December 31, 2023

Order of Worship

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering the Family Together

Red Hymnal #171                                                      “Joy to the World!”

Call To Worship

Scripture Reading:                                                        Matthew 2:1-12

¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁶ “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

¹¹ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Prayer of Invocation

Prayer of Invocation

Leader:          Today our Savior was adored by the Magi.

Let us also worship him with joy as we pray:

People:          Light from Light, shine on us this day.

Leader:          Christ, you revealed yourself in the flesh,

People:          Sanctify us through prayer and the word of God.

Leader:          Christ, your witness was the Spirit,

People:          Free our lives from the spirit of doubt.

Leader:          Christ, you revealed yourself to the angels,

People:          Help us to feel the joy of heaven on earth.

Leader:          Christ, you were proclaimed to the nations,

People:          By the power of the Holy Spirit open the hearts of all.

Leader:          Christ, you generated faith in the world,

People:          Renew the faith of all believers.

Leader:          Christ, you were taken up in glory,

People:          Enkindle in us a longing for your kingdom.

O Children, Come!

Hear the cry from Bethlehem, O children come

Son of God now born to men, O children come –

Bring your troubles, bring your fears,

Bring the needs that draw you near,

Find the hope of all the years – O children come! O children come!

Peace on earth good will to men, O children come

Righteous rule that will not end, O children come –

Lay down all your bitterness,

Turn from sin’s toil and distress,

Find His grace and perfect rest – O children come! O children come!

Where the Father’s grace has walked, O children come

Where you see the hurt and lost, O children come –

Show the mercy shown to you,

Gifts of kindness to renew,

Love from hearts sincere and true – O children come! O children come!

Words and Music by Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty Copyright © 2014 Getty Music Publishing (BMI); admin. by MusicServices.org

Christmas Blessings

1. God so loved us that He gave His one and only Son,

To ransom sinners from the grave, and save His precious ones.

Refrain:   And this joy of giving all we have is revealed to us in Christ,

When He came to us on Christmas Day as the perfect sacrifice.

2. God incarnate came to earth, for joy He bore the shame.

Endured a lowly human birth, to take the human’s blame.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. Bring your treasures; lay them down before your Savior’s feet.

For He has blessed us all around with wonders good and sweet. (Repeat Refrain)

(Copyright 2018 by Eric, C. Rose All Rights Reserved)

We Respond to God’s Presence

Angels from the Realms of Glory

Verse 1:    Angels from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o’er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation’s story

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Refrain:    Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Verse 2:    Shepherds, in the field abiding,

Watching o’er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing;

Yonder shines the infant light:              (Refrain)

Verse 3:    Lord of Heaven, we adore Thee,

God the Father, God the Son,

God the Spirit, One in glory,

On the same eternal throne.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Lord of Heaven, Three in One.

Red Hymnal #206                                 “We Three Kings of Orient Are”

(Everyone: 1 & 5; Men & Boys only on verses 2,3, & 4)

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

Sermon Hymn:

Meekness and Majesty

1    Meekness and majesty, manhood and Deity

in perfect harmony, the Man who is God.

Lord of eternity dwells in humanity,

kneels in humility, and washes our feet.

Refrain:     Oh, what a mystery—meekness and majesty;

Bow down and worship, for this is your God.

2    Father’s pure radiance, perfect in innocence,

yet learns obedience to death on a cross,

Suffering to give us life, conquering through sacrifice,

and, as they crucify, prays,-“Father, forgive.”                (Refrain)

3    Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible,

Love indestructible in frailty appears.

Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly,

lifts our humanity to the heights of his throne.         (Refrain)

Today’s Message

Sermon Series: Restoring God’s Community Brick by Brick

“Responding to Resistance”

Nehemiah 4-6

Notes

I. ___________ Outside the Walls (Neh. 4:1-23)

1. Efforts to _______________ Community (Neh. 4:1-8)
2. Prayer, Purpose and _______________ (Neh. 4:9-23)

II. ______________ Inside the Walls (Neh. 5:1-19)

1. Un-Godly ________________ (Neh. 5:1-5)
2. Courageous Christlike ______________ (Neh. 5:6-19)

III. _____________ on God for the Walls                            (Neh. 6:1-14)

1. Open Threat ________________ (Neh. 6:1-9)
2. Veiled Treachery ______________ (Neh. 6:10-14)
3. Work of God _______________ (Neh. 6:15-16)

We Are Sent Forth in Worship

to Share the Gospel

Red Hymnal #210                                                             “I Cannot Tell”

Benediction