First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Lessons and Carols
10:00 AM December 28, 2024
Prelude
Announcements
Hymn 140 Once in Royal David’s City IRBY
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild; Jesus Christ, her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall;
With the poor and meek and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern; day by day like us he grew;
He was little, weak and helpless; tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.
Lessons and Carols
First Lesson: Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
Adam and Eve disobey God’s command
Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanual VENI EMMANUEL
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here until the Child of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show; and help us in the way to go. Refrain
O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Make envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Refrain
Second Lesson: Genesis 22:15-18
God promises that, through Abraham, all the world will be blessed
Hymn 109 Blest Be the God of Israel MERLE’S TUNE
Blest be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free;
Who visits and redeems us, who grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill that promise and bring the people peace.
God from the house of David a child of grace has given;
A Savior comes among us to raise us up to heaven.
Before him goes the herald, forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation, the harbinger of day.
On those who sit in darkness the sun begins to rise,
The dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes.
God guides the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace.
O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!
Third Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7
The people who walk in darkness receive the promise of Messiah
Hymn 86 (Vs. 1, 4, 5) The People Who Walked in Darkness ISAIAH 9
The people who walked in darkness awaken to see a great light.
The people who dwelt in the land of the shadow rise to a star shining bright. Refrain
Refrain: His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Father forever, Prince of Peace. (Repeat)
For us now a child is given, for all the despised and forlorn.
The rule of compassion shall rest on his shoulder. God’s own Messiah is born! Refrain
How vast is our God’s dominion! How far truth and mercy extend.
The zeal of the Lord will accomplish its purpose: justice shall reign without end. Refrain
Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
The Messiah will come from the root of Jesse to restore peace
Hymn 145 What Child is This? GREENSLEEVES
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary!
Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear, shall pierce him through; the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary!
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, one and all, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high. The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary!
Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26-35, 38
An angel appears to Mary
Hymn 99 (Vs. 1, 2, 4, 5) My Soul Gives Glory to My God MORNING SONG
My soul gives glory to my God; my heart pours out its praise.
God lifted up my lowliness in many marvelous ways.
My God has done great things for me: yes, holy is God’s name.
All people will declare me blessed, and blessings they shall claim.
Love casts the mighty from their thrones, promotes the insecure,
Leaves hungry spirits satisfied; the rich seem suddenly poor.
Praise God, whose loving covenant supports those in distress,
Remembering past promises with present faithfulness.
Sixth Lesson: Luke 2:1-7
The birth in Bethlehem
Hymn 128 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly W ZLOBIE LEZY
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! 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.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you! Christ the babe was born for you!
Seventh Lesson: Luke 2 :8-16
Angels appear to shepherds
Hymn 117 (Vs. 1, 2, 4, 6) While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks WINCHESTER OLD
While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around.
“Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind:
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and humankind.
“The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed,
all humbly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid.”
“All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace;
good will to all from highest heaven begin and never cease!”
Eighth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-11
Magi come seeking the Messiah
Hymn 146 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM
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 of all the race 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!
Ninth Lesson: John 1:1-14
The Word of God becomes flesh
Hymn 132 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice IN DULCI JUBILO
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say: 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 friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Call for the Offering
Offertory Sweet Little Jesus Boy Arr.Hayes
Doxology 143 (Vs 4) Angels, from the Realms of Glory REGENT SQUARE
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn 136 Go, Tell it on the Mountain GO TELL IT
Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. Refrain
The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. Refrain
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain
Postlude
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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