241215 – Worship Bulletin

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting of the Advent Candle

Leader: Why do we light the Advent candles?

People: Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.”

Leader: “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel. Rejoice and exalt with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.”

People The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will exult over you with loud singing.

Lighting of the pink candle

Leader: We light this candle as a symbol of joy. May the promise of your presence, O Lord, make us joyful in our hope of salvation.

Response: Rejoice in the Lord always.

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Philippians 2:5b-11

Minister: Christ Jesus,…though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

People: And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Minister: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Unison: and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

*Hymn of Adoration: “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” (No. 203)

1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."

2 Christ, by highest heav'n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th'incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel. [Refrain]

3 Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
ris'n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth. [Refrain]

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: Almighty God, when Adam and Eve disobeyed you and brought on all mankind the curse of sin and death, you promised one day to send a man who would break the curse and bruise the serpent’s head. You promised to send a child whose name would be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. You promised a virgin-born Son, who would be Emmanuel, God with us. You promised Jesus, who would save his people from their sin. And then at the perfect time, you fulfilled your promises and sent your Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem us who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because we are your children, you have sent your Spirit into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” For this we give you praise and thanksgiving. Amen.

*Confession of Faith (Heidelberg Catechism Q. 35)

Minister: Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto death?

People: Because of the justice and truth of God satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

*Gloria (Tune: “Gloria”)

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 3:1-15

*Hymn of Response: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” (No. 193)

1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

2 King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood;
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heav'nly food.

3 Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the pow'rs of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

4 At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Public Confession of Sin

Unison: O God, in the beginning You spoke,
and creation was born, the object of Your loving care.

In the fullness of time You spoke,
and the Word became flesh, Jesus, gift of Your love.

We wonder at the miracle of creation;
we stand in awe before the mystery of the incarnation.

Forgive us earthbound creatures, feeble in faith, empty of hope, lacking in love.

We wait upon You with ready hearts, O God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Assurance

Minister: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (I Timothy 2:5-6a)

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “All My Heart This Night Rejoices” (No. 217)

1 All my heart this night rejoices
as I hear far and near
sweetest angel voices.
"Christ is born," their choirs are singing
till the air ev'rywhere
now with joy is ringing.

2 Forth today the Conqu'ror goeth,
who the foe, sin and woe,
death and hell, o'erthroweth.
God is man, man to deliver;
his dear Son now is one
with our blood forever.

Men only
3 Shall we still dread God's displeasure,
who, to save, freely gave
his most cherished Treasure?
To redeem us, he hath given
his own Son from the throne
of his might in heaven.

Ladies only
4 He becomes the Lamb that taketh
sin away and for aye
full atonement maketh.
For our life his own he tenders;
and our race, by his grace,
meet for glory renders.

5 Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
soft and sweet, doth entreat:
"Flee from woe and danger.
Brethren, from all ills that grieve you,
you are freed; all you need
I will surely give you."

6 Come, then, banish all your sadness,
one and all, great and small;
come with songs of gladness.
Love him who with love is glowing;
hail the star, near and far
light and joy bestowing.

7 Dearest Lord, thee will I cherish.
Though my breath fail in death,
yet I shall not perish,
but with thee abide forever
there on high, in that joy
which can vanish never.

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
O Praise Him! O Praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of The Holy Scriptures: I John 3:1-10

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Jesus Came to Destroy the Works of the Devil” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (No. 92)

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and pow'r are great;
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly pow'rs,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

*Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.