Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Arr. Charles Callahan
© 1994 Birnamwood Publications
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420
Welcome and Call to Worship
Heavenly Father, we rejoice that we can come into Your house today and worship You with those who love You, too. Thank You for inspiring and leading Your people to establish Your house here in this place. We pray that all who worship here might experience Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We pray for Your people all the world over, and we pray that they might prosper along with us as we serve You and others. May everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior find and experience peace with God, others, and themselves. Through Your only begotten Son, we pray, Amen.
(Written by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr., and posted on A Psalm and a Prayer.)
Lighting the Advent Candle
Opening Hymn — #116 “The God of Abraham Praise”
1. The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days,
and God of love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
by earth and heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.
2. The great I AM has sworn;
I on this oath depend.
I shall, on eagle wings up-borne,
to heaven ascend.
I shall behold God’s face;
I shall God’s power adore,
and sing the wonders of
God’s grace forevermore.
3. The heavenly land I see,
with peace and plenty blest;
a land of sacred liberty,
and endless rest.
There milk and honey flow,
and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life forever grow
with mercy crowned.
4. The God who reigns on high
the great archangels sing,
and “Holy, holy, holy!” cry,
“Almighty King!
Who was, and is, the same,
and evermore shall be:
Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM,
we worship thee!”
The God of Abraham Praise
Thomas Olivers
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
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Arr. Robert J. Hughes
© 1968 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
God of peace and justice, in the past year we have once again witnessed the fruits of war: lives cut short, children made orphans, homes devastated, and hearts broken. We pray to see the day that Isaiah saw in his heart, when swords are pounded into plowshares. These gifts we give this morning, may they be used to make human hearts ready for peace and for the reign of your son. In his holy name, we pray. Amen.
(Isaiah 2:1-5)
Scripture Reading — Acts 2:37-42 (NRSV)
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.
Anthem — P.A.L.A. Singers
Count Your Blessings
Edwin Othello Excell | Johnson Oatman Jr.
Public Domain
Sermon — Rev. Jacob Lee
“What Should We Do?”
Closing Hymn — #569 “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” (v. 1, 3, 4)
1. We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light,
a story of peace and light.
Refrain
For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning to noon day bright;
and Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.
3. We’ve a message to give to the nations,
that the Lord who reigneth above hath
sent us his Son to save us,
and show us that God is Love,
and show us that God is Love.
Refrain
4. We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
who the path of sorrow hath trod,
that all of the world’s great peoples
might come to the truth of God,
might come to the truth of God.
Refrain
We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations (Message)
Henry Ernest Nichol
Public Domain
Benediction
Postlude – Hani
Postlude on “Cwn Rhondda”
Arr. Marc Jordan
© 2000 Lorenz Publishing Company
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420
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.