Скачать или смотреть Wednesday, December 24, 2025 ~ Fear Not

Order of Service (see below)

Sermon: 5:30 p.m.: Fear Not

You may have heard (or chanted) the slogan "no kings" in 2025. Yet Christmas celebrates the birth of a different kind of king: Jesus of Nazareth, who claimed no power over others, healed people in body and spirit, and preached the kingdom of God. In following Jesus' spirit, we are asked to find courage in the face of our fear, in order to do what is right. The Rev. Sarah Stewart preaching.

Today's Music: Join us for a breathtaking celebration of Christmas. Our Youth Choir will join our Adult Choir this evening, and we are also welcoming guest singers Maria Ferrante, Sarah Callinan, and Christon Carney, as well as our own Bob Gordon on timpani and James Haupt on organ and piano for a beautiful music celebration. Many traditional carols will be shared as well as works by Margaret Bonds, Benjamin Britten, Matthew Culloton, James MacMillan, Alice Parker, and John Rutter.


Prelude
Rejoice Greatly, from Messiah
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Go Tell It On the Mountain [6:55]
trad. Negro spiritual
arr. Mark Hayes
O Holy Night [11:02]
Adolphe Adam (1803-1856)
Chorale Prelude on "Cranham" [15:21]
Douglas E. Wagner (b. 1952)
Coventry Carol [18:42]
trad. English carol
arr. Martin Shaw
O Sanctissima [21:23]
trad. Sicilian melody
arr. Alice Parker and Robert Shaw
Call to Worship [22:50]
Sarah C. Stewart
Choral Processional [25:47]
Adeste Fideles
Adeste Organ Intro [27:52]
Carol
O Come, All Ye Faithful
John F. Wade (1711-1786)


Scripture [31:30]
Isaiah 2: 2-5
Anthem [32:35]
O Radiant Dawn
James MacMillan (b. 1959)
Reading [36:44]
Magnificat
W. Frederick Wooden (b. 1953)
Carol
Joy to the World [38:28]
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)



Scripture [40:25]
Luke 2: 1-7
Anthem [41:32]
That Was a Christmas Long Ago and Alleluia, from The Ballad of the Brown King
Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)
Scripture [45:15]
Luke 2: 8-20
Carol
Angels We Have Heard on High [47:11]
Trad. French carol


Reading [49:37]
From The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Anthem [50:51]
This Little Babe, from A Ceremony of Carols
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Homily [52:47]
Fear Not
Rev. Sarah C. Stewart
Christmas Offering [1:01:37]
Our offering will support the Worcester Evening
Free Medical Program Service (WEFMPS),
providing free medical care to those who need it
Click to Donate: https://FirstUnitarian.com/donate
or TEXT 844-906-2338 to donate
Offertory Anthem [1:05:56]
O Magnum Mysterium
Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)
Carol
In the Bleak Midwinter [1:11:45]
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Anthem [1:15:45]
Candlelight Carol
John Rutter (b. 1945)
CANDLELIGHTING [1:20:00]
"Silent Night, Holy Night"
Joseph Mohr (1792-1848)
Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863)
Benediction [1:24:24]
Roland Morin (d. 1984)
Choral Response [1:25:32]
In Dulci Jubilo
trad. European tune
arr. Matthew Culloton (b. 1976)
Postlude [1:29:06]
Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Trad. Ukrainian and English carols
arr. Matt Riley (b. 1982)
Musicians
Sarah Callinan, soprano
Christon Carney, tenor
Maria Ferrante, soprano
Bob Gordon, percussion

First Unitarian Adult Choir
First Unitarian Youth Choir
Volunteers and Staff
Eugene Rossi, broadcast tech
operator
Paul Belanger, Jenny Deprez, Mary McAlister,
Caro Melnick, Florida Sur Pen, readers
Karen Reilly and Ken Mandile, head ushers
Rev. Sarah Stewart, Minister
Allegra Martin, Director of Music
James Haupt, Assistant Director of Music
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Rev. Sarah Stewart, Minister
Samantha Nemeth, Director of Faith Development
Abby Hannaford-Ricardi, Assistant Director of Faith Development
Dr. Allegra Martin, Director of Music
James Haupt, Assistant Director of Music

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