Christmas services celebrate the birth of Jesus

Three distinctly different worship services at Lebanon First UMC, two on Christmas Eve and one of Christmas Day, celebrated the birth of Jesus.  Over 300 persons gathered to hear and sing beautiful Christmas music, to listen to Scripture readings and preaching, and to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The first Christmas Eve service at 5 pm on Saturday evening began with the lighting of the Advent wreath and Christ candle by the Darby family. The worship time featured energetic music, an inspiring sermon by Rev. Peter J. Wehrly, Holy Communion, and the singing of Silent Night in the darkened sanctuary lit by candles. The Praise Team of Alli Johnston, Conrad Steinhoff, Jim Ferrall and Susan Meister led the congregation in Christmas carols, and Margaret Pearson joined the group to sing Go, Tell It On the Mountain. The singers were accompanied by Dr. Stephanie Owen.

The 11 pm service, a traditional blend of Scripture and music, featured several solo singers. Alex Sutterfield, a voice student of Richard Boyd, Diaconal Minister of Music and Chancel Choir Director, opened the time of worship with the first verse of Once in Royal David's City.  In a later anthem, Alexandra Billhartz, also a student of Boyd's, accompanied the Chancel Choir on her clarinet for the selection Of the Father's Love Begotten. Both Alex and Alexandra joined with the Choir to sing three more anthems in the course of the service: Nativity Carol (Rutter), Where Shepherd's Lately Knelt, and All is Well. Victoria Symonds was featured as a soloist on All is Well.

Between musical selections, Sy Korte and Bob Homan read Scripture passages from both the Old and New Testaments regarding the birth of Jesus. Immediately after the reading of the Luke 2:1-7 text (which describes the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem), Christine Brewer and Ellen Leaf-Moore sang Gesu Bambino. Later, Ms. Brewer, a Grammy-award winning soprano and member of the Lebanon First UMC Congregation, sang O Holy Night. Accompanist Dr. Stephanie Owen moved ably from keyboard to organ bench for anthems, special music, and congregational singing.

At both Christmas Eve services, the Rev. Peter J. Wehrly emphasized in his sermon the importance of "telling." "Go, tell it on the mountain!" he exclaimed. "This good news - this great news - that a savior has been born to us this night!"  The sermon served as a conclusion to the Pastor's Christmas series on The Characters of Christmas.

"There is someone else in that nativity set," he said. "In addition to Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men and sheep and camels, the nativity should include me, and you! We must tell this good news to the world."

After the candlelit singing of Silent Night, the congregation sang Joy to the World.

Those who attended the worship service on Christmas Day were treated to a conversation by long-time member Mary Renfro, who related her own excitement about the Christmas story from her imaginative childhood to how God continues to help her today. Despite a cough and sore throat she'd been nursing for a few days, Mary sat comfortably in a white rocking chair in the front of the sanctuary to tell the story.

Later, after Rev. Wehrly had consecrated the Communion elements, Mary assisted with the distribution of Holy Communion. As congregants took the bread representing the body of Christ from Rev. Wehrly, they went to Mary who held the chalice with grape juice, representing the blood of Christ. Many said a few words to Mary as they partook of the elements.

The 10 am Christmas Day service also featured congregational singing of several Christmas carols and a solo presentation of Mary, Did You Know? by Susan Meister. At the end of the service, the congregation sang Joy to the World, the favorite hymn of Pastor Emeritus, the Rev. John Grob, whose celebration of life had been held in the sanctuary just two days before.

For more information about the worship services, please contact Rev. Wehrly at the church office, 618-537-6622.