FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
CHORALE PRELUDE: Each Winter As the Year Grows Older (Carol of Hope) by Annabeth Gay/arr. by Ron Schmoltze; Emily Lacina, piano
Each winter as the year grows older, we each grow older too. The chill sets in a little colder; the things we thought we knew seem shaken and untrue. When race and class cry out for treason, when sirens call for war, they over-shout the voice of reason and scream till we ignore all we held dear before. So even as the sun is turning to journey to the north, the living flame, in secret burning, can kindle on the earth and bring God’s love to birth. A child of ecstasy and sorrows, O Prince of Peace and pain, brighten today’s world by tomorrow’s, renew our lives again; Lord Jesus, come and reign! [William Gay]
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP, WITH LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Leader: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
People: By his great mercy he has given us a new birth,
Leader: Into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
People: And into an inheritance that is imperishable,
Leader: Kept in heaven for you,
People: For a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
SONG: Light the Candle by Carl Schalk
PRAYER OF PRAISE
HYMN: Angels, from the Realms of Glory [Regent Square]
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
SONG OF GRATITUDE: Jesus, Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Micah 5:2-5a
HYMN: Gentle Mary Laid Her Child [Tempus Adest Floridum]
SERMON: “Help from Beyond, Part 4: Brought into the Best Life”
ANTHEM: Christ Comes Among Us – Jesus ist Kommen/arr. by Mark Sedio; Jonathan Sywulka, trumpet
Christ comes among us, the source of creation, Alpha, Omega, beginning and end; God’s Word incarnate, a light to the nations, brightening our darkness, redeemer, king, friend. Dawns now our morning, strong rock, firm foundation; Christ comes among us, the source of creation. Christ comes among us, proclaiming the kingdom, feeding the hungry, uplifting the poor, breaking oppression and promising freedom, wholeness and healing and hope evermore. Great Prince of Peace, Morning Star, holy Wisdom: Christ comes among us, proclaiming the kingdom. Christ comes among us in love reconciling, bearing the sins of the world, spotless Lamb. Takes on our nature, our flesh and our dying, bruised on the wood of the cross, head, feet, hands. Offers life – Satan, death, hell defying. Christ comes among us in love reconciling. Christ comes among us, the whole earth rejoices! Welcome, Emmanuel, heaven’s radiant Son! Sing out the story, raise high your glad voices! Now has the reign of the Savior begun. Risen, ascended, in triumph victorious; Christ comes among us, the whole earth rejoices! [Johann Ludwig Konrad Allendorf, translated by Mark Sedio]
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
By profession of faith: Jocelyn Muñoz; by reaffirmation of faith: Calvin Deas, Carole Taylor, Gordon Kaspar & Jasmine Leon; and by certificate of transfer: Bonnie Olson
HYMN: Silent Night, Holy Night [Stille Nacht]
BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE: Come, O Long Expected Jesus by Michael Burkhardt
Born your people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king: born to reign in us forever, now your gracious kingdom bring. Awake our hearts to receive you, transform our hearts by your grace, through our lives reveal your mercy, in this and ever place. [Charles Wesley and Michael Burkhardt]
POSTLUDE: Angels Among Us by Robert Powell; Peter Bates & Emily Lacina, organ duet
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