Come Join Us This Christmas Season and Celebrate the Christ Child! Our Activity Details:
Christmas Concert – Rescheduled to Sunday, January 6th at 4:00 pm
Come, and Worship: a concert based on Angels from the Realms of Glory
The Mt. Pisgah music department will perform their annual Christmas concert on Sunday, January 6th, at 4pm in the sanctuary. Led by the Chancel Choir, Voices of Bronze Handbells, and the Celebration Children’s Choir, the concert will include scripture readings, congregational singing, and feature the Cambiata Wind Quintet.
“Angels from the Realms of Glory” was written by James Montgomery (1771-1854), a poet who was influenced by Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley. There are five of Montgomery’s hymns in our hymnal. Inspired by the hymns of the Moravians (the same people who influenced John Wesley), Montgomery began writing poetry at age 10. “Angels from the Realms of Glory” was first published on Christmas Eve, 1816, in the Sheffield Iris, a newspaper of which he was editor.
The text is partially based on the French carol “Angels We Have Heard on High”. In fact, it was sung to this tune for over fifty years! Many sources (including our hymnal) do not include the final stanza as the text seems a bit severe:
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes your sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains . . .
We will be singing it, however! The text actually completes a progression from the first to the last stanzas. The Angels song (stanza one) to the Shepherds’ adoration (stanza two), to the Sages’ gifts (stanza three), to the Saints’ praise in heaven (stanza four), and finally, to the Sinners’ repentance on earth (stanza five)… all ending with the exciting refrain telling all to “come and worship Christ, the newborn King!”
Join us as we add songs of the Angels, Shepherds, Sages, Saints, and yes, even the Sinners, to this wonderful carol!
Longest Night Worship Service – Friday, December 21st at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary
For many people, the upcoming Advent and Christmas season does not bring joyful anticipation, but rather a dark time of overwhelming grief and pressure during the holiday preparations. Whether these feelings are caused by the death of a loved one, divorce or separation, job loss, disease, or a number of other human situations, parties and even worship services can be painful for many people in our community. The Longest Night service is held on Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. This reflective service is designed to create a sacred space for those going through any number of dark times, and includes candle lighting, music, and words of hope and assurance.
December 21st is also the traditional feast day for Saint Thomas the Apostle. Just as Thomas struggled to believe the story of Jesus’ resurrection, so the long nights of winter can be filled with struggle and darkness by those suffering loss. Mount Pisgah will host a Longest Night service on Friday, December 21st, at 7:00pm in the sanctuary. For more information, see Rev. Donald Thomas or Amberly Johnston.
Join us for Christmas Eve Services
We have three distinct services on December 24th to celebrate the birth of the Newborn King!
Children and Family Worship – 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Come and dress as a part of our reenactment. Are you going to be an angel? A shepherd? Maybe a Wiseman? Come join the fun!
The Mount Praise Christmas Eve Worship Service – 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
Come join the praise and worship team for a time to sing and celebrate the Baby Born in the Manger!
Traditional Christmas Eve Worship Service – 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Come sing the traditional hymns of Christmas and usher in the coming of Christ our Savior, Born in a Manger!