Introit: "Of the Father's Love Begotten" - HS 220

(Choir sings this from the foyer.)

Advent Candle Service

"Peace on Earth" by Ann Weems (Kneeling in Bethlehem, published by The Westminster Press)

The presider goes to the altar and, using the small candle on the altar, lights the Christmas candle from the Peace candle.

Processional: "O Come, All Ye Faithful" - HS 238

Verse 1 - unison choir; verse 2, choir and organ; verse 3 choir, organ, and congregation, with soprano descant

Invocation

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make strait in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it....O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringeth good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Carol: "Masters in This Hall" - Choir (traditional French carol - numerous arrangements available)

Scripture: Mosiah 1:97, 102, 109

For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven, among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay....He shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary....The Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.

Carol: "Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus" - HS 201

An arrangement for SATB choir and handbells by Donald McCullough is available through Hinshaw Music.

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined....For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there is no end, with the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Carol: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" - HS 256

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-5

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Carol: "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" - HS 255 (may be sung by choir)

Scripture: Luke 1:26-35

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. To a virgin, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, thou virgin, who art highly favored of the Lord. The Lord is with thee, for thou art chosen and blessed among women. And when she saw the angel, she was troubled at his saying, and pondered in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel; How can this be? And the angel answered and said unto her, of the Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest. Therefore, also, that holy child that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Carol: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" - HS 211 (may be sung by choir)

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all of his empire should be taxed. This same taxing was when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone in his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) To be taxed, with Mary his espoused wife, she being great with child. 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 none to give room for them in the inns.

Carol: "O Holy Night" - Choir (numerous arrangements are available)

Scripture: Luke 2:8-18

And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, an angel of the Lord appeared unto them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. But 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, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the way you shall find the babe, he is wrapped in swaddling clothes, and is lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace; goodwill to men. And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go, even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. All they who heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Carol: "O Leave Your Sheep" - Choir (An SATB arrangement by Thorburn is available through Theodore Presser Co.)

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-11

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is the child that is born, the Messiah of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard of the child, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests, and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, saying, Where is the place that is written of by the prophets, in which Christ should be born? For he greatly feared, yet he believed not the prophets. And they said unto him, It is written by the prophets, that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus have they said, The word of the Lord came unto us, saying, And thou Bethlehem, which lieth in the land of Judea, in thee shall be born a prince, which art not the least among the princes of Judea; for out of thee shall come the Messiah, who shall save my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had called the wise men privily, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found the child, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child, with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Carol: "As with Gladness Men of Old" - HS 254

Scripture: I Nephi 3:70-79, 82-87

And the angel said unto me: Look and behold the condescension of God. And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world...; And I also beheld the prophet which should prepare the way before him; And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and the Holy Ghost came down out of heaven and abode upon Him in the form of a dove; And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people in power and great glory; And the multitudes were gathered together to hear Him; And I beheld that they cast Him out from among them; and I also beheld twelve others following Him....And I looked and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men; And I beheld multitudes of people which were sick and which were afflicted of all manner of diseases and with devils and with unclean spirits;...And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God. And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people, Yea, the Everlasting God was judged of the world, And I...saw that He was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.

Hymn: "We Would See Jesus" - HS 217

Scripture: Mosiah 8:28-34

I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people; And because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the Son of God; And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son--the Father because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son; And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and earth. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation and yieldeth not to temptation, But suffereth Himself to be mocked and scourged and cast out and disowned by his People. And after all this, and after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, He shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, As a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so He opened not his mouth. Yea, even so He shall be led, crucified and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son swallowed up in the will of the Father.

Hymn: "Word of God Come Down on Earth" - HS 227, verses 1-2

During the singing of this hymn, the Communion emblems should be prepared.

Scripture: Matthew 26:22-25

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and brake it, and blessed it, and gave to his disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is in remembrance of my body which I give a ransom for you. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. For this is in remembrance of my blood of the new testament, which is shed for as many as shall believe on my name, for the remission of their sins. And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall observe to do the things which ye have seen me do, and bear record of me even unto the end.

Prayer of Blessing on the Bread

Serving of the Bread

During the serving, congregation or choir sings "Bread of the World" HS 329

Prayer of Blessing on the Wine

Serving of the Bread

During the serving, congregation or choir sings "Word of God, Come Down on Earth"  HS 227

Scripture: Mosiah 8:35-47

And thus God breaketh the bands of death; having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men; Having ascended into heaven; having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion toward the children of men; Standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions; having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice. And now I say unto you, Who shall declare his generation?...When his soul has been made an offering for sin, he shall see his seed....And who shall be his seed?...All those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins; I say unto you, that these are his seed....They are heirs of the kingdom of God. For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed; and these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Carol: "On This Day Earth Shall Ring" - HS 245  (Handbells can be added.)

Anthem: "There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth" - Mendelssohn (An SATB arrangement is available from Hinshaw Music.)

Recessional: "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" - HS 252

Benediction

Response: "O Holy Child of Bethlehem" (HS 248, verse 4) - Choir in the foyer