A Service of Lessons and Carols Christmas, December 25, 2016

MERCY COMMUNITY CHURCH &

DRUID HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

GOD GATHERS US AROUND THE WORD † You are invited to stand when you see this symbol.

PRELUDE O Little Town of Bethlehem C. Callahan WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

† CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: When the time was right, God sent the Son;

Right side: sent him and nourished him,

Left side: reared him and risked him,

Right side: filled him with laughter and tears and compassion,

Left side: filled him with anger and love and devotion.

Leader: Unwelcomed child, refugee and runaway, All: Christ is God’s own son.

Lover of the unlovable, toucher of the untouchable, forgiver of the unforgivable, Christ is God’s own son.

Loved by women, feared by men, befriended by the weak, despised by the strong, deserted by his listeners, betrayed by his friends, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh, writing heaven’s pardon over earth’s mistakes. Christ is God’s own son.

The Word became flesh: Christ came among us; Jesus was one of us.

† Carol Twelve Days of Christmas Frederic Austin

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

a partridge in a pear tree. On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Four Calling Birds

Five Golden Rings

Six Geese a Laying

Seven Swans a Swimming

Eight Maids a Milking

Nine Ladies Dancing

Ten Lords a Leaping

Eleven Pipers Piping

Twelve Drummers Drumming FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19

PRAYER OF BROKENNESS

Holy God, the prophets proclaim, the angels announce, the star lights the way, and we still ask, “Where?” Like children, we stand first on one foot and then the other, waiting impatiently for a parade, so eager for the bands and floats that we miss it while telling a friend what’s coming. We want a circus, God. We want ringmasters and acrobats, tigers and elephants, and dancers on horseback - not some straw-scattered shack with a swayback donkey and a tired woman with a ho-hum history. Holy One, keep us willing and alert so that, when you reveal yourself, we may be aware. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST (Please greet your neighbors with signs and words of peace and reconciliation.)

† CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem St. Louis

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary and, gathered all above,

while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,

and praises sing to God the king, and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.

No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

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!

SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18

† CAROL O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Veni Emmanuel (verses 1,2,6,7)

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily:

to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;

Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace. Refrain

THIRD LESSON Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

† CAROL Go Tell it on the Mountain Go Tell It

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

FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9

† CAROL O Come All Ye Faithful Adeste Fideles

(verses 1,3,4)

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

Refrain O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory given;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! Refrain

FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:26-35, 38

† CAROL Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn

Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King. Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations rise; join the triumph of the skies; with the angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate deity, pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7

† CAROL Away in a Manger Mueller

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,

and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in your tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

SEVENTH LESSON Luke 2:8-16

† CAROL Angels We Have Heard on High Gloria

(1) Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,

and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

(2) Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

(3) Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing;

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

Refrain

EIGHTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-11

REFLECTION & SELF-OFFERING

† CAROL We Three Kings of Orient Are Kings of Orient (verses 1, 2, and 3)

(1) We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,

field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!

(2) Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, gold I bring to crown him again,

King forever, ceasing never over us all to reign.

Refrain

(3) Glorious now behold him arise, King and God and Sacrifice:

Alleluia! Alleluia! sounds through the earth and skies.

Refrain

† PRAYER OF DEDICATION

NINTH LESSON John 1:1-14

† CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night Stille Nacht

(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 afar,

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.”

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

...Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

BEARING GOD’S WORD INTO THE WORLD † CAROL Joy to the World Antioch

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 earth, the Savior reigns! Let all 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 sins and sorrows 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. † CHARGE AND BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Go Tell It on the Mountain C. Callahan

…….

WORSHIP NOTES

Today’s bulletin art is Magnificat , Lauren Wright Pittman. © A Sanctified Art, www.sanctifiedart.org.

