "O Come, All Ye Faithful".................................. ADESTE FIDELES (Children's Choir: Venite Adoremus, Dominum) 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!

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, all Glory in the highest Refrain Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given: Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! Refrain WELCOME....................................................................................Rev. Long SONG OF GATHERING "Thank You God for This Fine Day"(All Singing)

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE......................................................

Kate Austin, Jessica Long, Stephen Tribble

PRAYER OF ADORATION (unison) Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus, the Light of the World, to save us. Thank you for blessing Joseph and Mary with strong faith to carry out your plan to save the world. Please help us to remember what is important this Christmas season and to share your light and the story of Jesus with friends, family and everyone we meet. Amen.

CHORAL PRAYER RESPONSE "Yes, We Agree" (All Singing)

ANTHEM - "Christmas Joy"............................................. Joseph M. Martin

Ring-a-ling-a-ling the bells of Christmas; ev’rybody sing, “Noel! Noel!” Angels on the wing sing glad hosannas; glory to the King of Israel! Stars in heaven sparkling bright, dance for joy this holy night; Filling all the world with wonderous light!

Let the people now rejoice, making music with one voice! Ring the bells of Christmas with a joyful noise!

Messianic Prophecies THE PROPHECY OF THE GREAT LIGHT (Isaiah 9:2) THE PROPHECY OF THE NAMES (Isaiah 9:6) THE PROPHECY OF THE MOTHER (Isaiah 7:14) THE PROPHECY OF THE CITY (Micah 5:2) THE PROPHECY OF THE STAR AND SCEPTER (Numbers 24:17) Leader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God. Jesus is Born CHRISTMAS STORY.................................................. Maegan McRoberts Mary's Treasure Box by C.E. Watz THE STRAW HYMN - "Away in a Manger".......................................................MUELLER (Please remain seated during the singing of this hymn.)

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

THE WOOL & FLUTE HYMN - "Go Tell It on the Mountain".......................................GO TELL IT (Please remain seated during the singing of this hymn.)

Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (Refrain) THE CLOTH HYMN - "Silent Night"........................................................ STILLE NACHT (Please remain seated during the singing of this hymn.)

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.

THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI HYMN - "We Three Kings of Orient Are"...................... KINGS OF ORIENT (Please remain seated during the singing of this hymn.)

We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light!

THE CROSS HYMN - "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice".....................IN DULCI JUBILO (Please remain seated during the singing of this hymn.)

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save!

Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

The Response * LITANY OF AFFIRMATION...................................................Rev. Seamon Leader: Long ago, angels came to Mary and Joseph, and said “Do not be afraid, you are chosen, and will have a baby boy named Jesus, who is Christ, the Lord.”

Response: You came, Lord Jesus. Alleluia!

Leader: Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born and they laid the Savior of the World in a manger, a crib, for a bed.

Response: You came, Lord Jesus. Alleluia!

Leader: The Shepherds in the field saw a brilliant star and followed it to where Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was sleeping in the animal’s soft hay.

Response: You came, Lord Jesus. Alleluia!

Leader: Three wise men came from far away with gifts for the new King.

Response: You came, Lord Jesus. Alleluia!

Leader: We thank you God, for sending us Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. He came to love us and to teach us how to love each other. Jesus Christ is Lord! Alleluia, Alleluia!

Response: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, Peace and Good Will to all.

PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND THE LORD'S PRAYER 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, for ever. Amen.

The Sending * HYMN - "Joy to the World!".........................................................ANTIOCH 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.

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

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.

BENEDICTION............................................................................Rev. Long * POSTLUDE - "Praise Ye the Lord of Hosts" ................Camille Saint-Saëns *Congregation standing

ANNOUNCEMENTS THE READERS AND NATIVITY CHOIR for this morning’s service are children from our congregation in grades K-6th.

WE INVITE you to attend the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols this afternoon at 4 pm and 6 pm. The doors will open at 3 pm. Nursery care is available for all Christmas Eve services.

SPRING CHILDREN’S MUSICAL REHEARSALS start January 10 at 5:30 pm -7:30 pm. This year’s musical celebrates Esther. We will travel to the citadel of Susa where King Ahasuerus names Esther as his new Queen and where Esther faces the decision of her life. Will wicked Haman prevail or will selfless Mordecai convince Esther to trust in God and save her people?

CHILDREN'S NATIVITY CHOIR William Austin* Lucy Austin Brooks Averitt Edward Averitt Hagan Brignac Owen Brignac Harrison Carroll Hill Couch Cooper Dees James Fennell* Thomas Fennell Julian Foote Henry Foote Adelaide Harding Chris James

Fields King Evans King Jackson Lester Christine Lyerly Griffin Mather Maegan McRoberts Lily McRoberts Elle Morris Coleman Morris AA Murphy* Evans Murphy Meredith Norton Connor Norton Hannah Phillips Luke Phillips

Pete Quinlan Genevieve Quinlan Grey Sasser Hudson Sasser Millie Seamon* Naomi Seamon Margot Seamon Caleb Siegel* Charles Thorpe Anderson Thorpe John Bannon Thorpe Lillian Ruth Wells Margot Winston * denotes Reader

Participants in Today's Service Mrs. Beth Middleton, Director of Children's Ministries Maegan McRoberts, Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd The Rev. Kevin J. Long, Pastor The Rev. David J. Seamon, Associate Pastor, Faith Formation Dr. Jeff R. McLelland, Director of Music and Fine Arts Acolytes: Katherine Evans Austin, Jessica Francis Long, Stephen Christopher Tribble Independent Presbyterian Church 3100 Highland Avenue Birmingham, Alabama 35205-1408 Phone: (205)933-1830; Fax: (205)933-1836 Office Hours: 8:30-4:30 except Saturday and Sunday This congregation is affiliated with The Presbyterian Church (USA) www.ipc-usa.org