Mount Olive AME Church 2017 Christmas Day Celebration

Christmas Day Service Sunday, December 24, 2017

ORGAN PRELUDE:

OPENING SENTENCE:

Harold Sims

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Song: Walk in the Light (sang softly as Rev. Calhoun and the Ladies In Praise do the processional

The Advent, The Child of GOD, He’s Coming,

DeSyre Brashears

READER 2:

Ladies in Praise

DeSyre Brashears

READER 1:

Let us celebrate and walk in the Light.

READER 1:

He’s Coming. The King of Kings and the LORD of LORDs is coming!

CONGREGATION: He alone is worthy. In Him was life and the life was the light of us all. Jesus is the Light of the World and He’s Coming

THE CANDLES ARE LIT BY THE LADIES IN PRAISE CONGREGATION:

Let us Pray: (Hymn 787 Christmas Day Prayer…Congregation in Unison)

Almighty God, who has revealed the glory of Your love in the fact of Jesus Christ and has called us to live with You as children: fill our hearts as we remember His nativity with the gladness of this great redemption. We would join in the heavenly song of Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good-will toward men. Breath into our hearts the spirit of Jesus, that we may be led to You in trust and obedience, and be sent out to live among men in brotherly love and sympathy. Every year, as this joyful festival comes round, may it find the world more and more in harmony with Your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

The Prophecy

Reader 3:

Alma Cropper

These words, “unto us a child is born”. These words were spoken hundreds of years before Jesus came to the earth. God announced the coming of Jesus all throughout the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi.

Let’s look at some of those prophecies.

Reader 4:

Maggie Burnett

Genesis 3:15King James Version (KJV) 15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Reader 5:

Charles Wells

Jeremiah 23:5King James Version (KJV) 5

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Reader 6:

Annette Mason Micah 5:2King James Version (KJV) 2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Reader 7:

Tracy Downs And again from Isaiah. Isaiah 7:13-14

.

13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Reader 8:

Betty Wright Malachi 3:1-3 even tells us about John.

3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Song:

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Mount Olive Choirs

Reader 9:

Doreatha Boston He came down 42 generations. Mathew 1: 17 “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.”

Reader 10:

Joyce Crook He came to show us the way. To reconcile us back to God the Father. He came all the way from heaven to earth for you and for me. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Song:

"Lord I Lift Your Name On High”

Ladies in Praise

Reader 11:

Catherine Carroll An angel from on high came to Mary, who was promised and engaged to a man by the name of Joseph. The angel came to Mary and said, fear not Ye shall bring forth a son and thou shall call His Name Jesus. And that very night the angel came to Mary.

Reader 12:

Barbara Dorsey When Joseph her fiancé found out that she was pregnant he became very angry. By law he had the right to have her stoned to death. I'm sure Mary was afraid, what could she say. Maybe somebody tried to comfort her.

Song:

“O' Mary Don't You Weep” Melvin Pindell Male Chorus

Reader 13:

Leroy Evans Just as Joseph made up his mind to put Mary away, an angel came to Joseph and told him that this child was of GOD and his Name would be Jesus. I'm sure that was a lot to wrap his mind around. Can you imagine, brothers, being told that. I can't tell you what went thru his mind as he thought about what tomorrow would bring.

Song: "I Don't Know About Tomorrow I Just Live From Day To Day..."

Candace Boston

Reader 14:

Lynette Richmond Luke 2: 1-5 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Reader 15:

Shirley Alexander Mary and Joseph had much to contemplate as they traveled to Nazareth.

Like Noah who was told to build an ark to save his family and all the animals from a flood, the likes of which he had never seen and Moses, with the Red Sea in front of him and the Egyptian army pressing behind them, and Abraham, called from his kinfolk to a land he did not know, Mary and Joseph had to Stand on the promises of God and trust him at His Word.

Has God caused you to dream dreams and see visions that are beyond what you thought was possible? I don’t know about you, “I’m gonna take Him at His word.”

Song:

“I’m Gonna Take Him At His WORD!”

Mount Olive Choirs

Intermission – Welcome Visitors/Announcements/Pastor’s Word Tithe and Offering

The Fulfillment

Song:

Reader 16:

“O Holy Night” -

Mount Olive Choirs

Victoria “ Mickey” Johnson

And so it was, that, while they were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (from Luke 2: 6,7) Song:

“Away in the Manager”

Mount Olive Choirs

Reader 17:

Alice Wright Luke 2: 8-11 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Reader 18: Denise Vauls Luke 2: 12 - 14 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Song:

“Angels We have Heard on High”

Congregation

Reader 19:

Patricia Dean Matthew 2: 1,2 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Reader 20:

Cheryl Peguese Matthew 2:7,8 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Reader 21:

Pearl Swann Matthew 2:9-11 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Song:

"Praise Him…, He’s Worthy To Be Praised!”

Congregation

Reader 22:

Wanda Downs Mary wondered what all these things would mean... so many things were happening that she didn't fully understand.

