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The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a worship service celebrating the birth of Jesus by recounting the fall of man, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus through nine short Bible readings, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns. The format was based on an Order drawn up by E.W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for Christmas Eve 1880. The most famous version is broadcast annually from King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve featuring carols by the famous Choir.

December 23, 2018 | Fourth Sunday of Advent

CONGREGATION STANDS Hearing-assistive headsets are available through the Sound Technician. CONGREGATION SITS For a large-print edition of the bulletin, please call the church office.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

P R E L U D E Once in Royal David’s CityOnce 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.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, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

First Lesson GENESIS 3:8-15Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

LEADER: This is the Word of the Lord.PEOPLE: Thanks be to God.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Candle Lighting REVELATION 7:9-12The fourth candle of the Advent wreath is the Angel’s Candle. The Angel’s Candle reminds us that as the angels proclaimed to shepherds the first coming of Christ, so they will also one day proclaim His second coming.

READER 1: After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

PEOPLE: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

READER 2: All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped

God, saying:PEOPLE: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and

honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Second Lesson GENESIS 22:15-18The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”READER: This is the Word of the Lord.PEOPLE: Thanks be to God.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

C O N F E S S I O NPlease take a moment to silently confess your individual sins.

Third Lesson ISAIAH 9:2,6,7The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

READER: This is the Word of the Lord.PEOPLE: Thanks be to God.

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!

3. Re - deem - er come! I o - pen wide

my heart to thee; here, Lord, a - bide!

Let me thy in - ner pres - ence feel;

Thy grace and love in me re - veal.

Fourth Lesson MICAH 5:2-5a2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5a And he shall be their peace.


Advent in the Prophets: The Coming King Rev. Luke D. Le DucFull outlines of the sermon are available on a table in the Narthex.

Joy to the World!

men

Fifth Lesson LUKE 1:26-38In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 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 father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”And the angel answered 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 called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Sixth Lesson LUKE 2:1-7In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.READER: This is the Word of the Lord.PEOPLE: Thanks be to God.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

How si - lent - ly, how si - lent - ly, the won - drous gift is giv’n! O ho - ly child of Beth - le - hem, de - scend on us we pray;

So God im - parts to hu - man hearts the bles - sings of his heav’n. Cast out our sin and en - ter in, be born in us to - day.

No ear may hear his com - ing, but in this world of sin, We hear the Christ-mas an - gels, the great glad tid - ings tell;

Where meek souls will re - ceive him still, the dear Christ en - ters in. O come to us, a - bide with us, our Lord Em - man - u - el!

Seventh Lesson LUKE 2:8-16And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.


The First Noel

Then let us all in one ac - cord sing prais - es

to our heav’n - ly Lord; That hath made Heav’n and

earth of naught, and with his blood man - kind was bought.

O F F E R I N G REVELATION 4:11

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord (verses 1, 4 & 5)

Eighth Lesson MATTHEW 2:1-12After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.


As with Gladness Men of Old

Ninth Lesson JOHN 1:1-14In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

B E N E D I C T I O N 2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-17

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts, and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Worship leader is Keith Winder.Sermon text readers are Ben Gerlach (9am) and Becky Becker (10:45am).Advent Readers are Andrew & Carley Bilindabagabo (9am) and Ben & Laura Chapman (10:45am).

Once in Royal David’s City: Words by Cecil Alexander, Music by Henry J. Gauntlett.O Come, O Come Emmanuel: Author unknown, tr. by John M. Neale, arr. by Thomas Helmore.Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Words by Charles Wesley and Mark E. Hunt; Music by Rowland Hugh Pritchard.Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!: Words by Georg Weissel, tr. by Catherine Winkworth; Music by Thomas Williams.Joy to the World: Words by Isaac Watts, Music arr. by Lowell Mason.All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord; Words by Martin Luther; Arr. by Robert Schumann.Infant Holy, Infant Lowly: tr. by Edith M. Reed; arr. by Edith M.Reed.O Little Town of Bethlehem: Words by Phillips Brooks, Music by Lewis. H. Redner.The First Noel: in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern by William Sandys.Angels, from the Realms of Glory by James Montgomery; Music by Henry Smart.As with Gladness Men of Old: Words by William C. Dix, Music by Konrad Kocher.Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Words by Charles Wesley, Music by Felix MendelssohnHymns reprinted from Trinity Hymnal (©1990, Great Commission Publ.) UBP. Hymns and Praise Songs printed bulletin are used by

permission through our Church Copyright License #1020404.Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version.

