All-Church Virtual Christmas Pageant

Sunday, December 20 is the date of the annual Ivy Chapel Christmas Pageant. Of course, like everything else this year, things are going to look just a little different. A little? Nah. A lot.

Join us a 10 a.m. on Facebook Live as Pastor Dan Wilson leads us in prayer and reflection, and the lighting of the Advent wreath, the candle of love.

https://fb.watch/2vb_DcZVrS/

And… may we present… the Ivy Chapel Virtual Christmas Pageant, The Attic Christmas:

Thanks to Tara Lowry for spending so much time adapting the story, assigning the parts, editing the videos and coordinating the entire production.Merry Christmas from the youth, and all the families of Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ.

Here’s this week’s order for worship:

Prelude – Anna DiVesta

Call to Worship and Prayer of Invocation/ Pastor Dan
One: Listen up, everybody! God gives the world such a marvelous gift.
All: Christ is born!
One: Glory to God in the highest!
All: And peace to all people on earth.
One: Let us pray.
All: O Wondrous God, send your Messenger to us this day with a word of grace.
If we are fearful, guide us to become Calm.
If we are tired, offer us Rest.
If we are empty, fill us with Grace.
God Emmanuel, we have been searching high and low for you.
We have presumed that you are far away.
How miraculous then it is
that we discover
you are close by,
changing hearts and minds.
Let us respond faithfully as you continue inviting us to follow you and
to join you in your work of Love.
We pray in your holy name, Coming Savior –
Son of God; Love’s pure Light. Amen.

Hymn – “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”– #187

  1. Come, Thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
    From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.
    Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
    Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.
  2. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a king.
    Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
    By Thine own eternal Spirit Ryle in all our hearts alone;
    By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Lighting the Advent Wreath – Pastor Dan – The Candle of Love

Praise Response – “When God Is a Child”
p. 95, worship booklet Verse 4 ONLY

  1. Love is a flame that burns in our heart. Jesus has come and will never depart.
    When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
    The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Prayers of the People concluding with the Lord’s Prayer – Pastor Dan

Special Music – “Welcome to Our World”
Tara Lowry, Vocalist
Anna DiVesta, Piano

Ivy Chapel presents
The Attic Christmas Pageant
Based on the book “The Attic Christmas” by B.G. Hennessy
Illustrated by Dan Andreason
Adapted by Tara Lowry

O CHRISTMAS TREE #221 (Verse 1)

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, your branches are uplifted.
You seem to say that on this day our world’s supremely gifted.
The shining of your candles bright, reminds us Light has come tonight.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, you lift our eyes to heaven.

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH #206 (Verses 1 and 2)

Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply Echo back their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be, Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo

WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE #220 (Verses 1 and 5)

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! Peals through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM #200 (Verses 1 and 4)

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.

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.

JOY TO THE WORLD #194 (Verses 1, 2, and 4)

Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! 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.

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.