We Gather Together to Worship Our God
Prelude: How Beautiful are the Feet/ Handel’s Messiah
Gathering Hymn: Hymnal #218 Angels From the Realms of Glory
Today:
- 9 am, Sunday School for all ages. Preschool-7th meets downstairs, High School meets in the Fireside Room, and the Adult class is studying Christ in the Covenants in the Sanctuary. There will be no Sunday School on December 25th or January 1st
- 9 am, New Members’ Class
- 10:30 Worship in the sanctuary.
- Today we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
- Following worship, we will have a brief congregational meeting to approve the acquisition of the land adjoining our present property.
- 6:00 pm, Tonight, Kids’ Quest Program. Refreshments and Fellowship to follow.
This Week:
- There is no Kids’ Quest, Puppeteer Practice, J-Curve, or High School New Members’ Class this Wednesday or next Wednesday. Resumes January 4th.
- 6:15 pm, Wednesday, High School Youth Group. See Shonda J. for more information. There will be no Youth Group on December 28th.
- There is no Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study this week.
General:
- 6:00 pm, December 24th, Candlelight Service.
- 5:30 pm, January 15th, Small Groups meet at the church. Fellowship meal, hymn sing, and then will break off into three groups for prayer and study.
- 5:30 pm, January 15th, Young Adult Bible Study at Jay and Kayla’s. (Address in bulletin) Meal provided.
- We will no longer be subscribing to RightNow Media. The last day of access will be January 7th.
- There will be no Toddlers’ or Children’s church next Sunday, December 25th.
Responsive Call to Worship: Isaiah 12: 2 – 6
Leader: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
All: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Leader: Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise: Hymnal #214 Angels We Have Heard on High
We Confess Our Faith
Responsive Reading: New City Catechism Questions 20 – 25
Leader: Who is the Redeemer?
All: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself.
Leader: What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?
All: One who is truly human and also truly God.
Leader: Why must the Redeemer be truly human?
All: That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin; and also that he might sympathize with our weaknesses.
Leader: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
All: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.
Leader: Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?
All: Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life.
Leader: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
All: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.
We Confess Our Sin
Corporate Prayer of Confession: Adapted from Daniel 5: 5 – 7; Psalm 51: 9 – 13
All: O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your word and done what is right. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, because of the rebellion that we committed against you. Hide your face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. For the sake of your Son, cast us not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and uphold us with a willing spirit. Then, singing your praises, we will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Amen
Silent Confession of Sin
Assurance of Pardon
Hymn of Assurance: Hymnal #204 (verses 1, 3) Away In A Manger
We Give Thanks To The Lord
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: Overture/ Handel’s Messiah. He suffered a stroke in 1737 at the age of 52, suffering a temporary paralysis in his right arm and blurred vision due to the stress of financial losses. In 1741, broke and depressed, a ray of light began to shine, as a man named Charles Jennens was writing and compiling the lyrics for an oratorio about the birth, passion, and return of Christ. Upon reading this, Handel was instantly inspired and feverishly began to compose, completing it in 24 days, giving all glory to God.
Doxology
We Hear God Speak
Advent Candle Lighting: Love
*Following this time, a nursery is available, Toddlers’ Church for ages 2-4, and Children’s Church for ages 5-8.
Prayer of God’s People
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, The power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Beautiful Feet Romans 10: 14 – 15
A copy of the sermon notes is available: 12-18-22 sermon notes
Audio only:
Hymn of Response: Hymnal #448 We Have Heard the Joyful Sound
The Lord’s Supper
A Word About Communion: Foothills Community Church welcomes all baptized Christians who are willing to forsake their sin and who are trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation to receive Communion with us. If you are not able to take Communion, we invite you to use this time to pray before God.
The Bread (is gluten-free)
The Cup (outer ring contains wine; inner rings contains grape juice)
Foothill’s Choir: All Is Well
Hymn of Response: Our God Reigns
We Are Dismissed with God’s Blessing
Benediction
Foothill’s Ladies Choir: Silent Night (Congregation Joins for Last Verse)
Postlude: Angels We Have Heard On High/ Traditional French Melody