L I F E T O G E T H E RThis Week at Wheatland

Sunday, Dec. 239:00 & 10:45am Morning Worship

Monday, Dec. 246:00 & 8:00pm Christmas Eve Services

Sunday, Dec. 309:00 & 10:45am Morning Worship

Looking AheadJan. 19—Men’s Breakfast Jan. 25—Women’s Game Night

Worship Services—Dec. 24 & 30On Christmas Eve, our first service will begin at 6pm with a musical prelude until 6:30, followed by the worship service. Nurseries will be provided for the 6pm service only. Our second service will begin at 8pm. Both services will conclude with a candle lit singing of Silent Night. On December 30 we will offer two services: early service at 9:00am and

Giving OpportunityDid you know that you can donate to Wheatland through your purchases on Amazon? Simply place an order through smile.amazon.com and select Wheatland Presbyterian Church as your charitable organization. A percentage of each purchase will be automatically donated to Wheatland.

Gift Registry for the SpatolasIn order to assist Samuel and Amber Spatola in their move to Lancaster, we have asked them to create online housewarming gift registries. This is an opportunity to show generosity, hospitality, and care to their family. Please take the time to look at their registries and consider whether you are able to provide a gift that will welcome them to our community. To view their registries, go to Bed Bath & Beyond or Target’s websites, click

http://smile.amazon.com/

the late service at 10:45. We will not have Sunday School. Please invite friends and family to join us for these services as we celebrate the wondrous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

on “registries,” and search for Samuel Spatola. Please plan to have gifts purchased and delivered by December 27. Contact Melanie Winder with questions at [email protected] or 717-392-5909.

L I F E T O G E T H E RESL Teachers NeededOur ESL ministry is in need of several more teachers. Teacher training will be available in Harrisburg through MNA’s ESL Ministry Jan. 4 (in the evening) and Jan. 5 (all day) at Trinity PCA. New teachers would be placed in a class with an experienced teacher, giving them an opportunity to gain even more training before beginning to teach. Our ministry’s co-teachers serve as teachers half the time and as assistants the other half. Applications for the training are available in the Narthex. Contact Betsy at [email protected] if you are interested in teaching.

Christmas OfferingOur Christmas Offering is designated for the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Millersville University lead by Trip Beans. Trip has been actively seeking to reflect the love and grace of Christ at Millersville for the past 5 years. His efforts have led to an increase in student participation in RUF at Millersville as well as students attending our Sunday worship services. Contributions may be made either through online giving or by placing a check into the offering plate with “Christmas Offering” in the memo.

Thanksgiving Offering

Men’s BreakfastOn Saturday, January 19, from 8:30-10:00am, a men’s breakfast will be held at Wheatland. We will have a guest speaker sharing further on our yearlong theme of “Building Kingdom Friendships.” If you would like to attend, please sign up in the narthex. Contact Jeff Barrall with questions at (717)940-7671 or [email protected].

Men’s Ministry Jethro Group meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Bob Evans (3000 Hempland Rd, Lanc) at 7:30am. All retired men are welcome. Bruce Mawhinney is leading a study of the Westminster Confession.

Men’s Bible Study meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at the Park City Diner (884 Plaza Blvd., Lanc) at 6:30am. Steve Osborne leads the study in the book of Proverbs. Contact Steve at [email protected].

