A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

A FESTIVAL of NINE LESSONS and CAROLS SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER 2016 FIVE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON FIRST UNITED METHODI ST CHURCH OF SALISBU RY

When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart. —H O W A R D T H U R M A N

2

The Choirs of First United Methodist Church are conducted by M ATTHEW M ICHAEL B ROWN Director of Music and Organist  The Organist for the Service is S TEPHEN G OURLEY  Instrumentalists for the Service are A NITA C IRBA , trumpet B RIAN F RENCH , trombone S TEVE S UTTON , trumpet E RIK S ALZWEDEL , trombone T IM P APENBROCK , horn M ARK B IGGAM , oboist B ONNIE B ACH , harpist J IM K I RKPATRICK , timpanist  Crucifer N OAH P OWELL Acolytes Z ACH J OHNSON J UDE S MELTZER

PLEASE SILENCE ELEC TRONIC DEVICES .

A NURSERY IS AVAILAB LE FOR INFA NT CHILDREN .

PLEASE SEE AN USHER FOR ASSISTANCE .

3

THE ORDER OF SERVICE Music before the Service: †P ROCESSIONAL C ARO L Soloist:

All:

Selected Music for Brass Quintet, Bells, and Harp

O

NCE in Royal David’s city

Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed; Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor the mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3. And through all his wondrous childhood He would honor and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms he lay; Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as he.

4. For he is our childhood pattern, Day by day like us he grew, He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew; And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness.

5. And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above; And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone.

6. Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see him; but in heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high; When like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around.

Words C ECIL F RANCIS A LEXANDER

Tune I RBY H ENRY J. G AUNTLETT Descant P AUL H ALLEY

4

Remain standing as the B ID DING P RAYER is read by J ANE C REECH Chair of Worship, First United Methodist Church

B

in Christ, be it this season our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels: in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and with the shepherds and the wise men adore the Child lying in his Mother's arms. Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child; and in company with the whole Church let us make this church, dedicated to his glory, glad with our carols of praise: But first let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; And let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick in body and in mind and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and all who know not the loving kindness of the Lord. Let us also remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which none can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh: and let us pray that we may be counted among that communion of saints, receiving grace to offer unto God reasonable service, living in unity and fellowship with all his people and giving reverence to all that he hath made. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us: ELOVĂˆD

O

UR 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The C ONGREGATION is seated.

5

THE FIRST LESSON L E C T OR : M R . B I L L N OE L L , III Lay Leader, First United Methodist Church God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent’s head.

A

ND they

heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.” The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

—Genesis 3:8-15 The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

6

The C HOIR sings

W

hat sweeter music can we bring Than a carol, for to sing The birth of this our heavenly King?

Awake the voice! Awake the string!

We see him come, and know him ours, Who, with his sunshine and his showers, Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

Dark and dull night, fly hence away, And give the honour of this day, That sees December turned to May, If we may ask the reason, say: We see him come, and know him ours, Who, with his sunshine and his showers, Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come, And fit it is, we find a room To welcome him.

The nobler part of all the house here, is the heart: Which we will give Him, and bequeath This holly, and this ivy wreath, To do him honor Who's our King, And Lord of all this revelling.

We see him come, and know him ours, Who, with his sunshine and his showers, Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

Words R OBERT H E RRICK

Music W IL LIAM B RADLE Y R OBERTS

7

THE SECOND LESSON L ECTOR : M R . D ARRE L L H ANCOCK President of the Board of Directors, LandTrust of Central North Carolina God promises to the faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

A

the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”

—Genesis 22:5-18 ND

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

8

The C HOIR sings

T

he blessed son of God only In a crib full poor did lie; With our poor flesh and our poor blood Was clothed that everlasting good.

Kyrie eleison.

The Lord Christ Jesu, God's son dear, Was a guest and a stranger here; Us for to bring from misery, That we might live eternally.

Kyrie eleison.

All this did he for us freely, For to declare his great mercy; All Christendom be merry therefore, And give him thanks for evermore.

Kyrie eleison.

Words M ILES C OVE RDALE

Music R ALPH V AUGHAN W ILLIAMS

9

THE THIRD LESSON L ECTOR : T HE R E VERE ND E RIN M ICHELLE W EAVER Associate Pastor The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior.

T

HE people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a

land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

—Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

10

The C HOIR sings

S

ure on this shining night Of star-made shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north All is healed, all is health.

High summer holds the earth.

Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand'ring far alone Of shadows on the stars.

Words J AMES A GEE

Music M ORTEN L AURID SEN

11

THE FOURTH LESSON L ECTOR : J ENNI F OGT Director of Youth Ministries The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

T

HERE shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of

wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And 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; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. —Isaiah 11:9 The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

12

The C ONGREGATION stands. †C ONGREGATIONAL C AROL

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.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!

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.

Where children pure and happy pray to the blessèd Child, Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild; Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door, The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Words P HILLIPS B ROOKS

13

Tune F OREST G REEN Descant D AVID W ILL COCKS

THE FIFTH LESSON L ECTOR : P AT M C K IM Director of Children’s Ministries The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I

N the sixth month the

angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

—Saint Luke 1:26-38 The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

14

The C HOIR sings dearest, Joseph mine, Joseph Help me cradle the child divine, God reward thee and all that’s thine In Paradise so prays the mother Mary.

He came among us at Christmastide, At Christmastide, in Bethlehem.

Men shall bring him from far and wide Love’s diadem; Jesus, Jesus, Lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!

Peace to all that have goodwill!

God, who heaven and earth doth fill, Come to turn away from ill, And lies so still within the crib of Mary. Refrain.

All shall come and bow the knee; Wise and happy their souls shall be, Loving such a divinity, as all may see in Jesus, son of Mary.

