Angels we have heard on high Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains, Sweetly singing o'er the plains,

And the mountains in replyAnd the mountains in replyEchoing their joyous strains.Echoing their joyous strains.

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo! In excelsis Deo!

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo!In excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song? Which inspire your heavenly song?

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo! In excelsis Deo!

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo!In excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing; Christ whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee, Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo! In excelsis Deo!

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo!In excelsis Deo!

See him in a manger laid, See him in a manger laid, Whom the choirs of angels praise; Whom the choirs of angels praise;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise. While our hearts in love we raise.

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo! In excelsis Deo!

Glo—ri-a, Glo—ri-a, In excelsis Deo!In excelsis Deo!

WORDS: Traditional French carol; trans. Crown of Jesus, 1862, alt. MUSIC: French carol melody; arr. By Edward Shippen Barnes, 1937;

Harmony by Austin C. Lovelace, 1964

Light the Christmas candles, now:Sing of donkey, sheep, and cow;Birthday candles for the King,

Let the alleluias ring.

Candle, candle, burning bright,Shining in the cold winter night.Candle, candle burning bright,

Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

Mary Lu Walker © 1975 Mary Lu Walker

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL

O come, all ye faithful, O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, O come ye, O come ye,

To Bethlehem. To Bethlehem. Come and behold him, Come and behold him,

Born the King of angels;Born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Born this happy morning,

Jesus, to thee be Jesus, to thee be All glory given. All glory given.

Word of the Father, Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: Now in flesh appearing:

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.Christ the Lord.

WORDS & MUSIC: John F. Wade, ca. 1743; Trans. By Frederick Oakeley, 1841, and others

Luke 2:1-18Luke 2:1-18Luke 2:1-18Luke 2:1-18

O little town of Bethlehem, O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie; How still we see thee lie;

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. The silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; The everlasting light;

The hopes and fears of all the The hopes and fears of all the years years

Are met in thee tonightAre met in thee tonight..

3. 3. How silently, how silently, How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given; The wondrous gift is given;

So God imparts to human hearts So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven. The blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive himWhere meek souls will receive him, still , still

The dear Christ enters in.The dear Christ enters in. WORDS: Phillips Brooks, ca. 1868 -- MUSIC: Lewis H. Redner, 1868

Benevolence FundFirst UMC

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As the light is passed to you, please tip your unlit candle toward the flame. Hold all lighted candles upright.

May the light of Christmas fill your hearts with joy and gladness. May the love of Christmas transform your hearts towards compassion and grace. And may the promise of Christ’s continuing presence fill your new year with courage, purpose, and hope. In the name of our living Savior Jesus Christ, go in peace.

You may extinguish your candle before leaving. Please leave the sanctuary in silence, placing extinguished candle in the baskets in the narthex.

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