A Celebration of

Carols

A Celebration of

Carols

A Celebration of

Carols

ST. CHARLES AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday, December 20, 2015

December 20, 2015 - The 4th Sunday of Advent SERVICE FOR THE LORD'S DAY 10:30 A.M.

GATHERINGWORDS OF WELCOME Donald R. Frampton

VOLUNTARY "A Christmas Overture" arr. Nigel Hess

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Zoe Moseley, Georgia Christie, Madeline Weiser Reader 1: We light this candle as a symbol of the joy to be found in your kingdom on earth. Reader 2: For the Lord elevates the lowly, releases the captive, and brings sight to the blind. Reader 3: We rejoice in his justice and mercy, faithful to all generations. All: Come, Lord Jesus, come!

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) Luke 1:46b-47 My soul magnifies the Lord; My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. The Mighty One has done great things. Holy is God’s name!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

*HYMN (all) "O Come, All Ye Faithful" Adeste Fideles 1) O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, 2) God of God, Light of Light O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Lo! He abhors not the Virgin's womb, Come, and behold Him, Born the King of angels! Refrain Very God, begotten, not created. Refrain

3) Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation 4) Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above; Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Glory to God, glory in the highest. Refrain Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing! Refrain

DISMISSAL OF CHILDREN - Children 1st Grade and younger may meet in the Narthex (back of the church) for extended session.

THE WORDSCRIPTURE Luke 1:39-45

MEDITATION Donald R. FramptonA Celebration of Carols

The Chancel Choir and Orchestra

Gloria (1960) Francis Poulenc

I. Gloria in excelsis - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those of good will. II. Laudamus te - We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you. We give thanks to you for your great glory.

III. Domine Deus - Lord, God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty...Haley Whitney, soprano

IV. Domine fili unigenite - Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ... V. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei - Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

You, who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. VI. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris - You, who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One.

You alone are the Lord. You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ. With the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Betsy Uschkrat, soprano

*HYMN (all) "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" Carol

1) It came upon the midnight clear that glorious song of old, 2) Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold: And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world; "Peace on the earth, good will to men, From heaven's all-gracious King!" Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.

3) Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long; 4) For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold, Beneath the angel strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; When, with the ever-circling years, Comes round the age of gold; And man, at war with man, hears not the love-song which they bring: When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing! And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

"Carol of Joy" Dan ForrestGreen leaves all fallen, withered and dry; Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky;

Lengthening shadows, dark closing in; Then through the stillness, carols begin.O fallen world, to you is the song! Death holds you fast, and night tarries long.

Jesus is born, your curse to destroy; Sweet to your ears, a carol of joy!Pale moon ascending, Solemn and slow; Cold hillside shrouded in snow.

Deep empty valley, Veiled by the night, hear angel music, hopeful and bright.O fearful world, to you is the song! Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong.

Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound, a carol of joy, a Savior is found!Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift your eyes! Thrill to the chorus filling the skies.Look up, sad-hearted! Witness God's love; Join in the carol swelling above!O friendless world, to you is the song! All heaven's joy to you may belong!

You who are lonely, laden, forlorn: Now unto you, a Savior is born!

*HYMN (all) "O Little Town of Bethlehem" St. louiS

1) O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! 2) O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth, Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by. And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond'ring love.

3) How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n! 4) O holy child of Bethlehem, Descend to us we pray; So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heav'n. Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. No ear may hear his coming; But in this world of sin, We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell: Where meeks souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in. O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.

"The First Noel" arr. Forrest Noel, Born is the King. Noel. The first Noel, the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay, In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel... They looked up and saw a star Shining in the East, beyond them far. And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continured both day and night. Noel... Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heav'nly Lord, That hath made heav'n and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought. Noel.

"Masters in This Hall" trad. French carol, arr. HayesMasters in this hall, hear ye news today brought from over sea, and ever I you pray:

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell sing we clear! Holpen are all folk on earth, born is God's Son so dear.Going o'er the hills, through the milk-white snow, heard I ewes bleat while the wind did blow. Nowell...

Shepherds many an one sat among the sheep. No man spake more word than they had been asleep. Quoth I, "Fellows mine, why this guise sit yet, making but dull cheer, shepherds though ye be?" Nowell...

Shepherds should of right leap and dance and sing. Thus to see ye sit is a right strange thing.Quoth these fellow then, "To Bethl'em town we go to see a mighty Lord lie in manger low."

Therein did we see a sweet and goodly may and a fair old man, upon the straw she lay,and a little child on her arm had she. "Wot ye who this is?" said the hinds to me. Nowell...

This is Christ, the Lord, masters be ye glad! Christmas is come in, and no folk should be sad. Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell sing we loud! God today hath poor folk raised and cast a-down the proud!

