Click here to listen: 20091213.mp3Order of Worship:
Pre-Service Reading – Psalm 85, Page 140 In Front Of Hymnal
Choir Carol - “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (Hymn 62)
Director: Cathy Augustin Vocalist: Jim Doring;
(Accompanist - Heather Schierenbeck; Flute – Leah Hallstein)
Opening Hymn 58 (V 1, 4-5) -“O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee”The Invocation And Confessional Prayer
A Responsive Advent Prayer
P: Eternal Father, throughout the centuries You repeated and reaffirmed Your Promise to send the Offspring of the woman to crush the serpent's head. Through Your prophets of old, You continually directed the eyes of Your people to the advent of their Savior.
C: We praise You, O Lord, for keeping Your promise and sending Your Son to destroy the works of the devil.
P: As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our King, use Your mighty Word to shatter our pride and to rouse us from spiritual slumber and apathy.
C: Move us to take to heart the words of John: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.”
P: You sent your Son to redeem us from sin. Let this Good News be our joy and strength. Use it to cheer the lonely, encourage the fearful, and give hope to the despairing. In these days before Christmas, spare us from the stress of deadlines and the frenzy of commercialism.
C: Fill our lives with message of Your peace and the music of Your grace.
P: Direct our eyes not only to the manger, but also to the skies, where we will see your Son coming again, not as a lowly Child but as the Lord of lords.
C: Lift up our hearts in joyful anticipation of that day.
P: Come quickly, Lord Jesus, in Your grace, in Your power and in Your glory.
C: Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
Lighting Of the Advent Candle (Choir & Flute - Leah Hallstein)
“Come, O Child of peace, we pray. Enter our hearts and show us Your way.
Promise of God, heaven's pure Light, Peace for our world shining bright!
Come, O Child of peace, we pray.”
The Scripture Reading - Luke 1: 26 - 35
(The Annunciation)
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord – Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn 66 - “Hark! The Glad Sound”The Sermon ............... 1 Timothy 3: 16
“Without Controversy Great Is The Mystery Of
Godliness – God Was Manifest In The Flesh!”
Great For Our Lives!
Hymn: “O Come, Thou Mystery From On High”
(Sung To Melody Of “O Come, Emmanuel”)
O Come,Thou Myst'ry from.. on high;
In Thee all grace and truth.. do lie.
To faithful hearts Thy Love reveal,
And thru Thy Grace salva..tion seal.
Rejoice, rejoice, this Child by faith adored,
Shall come to Thee, O children of the Lord.
O God in Man made man...ifest;
True God, yet Babe in man..ger rest;
For sinners came,O Savior.. & Lord!
For us now come in Gospel & Word!
Rejoice, rejoice, this Child by faith adored,
Shall come to Thee, O children of the Lord.
Love's Gift from heav'n, Our Christ Child Savior true,
By faith each Christmas o..pen anew -
Throughout our lives, its blessings employ -
To comfort, help, bring peace, hope and joy.
Rejoice, rejoice, this Child by faith adored,
Shall come to Thee, O children of the Lord.
O come, O come, thou My..stery great!
Thy glory show, For Thee... we wait.
With hearts aglow with love and praise,
For Thee, O Lord, through end...less days.
Rejoice, rejoice, this Child by faith adored,
Shall come to Thee, O children of the Lord.
The Offering (“The Bethlehem Rose”)
(Vocalist: Heather Schierenbeck; Accompanist: Cathy Augustin)
There's a rose in Bethlehem with a beauty quite divine, perfect in this world of sin, on this silent holy night. There's a fragrance much like hope, that it sends upon the wind, reaching out to every soul from a lowly manger's crib. O Rose of ethlehem, how lovely, pure and sweet. Born to glorify the Father, born to wear the thorns for me There's a rose in Bethlehem colored red like mercy's blood. 'Tis the flower of our faith, 'tis the blossom of God's love. Though its bloom is fresh with youth, surely what will be He knows. For a tear of morning dew is rolling down the rose. O Rose of Bethlehem, how lovely, pure and sweet. Born to glorify the Father, born to wear the thorns for me. There's a Rose in Bethlehem with a beauty quite divine, perfect in this world of sin, on this silent holy night. O wear the thorns for me.
The Lord's Prayers And Benediction
Closing Hymn: “Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming”
(V 1 – All ; V 2 – Ladies & Girls; V 3 – Men & Boys; V 4 - All)
1. Lo, How A Rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming As prophets long have sung.
It came, a flow'ret bright, Amid the cold of winter,
When half-spent was the night.
2. Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind,
To show God's love aright, She bore to us a Savior,
When half-spent was the night.
3. This flow'r, Whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness ev'rywhere.
True Man, yet very God, From sin and death he saves us
And lightens ev'ry load.
4. O Savior,Child of Mary, Who felt our human woe;
O Savior, King of glory, Who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray To the bright courts of heaven,
And to the endless day.
Silent Prayer and Announcements
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
