WORSHIP OF GOD
WORSHIP OF GOD
WORSHIP OF GOD
PRELUDE Pietro Yon Pastorale—Gesù Bambino (on Adeste fideles, “O come, all ye faithful”) In dulci jubilo (In sweet rejoicing) Marcel Dupré Silent Night (from Christmas) Dudley Buck
Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
CHIMING OF THE HOUR
Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 6 p.m.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Jack Mitchener, organ
HYMN GREENSLEEVES Dr. Dock Hollingsworth
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
The Brendan Hollingsworth Family
A Hymn on the Nativity of My Saviour by Ben Jonson
Lynn Handley
I sing the birth was born tonight, the Author both of life and light: the angels so did sound it; and like the ravished shepherds said, who saw the light, and were afraid, yet searched, and true they found it. The Son of God, th’ Eternal King, that did us all salvation bring, and freed the soul from danger, He whom the whole world could not take, the Lord, which heav’n and earth did make, was now laid in a manger. The Father’s wisdom willed it so, the Son’s obedience knew no “No,” both wills were in one stature; and as that wisdom hath decreed, the Word was now made Flesh indeed, and took on Him our nature. What comfort by Him do we win, Who made Himself the price of sin, to make us heirs of glory!
Breath of Heaven
Whitney Anderson, soprano; Joy Callaway, piano
PASTORAL PRAYER HYMN NO. 132 READING
CAROL
Anne Marie Alexander From Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred, Lord Tennyson Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Brendan and Megan were married earlier this month and before the happy occasion, Megan and Andrew officially joined our church family. Andrew is active in our children's ministry and enjoys playing with his cousins. Brendan has worked at Guffey's Menswear for 8 years and Megan is head of the finance department at Southeast Restoration.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
WE'RE "PEOPLE PEOPLE" GOD REST YE MERRY
Refrain: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. From God our heav'nly Father, a blessed angel came; and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same: how that in Bethlehem was born the son of God by name, Refrain "Fear not, then," said the angel, "let nothing you affright; this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright, to free all those who trust in him from Satan's pow'r and might." Refrain The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind, and left their flocks a-feeding, in tempest, storm, and wind, and went to Bethlehem straightway, the Son of God to find. Refrain
FOR GUESTS WE HAVEN'T MET YET
Welcome to church! Make yourself at home here! Settle in for a transformative and joyful hour of worship. We'd love to be helpful in your faith journey. There's a green card in the pew rack—I'm New Here. Use it to share as much information as you like and drop it in the offering plate. We understand that some people are hesistant to fill out church cards. It's true—a member of our pastoral staff will reach out, but you won't be flooded with calls, emails or requests. Engagement with us will be at your own pace; we just want to know who you are and how we can pray for you.
FOR GUESTS WE KNOW & CHURCH MEMBERS
Welcome back to church! Your presence is part of what makes Sundays at SecondPonce so wonderful. If you're a guest who's ready to take the next step or a church member who wants to deepen your involvement, fill out the red pew card—I'm a Regular—and drop it in the offering plate. Let us know how we can help.
SCRIPTURE
Luke 2:8–20; Isaiah 11:1–10
Dr. Hollingsworth
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SERMON
Waiting for Christ
Dr. Hollingsworth
SHARING PRAYER REQUESTS Let us know your prayer needs by filling out the prayer request portion of either the green card (for guests we don't know yet) or the red card (for guests we know and church members) and drop it in the offering plate.
SOLO
O Holy Night
Bill Gabbard, tenor; Jack Mitchener, organ
Adam
CANDLE LIGHTING
GRANT Rev. John Uldrick
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Brendan and Megan Hollingsworth and son, Andrew Beall, light our Christ candle tonight. Brendan—who joined Second-ponce in 2014—and his twin sister, Hayley, are the children of our Senior Pastor Dock Hollingsworth and his wife, Melissa.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day, to save us all from Satan's pow'r when we were gone astray;
To see this Babe, all innocence, a martyr born in our defense—can man forget this story? MUSICAL OFFERING
Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be
What Child Is This
WELCOME & INVOCATION
READING
Bill Gabbard
Good people all, this Christmas time, Consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done, In sending His beloved Son. With Mary holy we should pray To God with love this Christmas Day; In Bethlehem upon the morn There was a blest Messiah born.
HYMN NO. 148
Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Please tilt your unlit candle to light it.
HYMN NO. 134
Silent Night, Holy Night
STILLE NACHT
Please extinguish your candle at your seat and place it in one of the baskets at the door as you leave. We ask that you reverently refrain from conversation until you have exited the Sanctuary.
BENEDICTION POSTLUDE
Dr. Hollingsworth In the Bleak Mid-Winter Jack Mitchener, organ
arr. Malcolm Archer
GIVING AN OFFERING There are Virtual Offering Plate cards in the pew racks that utilize a QR code and Text to Give options for making gifts online. You may also put your gift in the offering plate.
SECOND-PONCE WORSHIP STAFF Dr. Dock Hollingsworth, Senior Pastor
Joy Callaway, Pianist Anneliese Depenthal, Music Ministry Intern Bill Gabbard, Minister of Music Rev. Jonathan Hall, Minister of Community and Student Discipleship
Dr. Jack Mitchener, Organist Rev. Allie Osborne, Minister of Missions and Children's Discipleship Richard Rogers, Director of Orchestra Rev. John Uldrick, Associate Pastor