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Christmas Eve Service of Worship and Holy Communion

December 24, 2018 West Side Presbyterian Church 10:00 pm

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.

-Isaiah 9:2

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your 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.

-Isaiah 58:6-8

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

-Proverbs 4:18

What has come into being in (the Word) was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

-John 1:3-5

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.

-Matthew 4:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:16

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out

what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

-Ephesians 5:8-11

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The Preparation for the Word

PRELUDE Patapan Burgundian carol Still, Still, Still setting, D. Holden-Holloway

Stille Nacht setting, Betty Garee

The Westminster Bell Choir

PROCESSIONAL OF THE PEACE LIGHT

Pastorale per la Notte di Natale, S. 242 Johann David Heinichen

String Ensemble and Organ

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND OPENING PRAYER

There is good news of great joy for all! Our Savior is born: the Messiah, the Lord. Light shines on those who live in darkness, for a Child is born to us this night.

Let us pray:

God of glory, Your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem in the darkness of human night. Open our eyes to Christ’s presence in the shadows of our world, so that we, like Him, may become beacons of Your justice and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen.

*HYMN OF PRAISE 31 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ You came among us as light shining in the darkness.

The prayer continues. *The congregation may stand.

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We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst, expecting little and hoping for less. We have not seen You in the face of the stranger, the hungry, the homeless, the lonely, the prisoner, the outcast. Forgive our lack of caring for Your world, and for Your people. Renew our hope, and strengthen us with Your Spirit, that we might live our lives fully as Jesus showed us, and would have us do.

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

CAROL 44, verse 4 ST. LOUIS

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!

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

ANTHEM O Thou the Central Orb Charles Wood

O Thou, the central orb of righteous love, pure beam of the most High, eternal Light of this wintry world, Thy radiance bright awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above.

Come, quickly come, and let Thy glory shine, gliding our darksome heaven with rays Divine.

Thy saints with holy lustre round Thee move, as stars about Thy throne, set in the height of God’s ordaining counsel, as Thy sight gives measured grace to each, Thy power to prove.

The Anthem continues.

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Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, our nature all shall feel eternal day in fellowship with Thee, transforming day to souls erewhile unclean, now pure within. Amen. -H.R. Bramley

David Langan, bass-baritone

The Proclamation of the WorD ANTHEM The Best of Rooms Randall Thompson

Christ, He requires still, wheresoe’er He comes to feed or lodge, to have the best of rooms: give Him the choice; grant Him the nobler part of all the house: the best of all’s the heart.

-Robert Herrick OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 Brian Hanse The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. HOMILY Prophets Then, Prophets Now (Part Five): Rev. Marc Oehler Becoming Light

The Response to The Word *RESPONSE OF FAITH Belhar Confession Section 4

Please see the copy in your pew. *HYMN 30 Born in the Night, Mary’s Child MARY’S CHILD

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you.

And also with you. Let us pray.

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THE PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY ANTHEM Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain Carolyn Jennings

Climb to the top of the highest mountain, joyous tidings proclaim to the world. Lift up your voice, shout the good news: behold, your Lord comes to you. He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will carry the lambs in His arms, He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you. He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea, from time eternal He was God, the Alpha and Omega, He. Behold, your Lord! He will come in power and glory, He will rule with mercy and truth, hope of the nations, light of all the world. He will love the little children, He will hold them in His arms. Love Him and trust Him as a little child. Behold, your Lord comes to you. -adapted from Isaiah 40

Kristine M. DiMauro-Gonzalez, soprano Kyle Cottrell, tenor

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

*INVITATION

*GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God:

When we were living in deep darkness, You sent us Your light, the Light of the world, a child called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. All authority in heaven and on earth rests upon His shoulders.

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Therefore we praise You, joining the song of the universal church and the heavenly choir:

*SANCTUS (Choir and Congregation)

Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior: Born in a stable, He is our Good Shepherd, and Your holy Lamb. Lying in a manger, He is the bread of life, food for our souls. Praised by the heavenly host, He is the hope and joy of all the earth.

Remembering Your goodness and grace, we offer ourselves to You with gratitude as we share this joyful feast.

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION

Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup; make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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By Your Spirit, empower us to be Christ’s presence in the world even as Jesus was God-with-us. Give us courage to speak His truth, to seek His justice, and to love with His love, even as we await Christ’s coming in glory. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Spirit, we bless You, God of glory, now and forever. Amen.