Words G E RMAN C AROL

Music M ARK B IGGAM

15

THE SIXTH LESSON L ECTOR : K AREN H OB SON Executive Director, Historic Salisbury Foundation Saint Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

N

the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.”

—Saint Matthew 1:18-23 OW

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

16

The C HOIR sings

H

ush my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed!

Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.

See the kindly shepherds round Him, Telling wonders from the sky!

When they sought Him, there they found Him, With His Virgin mother by.

See the lovely babe a-dressing; Lovely infant, how He smiled!

When He wept, the mother’s blessing Soothed and hush’d the holy child.

May’st thou live to know and fear Him, Trust and love Him all thy days; Then go dwell forever near Him, See His face, and sing His praise!

Words I SAAC W ATTS

Music K IM A NDRÉ A RN ESEN

17

THE SEVENTH LESSON L ECTOR : M R . M ELVIN S MITH Chair of Trustees The shepherds go to the manger.

A

in that 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 fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to 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 babe wrapped in swaddling clothes 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 men with whom he is pleased!” 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 babe lying in a manger.

ND

—Saint Luke 2:8-16 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

18

The C HOIR sings

H

ow do you capture the wind on the water?

How do you count all the stars in the sky?

How do you measure the love of a mother Or how can you write down a baby's first cry?

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.

Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him Seraphim round him their vigil will keep Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Saviour But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep.

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.

Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation A child with his mother that first Christmas Day. Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.

Words and Music J OHN R UTTER

19

THE EIGHTH LESSON L ECTOR : B RANDY C OOK Rowan County District Attorney The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus.

N

OW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,

behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

—Saint Matthew 2:1-11 The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

20

An offering is received for the Music Memorial Fund of First United Methodist Church.

At the Offertory, the H ARPI ST and O BOIST play Sheep May Safely Graze, from Cantata 208

Music J.S. B ACH

The C ONGREGATION stands for the reading of the N INTH L ESSON . †THE NINTH LESSON L ECTOR : T HE R E VERE ND D R . M ARK C ONFORTI Senior Pastor Saint John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

I

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 for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. 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 nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

N

—Saint John 1:1-14 The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. The C ONGREGATION is seated.

21

The C HOIR sings

O

n Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring.

News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King's birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad, Since our Redeemer made us glad, When from our sin he set us free, All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before His grace, Then life and health come in its place.

Angels and men with joy may sing All for to see the new-born King.

All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night: "Glory to God and peace to men, Now and for evermore, Amen!"

Words E NGLISH C AROL

Music I AN H IGGINSON

22

The C ONGREGATI ON stands for the Collect and Blessing, Benediction and Hymn. †C OLLE CT AND B LESSING The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

O

God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

The C ONGREGATI ON responds: Amen. †T HE B ENEDICT ION

C

HRIST,

who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill, and make you partakers of the divine nature; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.

The C ONGREGATI ON responds: Amen.

23

†H YMN IN P ROCESSIO N

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!

2. God of God, Light of Light, Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, Begotten not created: Refrain.

3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God, all glory in the highest: Refrain.

4. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be glory giv’n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: Refrain.

Words J OHN F. W ADE , tr. F REDERIC K O AKEL EY

Tune A DESTE F I DELES Descant D AVID W ILLCOCKS

Those wishing to hear the organ are invited to the chancel following the hymn.

Music after the Service: Final, from Symphony I

Music L OUIS V IERNE

_______________________________________ 24

WITH GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THEIR GIFT OF THIS EVENING’S MUSICIANS:

Mr. and Mrs. Reid Acree Jane Cornelius Creech In memory of The Reverend Harlan Longstreet Creech, III Bess Johnson In memory of Mr. Mack McGuire Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Lutz Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Mickle, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Sid Oakes The Reverend and Mrs. William Osborne Mr. and Mrs. Robert Roakes Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stanback, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Denny White Mr. and Mrs. Brad Williams In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Neil Williams

25

The Congregation of First United Methodist Church warmly welcomes you to worship this holy season.

 LONGEST NIGHT WORSHIP SERVICE A meaningful service of worship for those experiencing grief, transition, and sadness this season.

Chapel, 6:30pm  CHRISTMAS EVE Paper Bag Pageant for Children, 4pm A Service of Worship with Holy Communion, 7pm A Service of Worship with Holy Communion, 11pm  CHRISTMAS DAY A Service of Worship, 11am  NEW YEAR’S DAY Services of Worship, 8:30am and 11am

26

T HE B ELL C HOIR Judy Fowler Katie Howard Alden Pridgen Patricia Proctor Sally Roark Katie Scarvey

Debbie Staley Logan Webber Beth Yelvington Carole Young

T HE C HANCEL C HOIR S OPRANO Pamela Cordts Jane Creech Jean Hill Faye Hollar Bess Johnson Mary Ann McCubbin Sally Roark LuLu Richardson Barbara Senter Martha Smith Debbie Staley

A LTO Rachel Buchanan Jo Cease Phyllis Hannah Alden Pridgen Carole Schall Shully Storey Pat Stewart Karla Swanson Jean West Beth Yelvington Nan Zimmerman

T ENOR Earle Koontz Peggy Lutz David Maize Jesse McCartney Sid Oakes Neal Powell Logan Webber

B ASS Carl Brown Harold Buchanan Kenneth Cease Edwin Lutz Robert Meyers Eric Powell Andy Swanson

27

S T A N B A C K D EP A R TM EN T O F S A C R ED M U S I C FI R S T U N I TED M E TH O D I S T C H U R C H 21 7 S O U TH C H U R C H S TR EE T S A L I S BU R Y, N O R T H C A R O L I N A 2 8 14 4