The Creche Service – December 19

Started in 1974, this is St. Mark’s 48th Creche Service.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Prelude

The Holly and the Ivy, Traditional
Michael McCormick, Organ

Processional Hymn

Once in Royal David’s City, 102 Hymnal 1982

1 Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

2 He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.

3 We, like Mary, rest confounded
that a stable should display
heaven’s Word, the world’s creator,
cradled there on Christmas Day,
yet this child, our Lord and brother,
brought us love for one another.

4 For he is our lifelong pattern;
daily, when on earth he grew,
he was tempted, scorned, rejected,
tears and smiles like us he knew.
Thus he feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in all our gladness.

5 And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love;
for that child who seemed so helpless
is our Lord in heaven above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.

6 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing round,
we shall see him; but in heaven,
where his saints his throne surround:
Christ, revealed to faithful eye,
set at God’s right hand on high.

O Come Emmanuel, Come Soon, arr. Hal H. Hopson

St. Mark’s Adult Choir

Welcome

Bidding Prayer

A Christmas Carol

Read by Willow Young

What Child is This, arr. Vince Guaraldi

Michael McCormick, piano

Night’s Lodging, by Luci Shaw

Read by Owen Glass

Still, Still, Still, arr. Ruth Elaine Schram

St. Mark’s Adult Choir

The Prayer of the Donkey

Read by Matthew McDonnell

All things bright and beautiful, 405 Hymnal 1982

All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.

1 Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colors,
he made their tiny wings. Refrain

2 The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky, Refrain

3 The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden,
he made them every one. Refrain

4 He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well. Refrain

O Eve, by Columba Guare

Read by Gerald Creighton

Myn Lyking, by R. R. Terry

St. Mark’s Adult Choir

Joseph

Read by Samantha Glass

Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine, arr. Martha Lynn Thompson

St. Mark’s Bell Choir

Christ Child Presentation

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with us.
He will be our God and we shall be his people.
God himself is with us. Alleluia.
Come let us adore him. Alleluia.

Blessing of the Creche

Go Tell it on the Mountain, 99 Hymnal 1982

Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born!

1 While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. Refrain

2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth. Refrain

3 Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessèd Christmas morn. Refrain

The Lamb, by William Blake

Read by Mattie Morley

O Leave Your Sheep, arr. Hart Morris

St. Mark’s Bell Choir

There Were Shepherds, Luke 2:8-16

Read by Ben Larner

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Traditional

Michael McCormick, Piano

Star Song, by Luci Shaw

Read by Helena Centolanza

We three kings, 128 Hymnal 1982

1 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!

2 Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King for ever,
ceasing never
over us all to reign. Refrain

3 Frankincense to offer have I:
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising,
gladly raising,
worship him, God Most High. Refrain

4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing,
bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Refrain

5 Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice;
heaven sings alleluia:
alleluia the earth replies. Refrain

Closing Prayers and Benediction

The Dismissal

Closing Hymn

Joy to the world, 100 Hymnal 1982

1 Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing.

2 Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
let us our songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love.

The Crèche figures were given in loving memory of
Francis Booth & Ivy Lennox

Participants:
Eva Centolanza
Reuben Centolanza
Andrew Hargy
Ryan Hargy
Dan Ittycheria
Patricia Lanese
Abby Larner
Caleb Larner
Sophie McDonnell
Zöe Morley
Chris Possanza
Paige Salmon
Ryan Salmon
Sadie Salmon
Ben Seitz
Colin Seitz
Eli Seitz