Christmas Day

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

 

PRELUDE         Nathalie Wang, organist             

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* GLORIA PATRI (pew card)             

* CALL TO WORSHIP        Dorien Day

Lift up your hearts in prayer:

We lift them up in prayer!

Lift up your voices in praise:

We lift them up in praise!

Let your eyes rise in expectation and your hands in exultation,

For the Lord has drawn near and dwells among us.

Come, let us adore the newborn king.         

* HYMN No. 171         Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

PRAYER OF CONFESSION     

O God, we need Christ to renew our commitment.

We confess that our lack of faith has made us fearful.

We acknowledge that we have foolishly let our desires lead us astray.

We have carefully kept our gifts and have not freely given our goods and our hearts to you.

(silent prayers of confession)

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord, may your Spirit linger in our hearts and bring renewal in our lives.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is wisdom.

Glory be to God.

* HYMN No. 173         O Come, All Ye Faithful

JUNIOR SERMON

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE READINGS:  

              Isaiah 52:7-10    p. 596        

             John 1:1-14    p. 862

             This is the Word of the Lord.

             Thanks be to God.

SERMON           The Word Became Flesh    Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:        

Apostles’ Creed (pew card) 

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

 Offertory    

* The Doxology (pew card)      

* Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 162      The First Noel, the Angel Did Say

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation

Communion Prayer

Sanctus(pew card)

Mystery of the Faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 

Words of Institution

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response                 

* HYMN No. 146    Joy to the World! the Lord Is Come     

* BENEDICTION 

Response                  

POSTLUDE 

If you are in need of prayer, you are invited to the front of the sanctuary at the conclusion of the service. One of the elders of the church will be available to pray for you. 

Christmas Eve: Lessons and Carols

A Service of Lessons and Carols

The service of Lessons and Carols was developed in the late nineteenth century and first used at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, UK. The service is a re-telling of the story of the coming Christ. It follows a simple pattern: each lesson is told through a song and a Scripture reading. May you hear anew the story of the birth of Jesus as we listen, sing, and worship God this evening. 

 

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

* Congregation stands

PRELUDE:                  #161 Once in Royal David’s City            (Congregation: Join in singing v. 4)

WELCOME & PRAYER OF INVOCATION

CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP

O Magnum Mysterium     Victoria

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING    Emerson and Maureen Chen

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

In Isaiah 60 we read, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you….Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the Christ candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

FIRST LESSON

*Hymn #133        O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 

Luke 1:5-25

SECOND LESSON

In the Bleak Midwinter     Darke

Luke 1:26-38

THIRD LESSON

Love Came Down at Christmas    Rutter

Luke 1:39-56

FOURTH LESSON

Christmas Lullaby     Rutter

Luke 1:57, 67-80

FIFTH LESSON

Hymn #155         O Little Town of Bethlehem 

Luke 2:1-5

SIXTH LESSON

O Holy Night     Rutter

Luke 2:6-7

SEVENTH LESSON

 *Hymn #152         Angels We Have Heard On High

*Luke 2:8-14

EIGHTH LESSON

*Hymn #173         O Come, All Ye Faithful 

*Luke 2:15-18

NINTH LESSON

The Most Wonderful Birthday of All    Davis

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

PRAYER OF BLESSING

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES

*Hymn          Silent Night(see back of bulletin) 

*BENEDICTION

December 18, 2016

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

PRELUDE         Deborah Im          

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* Sanctus (pew card)             

* CALL TO WORSHIP        Michael, Laurie, Lexie, and Junie Chan  

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel. Stir up your might and come to save us!

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Then we will never turn back from you; give us life when we call on your name.

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.                             

* HYMN No. 151        Go, Tell It on the Mountain

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we have not kept watch for you. We have occupied ourselves with our own concerns. We have not noticed the needs of the people around us. Forgive us for our lack of watchfulness.

(Silent personal prayers of confession)

Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.    

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

This is God’s Word of grace:

We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.

May God grant us the grace and courage to live in this way.

Gloria Patri (pew card)

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING  

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

Isaiah says: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. . . . Then [God’s] light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the fourth candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response    O Jesus    Franck                     

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

    Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

    Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Isaiah 7:10-16        p. 554    

Matthew 1:18-25        p. 783

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory:            The Holy City    Stephen Adams

Glenn Alamilla, tenor    

* The Doxology (pew card)      

* Prayer of Dedication

* CONFESSION OF FAITH           Belgic Confession, Article 18        

So then we confess that God fulfilled the promise made to the early fathers and mothers by the mouth of the holy prophets when he sent the only and eternal Son of God into the world at the time appointed. The Son took the “form of a slave” and was made in “human form,” truly assuming a real human nature, with all its weaknesses, except for sin…. In this way Christ is truly our Immanuel—that is: “God with us.” 

