December 24 Order of Service

Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2020 MORE PEOPLE, MORE LIKE CHRIST

Candlelight Service

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Address: 34605 N. Tom Darlington Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85266 Office 480.488.3384 / Fax 480.488.0850 Website: www.deserthills.org Facebook Desert Hills Presbyterian Church (Scottsdale, AZ) page 2

ORDER OF WORSHIP Christmas Eve December 24, 2020

PRELUDE

La NativitĂŠ Natalie Mealey, organ

Jean Langlais

* CALL TO WORSHIP (Isaiah 9, Psalm 96, Luke 2)

Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: People:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

We celebrate the coming of the Light.

O sing to the Lord a new song, for God’s salvation is at hand.

We celebrate the coming of Salvation.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us.

We celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace.

I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.

We celebrate the coming of Christ!

PRAYER CAROLS MEDLEY

O Come, All Ye Faithful

1. 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.

#249, vs. 1 & 2

2. Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; O Sing, all ye bright hosts of heav'n 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.

Away in a Manger

#262, vs. 1 & 2

1. Away in a manger, no crib for a 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 on the hay.

2. The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus - no crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky, And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

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Joy to the World

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

#270, vs. 1 & 4

4. 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.

Foretold by Prophets SCRIPTURE Isaiah 9:2-7 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING FOR GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

SONG

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 1. It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold; "Peace on the earth, good will to men, From heaven's all-gracious King!"

The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.

#251, vs. 1 & 4

4. For lo! the days are hast'ning on, By prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years Shall come the time foretold, When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendors fling, And the whole world give back the song Which now the angels sing.

Mary and Joseph Go to Bethlehem SCRIPTURE Luke 2:1-7 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

PRAYERS FOR HOUSEHOLDS

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SONG

O Little Town of Bethlehem

1. 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.

#250, vs. 1 & 3

3. How silently, how silently The wondrous Gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heav'n.

No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.

The Angels Appear to the Shepherds SCRIPTURE Luke 2:8-14 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

PRAYERS FOR MESSENGERS SONG

Angels We Have Heard on High 1. 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.

#278, vs. 1 & 2

2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

Say what may the tidings be Which inspire your heav'nly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

*Gloria in excelsis Deo is Latin for “glory to God in the highest.”

The Shepherds See Jesus SCRIPTURE Luke 2:15-20 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD page 5

OFFERINGS OF THE LORD

OFFERTORY

Go Tell It on the Mountain Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born!

1. While shepherds kept their watching O'er silent flocks by night, Behold! thro'out the heavens There shone a holy light.

Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born!

#258

2. The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior's birth.

Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born!

3. Down in a lowly manger The humble Christ was born, And brought us God's salvation That blessed Christmas morn.

Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born!

THE PRAYER OF DEDICATION The Incarnation of Christ

SCRIPTURE John 1:1-13 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 were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. PRAYERS FOR THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT KNOW HIM THE MESSAGE

“RECEIVE, ACCEPT, AND REST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION”

Rev. Jim Noble

LIGHTING THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE PASSING THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

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CAROL

Silent Night! Holy Night!

#253

1. 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.

3. 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!

2. 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!

4. 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 BLESSING CAROL

*POSTLUDE

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

#277

1. 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 th'angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

2. Christ, by highest heav'n adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb; Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th'incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Refrain

Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

3. Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, Born that men no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Refrain

Joy to the World Natalie Mealey, organ

Dennis Janzer

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Please join us again for worship!

Sunday Morning Services: 8:15 am - Traditional Worship - Sanctuary 9:45 am - Traditional Worship - Sanctuary & STREAMING 11:10 am - The Gathering Worship - Fellowship Center Reservations are suggested and may be made via our website... www.deserthills.org or by calling the church office...

(480) 488-3384

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