South Church in Andover
United Church of Christ
Andover, Massachusetts

THE WORSHIP OF GOD

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2005                                                11:00 pm

PRELUDE          Two Noëls:      Nicolas Lebègue

Puer nobis nascitur
Le petit nouveau né

                   Three versets on ‛Away in the Manger‘     Mark Blatchly

PROCESSIONAL HYMN           O Come, All Ye Faithful     #132 blue

INVOCATION           Chantal Tapé

READING      Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7     Melissa Rauseo

CAROL       Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming     #131 blue

READING     Luke 1: 26-38 Dale Spollett

ANTHEM     Gabriel’s Message     Stephen Paulus

READING     Luke 2: 1-7     Kristen Redford

ANTHEM     Lullay Lord Jesus     George Thalben - Ball

READING     Luke 2: 8-14     Nicole DeOssi

CAROL     Angels We Have Heard on High  #23 red

READING     Luke 2: 15-20 Brad Stubenhaus

CAROL     What Child Is This, Who, Laid to Rest   #140 blue

READING     John 1: 1-14     Lenore Stubenhaus

SERMON     The Grand Connection     Dr. Mutti

CAROL  O Little Town of Bethlehem     #44 red

PASTORAL PRAYER      Jonathan Drury

OFFERING

Offertory        Choral Prelude on ‘Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen’      
                         Johannes Brahms

Offertory Anthem  On Christmas Night  Ralph Vaughan Williams

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE

Gary, Janet, Suzie, Tom, and Randy Clarke,
with Tate Allen and Lindsay Duvall

SHARING THE LIGHT

          The light of the Christ candle will be brought to you.
          Gently tip your candle to receive the light.
          As you pass the light to the next person, hold your candle upright.
          To prevent spilling melted wax - Do not tilt!

CAROL   (seated)     Silent Night       

     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,
          Shepherds quake at the sight,
          Glories stream from heaven afar,
          Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
          Christ, the Savior, is born!
          Christ, the Savior, is born!

     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!

          Silent night, holy night,
          Son of God, loves pure light
          Radiant beams from thy holy face,
          With the dawn of redeeming grace,
          Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
          Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

BENEDICTION       (      Extinguish candles as the organ introduces the hymn.)

* CAROL  Hark! the Herald Angels Sing # 31 red

     POSTLUDE   Noël Suisse     Louis-Claude Daquin

Participating in the Service:
Chris Valleau, harp

Cover art by Annie Brown