Women’s Ministry Wednesday Morning Bible Study This weekly study, held from 9:30-11:00am in the Fellowship Hall, will resume January 9.Saturday morning (2x’s/ month) Bible Study Our study of the book of Romans

mailto:[email protected]




We will be continuing to receive contributions through the end of the year for our Thanksgiving Offering, designated this year for The Row House. Please consider participating in this opportunity to encourage and partner with Tom Becker as he leads The Row House in its mission of “Engaging Current Culture with Ancient Faith.” Contributions may be made either online or by placing a check into the offering plate with “Thanksgiving Offering” in the memo.

PoinsettiasIf you donated toward a poinsettia, you may pick it up any time after the 8:00pm Christmas Eve service. Thank you for supporting the Flower Team.

continues for the second year, using the NavPress study guide for Romans. We meet from 7:30-9:00am twice per month at Kathy Landreth’s home (1313 Clayton Rd, Lanc.). Contact Catherine Achor for more information at [email protected].

Network Young Adult MinistryThe young adult ministry at Wheatland, Network, offers opportunities to connect and fellowship. We have monthly lunches, various social outings, and a yearly retreat. Open to anyone post high school. For more information, contact Brandon Gilanyi at [email protected], Jeremy Detweiler at [email protected], or find us on Facebook.


L I F E T O G E T H E RWheatland RecordingsRecordings of the sermons are available on the church website, www.wheatlandpca.org. Recordings of personal testimonies given during the worship service as well as both adult Sunday classes are also on the website. For CD copies of the worship service, please contact the office at [email protected]. Also, please tell us if you know of someone who would benefit from receiving CD’s of the worship service in the mail.

Wheatland CommunicationsAre you receiving email communications from the church about upcoming events, prayer concerns, needs within our congregation or elsewhere, etc.? If not, and you would like to, put your contact information on the pew pad sign in sheet and check the ‘regular attender’ box.

Prayer ChainIf you would like to be part of Wheatland’s Prayer Chain, please contact Sue Seevers at [email protected].

Overflow ParkingWe have overflow parking available to help ease the ongoing problem of limited parking spaces during our times of worship. Please consider using this option if you are able to, in particular for our Christmas Eve services tomorow evening. The overflow parking lot is located at 1059 Columbia Ave. (Dr. Scott Creisher’s lot).

Care GroupsOur congregation is organized by geographical lines into Care Groups. These groups meet twice a month to share meals and deepen fellowship with each other. Care Groups are organized as follows:East End (Lancaster City)—Craig & Brooke Forbes, [email protected] Strasburg—Paul & Deb Kreider, [email protected]. Leola—Glyn & Betsy Boone, [email protected]. Lititz Area/Manheim Township—Dan & Tara Spanjer, [email protected]—Bill & Catherine Achor, [email protected]. Mountville/Millersville—Dallas & Diane Wolgemuth, [email protected] Lane Hills—Keith & Melanie Winder [email protected] End (Lancaster City)—Tom and Becky Becker, [email protected].

Ruling Elders DeaconsBill Achor Bill BradleyJeff Barrall Mark

BroomellNed Bustard Jeremy

DetweilerBruce Etter Chuck HeathDave Smith Joe HunterDan Spanjer Kevin Martin

Jesse Sanders

DeaconessesCatherine AchorJoy BeansLouise Brewer










Cheryl BroomellLisa CutlerBeth Slough

WheatlandPresbyterian Churchexists to glorify God

by equipping thecommunity of believers

to lovingly confrontour generation

with the gospel ofJesus Christ.

Luke Le Duc | SENIOR PASTOR [email protected] Winder | ASSOCIATE PASTOR [email protected]

Bruce Mawhinney | PASTOR EMERITUS [email protected] Beans | CAMPUS PASTOR [email protected]

Betsy Boone | ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT [email protected] DIRECTOR OF ESL MINISTRY [email protected]

Barb Smith | FINANCIAL ASSISTANT [email protected] Ansel | SEXTON [email protected]

George Yellak | MUSIC DIRECTOR [email protected] Zimmerman | DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY [email protected]

Daniel Kreider | STUDENT MINISTRY ASSISTANT [email protected]

1125 Columbia AvenueLancaster, PA 17603

717.392.5909www.WheatlandPCA.org

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