PRAYERS pray with condolences The sympathy of the congregation is extended to former DHPC member Jane Stack on the death of her husband, Dick Stack, December 13. Burial will be at Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Canton, GA. The sympathy of the congregation is also extended to DHPC members Charles and Nancy Edenfield on the death of their brother-in-law, Elliott Carter, Monday, December 19, 2016 in Lexington, SC. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. pray for our dhpc community Lisa Carter; Kathleen Clayton; Nancy Edenfield; Bobby Howlett; Ivey Lois Hubert; Charles Knox; Elizabeth Mabry; Bo Mays; Charles Middleton; Dixie Scott; Carl Sweet; Genie Talbott; Yolanda Tamsen. pray for our family and friends Billie Ruth Bird, friend of the Beasons and the Edenfields; Don Buffington, good friend of the Hannah family; Christina Georgiadou, friend of the Vigilante and Adams families; Tommy Hannah, Rhea’s brother and former member; Jobson Family, Woodside family’s friends; Frannie Kidd, Anne Townsley's daughter; Maureen O’Harra, Katie Vigilante’s mother, Caroline Ohnsman, Helen Woodside’s close friend; Mary-Lib Pennock, Cliff Frierson’s cousin; Charles Pruitt, father of Chuck Middleton’s longtime friend Phillip; Marilyn Pruitt, mother of Chuck Middleton’s longtime friend Phillip; Michele Rouse, Cynthia Middleton's sister; John Ruttman, Vigilante Family’s friend; Ruby Sermeño, Miriam Herrera’s sister; Meredith Shahpazian, friend of Betty and Linda Davis; Joan Davis Smith, sister of Betty and Linda Davis; Chelsea Walker daughter of Letia Henson; Mai-Lan Williams, Jane Weir’s friend; Bryan Wilson, Mary Jane Hannah’s brother. pray for our world

Heavenly Father, Loving God, our preparations to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child are done and our hearts are filled with love and gratitude, not only for Your Son, but for all children, the hope of the world.

Last Sunday, as we watched the children in the Christmas pageant, showing us the glory of the miracle of your birth, we saw through their eyes just how amazing the story is. In this world of so much "stuff,” it is not only eye opening, but also heart opening, to see Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus in the manger, in the stable, with no real home and very few belongings. What a contrast to what we think we know about how life should be.

We pray for all children, Lord: children whose lives appear to be secure, children whose health is in question, children of Aleppo and other tenuous societies, whose very existence is in question. For all of these children we fervently pray for safety, good health, and for love and peace in their lives.

This Christmas morning we give thanks for you, God’s greatest gift, wrapped not in shiny paper, but instead in swaddling clothes. How humbled we are.

These prayers we send to you in the name of the Christ Child. Amen.

WEEKLY UPDATE

Sunday, December 25

9:30AM - Christmas Morning Breakfast and Lessons and Carols Monday, December 26

Office Closed Wednesday, December 28

6:15PM - Yoga Prayer Sunday, January 1

11:00AM - Epiphany Worship Service EPIPHANY WORSHIP SERVICE Sunday, January 1, 11:00 AM; Sanctuary The twelve days of Christmas span from Christmas day through Epiphany on January 6. Epiphany marks the arrival of the Magi to greet the Christ child. Join us on New Year’s Day as we celebrate the aha moments (epiphanies) of recognizing Christ in our midst. It’s still Christmastide, so we’ll get a final dose of carols and sing We Three Kings , too. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP Contact Barrett Payne, Youth Director, (bpayne@dhpc.org) for more information about youth events. Monday, January 2; 4:30PM: New Years Party! The youth will celebrate the New Year by trying to escape! We’ll gather at DHPC before grabbing some pizza and going to the Escape Room. Together as a group, we have one hour to escape a mystery room. Up for the challenge? Cost is $30. Check-in with Barrett if you need financial assistance and to RSVP! Sunday, January 15, 12:15PM: Sandwich Making Service Project The youth will make sandwiches to store for our neighbors who are hungry. This is a special ministry and is extremely important as the need is growing in our community. Join us! INTOWN FOOD PANTRY (IFP) NEEDS FOR AREA HUNGRY Urgent needs for the Pantry are listed outside the stairwell to Converse Hall. Please check the list. You got three of the top Pantry needs: tuna, Vienna sausage, and instant hot cocoa mix. You brought lots of peanut butter, coffee and tea, all needed items, plus soup, meat, fruit. You covered all bases, even a can opener! At last Saturday's Pantry there was Christmas music. One of the guests joined in with heartfelt singing and another played an amazing penny whistle – a festive occasion! Guests will also receive a Christmas goodie bag with a McDonald’s gift card, a small candy cane, and an envelope of cocoa mix. Thanks as always for your support!