Please be seated.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

ANGUS DEI (Choir and Congregation)

RECEPTION OF THE ELEMENTS

Communion will be by intinction. Please approach by way of the center aisle, receive the bread offered by the server, dip it in the cup, and return to your seat by the outer aisle. A gluten-free option is available at the head of the center aisle. If you wish to

receive Communion, but cannot come forward, please signal the usher as your row is called to come forward and you will be served in your seat.

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MUSIC DURING COMMUNION O Magnum Mysterium Morten Lauridsen

Apryl Helder, mezzo-soprano

COMMUNION PRAYER and THE LORD’S PRAYER (hymnal page 16, using debts and debtors)

The Sending

Prior to receiving the light of Christ, please put on your coat and collect all items you will be taking with you. The ushers will light their candles

from the pastors’ candles and will, in turn, share their light with the congregation. BENEDICTION CAROL HYMN 60 (seated) Silent Night STILLE NACHT

After the carol, follow the choirs out at the ushers’ instructions.

1. Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and Child! Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. 2. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight, glories stream from heaven a far, heavenly hosts sing: “Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born.”

3. Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth 4. Silent night, holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light. with the angels let us sing, alleluia to our King: Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio! Beata virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt partare Dominum Christum. Alleluia!

O great mystery and wondrous sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord lying in their manger! Blessed is the maiden who was worthy to bear the Lord Christ. Alleluia!

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Participants in the Service

Greeters: We thank tonight’s greeters.

Lay Leadership: We thank Brian Hanse for his leadership in worship tonight.

About our Advent Wreaths, Bulletin Cover and Banners: During each Sunday of Advent, we light the candles of the sanctuary Advent Wreath, which was given in loving memory of Marian Wiepert Yasso. In the Chapel, a second Advent wreath stand from an existing Pascal candle stand was created by Jack Gardner. The Advent bulletin cover design is the artwork of West Side member, Laura Vriesema. The banners, using the same motif, were constructed by longtime member Ed Kopf, who passed away on Christmas Day 2017. We thank them for these gifts of love, that we are able to use each year.

The Peace Light: The Advent Wreath and Christ Candle are being lit tonight with a flame that came from a lamp in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Thanks to a child from Austria who lit two miner’s lamps from the grotto lamp, the dedication and generosity of Austrian Airlines, which flew a live flame across the Atlantic, and the Hahn family, who have kept the flame alive throughout Advent, we have a visible reminder of the spiritual truth that the peace that came in Jesus seeks to touch all corners of the world and each of us in a personal way. We are grateful to John Hahn and his family for their work in bringing the peace light to West Side. For more information on the Peace Light, including a map of where the peace light has traveled, please visit www.peacelight.org.

Richard Chase Jason Hanse Kevin Hanse

Nancy Hoogenhuis

Robert Holloway Cheryl Mensing Rose Messineo Chris Randolph

Alicia Rivers

Lynne Schreur Mary Schwartz

Ed Semler Heili Springsteen

Violin

Ryo Fukuda Dana Reedy Gagler

Kathy Hanse Christianna Lee

Yoonhee Roberts Jack Shigeta

Selene Steelman Vienna Steelman

Viola Jason Hanse Kevin Hanse

Ina Litera Alison Muldoon

Jason Roberts Jodie Suh

Cello Jessie Smith Edwards

Matt Goeke

Westminster Bell Choir

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West Side Presbyterian Church Varian Fry Way, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

201-652-1966 • www.westside.org

2018 Lay Leadership of West Side

Session (Elders)

Board of Deacons

Class of 2018 Caroline Barr

Donna Burdick Sally Clark

Harris Fleming Lisa Garvey

Laura Impomeni Peter Krautle

Craig Ollenschleger Ann Butler (Youth Rep)

Class of 2019 Janet Anderson Christina Dyer Donna Dykstra

Terry Erzmoneit Angela Gutekunst

Anita Jones Mary Ann Malinski

Marion Strauch Miguel Torres

Sora Torres

Class of 2020 Kay Chase Bill Clark

Patrick Elkins Mary Ann Hoogerheyde

Jan Lescroart David Levy

Walter Lynn

Class of 2018 Heidi Ahlborn

Phyllis Anderson Russell Clark

John Lescroart Anna Levy

Katherine Montgomery John Pierce

Larry Steenvoorden Andrew Steenvoorden

(Youth Rep)

Class of 2019 Scott Brubaker

Cindi Cheesman Wendy Dodge

Jane French John Gutekunst

Fred Jubitz Dennis Kim

Paul Mensing Andy Roughgarden

Beth Staples Anson Welch

Class of 2020 Mark Babunovic

Jamie Cella Mike Chepucavage

David DeFeo Scott Gavin Brian Hanse

Lynn Morneweck-Fuld Jennifer Padolina