Song:

"Mary Did You Know"

Rev. J. Calhoun/ Herbert Tongue

Reader 23:

Essie Walls Over the next 33 years Mary and would come to know that the baby she was nursing would be her Savior and the Savior of the World. She would witness the miracles; witness his brutal death and witness Him resurrected with all power in His hands. And so today we rejoice that our Savior Jesus Christ is born.

Song

"Joy to the world, the LORD has come..."

Congregation

Christmas Meditation ” The Mystery In The Manger” (Colossians 1:25-27) Rev. Johnny R. Calhoun

Invitation to Discipleship

The Epilogue

Reader 24:

Jackie Douglas Wow what a day! What a glorious day! We celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; the Only Begotten Son of God, the Chief Shepherd, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Alpha and Omega, Lillie of the Valley, Bright Morning Star, the Bread of Life, the Lamb of God.

Reader 25:

LaKyra Nichols He is Our Redeemer, Our Deliverer, our Peace, Our Righteousness, the Rock of our salvation, our Mediator, our Ransom, The Son of Man and the Son of God, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Oh He is so Wonderful, I just can’t keep Him to myself.

Song: I Said I Wasn’t Going To Tell Nobody, But I Can’t Keep it To Myself Harold Simms

Reader 26:

Yvonne Scott Oh No! You shouldn’t keep Him to yourself. For Jesus commanded us in Matthew 28: 19 to “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

Reader 27:

Tahaki Portis And he gave us the power to do it.

Acts 1:8 says “8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”

Reader 28:

Selection

Reader 29:

“Great Is Thy Mercy”

Rev. Patricia Calhoun

I come as one of those witnesses today and proclaim that when I think of the goodness of GOD and how He loved us so much that He would actually come all the way from heaven down - thru forty and two generations. So that you and I, even though we didn’t deserve it, could be forgiven, saved and washed in the blood of the Lamb. His mercy endureth forever! LORD GOD, Great is thy mercy towards us!!

Mount Olive Imani (Faith) Messengers

Charlett Bundy

GOD has revealed it to us and we now know that the mystery in the manger is Christ is us, He’s the hope of glory.

Emmanuel, GOD with us. Now go run and tell that!

Reader 30:

Rev. Johnny R. Calhoun We have come to worship now let us leave to serve God… Tell everybody about Jesus. Go Tell it everywhere!

Jesus Christ is Born

Song

"Go Tell It On The Mountain..."

Congregation

Recessional: Program participants & choirs march to make a CIRCLE of LOVE around the congregation.

A Holy Ghost Wedding Band, We, the Church are the Bride of Christ.

Doxology/Benediction

Have A Merry Christmas & A Christ Filled New Year

Here I Come LORD!

By Rev. Johnny R. Calhoun

Here I come LORD, to thank You, for all that You do For all the things that You gave me, for today's mercies so new For all the blessings You give me, and the light that You share For your comfort in sorrow and just knowing You're there I'll praise You in good times and yes in the bad You're my LORD when I'm happy and My GOD when I'm sad You give me joy in my suffering and peace in my pain You're my friend when I've fallen, You wash away every stain So I'll trust You regardless and I'll give You my heart Each day I will seek You, every day's journey will start With prayer and thanksgiving, under Your hand I will stay I'll seek Your face in the morning, I'll wait to hear what you say From my heartbreaks, to life's earthquakes, I'll go thru the flood I'll stay hidden with Christ and live under His blood I'll trust You in the morning and through every dark night I'll seek your strength in my weakness, I'll walk by faith and not sight Here I come LORD to thank You, I'm the one You set free I can hear You, You're calling, here I am LORD send me I'll go where You send me, LORD I'll go, come what may I'll go wherever You lead me. LORD I'll go, all the way 2018 is a place where I've never been LORD I'll need You, O' I'll need You,\ over and over again I'll take the bump, deal with Trump, with your armor I'll stand I'll thank You for Your power and for holding my hand In Jesus' Name, Amen!

All Rights Reserved

Christmas Day Service Sunday, December 24, 2017

Rt. Rev. James Levert Davis, Bishop Rev. Dr. Louis Charles Harvey, Presiding Elder Rev. Johnny R. Calhoun, Senior Pastor Rev. Patricia Calhoun, Assistant Pastor Rev. Dana Swann, Assistant-to-the Pastor

18th Annual County Wide

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Worship Service

Revs. Johnny & Patricia Calhoun Host Pastors

Monday, January 15, 2018 6:30 PM

Speaking Truth To Power Seven Things The LORD Hates Proverbs 6:13-23

Apostle Larry Thomas Empowering Believers Church

A Person Who Spreads Discord

Rev. Louis Boston First Baptist Church

A Proud Look

Our Lives Begin To End The Day We Become Silent About Things That Matter Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bishop Craig Coates Fresh Start Church

Feet That Run Swiftly To Evil

Bishop Abraham Shanklin New Life Fellowship Int’l Ministries

Hands That Shed Innocent Blood

Rev. Dr. Carrington Carter Mount Moriah AME Church

A Heart That Devises Wickedness

Rev. Glenton Queen First Christian Community Church

A False Witness Who Lies

Rev. Jesse Young Silas First Baptist Church

A Lying Tongue