Anthem God So Loved the World John Stainer
from John 3
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
But have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world,
But that the world through Him might be saved.
Anthem Gentle Mary Laid Her Child from Piae Cantiones, 1582
text Joseph Simpson Cook
Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger,
There he lay, the undefiled, to the world a stranger.
Such a babe in such a place, can he be the Savior?
Ask the saved by grace through faith, who have found his favor.
Angels sang about his birth; wise men sought and found him;
Heaven’s star shone brightly forth, glory all around him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels’ singing;
All the plains were lit that night; all the hills were ringing.
Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger,
He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger.
Son of God, of humble birth, beautiful the story.
Praise his name in all the earth; hail the King of Glory!
See amid the winter's snow, Born for us on earth below, See, the gentle Lamb appears, Promised from eternal years.
Hail! that ever-blessed morn, Hail redemption’s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Say, you holy shepherds, say, Tell your joyful news today. Why have you now left your sheep On the lonely mountain steep?
Hail! that ever-blessed morn, Hail redemption's happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.
"As we watched at dead of night, There appeared a wondrous light; Angels singing ‘Peace on earth’ Told us of the Savior’s birth.’’
Hail! that ever-blessed morn, Hail redemption's happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.
See Amid the Winters Snow
This morning we are going to tell the story of the birth of Jesus
as told by the gospels of Luke and Matthew, and as told by you!
We ask that you listen for the following words to be
spoken within the story and to respond as written:
Shepherds: Yo, Sheep! Sheep: Baa!
Night: Silent night, holy night Angel: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Wisemen: Look! A Star!
ANTHEM
Mary Had a Baby arr. William Dawson
African American Spiritual
Mary had a baby
My Lord
Where was he born?
Born in a manger
What did they call him?
King Jesus
He is called King Jesus, Mighty Counselor,
King Immanuel, Mighty God
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Mary had a baby
My Lord
E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come Paul Manz text based on Revelation 21
Peace be to you, and grace from him Who freed us from our sins Who loved us all and shed his blood That we might saved be
Sing Holy, Holy to our Lord The Lord, Almighty God Who was, and is, and is to come Sing Holy, Holy Lord
Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein Rejoice on earth, ye saints below For Christ is coming soon
E’en so Lord Jesus, quickly come And night shall be no more They need no light, nor lamp, nor sun For Christ will be their All
Anthem As the Dark Awaits the Dawn Carl Schalk
text Susan Palo Cherwein
As the dark awaits the dawn
So we await your light
O Star of promise, scatter night
Loving bright, loving bright
Till shades of fear are gone
As the blue expectant hour
Before the silv’ring skies
We long to see your day arise
Whole and wise, whole and wise
O lucent Morning Star
As the moon reflects the sun
Until the night’s decrease
May we your healing light release
Living peace, living peace
Unto your holy dawn
Shine your future on this place
Enlighten ev’ry guest
That through us stream your holiness
Bright and blest, bright and blest
Come dawn, O Sun of grace
Anthem As the Dark Awaits the Dawn Carl Schalk
text Susan Palo Cherwein
As the dark awaits the dawn
So we await your light
O Star of promise, scatter night
Loving bright, loving bright
Till shades of fear are gone
As the blue expectant hour
Before the silv’ring skies
We long to see your day arise
Whole and wise, whole and wise
O lucent Morning Star
As the moon reflects the sun
Until the night’s decrease
May we your healing light release
Living peace, living peace
Unto your holy dawn
Shine your future on this place
Enlighten ev’ry guest
That through us stream your holiness
Bright and blest, bright and blest
Come dawn, O Sun of grace
Psalm 104 Music by Autumn text from the 1650 Scottish Psalter Bless God, my soul! O Lord my God, thou art exceeding great.
With honor and with majesty thou art clothed in state.
With light, as with a robe, thyself thou coverest about,
And, like unto a curtain, thou the heavens stretchest out. Thou didst it cover with the deep, as with a garment spread;
The water stood above the hills when thou the word but said. They by the mountains do ascend and by the valley ground
Descend unto that very place which thou for them didst found. He to the valley sends the springs, which run among the hills,
They to all beasts of the field give drink, wild asses drink their fills. For cattle he makes grass to grow, he makes the herb to spring;
For th’use of man, that food to him he from the earth may bring. And wine that, to the heart of man, doth cheerfulness impart;
Oil that his face makes shine; and bread that strengtheneth his heart. How manifold, Lord, are thy works! In wisdom wonderful
Thou every one of them hast made, earths of thy riches full.
The Beatitudes H.R. Evans text from Matthew 5
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heav’n.
Blessed are ye when men shall revile you,
Blessed are ye when men shall persecute you,
And shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is thy reward in Heaven!
Rejoice, be exceeding glad and glorify the Father in Heav’n.