Fourth Sunday of Advent
PRELUDE: Variations on ‘Infant Holy’ by Alexandré Guilmant
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
PRAYER
HYMN: Angels We Have Heard on High [Gloria]
PRAYER
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH: Praise the Light — Jesus, the Light of the World [Elderkin] George D. Elderkin/arr. Joel Raney
Quartet: End our darkness, end our night, Jesus, the light of the world. Bring to earth God’s heavenly light, Jesus, the light of the world.
Leader: Advent is a time to praise.
Quartet & People: Praise the Lord, and rejoice in his goodness.
Leader: Advent is a time to remember God’s faithfulness..
Quartet & People: Praise the Lord, and rejoice in his goodness.
Leader: Advent is a time to remember God’s blessings.
Quartet & People: Praise the Lord, and rejoice in his goodness.
Leader: Advent is a time to remember God’s promises.
Quartet & People: Praise the Lord, and rejoice in his goodness.
Leader: Advent is a time to celebrate the end of darkness.
Quartet & People: Praise to Jesus, the Light of the World
Candle Lighting
Quartet: Jesus, the light of the world.
Quartet & People: We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright, O, shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus, the light of the world. We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright, O, shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus, the light of the world.
Quartet: Jesus, the light of the world. Light of the world.
Prayer
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Luke 1:26-40
ANTHEM: Mary, How Could You Have Known? By Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Mary, how could you have known that an angel would come and proclaim the holy birth, and you would be chosen to bring God’s son to earth? Mary, how could you have known? Mary, how could you have known that your child would be the Savior just as the prophets said, and that He would be born in a lowly manger bed? Were you not bewildered, was it very strange? Did you ever wonder how your life would change? How could you be ready? How did you prepare? How could you imagine? Did you say a prayer? Mary, how could you have known that your son would be Messiah, and all the world behold that you would name Him Jesus as angels had foretold? Mary, how could you have known? [Based on Luke 1:30-33]
SERMON: “Jesus, Then and Now, Now and Then”
HYMN: What Child Is This [Greensleeves]
PRAYER
HYMN: O Little Town of Bethlehem [St. Louis]
BENEDICTION
RESPONSE: Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day by John Gardner
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: I would my true love did so chance to see the legend of my play, to call my true love to my dance: sing O my love; this have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a virgin pure, of her I took fleshly substance; thus was I knit to man’s nature, to call my true love to my dance: sing O my love; this have I done for my true love. In a manger laid and wrapped I was, so very poor this was my chance, betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, to call my true love to my dance: sing O my love; this have I done for my true love. Then afterwards baptized I was; the Holy Ghost on me did glance, my Father’s voice heard from above, to call my true love to my dance: sing O my love; this have I done for my true love, for my true love. [Traditional English Carol]
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