Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Christmas Pastorale On the Choral “From High Heaven”
Arr. Albrecht Hanlein
Public Domain
Welcome and Call to Worship
Leader: The Liberator is on the way!
People: We’re watching and waiting.
Leader: The Liberator will arrive soon!
People: Blest is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Leader: Lift up your hearts; Lift up your heads,
People: So that the Liberator can come in.
Leader: We are watching; we are waiting; we are anticipating….
ALL: The Coming of our Liberator, The King of Glory, The Savior of the world!
(Discipleship Ministry)
Lighting the Advent Candle
Opening Hymn — #213 “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”
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. Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven’s employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.
3. Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to thee we open wide;
let us thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in us reveal.
4. Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
until our glorious goal is won;
eternal praise, eternal fame
be offered, Savior, to thy name!
Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates
Catherine Winkworth | Georg Weissel
Public Domain
Pastor’s Time With the Children
Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer, 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.
Offertory – Hani
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Arr. Rowland Hugh Prichard
Public Domain
Doxology
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.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
Generous God, as we bring our gifts to you this day, we acknowledge that we have been given so much by your goodness, but we have been tight-fisted and slow in giving to help others. In this Advent season of preparation, we ask you to help us live in a new way, to walk a new highway, to set ourselves on the path that leads to a closer walk with Jesus, our example and redeemer. May this be the season when he finds the highways to our hearts prepared for his coming. In the name that is above all others. Amen.
(Isaiah 35:1-10)
Scripture Reading — Colossians 2:6-15 (NRSV)
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your livesa in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.
Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.
Anthem — Chancel Choir
I Shall Know Him When He Comes
Douglas Wagner | Charlotte Lee
© 1991 Hope Publishing Company
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420
Sermon — Rev. Jacob Lee
“Being Born Again”
Closing Hymn — #467 “Trust and Obey” (v. 1, 2, 4)
1. When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
2. Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
Refrain
4. Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain
When We Walk With The Lord (Trust And Obey)
Daniel Brink Towner | John Henry Sammis
Public Domain
Benediction
Postlude – Hani
Regent Square
Henry T. Smart
Public Domain
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