Celebration Service December 24 , 2024– 3 pm
Prelude Dan Bruce
Welcome
The Lighting of the Christ Candle The Macalaster Family
Leader: We wait with hope for justice and righteousness of God.
All: We wait with peace for God’s shalom to fill the world.
Leader: We wait with joy, celebrating all that God has done for us and our world.
All: We wait with love, humbled by the love that God shows to all people.
Leader: Today we light this candle to celebrate the energy that God has sent into the world through the love and life of Jesus.
Special Music “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
Lisa and Julia Macalaster and Dan Bruce
Storytime “The Miracle at the Inn” Rev. Dan Haugh
Carols:*
“O Come, All Ye Faithful” “Away in a Manger”
Special Music “The Little Drummer Boy”
Carols:*
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn
“Angels We have Heard on High” Edward Shippen Barnes
Offering
Click here to make an online donation. - THANK YOU!
Special Music “Mary’s Boy Child”
Lisa Macalaster and Dan Bruce
Christmas Prayers
Carol* “Joy To The World”
Benediction
Postlude Dan Bruce
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Announcements
Our church experienced tremendous growth in 2024! To help fund this growth, we ask that you prayerfully consider making a one-time end-of-year gift to enable us to finish 2024 strong and begin 2025 with healthy finances. Place your donations in the offering plate, visit our website or scan the QR code that is in the bulletin.
Beverages are allowed in the sanctuary however, please do not put your cup on the hymnals, bibles, or pew cushions. Place them on the floor by your feet.
If you, or someone you know, would like prayers for comfort or healing, the members of the Prayer Team are ready to support you. Please fill out the prayer request form in the pew and put it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher to deliver to the office.
The staff of Stowe Community Church wishes you and your family a peaceful and joyous Christmas!
Reflections:
“The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young, the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air, when the song of angels is sung.”- Phillips Brooks (author of O Little Town of Bethlehem)
"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." —Washington Irving
"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." —Norman Vincent Peale
2024 Poinsettias given by
In memory of Alan & Becky
Matt & Leslie Anderson in memory of Jack Turner, our loving parents, and Michelle LaBow and Lynn Baumrind
Anne Bongiorno in memory of Priscilla Watson and Ruth Lewenthal Bongiorno
Cilla Bouchard in memory of Howard, Gwendolen, Ken, and Bob Young
Ben Brayton in memory of Rev. Dou and Eliner Brayton
Bob and Marlene Davison in memory of our son, Robbie
Annie-Vera D. Frye in memory of Pierre A. Frye, parents Arnold & Suzanne Frye, Roald & Fera Dysthe, Jean Roald Dysthe
Judith Grosvenor in memory of Florence, John, Peter and John G.
Carollynne & Bob Kirch in memory of our parents
Bob & Amy Marshall in memory of the Beres and Marshall family
Karen Monsen in memory of Peter Monsen
Greg Morrill in memory of George and Ruth Morrill
Greg Morrill and Meg Scotti in memory of Adrienne Chamberlin
Dave and Nan Myers in memory of The Myers family and the Ayers family
Laura Nichols in memory of Alice Kruidenier
Sandy and Scott Noble in memory of Phyllis and Jack Knittle and Kathryn and Joe Noble
Walter & Dorothy Pesaresi in memory of Doug Schoning
Steve & Kathe Rhinesmith in memory of our parents
David and Ruth Roy in memory of our parents and broth-in-law, in honor of our children and grandchildren
Meg Scotti in memory of Frank and Joan Scotti
Nancy Small and Roger Keller in memory of Christine Houghtaling
Travis and Rebecca Spaulding in memory of Jerry and Mary McDermott, Gerry Spaulding and William Robidoux
Elizabeth Teffner in memory of Ted Teffner
Lynne von Trapp in honor of my family
Dian Williams in memory of Martha Chesson & Reynold Spruill, my parents
Jessie and Jacob Winters in memory of Alice Kruidenier
Bernadette & Lori Wyman in memory of Bill Wyman and Dick & Marcia Johannesen
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Go Tell It On The Mountain
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching
o'er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
there shone a holy light.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lowly manger,
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us Salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
CCLI License # 3077632
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
Botn thr king of angels
Refrain
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him Christ the Lord
O sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above
Glory to God, all glory in the highest
Refrain
Child for us sinners, poor and in the manger
We would embrace thee with love and awe
Who would not love thee loving us so dearly?
Refrain
Yea, Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to thee be all glory given
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
Refrain
Away In A Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.
The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky look down where He lay.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
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 night.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay,
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new born king!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise!
Join the triumph of the skies!
With angelic host proclai8m:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newbortn king.”
Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply,
echoing their joyous strains
Glo---ria in excelsis Deo.
Glo---ria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
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
Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every 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 all 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
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