Organ Prelude: “What Child Is This?” by Dorothy Wells. Based on the English Tune “Greensleeves”
Call to Worship & Invocation
Carol: “Joy to the World” Words: Isaac Watts, 1719, Music: ANTIOCH by George Frederick Handel, 1741; arr. by Lowell Mason, 1848
Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her king:
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sin and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Scripture: Luke 2:22-40
Sermon: “HOPE COMES TRUE” The Rev. Dr. Mary Miller, Executive Minister The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts
Prayer
Carol: “Good Christian Men, Rejoice” Words: Latin Carol, 14th century; tr by John M Neale, 1855, Music: IN DULCI JUBILO Traditional German Carol, 14th century
Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before Him bow; and He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened the heavenly door, and man is blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Benediction
Organ Postlude: “Christmas Joy” by Franklin Ritter
Organist: Ms. Marilyn Glover
Today is the 217th Founding Anniversary of our church. Learn more >