We Gather Together to Worship Our God
Prelude: Away in a Manger-James Murray (in the setting of Ly Cyne by Camille Saint-Saens)
Gathering Hymn: Hymnal #208 O Come All Ye Faithful
Announcements:
Today:
- 10:30 Worship in the sanctuary.
- 6:00 pm, Tonight, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.
General:
- Pastor Jeff and Carey will be on vacation from December 25-January 4th. If you have a need during this time, please contact a shepherd of the church or the office.
- There will be no Music Practice, Puppet Practice, Kids’ Quest, High School Youth Group, or Eschatology class on December 27th or January 3rd.
- There will be no Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study on December 28th or 30th.
- There will be no Sunday School on December 31st.
- 8:00 pm-midnight, December 31st, New Year’s Party. Bring your favorite games and party foods to share.
- 6:30 pm, January 4th, Mercy Ministry Team Meeting.
- 8:45 am, January 5th, MOPS meets at the church.
- 6:00 pm, January 8th, Session Meeting.
- 6:30 pm, January 11th, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class begins. If you are interested in attending, please sign up. Cost will be $45/family, payable to the church, but scholarships are available). Contact Tanse & Tonya H. if you have any questions.
- 5:30 pm, January 14th, Young Adult Bible Study at Jay and Kayla’s. (Address in bulletin) Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, January 14th, “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community groups at the church. We will enjoy a fellowship potluck together and sing as a large group. Then we will break into smaller groups for study and prayer.
- 6:00 pm, January 14th, Piedmont Area “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community group (address in bulletin).
- Please take a Mercy Bag from the basket in the Foyer and bless a person who is in need. This bag includes toiletries, a McDonald’s gift card, and a Christian tract.
Responsive Call to Worship: Matthew 1:21-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:16
Leader: Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
All: Therefore God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Leader: On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise: Hymnal #203 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
We Confess Our Faith
Responsive Reading: John 1: 1 – 5, 10 – 14
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
All: He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Leader: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
All: He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Leader: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hymn of Response: All Hail King Jesus
We Confess Our Sin
Call to Confession: based on Hebrews 4:15-16
Leader: Brothers and sisters, our high priest, Jesus Christ, knows all our weaknesses, and can sympathize, because he was tested in every way we are, only without sinning. So let’s come boldly to the throne of grace, where we can find mercy and grace to help when we need it most.
Silent Confession of Sin
Corporate Prayer of Confession:
All: Lord God, We praise you for sending your light and love, Jesus the Messiah, into this world. We confess that we often live like the light did not defeat the darkness. We confess that we often live as though Jesus is not returning in glorious light. We sometimes confine Christ to parts of our lives and our faith becomes small. We do not joyfully serve and expectantly worship. Forgive us for ignoring Jesus’ light. Prepare us for His return. Help us rejoice in the light, so your grace illumines the dark places of our hearts, our city, and our world. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: The God who promised never to leave us or forsake us, has come to us in Jesus Christ, the light of the world. He binds up the broken-hearted, heals all our infirmities, and relieves our burden of sin. While it is true that we have sinned, it is a greater truth that, in Christ Jesus, we are forgiven. God has shown his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died and rose for us. Arise, shine; for his light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Hymn of Assurance: Hymnal #195 Joy to the World
We Give Thanks To The Lord
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: What Child is This—William Dix (in the setting of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata)
Written in 1865, while Dix was recovering from a critical illness, he experienced a spiritual revival that led him to write this hymn and set it to the old English tune of “Greensleeves”. The first verse poses a rhetorical question with the answer in the second verse. A second question is answered in the third verse. The final verse is a universal appeal to receive Christ.
Doxology
We Hear God Speak
Advent Reading: Love
Hymn of Response: Hymnal #196 (verses 1, 4) Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
(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.
The Wisdom of the Truly Wise Matthew 2: 1 – 12
A copy of the sermon notes is available: 12-24-23 sermon notes
Audio Only
Hymn of Response: We Three Kings
We Are Dismissed with God’s Blessing
Benediction
Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You
Postlude: Good King Wenceslas- Spring Carol, 14th Century (in the setting of Grieg’s Anitra’s Tanz)