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Order of Worship
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Elder’s Blessing
December 24, 2023
Angels/Peace
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering the Family Together
Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child
Jesus,---- Jesus,---- Oh,---- What a wonderful Child.
Jesus,---- Jesus,---- So holy,---- Meek, and mild.
New Life,---- New Hope,---- New Joy He brings.
Listen,---- To the angels sing.
“Glory,---- Glory,---- Glory;” to the new-born King!
Call To Worship
Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 5:23-24
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Prayer of Invocation
Advent Proclamation
Leader: Today we light four candles.
The first reminds us of our need for a savior.
The second reminds us of the promises in God’s Word.
The third reminds us that Jesus is coming soon and we must
abide in Him so that when He appears we may have confidence
and not shrink from him in shame at His coming.We light the fourth candle to remind us of the blessed hope
of the reign of God.People: Come, Lord Jesus, and let your kingdom reign.
We Respond to God’s Presence
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Congregation:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.
Jubilee Singers:
God of God, Light of Light eternal
Lo He abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
Congregation:
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.
Congregation:
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.
Latin: John F Wade; Tr. Frederick Oakeley; Music: ADESTE FIDELES, John F. Wade’s Cantus Diversi.
Red Hymnal #192
Angels We Have Heard On High
Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply Echo back their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo
Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be, Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come adore, on bended knee, Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo
Public Domain. French Carol.
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Red Hymnal #177
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Good Christian men, rejoice With heart and soul and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today!
Ox and ass before Him bow, and He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
Good Christian men, rejoice With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door, And man is blessed evermore
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Good Christian men, rejoice With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Latin Carol, Tr. By John M. Neale. IN DULCI JUBLIO German Melody
Children’s Sermon
Pastoral Prayer
The basket to receive His tithes and our offerings
is located on the left as you leave the Sanctuary.
We Worship Through Hearing
Today’s Message
Sermon Series: Have This in Mind
“Jesus the Obedient”
Philippians 2:8
“5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Notes
I. The King _________________ Himself (Phil. 2:8b)
II. By _______________ Obedient (Phil. 2:8c)
III. To the _________________ of Death (Phil. 2:8d)
Communion
Prayer of Contrition
Sharing of the Elements
We invite to the Lord’s Table all those who are baptized disciples of Jesus Christ and are under the authority of Christ and His body, the Church. By eating the bread and drinking the wine with us as a visitor, you are acknowledging to the elders of this local church that you are in covenant with God and an active member of a congregation in which the gospel is faithfully confessed, taught, and believed. You also acknowledge that you are a sinner, without hope except in the sovereign mercy of God, and that you are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. If you have any doubt about your participation, please speak to the elders before or after the service.
Declaration of Forgiveness
We Are Sent Forth in Worship
to Share the Gospel
Red Hymnal #184
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heavenborn Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Charles Wesley. MENDELSSOHN, Felix Mendelssohn
Benediction
(Selah)
Elder’s Blessing
Everyone is encouraged to remain in a prayerful mood. Please do not chatter during this blessing time while families are waiting. Use the quiet time for prayer, reflection, and Bible reading. All are encouraged to stay through the end of this time. Enjoy these moments to be deliberately thoughtful about God’s plan to send forth His Son for you.
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Bulletin Date: 2023-12-24