December 24, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Announcements
Invocation
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
1 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent."
3 Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you."
4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:
5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?
6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.
7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"
8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel;
9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
Hymn #190
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.
Glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o!
Glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o!
Glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o!
Come to Bethlehem, and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o!
Glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o!
“There’s a Song in the Air”
Hymn #196
There’s a song in the air;
There’s a star in the sky.
There’s a mother’s deep prayer
And a Baby’s low cry.
And the star rains its fire
while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem
cradles a King!
There’s a tumult of joy
O’er the wonderful birth,
For a virgin’s sweet Boy
Is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! the star rains its fire
while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem
cradles a King!
“I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day”
Hymn #195
1 I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace of earth, good will to men.
2 I thought how, as the day had come The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th' unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men.
3 And in despair I bowed my head: "There is no peace on earth," I said, "For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men."
4 Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men."
5 Till, ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
4 "I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.' " (Selah
19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: "I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;
21 my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, "You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!'
Invitation, Confession, Pardon, Peace
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Merciful God, We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will, we have broken your law,
we have rebelled against your love,
we have not loved our neighbors,
and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Hear the good news, Christ died for us while we were still sinners, which proves God’s love for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, You Are forgiven
In the name of Jesus Christ, You Are forgivenGlory to God, Amen.
Offering
Doxology
Praise God from whom all flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye hevenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Pastoral Prayer-Joys & Concerns
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.
36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God."
38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
”Come O Come”
(Bertram Sluys. © 2005 Bertram Sluys) Isaiah 7:14
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lowly exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
1. Emmanuel, God is with us. Son of Man, Anointed One.
The One who was, the One who is, the One who is to come.
The Father sits up in heaven.
God supreme, omnipotent.
He promised us He’d come to live
with us and give us life.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel, Fellowship with us renew.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel, Live with us that we may live with You.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel.
2. The perfect man
God created
meant to stay in touch with Him.
Relationships
we broke in pride.
Rebellion led to death.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel, Fellowship with us renew.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel, Live with us that we may live with You.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel.
There’s no way we can come to You.
Without You we are as nothing.
Open up the way to Your life: communion with us forever.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel, Fellowship with us renew.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel, Live with us that we may live with You.
Come, oh come, Emmanuel.
Emmanuel.
Shall come to thee, O Israel
“Angels from the Realms of Glory”
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.
Come and worship. Come and worship.
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er you flocks by night.
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the Infant Light.
Come and worship. Come and worship.
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Sages, leave your contemplations;
Brighter visions beam afar.
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.
Come and worship. Come and worship.
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.
Come and worship. Come and worship.
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Scripture: Romans 16:25-27
25 Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
26 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen
Message: Pastor Ryan
Communion
The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return. The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ. All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.
In unity with the Church, we confess our faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Holy God, We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again. On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, when the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood. By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, let us pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
“I Wonder As I Wander”
1 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,how Jesus the Savior did come for to diefor poor orn’ary people like you and like I;I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
2 When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stallwith wise men and farmers and shepherd and all.but high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,and the promise of ages it did then recall.
3 If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing,he surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
4 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,how Jesus the Savior did come for to diefor poor orn’ary people like you and like I;I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
Benediction
Comments