251221: Worship Bulletin

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God. Revelation 11:15-16

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

People: 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.

People: 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: Psalm 72

Minister: Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!

People: May he have dominion from sea to sea. . . . May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

Minister: For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. . . . From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.

People: May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

Unison: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

*Hymn of Adoration: “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (No. 311)

1 Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free,
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.

2 He comes with comfort speedy
to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
were precious in his sight.

3 He shall come down like showers
upon the fruitful earth;
and love, joy, hope, like flowers,
spring in his path to birth;
before him on the mountains
shall peace, the herald, go;
and righteousness, in fountains,
from hill to valley flow.

4 O'er ev'ry foe victorious,
he on his throne shall rest,
from age to age more glorious,
all-blessing and all-blessed;
the tide of time shall never
his covenant remove;
his name shall stand forever–
that name to us is Love.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: King of Glory, Divine Majesty: Every perfection adorns your nature and sustains your throne. The heavens and earth are yours, the world is yours and its fullness. Your power created the universe from nothing; your wisdom has managed all its multiple concerns, presiding over nations, families, and individuals. Your goodness is boundless; all creatures wait on you, are supplied by you, and are satisfied in you. To the weary you give rest. The ignorant you make wise unto salvation. For the helpless, your strength is made perfect in weakness. And the poor and needy, you bless with Christ’s unsearchable riches. Blessed be your name forever! Amen.

Adapted from “God All-Sufficient” from The Valley of Vision

*Affirmation of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism 26

Minister: How does Christ execute the office of a king?

People: Christ executes the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Gloria (Tune: “Adeste Fideles” refrain)

O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
O give to him all glory, O give to him all glory, O give to him all glory, Christ our King.

New Testament Reading: Hebrews 1:1-2:4

*Hymn of Response: “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” ( No. 198)

1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near,
the Savior of the world is here.

2 A helper just he comes to thee,
his chariot is humility,
his kingly crown is holiness,
his scepter, pity in distress.

3 O blest the land, the city blest,
where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
to whom this King in triumph comes!

4 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heav'n's employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.

5 Redeemer, come! I open wide
my heart to thee; here, Lord, abide!
Let me thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in me reveal.

6 So come, my Sovereign, enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin!
Thy Holy Spirit, guide us on,
until the glorious crown be won.

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: 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 thank you.

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 thank you.

Unison: 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 thanks.

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven: hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Words of Encouragement

Minister: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

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

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “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]

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: Luke 1:26-38

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Of His Kingdom There Will Be No End” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” (No. 218)

1 Angels, from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth;
ye who sang creation's story,
now proclaim Messiah's birth;

Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.

2 Shepherds in the fields abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
yonder shines the infant Light: [Refrain]

3 Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star: [Refrain]

4 Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear: [Refrain]

5 All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
evermore your voices raising
to th'eternal Three in One: [Refrain]

*Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.