THE OFFERING

OFFERTORY ANTHEM "O Holy Night" Adam; arr. R. L. Smith Taylor Miller, baritone

PRAYER OF DEDICATION SENDING

*HYMN (all) "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" arr. Rutter

1) Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King. 2) Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb. Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail the incarnate Deity, With the angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

3) Hail the heav'n-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 man no more may die,Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give us second birth.Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

VOLUNTARY (Congregation seated) "God Bless Us Everyone" Silvestri/Ballard, arr. RossCome together one and all in the giving spirit, gifts abound here great and small, joyously we feel it.

Blessings sent us from above guide us on our way. We raise our voice as we rejoice, bow our head and pray.A miracle has just begun! God bless us everyone!

To the voices no one hears, we have come to fi nd you, with your laughter and your tears, goodness, hope and virtue.Father, mother, daughter, son, each a treasure be. One candle's light dispels the night, now our eyes can see.

Burning brighter than the sun, God bless us everyone! A miracle has just begun! God bless us everyone!Come together one and all in the giving spirit, gifts abound here great and small, joyously we feel it.

Father, mother, daughter, son, each a treasure be. One candle's light dispels the night, now our eyes can see.Burning brighter than the sun, God bless us everyone! A miracle has just begun! God bless us everyone!

Tyler Smith, tenor

Participating in today's service: Senior Pastor, Donald R. Frampton; Director of Music, Steven BlackmonThe Chancel Choir and Orchestra

Soli Deo Gloria

Offering for Today’s Music - If you would like to make a donation toward today’s wonderful music, please do so using the envelopes provided in the pew racks.

*Please stand as you are ablePlease silence cell phones during the worship service

Cover art by Caitlin Wallace Rowland

SCAPC NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

TODAY:

SAVE THE DATE:

UPCOMING:

• RHINO Christmas Card Sales, FFH• SCAPC Christmas Village, FFH• Youth Group Celebration in the Oaks, Morning Call 5:45

pm (bring $$)

12/21-24, 28-30 | Carrollton Christmas Camp12/24 | Christmas Eve Services - 5 & 7 p.m.12/25 & 12/28 | SCAPC O� ce Closed - Christmas12/27 | Sunday after Christmas - one service 9:30 a.m.1/1 | SCAPC O� ce Closed - New Year’s Day1/10 | Senior Adult’s New Year’s Brunch1/13 | WNO: Krocodilios acapella group1/17 | RHINO Sunday1/25-26 | PW Retreat

Carrollton Christmas Camp THIS WEEK! - Dec. 21-24, 28-30, 9am-3pm at Lafayette Academy. We still need supplies for our classes and volunteers. View a list of needed donations on the SCAPC website: www.scapc.org. Questions? Sean Tate, sean@scapc.org.

Christmas Bonuses for Church Sitters - To make a donation to honor the dedication and commitment of our church sitters in the nursery, as a Christmas bonus for them, boxes are in the nursery room and on the playground. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 24. Questions? Michele Murphy, michele@scapc.org.

Christmas Eve Services - � ursday, December 24 - 5 pm Family Service (childcare) & 7 pm Lessons and Carols with Communion (no Childcare).

One Worship Service on December 27 - 9:30 a.m. Sanctuary, led by Phil Stagg, Childcare in Nursery. No Sunday School.

PW Retreat Registration Open! - Are you looking for a gift for that “woman who has EVERYthing?” Purchase a PW Retreat Registration for a relative or friend! � e retreat is January 25-26, 2016 at the Solomon Retreat Center, a relaxing setting on the North Shore. Questions? Contact Sydney Lawder at sydt@bellsouth.net.

St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church1545 State Street, New Orleans, LA 70118 | 504-897-0101 | www.scapc.org | www.facebook.com/SCAPCNOLA

For more information on our beliefs, missions, ministries, programs, or sta� contacts, visit www.scapc.org.

SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:30-10:15 A.M.:Feasting on the Word | LB, RiversideAdvent Devotional Study (20/30s) | 3rd Floor Youth RoomCelebrate Advent with Your Family | 2nd Floor Conference RoomNo Sunday School December 27. Classes resume January 3.

SMALL GROUPS RESUME:

CBD Study Group | resumes January 6Spiritually Hungry Women's Group | resumes January 13Men's Bible Study | resumes January 6� ursday Morning Study & Prayer Group | resumes January 7PW Needleworks Group | resumes January 720/30s PINTS | next meeting: Tuesday, January 12PW Book Club | next meeting: January 7 - Euphoria by Lily KingPW Bible Studies | Monday: January 11 Tuesday: January 12MOMs & MOM-SY | resumes in January

� e Christmas Banners are in memory of Kit & Tom Favrot.Ushers: Roger Fleshman, Maureen Herring, Casey Root, Sallee Benjamin, Geo� Snodgrass and Jay Young.