BORN ON A NEW DAY
Third Sunday in Advent
Order of Worship
Prelude “Sleepers Awake Johann Walther
Welcome
Scripture I John 1:1-5
Lighting of the Advent Candles
“The Angel Gabriel” – a Basque carol arr. Hal Hopson
Chancel Choir
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
With wings as drifted snow, with eyes as flame:
“All hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
“For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee;
Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk through-out the world will ever say:
“Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
Call to Worship “Birth Song” Kate McIlhagga
Leader: Soon, soon,
The Saviour of the world will be born:
People: born into the arms of a strong woman,
Born into the cupped hands of a carpenter.
Leader: The night the star shines
The light of the world will be born.
People: The night the angels sing
The shepherd of the flock will be born:
Leader: The Trinity eternal, a hungry babe
Without a home in the world.
People: God our Creator is opening a door for us.
The mountains will rejoice
Leader: The waves of the sea will sing for joy,
For there is no holy one like him.
People: Soon, soon,
The Saviour of the world will be born.
“I Sing of a Maiden” Kevin Siegfried
I sing of a maiden that is makeless
King of all kings to her son she ches.
He came all so still where his mother was,
As dew in April that falleth on the grass.
He came all so still to his mother’s bower,
As dew in April that falleth on the flower.
He came all so still where his mother lay,
As dew in April that falleth on the spray.
Mother and maiden, was never none but she;
Well may such a lady God’s mother be.
“Cradle Carol” Lily McCain, narrator Eleanor Slater
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” Ludwig von Beethoven
Children’s Chime Choir
Carol “Joy to the World” #40
Devon McGinley, Trumpet
“The Shepherd Speaks” Mary Martha Calhoun, narrator John Erskin
“Infant Holy” Men’s Chorus arr. Cameron Joel Rose
Infant Holy, Infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
Noels ringing, tidings bringing;
Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping; shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of the Gospel true.
Ah, that singing! Hear it ringing,
Earthward winging, Christmas bringing!
Christ the babe was born for you.
“The Christmas Star” Marian Little, narrator Nancy Byrd Turner
Scripture Lesson John 1:1-14
“Sing Noel” Chancel Choir Alfred E. Sturgis
Sing Noel!—Christ the Savior is born!
The first Noel, the angels did say
To the shepherds in the fields where they lay.
Christ the Savior is born!—Sing Noel!
“A Hymn for Christmas” Larry McKaughan, narrator Eugene Fields
“For Unto Us A Child is Born” Eric Anderson
For unto us a child is born
For unto us a son is given,
And the government shall be upon his shoulder.
And His name shall be called
Wonderful…Counselor…Mighty God,
Everlasting Father…Prince of Peace.
Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Presentation of Our Offerings
Offertory “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” Johann Pachelbel
“Christmastide” Karen Keady and Jack Maddex, narrators Kate McIlhagga
“Born On A New Day” arr. The King’s Singers
You are the new day.
Meekness, love, humility
Come down to us this day;
Christ, your birth has proved to me
You are the new day.
Quiet in a stall you lie.
Angels watching in the sky
Whisper to you from on high:
“You are the new day.”
When our life is darkest night,
Hope has burned away,
Love, your ray of guiding light,
Show us the new day.
Love of all things great and small,
Leaving none, embracing all,
Fold around me where I fall,
Bring in the new day.
This new day will be
A turning point for ev’ry one,
If we let the Christchild in
And reach for the new day.
Christ the Way, the Truth, the Life,
Healing sadness, ending strife,
You we welcome, Lord of Life,
Born on a new day.
You are the new day.
“Christ Is Come Down” Karen Keady, narrator Mandarin Carol
Carol “On This Day Earth Shall Ring” #46
“A Christmas Prayer” Bryan Wickman, narrator Herbert H. Hines
“What Sweeter Music” John Rutter
What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heav’nly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!
Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honour to this day
That sees December turn to May?
Why does the chilling winter’s morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn?
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause why things thus fragrant be:
‘Tis He is born, whose quick’ning birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth
To heaven and the under-earth.
We see him come and know him ours,
Who, with his sunshine and his show’rs
Turns the patient ground to flow’rs.
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 honour who’s our King,
And Lord of all this reveling.
What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heav’nly King?
Benediction “Cords of Love” Kate McIlhagga
Postlude “Pastorale in F Major” J. S. Bach
