Our annual Hanging of the Greens service for 2015 was held on Sunday evening, December 6th.  It was a wonderful time to come together as a church family and lift praise to God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to be born those many years ago in Bethlehem.  We sang hymns and decorated the church sanctuary while Pastor Peyton described the Biblical significance to each decoration or ornament displayed.  Afterwards, we all gathered in the Family Life Center for a time of fellowship and delicious food!  Thanks to all who worked so hard to make this such a wonderful time.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King;
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come,
offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with us to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild, he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

-Charles Wesley, 1739

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Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to man hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.

-Phillips Brooks, 1868

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O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, alleluia, All ye choirs of angels,
sing, all ye blissful ones of heaven above:
“Glory to God, all glory in the highest!”

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

-John Frances Wade (Translated by Frederick Oakeley), 1841