Introit

“Comfort Ye” and “Every Valley” from Messiah by G. F. Handel 

Soloist, Anthony McGlaun

Welcome

Professor Mark Miller, Director of Craig Chapel 

Call to Worship

Dr. J. Terry Todd

One: We gather in this waiting place searching for a sign, a guide, something to tell us that our journey is not in vain. We await a world where truth and wholeness reigns, a world where all things are made new.

All: We wait.

One: We watch the heavens and the earth searching creation for evidence of God’s presence. We find glimmers of it in the laughter of a child overcome with joy. We feel it in hands that reach out to us in love. We sense it in the stars blanketing the night sky – pinpricks of hope in a vast unknown.

All: We watch.

One: We look to the stars and dream of another world. We dream of wrongs made right, of a place without hunger, a place where the naked are clothed and the lonely are set in families. We dream of a time filled with dance and song, a time when every tear will be dried. We dream of a world where last and first have no place.

All: We look to the stars and dream.

Opening Processional

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” 

Words: 9th cent. Latin (v. 1, 6, 7); Henry Sloane Coffin (v. 2) 
Music: 15th cent. French; arr. and harm. by Thomas Helmore

Introduction to the Service

Kelsey Wallace

Scripture

Reggie Steele

Luke 1:19 (NRSV)

19 The angel said, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Carol

“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came” 

Basque Carol
Words: para. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
With wings as drifted snow and eyes as flame
“All hail, all hail, O lowly maiden Mary”
Most highly and most favored, Gloria!

“For now a blessed mother you shall be
All generations praise continually
Your son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.”
Most highly and most favored, Gloria!

The Angel Gabriel

Dr. Angella Son

Moving Music

“Come, Come Whoever You Are”

By Dale Zola

Scripture

Hayoung Kang

Luke 1:10-13; 18; 21-22 (NRSV)

10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.”

21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak.

Carol 

“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” 

Words by Edmund Sears
Music by Richard Storrs Willis

v. 1: all; v. 2: faculty and staff; v. 3: students and alumni; v.4: soloist; v. 5 al

It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth, goodwill to all
The message from heaven they bring
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing
And ever o’er its babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long
Beneath the angel-strain
Have rolled two thousand years of wrong
And we, at constant war hear not
The love-song which they bring
O hush, the noise, all we of strife
And hear the angels sing.

And you, beneath life’s crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now! For glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing!

For Lo! The days are hastening on
By prophet bards foretold
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When peace shall over all the earth
It’s ancient splendors fling
And the whole world
Give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Zechariah 

Craig Dunn

Moving Music

“Camina, Pueblo de Dios”

Words and Music by Cesareo Gabaraín

Camina, pueblo de Dios, camina, pueblo de Dios
Nueva ley, nueva alianza, en la nueva creación!
Camina, pueblo de Dios, camina, pueblo de Dios

Anthem

“Choose Something Like a Star”

By Randall Thompson

Advent Choir

Scripture

Brendan Fox and Ann-Marie Brown

Luke 1:28-38; 2:1-5 (NRSV)

28 And Gabriel came to Mary and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

Carol

“While We Are Waiting, Come” 

Words by Claire Cloninger, music by Don Cason

Mary

Dean Melanie Johnson DeBaufre

Moving Music

“Canticle of the Turning” 

Words by Rory Cooney
Music: Star of the County Down, Trad. Irish 

My soul cries out with a joyful shout
That the God of my heart is great
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
That you bring to the ones who wait

You fixed your sight on a servant’s plight
And my weakness you did not spurn
So from east to west, shall my name be blest
Could the world be about to turn!

My heart shall sing of the day you bring
Let the fires of your justice burn
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near
And the world is about to turn!

Though I am small my God, my all
You work great things in me
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
Til the end of the age to be

Your very name puts the proud to shame
And to those who would for you yearn
You will show your might put the strong to flight
For the world is about to turn!

From the halls of power to the fortress tower
Not a stone will be left on stone
Let the king beware for your justice tears
Every tyrant from his throne

The hungry poor shall weep no more
For the food they can never earn
Every table’s spread every mouth be fed
For the world is about to turn!

Though the nations rage from age to age
We remember who holds us fast
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp

This saving word that our forbears heard
Is the promise which holds us bound
Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God
Who is turning the world around!

Prayer

The Rev. Dr. Heather Murray Elkins

Congregational Song

“Waymaker” 

Words & music by Sinach

solo:
You are here in our midst we worship you
You are here healing every life we worship you

You are here turning lives around we worship you 2x
You are here you are working miracles we worship you 2x

All:
WayMaker, Miracle Worker
Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness
That is who you are

Charge to the Community

Professor Mark Miller, Director of Craig Chapel 

Sending 

“Walk in the Light”

Words by Charles Wesley & George Elderkin
Music by George Elderkin

One:
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Many:
Jesus! The light of the world

One:
Join the triumph of the skies,
Many:
Jesus! The light of the world

We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light!
Come where the dew drops of mercy shine bright!
Shine all around us by day and by night
Jesus, the light of the world!

One:
Christ, by highest heaven adored
Many:
Jesus! The light of the world

One:
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Many:
Jesus! The light of the world

We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light!
Come where the dew drops of mercy shine bright!
Shine all around us by day and by night
Jesus, the light of the world!