Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Away in a Manger
Luther’s Cradle song
Public Domain
Welcome and Call to Worship
Leader: In our own lives
People: We are seeking light
Leader: In our neighborhoods
People: We are seeking light
Leader: In our families
People: We are seeking light
Leader: In our work
People: We are seeking light
Leader: In Grace
People: We are seeking light
Leader: In our nation
People: We are seeking light
Leader: In our world
People: We are seeking light
Leader: In First United Methodist Church of Torrance
People: We are seeking light
Leader: Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened. Ask and it will be given to you.
People: Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world. May we have eyes to see you. And ears to hear you. Come into our world today. Amen.
(Grace Church in Ealing, London)
Opening Hymn — #246 “Joy to the World”
1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart
prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods,
rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make
his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of
his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
Joy to the World
George Frideric Handel | Isaac Watts
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
Celebrate the Day!
Arr. Franklin Ritter
© 1997 Lorenz Publishing Company
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420
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
Great God, our Redeemer, we sing your praises. Your glorious love shines in the face of Jesus, born a babe in this dark world. We marvel that he generously humbled himself to bring salvation. How precious is your gift of love! Let the light in our sanctuary and our songs of praise spill through the windows to neighbors dwelling in darkness. May our gifts and offerings reflect the light of Christ and, as beacons in the night, draw people far and near closer to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
(Luke 2:1-20)
Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:1-6 (NRSV)
1 Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepersa are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.
Anthem — P.A.L.A. Singers
Women: The Virgin Mary had a baby boy, (3x)
All: and they say that his name is Jesus,
Men: The angels sang when the baby was born (3x)
All: And they say that his name is Jesus.
Chorus:
(He come down) He come from the glory,
(He come down) He come from the glorious kingdom,
(He come down) He come from the glory,
(He come down) He come from the glorious Kingdom,
(Oh) Oh yes, Oh yes believer, (oh) oh yes, oh yes believer
He come from the glory, He come from the glorious kingdom.
Women: The shepherd came where the baby was born (3x)
and they say That his name is Jesus.
Men: The wisemen came where the baby was born (3x)
And they say that his name is Jesus.
Chorus
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
Words: Public Domain
Music: Unknown
Sermon — Rev. Jacob Lee
“Are You the One Who Is to Come?”
Closing Hymn — #251 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain”
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
1. While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens
there shown a holy light.
Refrain
2. The shepherds feared and trembled,
when lo! above the earth,
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed the Savior’s birth.
Refrain
3. Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain
Go Tell It On The Mountain
John W. Work Jr. | William Farley Smith
Words: Public Domain
Music: © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Benediction
Postlude – Hani
Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Mark Hayes | Arr. Marvin Gaspard
© 2016 Lorenz Publishing Company
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from
– ONE LICENSE with license # A-401420, and from
– CCLI with license # CSPL052773.
All rights reserved.