UPCOMING EVENTS POP-UP POTLUCK Saturday, January 7, 6PM The DHPC Pop-Up Potluck Suppers have been super fun and we want you to join us as the fun continues in January! Hosts are “to be determined,” but we will gather somewhere at 6:00pm and serve dinner around 7:00pm. Contact Eric Dusenbury for more information, to sign-up for a dish, receive the Sign-Up Genius link, or if you would like to host a potluck.

THEOLOGY 101 Sunday, January 8, 9:45AM Theology 101 is a monthly primer about what Presbyterians profess to believe. The class will break down theological concepts into bite-size chunks so that we can hear more about the specifics of our faith. January’s topic is creation. Join us as Pastor Shelli leads a conversation about God’s handiwork! SECOND SUNDAY LUNCH Sunday, January 8, 12:30PM Join church friends and family for fun and fellowship at January’s Second Sunday Lunch! Lunch will be served for $7/person ($5/children) in Converse Hall immediately following worship. Please RSVP by Friday, January 6 at 12pm by indicating your reservation in the blue friendship pad, calling the church office, or signing up online. Online payment is also available. Make plans to join us! PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Tuesday, January 10, 10:30AM/7:15PM Presbyterian Women meets the second Tuesday of each month. All women of the church are invited to come to either the day or night circle for a time of prayer, Bible study, discussion, and fellowship. Please contact Helen Woodside with any questions. YOUNG ADULT GATHERING AND CONVERSATION Thursday, January 12, 7 PM; Pastor Shelli’s House, Young adults are invited to Pastor Shelli’s house for conversation about miracles in an age of reason. Over coffee, wine and dessert, we’ll look at some of Jesus’ miracles, beginning with his first, turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. You don’t need to bring anything – just yourself, and maybe a friend. Please RSVP to Pastor Shelli at pastorshelli@dhpc.org. BOOK CLUB JANUARY MEETING Tuesday, January 17, 7pm (Note day change!) All who love to read interesting, challenging, and fun books are encouraged to join the monthly meeting of the Linda Miller Book Club. This month’s book is Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth and Margaret Ross will host. For more information or directions, please contact Letia Henson. See you there! CHILDREN ARE WELCOME AT DHPC Children of all ages are welcome in the sanctuary during worship. Being present in worship is how children learn to worship, so we welcome their wiggles and whispers. Children’s worship bags are available at the entrances to the sanctuary. During the Sunday School hour, we offer a supervised nursery for all infants and toddlers. Older small children are welcome in the nursery, Room 115, during worship.

MAKE YOUR OFFERING DONATION FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE Simply scan the image you see here using your phone’s Quick Response code reader, and you’ll be taken to DHPC’s secure giving portal, where you can make a one-time or recurring gift using your credit or debit card or checking or savings account. Payments or gifts for special offerings should be labeled as such in the “Optional Memo” line.

DRUID HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CHURCH STAFF MINISTRY TEAMS AND CHAIRS

Pastor: Rev. Shelli Latham, pastorshelli@dhpc.org Director of Music Ministries: Michael Fuchs, mfuchs@dhpc.org Director of Youth Ministries: Barrett Payne, bpayne@dhpc.org Seminary Intern: Rachel Mathews, rmathews@dhpc.org Organist: Cliff Frierson, cfrierson@dhpc.org Office & Facilities Manager: Danielle Wilson, dwilson@dhpc.org Interim Communications Director: Elizabeth Acton, eacton@dhpc.org

Christian Education: Gigi Muirheid Congregational Life: Karin Dusenbury Finance: Bill Armstrong Mission: David Vigilante Personnel: Renée Weese Property and Administration: Bryan Gartman Worship: Suzette Stewart Clerk of the Session: Kenneth Wideman Treasurer: Linda Davis

Elders Emeriti:

Cecile McRae Hooks, Charles C. Knox, Belle Miller McMaster, Frank Harkins Merl

Druid Hills Presbyterian Church 1026 Ponce de Leon Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306 | 404.875.7591 | www.dhpc.org

Music is used by permission and reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-710585

MERCY COMMUNITY CHURCH

Co-Pastor: Rev. Chad Hyatt, mercy@mercyonline.net

Co-Pastor: Rev. Maggie Leonard, maggie@mercyonline.net

Seminary Intern: Brittany Fiscus van Rossum Intern: Matthew Hyatt Intern: Sarah Morrell

Mercy Community Church PO Box 8676 Atlanta, GA 31106 | 404.803.5075 | www.mercyatl.org