TABLEAU OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST

Sunday School and Chancel Choir:

Gabriel’s Message                          Chancel Choir
How Quietly                                   Sunday School and Chancel Choir

Love Came Down at Christmas     Sunday School and Chancel Choir
Silent Night                                    Sunday School and Chancel Choir    

Congregational Hymns:

O Little Town of Bethlehem    No. 155, stanza 1

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel              No. 133, stanza 1

O Come, All Ye Faithful              No. 173, all stanzas 

(During this hymn, White Christmas gifts will be offered.)

* BENEDICTION 

Response             

POSTLUDE 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE - Saturday, Dec. 24, 8:00 P.M. Followed by a wassail hour in Gessner Hour.  All are invited.

CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICE – Sunday, Dec. 25, 11:00 A.M.

CHURCH OFFICE & BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, except for worship services.  We will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

2017 AUCTION - Saturday, Jan. 7, in Gessner Hall.  If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture.  Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.   

COOKIES NEEDED - Will you give the Church on the Hill a box of home-baked cookies for the Wassail Hour on Christmas Eve after the Candlelight Service? Mark the box "Christmas Eve Cookies" and bring it to the kitchen on Christmas Eve before the service or to the Church office during the week. Thank you.

2017 offering envelopes are at the entrance of the church.  If you do not see your box and would like one, put your name on the sign-up sheet.  

PRAYER LIST

Helga Brenner-Khan, Allegra DeMelo, Lynne Johnson, Robert Keller, Sal Lombardo, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, James McCreary, Eva Munoz, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Edie Petry,  Dorothy Reid, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow, Mary Ann Sullivan

December 11, 2016

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

PRELUDE Nathalie Wang, organist  

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* Sanctus (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP         Judie & Buck Kellaway

My soul magnifies the Lord, 

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

For God has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servants.

For the Mighty One has done great things for us, and holy

is God’s name.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob! 

Blessed are those whose hope is in the LORD their God!

* HYMN No. 135 Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty and merciful God, in your presence we confess

that we have erred and strayed from your ways. We have

left undone those things which we ought to have done and

we have done those things which we ought not to have

done. Forgive us our sins.

(Silent personal prayers for confession)

Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

This is God’s Word of grace:

We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.

May God grant us the grace and courage to live in this way.

Gloria Patri (pew card)

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

Isaiah 49:6 reads: The LORD says to his servant, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the third candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM: Springs in the Desert Arthur B. Jennings

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response O Jesus Franck

* HYMN No. 192 O Sing a Song of Bethlehem

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Isaiah 35:1-10 (p. 578)

James 5:7-10 (p. 982)

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON          Walking on the Holy Way           Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:

Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory:   In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst

* The Doxology (pew card)

* Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 187 Jesus, Come! for We Invite You

* BENEDICTION

         Response  

POSTLUDE

 

PRAYER LIST

Please remember the following in your prayers:

Helga Brenner-Khan, Allegra DeMelo, Lynne Johnson, Robert

Keller, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, James McCreary,

Eva Munoz, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Edie Petry, Dorothy

Reid, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow, Mary Ann Sullivan

ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 11, 2106

WE THANK NATHALIE WANG for serving as our organist today.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE - Friday, Dec. 16, 7:30 P.M.

Are you anticipating a Blue Christmas? For many, “the most wonderful time of the year” is anything but. Join us at Church on the Hill for an inspirational service of song, meditation, comfort, and hope.  This will be an ecumenical service with Grace Episcopal Church of Whitestone and First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone.

CRAWFORD HOLIDAY PARTY - Saturday, Dec. 17, 3:00-6:30 P.M.

Blaine and Brittnee Crawford invite the congregation to the parsonage (168- 03 35th Avenue) for a holiday open house. Drop in as you are able-- there will be plenty of food and holiday cheer!

WHITE CHRISTMAS SERVICE - Sunday, Dec. 18, 11:00 A.M.

Tableau of the Nativity of Christ. Bring your White Christmas gifts to be presented. Pick up your cards for the gifts in Gessner Hall.

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE - Saturday, Dec. 24, 8:00 P.M. Followed by a wassail hour in Gessner Hour. All are invited.

CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICE – Sunday, Dec. 25, 11:00 A.M.

CHURCH OFFICE & BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, except for worship services. We will re- open on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

2017 AUCTION - Saturday, Jan. 7, in Gessner Hall. If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture. Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.