241208 – Worship Bulletin

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (I John 4:14)

Prelude

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: A voice cries in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Response: “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low. The uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places plain.”

(Lighting of the candle)

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

Response: May the Word sent from God through the prophets lead us to the way of salvation.”

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Isaiah 25:9

Minister: It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

People: This is the Lord; we have waited for him;

Unison: let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

*Hymn of Adoration: “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People” (No. 197)

1 Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
comfort those who sit in darkness,
mourning 'neath their sorrow's load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them;
tell her that her sins I cover,
and her warfare now is over.

2 Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
blotting out each dark misdeed;
all that well deserved his anger
he no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day
now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
into ever-springing gladness.

3 For the herald's voice is crying
in the desert far and near,
bidding all men to repentance,
since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
let the valleys rise to meet him,
and the hills bow down to greet him.

4 Make ye straight what long was crooked,
make the rougher places plain;
let your hearts be true and humble,
as befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
now o'er earth is shed abroad;
and all flesh shall see the token,
that his word is never broken.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: God of All Grace, you have given me a Savior; produce in me a faith to live by him, to make him all my desire, all my hope, all my glory. May I enter him as my refuge, build on him as my foundation, walk in him as my way, follow him as my guide, conform to him as my example, receive his instructions as my prophet, rely on his intercession as my high priest, obey him as my king. In his name I come to you. Amen.

From “The Savior” in The Valley of Vision

*Affirmation of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 29

Minister: Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, Savior?

People: Because he saves us from all our sins, and because salvation is not to be sought or found in anyone else.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Gloria

Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

New Testament Reading Matthew 1:18-25

Hymn of Response: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (No. 196)

1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

2. Joy to those who long to see thee,
Dayspring from on high appear;
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse,
Of thy birth we long to hear!
O'er the hills the angels singing news,
glad tidings of a birth;
"Go to him, your praises bringing;
Christ the Lord has come to earth"

3. Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

4. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

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Prayer of Confession

Unison: Almighty God, we are unworthy to come into your presence because of our many sins. If you dealt with us as we deserve, we would not receive any grace or mercy from you. We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you. And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offenses, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favorable Father to all who turn to you. And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your son, to show us mercy and forgive all of our offenses. By your Spirit, O God, take possession of our hearts so that, not only the actions of our life, but the words of our mouths and the smallest thoughts of our minds, may be guided and governed by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory now and forever, Amen.

Private Confession

Pastoral Prayer

Promise of the Gospel

Minister: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7)

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Good Christian Men, Rejoice” (No. 207)

1 Good Christian men, rejoice,
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
earth and heav'n before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

2 Good Christian men, rejoice,
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven's door,
and man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!

3 Good Christian men, rejoice,
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “Old Hundredth”)

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

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of The Holy Scriptures: John 6:35-40

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Jesus Came to Save Sinners” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response and Preparation: “All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord” (No. 219)

1 All praise to thee, eternal Lord,
clothed in a garb of flesh and blood;
choosing a manger for thy throne,
while worlds on worlds are thine alone.

2 Once did the skies before thee bow;
a virgin's arms contain thee now:
angels who did in thee rejoice
now listen for thine infant voice.

3 A little child, thou art our guest,
that weary ones in thee may rest;
forlorn and lowly is thy birth,
that we may rise to heav'n from earth.

4 Thou comest in the darksome night
to make us children of the light,
to make us, in the realms divine,
like thine own angels round thee shine.

5 All this for us thy love hath done;
by this to thee our love is won:
for this we tune our cheerful lays,
and shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation and Instructions

All who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and have been baptized and who are communicant members in good standing in an evangelical church are invited to come to participate in this sacred Sacrament of the Church. This is not a Presbyterian table, and we do not restrict it as such; it is the Lord’s Table. However, the church alone grants access to the table and must guard it from the leaven of unrighteousness (1 Cor. 5:6-8). Therefore, if you have not repented and trusted in Christ or if you are harboring sin in your life or if there is anyone with whom you are not at peace with so far as it depends on you (Rom. 12:18), please do not participate in this meal. We invite you instead to use this time to reflect and ask God to speak to your heart and give you more light and understanding. Children who have not been admitted to the table by the church should also refrain from partaking of the Supper.

For those who prefer, the outer ring of the tray is grape juice. The bread is gluten free.

Please hold the bread and cup until all have been served so that we may partake together.

*Departing Hymn: “Joy to the World!” (No. 195)

1 Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns:
let men their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.

If you would like someone to pray with you, an Elder will be available at the front of the sanctuary following the service.