Sunday Mornings
Our Sunday morning worship service at 10:00 A.M. includes a traditional worship atmosphere with our outstanding choir, Children's Church and the sermon. Children's Sunday School is available along with a nursery during the 10:00 service.
Online Worship during COVID-19
During the temporary suspension of face-to-face worship, Online Worship services are being made available through Pastor Kathi Elliott's YouTube channel. The link will be made available on this website each week and the videos will be available to view by the public on Sunday mornings beginning at 7 a.m. Please also watch for devotional thoughts on our Facebook page: First Congregational Church of Terre Haute. You may also sign up for updates by contacting us at info@FirstChurchTH.org.
Additional Special Services
First Congregational Church has many additional and seasonal services. These include Ash Wednesday prayers, Maundy Thursday Gathering, Good Friday, The Longest Night and others. Please consult the church calendar, subscribe to our church newsletter or follow us on Facebook.
Longest Night 2020
Program for Longest Night Service 2020
Longest Night Service
December 20, 2020
First Congregational Church of Terre Haute
Revs. Jim and Kathi Elliott, Co-Pastors
Call to Worship
Welcome
Hymn "O, Little Town of Bethlehem" (Tune: St. Louis)
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 men on earth.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given;
So God imparts to human 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 this day
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
reprinted with permission CCLI #4004159
The First Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Music Interlude
The Second Reading: Isaiah 40 (Selected verses)
Memory Stars
(Viewers have been invited to have a paper star ready to write on.
Following the second reading from Isaiah 40, invite participants to write on each star their concerns for others or their own concerns).
Music Interlude
Litany of Remembrance
(The first candle is lighted.)
Officiant: We light this first candle to remember those whom we have loved and lost...
All: We remember them with love. May God's eternal love surround them.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, 0 Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The second candle is lighted.
Officiant: We light this second candle to remember the pain of loss: loss of relationships, loss of trust, loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of faith, the loss of joy...
All: We remember that through You all things are possible.
Refresh, restore, renew us, 0 God, and lead us into Your future.
O come thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, 0 Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The third candle is lighted.
Officiant: We light this third candle to remember ourselves this Christmas time...
All: We remember that though we have journeyed far, and that, while lost, we may have turned away from the light, the light itself has not failed. We remember that though winter be upon us and though the night be dark, with the turning of the Wheel the dawn will come, and dawn defeats the darkness.
O come thou day-spring, come and cheer
our spirits by thy advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The fourth candle is lighted.
Officiant: We light this fourth candle to remember faith, the gift of light and hope that God offers to us in the stories of Hanukkah and of Christmas...
All: We remember the One who shares our burdens, who shows us the way to the Light, and who journeys with us into all our tomorrows.
O come desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind
Bid then our sad, divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The Prayers of the People
After each petition, the pastor will say, "Lord, hear our prayer," Please respond:
All: And in Your merciful love, answer.
Hymn "Away in a Manger" ( Tune: American )
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
the little lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care
And take me to heaven to live with thee there.
reprinted with permission CCLI #4004159
Third Reading: Luke 2:1-7
Offering of Light
Psalm 121
Prayer
Hymn "Silent Night" (Tune: Stille nacht)
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
reprinted with permission CCLI #4004159
Concluding Prayers.
Blessing and Dismissal
Longest Night Service
December 20, 2020
First Congregational Church of Terre Haute
Revs. Jim and Kathi Elliott, Co-Pastors
Call to Worship
Welcome
Hymn "O, Little Town of Bethlehem" (Tune: St. Louis)
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 men on earth.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given;
So God imparts to human 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 this day
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
reprinted with permission CCLI #4004159
The First Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Music Interlude
The Second Reading: Isaiah 40 (Selected verses)
Memory Stars
(Viewers have been invited to have a paper star ready to write on.
Following the second reading from Isaiah 40, invite participants to write on each star their concerns for others or their own concerns).
Music Interlude
Litany of Remembrance
(The first candle is lighted.)
Officiant: We light this first candle to remember those whom we have loved and lost...
All: We remember them with love. May God's eternal love surround them.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, 0 Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The second candle is lighted.
Officiant: We light this second candle to remember the pain of loss: loss of relationships, loss of trust, loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of faith, the loss of joy...
All: We remember that through You all things are possible.
Refresh, restore, renew us, 0 God, and lead us into Your future.
O come thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, 0 Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The third candle is lighted.
Officiant: We light this third candle to remember ourselves this Christmas time...
All: We remember that though we have journeyed far, and that, while lost, we may have turned away from the light, the light itself has not failed. We remember that though winter be upon us and though the night be dark, with the turning of the Wheel the dawn will come, and dawn defeats the darkness.
O come thou day-spring, come and cheer
our spirits by thy advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The fourth candle is lighted.
Officiant: We light this fourth candle to remember faith, the gift of light and hope that God offers to us in the stories of Hanukkah and of Christmas...
All: We remember the One who shares our burdens, who shows us the way to the Light, and who journeys with us into all our tomorrows.
O come desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind
Bid then our sad, divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
A period of silent reflection
The Prayers of the People
After each petition, the pastor will say, "Lord, hear our prayer," Please respond:
All: And in Your merciful love, answer.
Hymn "Away in a Manger" ( Tune: American )
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
the little lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care
And take me to heaven to live with thee there.
reprinted with permission CCLI #4004159
Third Reading: Luke 2:1-7
Offering of Light
Psalm 121
Prayer
Hymn "Silent Night" (Tune: Stille nacht)
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
reprinted with permission CCLI #4004159
Concluding Prayers.
Blessing and Dismissal
First Congregational Church, 630 Ohio, Terre Haute, IN 47804 812.232.8880 mail to: info@FirstChurchTH.org
