Choir Sings: Joy to the World!
Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev'ry 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
Readers: Luke 2:1-7
Reader 1: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should by taxed, And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.
Reader 2: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Choir Sings: The First Noel
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel
They looked up and saw a star
Shining to the East, beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel
Choir Sings: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" verse 1
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 th'angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."
Readers: Luke 2:8-12
Reader 3: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
Reader 4: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Choir Sings: "Silent Night" verses 1 & 2
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.
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
Reader 5: Matthew 2:1 & 2
And behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Choir Sings: "We Three Kings of Orient Are..." verses 1 & 2
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain--
Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Glorious now behold Him arise:
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, alleluia!
Earth to heaven replies.
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Choir Sings: Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains
Glo-----------ria, in excelsis Deo!
Glo-----------ria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come adore, on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Glo-----------ria, in excelsis Deo!
Glo-----------ria, in excelsis Deo!
Reader: Micah 5:2
Reader 6: But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Choir Sings: O Little Town of Bethlehem
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 men on earth.
Readers: Ephesians 2:17-21
Reader 7: And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father
Reader 8: So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Choir sings: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said.
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep:
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Choir Sings: "O Come All Ye Faithful"
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;
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.
O come, let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning:
Jesus to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Choir sings "Good Christian Men Rejoice"
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 Heaven's door,
And man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
Readers: Is. 9: 6-7
Reader 9: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Reader 10: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.
Choir sings "How Great Our Joy"
While by the sheep we watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright
How great our joy! (Great our joy!)
Joy, Joy, Joy! (Joy, Joy, Joy!)
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
(Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!)
There shall be born, so he did say,
In Bethlehem a Child today.
How great our joy! (Great our joy!)
Joy, Joy, Joy! (Joy, Joy, Joy!)
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
(Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!)
There shall the Child lie in a stall
This Child who shall redeem us all.
How great our joy! (Great our joy!)
Joy, Joy, Joy! (Joy, Joy, Joy!)
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
(Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!)
Choir Sings: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ, our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray;
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heavenly father, a blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name;
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
The shepherds at these tidings rejoiced much in mind.
And left their flocks a feeding in tempest storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway, the Blessed Babe to find;
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Choir Sings: "Away in a Manger" verses 1 & 2
Away in a manger, no crib for a 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 poor Baby wakes.
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Finis