241222 – Worship Bulletin

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting of the Advent Candle

Leader: Why do we light the Advent candles?

Response: 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: Lift up your heads, O gates, that the King of Glory may come in.

Response: Who is the King of Glory?

Leader: The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.

Lighting of the candle

Leader: We light this candle as a symbol of purity.

Response: May your Holy Spirit, O God, purify us that we may be ready for the coming of Jesus, our hope and joy.

All: O come, O come, Emmanuel!

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:14

Minister: For to us a child is born,

People: to us a son is given;

Minister: and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called

People: Wonderful Counselor,

Minister: Mighty God,

People: Everlasting Father,

Minister: Prince of Peace.

Unison: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

*Hymn of Adoration: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (No. 208)

1 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;

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

2 God of God,
Light of Light;
lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
very God,
begotten, not created; [Refrain]

3 Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above;
glory to God
in the highest; [Refrain]

4 Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning:
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv'n;
Word of the Father,
late in flesh appearing; [Refrain]

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: We praise you, Father, for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, our Prophet, Priest, and King. We thank you that as the Word made flesh, he came to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted, to preach liberty to the captive. We thank you that as our great High Priest, he has redeemed us by the sacrifice of his own body and that he now continually intercedes for us. We thank you that as our eternal King, he governs us by his Word and Spirit and that he defends and preserves us. How we long for his return when he will make all things new! In his mighty name we come to you. Amen.

*Confession of Faith: Westminster Confession of Faith 8.1

Minister: What do believe concerning Christ the Mediator?

People: God was pleased, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and man. As the mediator, he is the prophet, priest, and king, the Head and Savior of the church, the heir of all things, and the judge of the world. God gave to him, from all eternity, a people to be his seed and to be by him, in time, redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

Gloria (Tune: “Gloria”)

Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 42:1-12

*Hymn of Response: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (No. 221)

1 Lo, how a rose e'er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse's lineage coming,
as men of old have sung.
It came, a flow'ret bright,
amid the cold of winter,
when half-spent was the night.

2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
the rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it,
the virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright,
she bore to men a Savior,
when half-spent was the night.

3 The shepherds heard the story,
proclaimed by angels bright,
how Christ, the Lord of glory,
was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped
and in the manger found him,
as angel heralds said.

4 This flow'r, whose fragrance tender
with sweetness fills the air,
dispels with glorious splendor
the darkness ev'rywhere.
True man, yet very God;
from sin and death he saves us
and lightens ev'ry load.

5 O Savior, child of Mary,
who felt our human woe;
O Savior, King of glory,
who dost our weakness know,
bring us at length, we pray,
to the bright courts of heaven
and to the endless day.

Prayers of the People-A Litany for Christmas

Unison: O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence, behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; and, as we have known Him to be the light of the world, so may we enjoy Him perfectly in the new heaven and earth; where, with you and the Holy Spirit, He lives and reigns in glory everlasting. Amen.

Minister: Father, for the incarnation of the Eternal Son of God, we give you thanks.

People: For His life of perfect obedience that secured our righteousness, we give you thanks.

Minister: For the one, full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice of himself for the sins of his people, we give you thanks.

People: For his resurrection, ascension, reign and promised return, we give you thanks.

Minister: For the gospel of grace that assures us that we are forgiven by his blood, accepted because of his righteousness, and made children by adoption, we give you our thanks.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Silent Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Assurance

Minister: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

Unison: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

*Hymn of Praise: “While be the Sheep We Watched at Night” (No. 215)

1 While by the sheep we watched at night,
glad tidings brought an angel bright.

Refrain:
How great our joy! Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heav'n on high!
Praise we the Lord in heav'n on high!

2 There shall be born, so he did say,
in Bethlehem a child today. [Refrain]

3 There shall the child lie in a stall,
this child who shall redeem us all. [Refrain]

4 This gift of God we’ll cherish well,
that ever joy our hearts shall fill. [Refrain]

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “The First Nowell”)

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of naught
And with his blood mankind hath bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel.

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of the Holy Scriptures: Luke 1:67-80

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Jesus Came to Fulfill at the Promises of God” (Rev. Austin Slater)

*Hymn of Response: “Prophets’ Words Foretold a Savior” (SH No. 18)

Prophets’ words foretold a savior in Bethlehem that night
Hailed by angels, shepherds wisemen, Emmanuel our Light.
Royal blood his kingly mantle, yet in kindness came to show
Human flesh in God’s hands dealth death its final, fatal blow.
Lowly infant in a stable, make all our prayers take flight.
Coming Christ, our God incarnate, be all our soul’s delight. (CCLI 3036374)

*Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.